by Natavia
“Yes, baby,” I answered.
“I went to the bathroom and there was a little blood in my underwear,” she said. O’Shea walked over to us. He must’ve picked up on Shia’s body language. The bond he had with her was indescribable.
“What’s going on, baby girl? Are you good?” he asked her.
“Shia got her period,” I said sadly. O’Shea looked like he wanted to cry.
“Oh, hell nawl! Why? What the fuck! Isn’t she too young? She needs to go to the hospital!” he said.
“She just turned twelve! I got mine at eleven. It’s normal,” I said. Just to think I was only a year older than Shia when I got pregnant. I’m sure that was running through O’Shea’s mind. My mother came over eating a piece of cake. I didn’t know what happened but all of a sudden she gained weight. She was now a size twelve. Just a few years ago she was only a size five. She said it came from always eating Latavia’s food.
“Why are y’all over here looking like they canceled ‘Love and Hip-hop Atlanta’?” she asked us.
“Seriously, Ma?” I asked.
“Yeah! I love that damn show! If they ever take it off of air I would die!” she said.
“Shia, got her period,” I said.
“OOOHHHHHHH, LAWWWDDDDDD! NOOOOOOOO! SHIA IS ABOUT TO GET PREGNANT!” she said, kneeling down on the ground.
“Get up, Mama! People are looking at you!” I said to her.
“I can’t! Look at Shia! She is shapely already! She has breasts, hips and ass, now, her period! Shia is about to become someone’s Trap Queen!” she cried.
“Shia is going to be in trap-houses doing the flick of the wrist dance with a boy with one eye! Then she’s going to get pregnant! Jesus, take me now! Please, take me! I can’t live! Tell Harry I didn’t mean to get that abortion! I was drunk off that Nottie Head and forgot to tell him to strap up!” she said. I wanted to yank my mother up and beat her ass like she was my child. Wait a minute! She said she had an abortion! That’s why her ass gained weight!
“Shia, go to the bathroom. I’ll be there in a minute. I’m going to show you how to use a maxi pad,” I said to her. O’Shea looked like he wanted to take my head off.
My mother starting rolling down the hill towards the lake. Her skirt rose, showing her thong. The guys ran after her, trying to catch her before she rolled into the water. We walked to the bathroom. Shia had tears in her eyes. I did too because my mother just acted a plum fool!
“I don’t want a period, Ma! Daddy is really going to be strict now!” she said. These cocky-ass niggas with their daughters were pissing me off!
“Your father will get over it. As much as you may not like it once they start that’s it! You are becoming a woman now and we have had this talk before. I’m going to give it to you raw, Shia. You are able to get pregnant now. But no sex until you fall in love and get married. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I made! I love you very much and I don’t regret having you, I just wish my circumstances were different! I wished I was old enough and more responsible to raise you myself. That’s the only thing I regret. I don’t want you experiencing becoming a young mother,” I said to her.
“I’m not thinking about boys,” she said, giggling.
“Good! But I have noticed how close you and Tee-Tee’s little brother are. How old is Raymond anyway?” I asked.
“He is fifteen, Ma!” she said, blushing. Shia had her first crush. Tee-Tee’s brother Raymond was a very handsome boy. He reminded me of a young version of Young Buck. He had too much swag for his age. I could tell he had some shit with him, like there was another side to him.
“You like him, don’t you?” I asked. She put her head down.
“Yes, Ma. He is soo cute!” She giggled. I was ready to fall on the floor and roll around like my mother.
“No sex, Shia! I know you’re at the age where you like boys, but no sex! No kissing, either! Nothing!” I said although I knew half of what I was saying was not going to happen. I was just going to pray on it. The only way Shia wouldn’t be exposed to boys is if we locked her in the room. That was never going to happen. I pulled a maxi pad out of my purse and some feminine wipes. I showed Shia how to used them.
After we cleaned up we exited the bathroom.
Tee-Tee’s brother walked over to Shia. Her face lit up like mine did when I first saw O’Shea. I looked around to make sure O’Shea wasn’t around.
“Are you good, shorty?” he asked my daughter. This grown lil’ nigga!
“Yes, I ate something bad,” she said.
“Do you like my daughter, Raymond?” I asked him. He licked his lips. I know the hell he didn’t!
“She is very pretty. I actually think my feelings are a little stronger than me liking her. But don’t worry I can wait for her. Isn’t that right, Shia?” he asked. Jesus take the wheel!
“You will be waiting forever!” I spat.
He smirked. “That’s cool, Mrs. Keningston. Good things come to those who wait. Corey always told me that,” he replied with respect and honesty.
“What are your grades like?” I asked Raymond.
“Straight A’s. I also skipped a grade. Oh, and my reading is on the college level,” he said.
“He’s a genius! I taught him well,” Corey said, giving Raymond dap. I thought I was having a nightmare.
“He is too grown for my daughter,” I said.
“I agree, but the heart wants what it wants. Shia is a smart girl. She is surrounded by a lot of positive women. I don’t see her going down the wrong path,” he said.
“I’m sooooo not ready for this shit!” I said, walking off.
“Bring it, Shia,” I said. She followed behind me. She turned around, waving at Raymond. He gave her the head-nod then bopped off.
“I should have never let you go over their house to see Tookie. I knew it was going to bite me in the ass later,” I said then she giggled. A few years ago when I gave Tookie to Corey, Shia started missing her. On weekends O’Shea took Shia over Corey and Tee-Tee’s house. Even back then she and Raymond were getting close. They were younger, so I never paid it any mind.
The party went on as the kids played and the adults sat back and reminisced. Life for me had been great. I had some speed bumps, but overall I had love. I had my family. I was now the new face of CoverGirl and I modeled for Tejah’s clothing line, Tejahvu. She came up and knocked Malore right out of the box. Malore was released from jail early and now was trying to make her way back up by competing with Tejah.
Latisa was still handicap. She could barely talk and used a walker. Did I feel bad that we beat her ass that badly? The answer is no! I could care less about her. She humiliated my daughter and wanted to release it to the world! Thank God the videos never got out.
My father’s mother was still missing. No one could find her. I believe in my heart she got caught up in my father’s mess and someone killed her. There was no trace of her!
But for now, I was living and enjoying my life. My chapter is closed. I got everything that I always wanted!
Kenjay
“You clean up well, hijo,” my pops said, as we walked around our casino. We opened it up a year ago. It was the main topic of the city. I hadn’t sold drugs in two years now. I used the money I got from the diamonds we took from Lenny to invest in this place with my pops. I wasn’t touching the money for my family. Latavia made her own money but I’m still the man! I didn’t want my wife to spend shit if she didn’t have to. My phone rang. It was my wife.
“What’s good, shorty?” I asked her.
“Nothing. I want to know when you’re coming home. I have your dinner wrapped up in the microwave,” she said. I heard our daughter playing in the background. She was singing some song to a movie. My heart warmed as I heard her small voice. My daughter was my heart!
“Let me speak to Adore,” I said, as I checked the casino bar to make sure it was fully stocked.
“Daddy!” she screamed into the phone.
“Hey, pretty gir
l! What are you doing? You not being mean to mommy, are you?”
“Nope! Me be nice to Mommy. She baked tookies and they are good. I saved you tookie, Daddy,” she said. I smirked.
“That’s Daddy’s lil’ girl! I love you! Put Mommy on the phone,” I said.
“Love you too!” she said. Latavia got on the phone.
“I’ll see you when you get home. I got a surprise for you,” she said seductively. My manhood pressed against my slacks.
“Yeah, shorty, have that warmed up and ready. I’m skipping dinner and going straight for my cake,” I said. I hung up. My pops smiled at me.
“Family man looks good on you hijo! Very glad that you are doing something positive. I wished I had your mind frame when I was your age,” he said, accent thich. At first I wasn’t too sure about Leodonis. The nigga just popped up on me. But over the past few years he and I bonded and he taught me a few things. I was wearing suits now. Can you imagine that shit? Tailor-made also. I had the loafers and diamond cuff-links with it. I was on my grown-man shit! Hopefully next year we could open another casino. My soul food restaurants expanded. I now had four! I grinded to get where I was and I wasn’t fucking that up!
Today was my mother’s birthday. Latavia had a few clients, so it was just Adore and I visiting her gravesite. Truthfully, I didn’t think Latavia could handle it. Adore carried flowers as I held her hand. Jace was buried right next to my mother. I brought flowers for him too. I wasn’t big on expressing myself out loud, so I spoke a few words silently to them.
“Where’s Grandma and Jace?” Adore asked, looking around for them.
“Resting in peace. This is where they are sleeping,” I said.
“Let’s wake them up, Daddy! I want to play with my brother,” she said not understanding.
“We’ll play with them when we get old and go up in the sky. We can’t play with them right now, baby girl,” I said. She pouted. “Tell Grandma and your brother you love them.”
“Love you!” she said. I stood there for a while. Although I was happy with my life, a piece of me would always be buried under those tombstones.
I picked Adore up then headed back to my car. I put her in her car seat. I got in then pulled off.
“Daddy, I want to go Chuckie Cheese!” she said, playing with her baby-doll.
“Okay, baby girl,” I said, smirking.
This was my new life and I wasn’t complaining.
Sameer
I sat in the locker room staring at Jameer’s picture. Before every fight I talked to it. I still felt his presence around me. I had a big fight tonight and I hoped I won. I gave the illegal cage fighting up and signed a contract with the UFC. The recruiter was going to the underground cage fights looking for new, strong, young fighters. A week after Jameer’s funeral he showed up at my door. I still didn’t know how he got my address but I guess when you are desperate you can find out anything. Right now I was undefeated and would like to stay that way.
Lo-Lo and I were still together and officially a family with a nice big house and all. Daytona hadn’t seen Teagan in two years. I wasn’t complaining at all. Teagan called Lo-Lo, Mommy. Our daughter, Symera, was going to be in a Pull-ups Huggies commercial. Lo-Lo ran into a lady at Toys ‘R’ Us that was doing a contest for the commercial. She entered Symera only because it was for two-year-olds. After Rylan’s parents were killed, Somalia took custody of him. We still see him here and there but I kept it to a minimum because of the respect I have for Lo-Lo. Bria ended up having twin girls. They looked just like us. Bria came around when she could but she didn’t come around me often. She told Lo-Lo that seeing my face was like seeing Jameer’s all over again. Lo-Lo and Bria are cordial now. They even hang out sometimes. Shine gave his mother’s house to Bria after Caroline got locked up.
They called my name over the loud speaker in the locker room. It was time for me to fight. I walked out and the crowd roared. I looked in the front row and seated was Shine, Kenjay, my mother and Siah. Even though it was televised I didn’t want Lo-Lo to see it. She said she couldn’t stand for someone else to put their hands on me.
I entered the cage and stared at my opponent. He grilled me and just for that I was fucking his big ass up.
They counted down to zero and it was time to fight. I was about to whip this nigga’s ass! His stance was off and I could see that he leaned more to the left side. His right side must be weak from a previous fight. His hands were up in a boxing stance but they were not blocking his face. He was leaving room for me to take advantage of him, giving me the possibility of knocking him out. Oh yeah, victory is mines! When this was over I was going to go home and ask Lo-Lo to be my wife. It was about that time we made it official.
Shine
I walked into the house and it was quiet. I went up the long stairwell into the master bedroom. Tejah sat up in bed laughing on the phone, feeding Shy.
“You better not be talking to a nigga,” I said, taking off my blazer. I got undressed so I could get in the shower.
“Would you shut up? I’m talking to Tataliscious!” she said, laughing.
“Tell Gary take his hyper ass to sleep! I hope he doesn’t come over here tomorrow. That nigga vogue so much he left heel streaks on the wood floors downstairs!” I said.
“What do you know about voguing?” Tejah asked me.
“I know what it is now! That nigga named his daughter Vogue and now he got you doing that shit. Tell him how you fell into the pool last night trying to do that retarded shit. When Shy gets older y’all are not going to be doing all that gay-parade dancing shit around him,” I said. She waved me off then continued to run her mouth. After I got out of the shower Tejah was still on the phone. I snatched it from her then hung up.
“That was my mother! Her and my daddy are flying in tomorrow,” she said.
“I apologize. Tell her I’m sorry when you call her back,” I said, picking up Shy. I kissed his forehead as he slept peacefully. It took me two weeks to hold Shy because of how small he is. I was scared that I might squeeze him too tight. Tejah was in the shower one day and Shy just cried and cried. I didn’t have a choice but to hold him. Tejah played in his curls.
“He is so handsome, thanks to his sexy ass mama!” she sang, standing up. She took him from me then walked him to the crib across our room. My phone rang and it was the correctional facility. I hadn’t talked to my mother in two years. I decided to answer today. I accepted the charges.
“What’s up?” I asked her.
“Why have you been ignoring me? I’ve been calling you almost every day for the past few years,” she cried.
“You still don’t think you did something wrong?” I asked her.
“I was trying to protect you from those hoodrats! I didn’t want you to lose all of what you have for fucking with them!” she spat.
“What do you want? Make it quick!” I said.
“I want you to pay for a lawyer!” she said.
“How many years they gave you?” I asked.
“Twenty,” she said.
“Wait twenty years then! I can’t help you, Ma,” I said.
“I heard you have a son. Is that true?” she asked me.
“Yes, Tejah is the mother of my son and soon-to-be wife. I love her hoodrat ass. But I’ve got to go, Ma. Don’t worry though, I still love you! But you need to thug it out in there. You know they got those scared straight programs. Maybe you should join and help young girls get their lives together. Keep them from making the same mistakes you made.” I yawned into the phone.
“You are going to regret this! I’m still your mother!” she screamed.
“Get off of my phone!” I said, hanging up. I wouldn’t want to see my mother physically hurt but her situation had nothing to do with me. I wasn’t helping her with shit.
Tejah crawled onto my lap, wrapping her arms around me.
“I love you, Shynaire,” she said.
“I love you too, Tejah. Now, spread them thick thighs, so I can fuck something t
hen go to sleep. I’m tired and you are playing with me! I thought you was going to be naked and waiting for me when I got home!” I said.
“Did you check on Sheba?” I asked Tejah.
“Yes, Sheri loves that monkey. She said stop calling her for Sheba. That was really nice of you to give Sheba to her. She got Sheba spoiled,” Tejah said.
“Sheba is a good companion. Sheri slipped into a deep depression after Jameer was killed,” I said, getting under the covers. Tejah got underneath and slid my dick into her mouth. I leaned back and enjoyed it. This was the good life! After Tejah finished sucking me off, she turned on the music system, but not too loud.
That nigga August Alsina’s song “No love” played:
“Let’s just party till we can’t, ain't no loving me
And I’m the one to blame, ain't no loving me.
So don’t come looking for love”…
“You know what’s funny?” Tejah asked.
“What’s that?” I squeezed her breast.