Married to a Balla

by Jackie D.

  “May I help you?” She held a stern look.

  “Is Mr. Mitchell here? I’m officer Hicks. Deacon Jones should’ve called, he’s expecting us.”

  “Who?” Mercedes looked as if she was expecting him to say something else.

  The officer looked at her, then remembered the deacon saying, “if you don’t know the password you won’t be allowed inside.”

  Skye put her bags down and was getting ready to speak when the officer stopped her.

  “Oh, yes…Breaking the Cycle,” he blurted out.

  “Thank you, welcome to BTC, come on in,” Mercedes replied with a smile now formed on her face.

  Once inside, Skye noticed the tall ceilings, beautiful woodwork and old antique maple floors. However, all that changed as soon as Mercedes escorted them inside a large family room that was really outdated with purple shag carpet and striped wall paper. Mercedes told Skye and the boys to have a seat on the old cracked leather couch.

  Jordan looked around wondering how many families lived inside the large crowded house. It was shit everywhere.

  “I’ll be right back,” Mercedes said then told the officer to follow her down the hall to see Mr. Mitchell.

  Sticking out like a sore thumb, it didn’t take long for everyone in the house to direct their attention toward them. From the teenagers in the family room watching T.V. to the group of women peeking out from the kitchen, everyone was trying to figure out who they were because unlike most families who came, Skye and her family still looked like a million bucks to them. It was almost as if everyone could smell money.

  All of a sudden one of the women who appeared to be in her late thirties spoke up. “What happened to you? Did your husband catch you charging too much on your Saks card? Or are you mad because your husband bought the Maserarti instead of the Aston Martin?” she laughed crazily.

  Skye gritted her teeth and shot a look back thinking, Bitch, you don’t know me!

  She then turned her head and noticed a big, amazon looking woman staring at her, too. Skye stared back. “I’m not in the mood or have the strength to fight any of these bitches, but I will,” she said to herself.

  Within minutes, Mercedes finally returned and introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Mercedes Guzman. I work closely with Justice, I mean Mr. Mitchell, to insure that all the families are safe and comfortable during their stay here. I was once a victim of domestic violence and Breaking the Cycle was a safe haven for my kids and I. After the center helped me, I felt so strongly about helping other women, Mr. Mitchell asked me to stay and help run the place.”

  “Nice to meet you, I’m Janelle and these are my children, Kareem, Jordan and Payton,” Skye responded.

  Mercedes smiled at Payton then looked at the boys. “Hello handsome young men, nice to meet you. I have two son’s as well, the two knuckle heads over there sitting on the love seat, Joey and Manny. They’ll help you guys if you need anything around here,” Mercedes said, pointing in their direction.

  Skye looked at the Spanish decent woman along with the tight leggings and cropped leather jacket that barley covered her ass. Damn the workers around here obviously don’t have a dress code, she thought.

  Suddenly, Mercedes’ cell phone rang and she excused herself and walked down the hall. At that moment, Skye saw the big girl roll her eyes at Mercedes then walk to her room.

  Wonder what that shit is all about, Skye wondered.

  A few minutes later the officer came back and asked Skye to come with him.

  “I’ll be right back,” she told the boys then got up carrying Payton in her arms.

  When Skye walked into the door of the office, Justice’s eyes grew the size of an eight ball. His facial expression gave it away that he was taken aback by her beauty. He stood quiet for a second. At the same time, Skye’s eyes zoomed in on Justice as well. At 5’10, a deep chocolate skin tone, nice build and thick goatee, he instantly reminded her of Lem from Soul Food. His fresh Hugo Boss shirt and True Religion jeans, told her he wasn’t a bad dresser either. It was impossible not to admire how fine he was.

  After Justice informed the officer that he could finally leave, he walked over and introduced himself. “Hello, I would like to welcome you. I’m Justice Mitchell the founder of BTC. I run the shelter, teach the self defense classes, and I’m also one of the counselors.

  “Thank you, my name is Janelle Coleman,” Skye said.

  “Nice to meet you Janelle, but can I ask you a quick question?”

  “Sure.”

  “Is Janelle Coleman your real name?” Justice asked.

  Skye was caught completely off guard.

  “Don’t worry, you can trust us. At BTC, we don’t disclose personal information to anyone. I’m actually the only one who has access to all the family files in my office, so your information is strictly confidential. We just like to start on honest terms,” Justice assured.

  Even though Justice seemed sincere, Skye still wasn’t comfortable. “Yes, it is.”

  “Okay, great. Wow, look at this beautiful baby.”

  Payton grinned. With a head full of Sandino’s curly hair and Skye’s green eyes, she could’ve easily been in a Gerber commercial.

  “Has anybody ever told you that you look like that girl from Flava of Love?”

  Skye smiled. “Yes, Delicious right? I get it all the time.”

  “Yeah, Delicious. I mean y’all aren’t identical, but you do favor each other. Your hair is a little different, but there’s definitely a resemblance,” Justice said. “Is that a wig?”

  Skye felt so embarrassed. “Ummm…yes.”

  “Well, you don’t have to hide here. Trust me, you can be yourself.”

  “Thanks, but for now, I’ll just keep it on.”

  “Your choice. Anyway, back to business. I understand you have a situation with your husband following you. Is that correct?”

  “Yes, my kids and I need a safe place to stay until I can get in touch with my friend to send me more money.” Skye looked around in his office at the Psychology degree hanging on the wall.

  “We have plenty of room. You guys can stay as long as you need to. We have several programs to help you, find a place to live and a job.”

  A job? I haven’t worked in years, who does that? Skye thought.

  While Skye spoke to Justice, Kareem and Jordan watched an old Martin Lawrence show re-run with the rest of the kids. Most of them were laughing, but Mercedes’ two sons watched them instead of the TV. The oldest son Joey, who seemed to be the ring leader around the house, whispered something to his brother and they both got up and walked over to Kareem and Jordan seconds later.

  “Damn, y’all some rich niggas, huh? Don’t nobody come in here rocking new Jordan’s and fresh Rock & Republic jeans. Me and my brother are gonna love wearing your gear.”

  When Joey walked up close to Kareem, he reached over on the table and grabbed an ink pen and stuck it up to Joey’s neck. “Look muthafucka, I don’t wanna have to fuck you and your punk-ass brother up! So, I advise you to leave me any my brother the fuck alone,” he said, pushing the pen deep in Joey’s skin.

  When Kareem heard Skye coming back down the hall moments later, he quickly released the grip and removed the pen. “Keep your mouth shut,” he demanded.

  Jordan smiled as Joey and his brother walked away like two punks. For once, he was glad his brother was so violent.

  Once Skye and Justice appeared, Justice extended his hand to the boys. “How are you young men doing?” he asked.

  They both stood quiet looking at him like he was crazy.

  “They’re doing okay,” Skye interrupted.

  “Well, from what I hear, you boys have had quite a journey. Let me show you to your rooms. The boys can stay in our teen’s quarters and Janelle, you and the baby can stay right down the hall.”

  The boys looked at their mother confused.

  “Listen, Mr. Mitchell, my family and I have to stay together. If not, then we’ll leave,” Skye advised.

 
“It’s your choice to leave Ms. Coleman. I’m here to help you and your family. If you all want to cram in one room, that’s on you, follow me.” Justice led them down the hall and pointed to a room. “We’re in the middle of renovations. Some of the bedrooms are completed, but unfortunately the room you will be staying in tonight isn’t. We have several families moving out this week and you can move into one of the nicer rooms then.”

  “Thanks,” Skye answered. She felt bad about the room comment knowing he was only trying to help.

  “Bathrooms are down the hallway. Have a good night,” Justice said before walking off.

  Once Skye opened the door and they all walked inside, she locked it. After handing the baby to Kareem, she then pushed a small dresser up against the door. Although Justice seemed cool, Skye didn’t trust him or any of the people staying in the house, so she didn’t want to take any chances.

  When she looked around the room, it had the same hideous 1970 purple shag carpet, and a stale smell that reminded her of moth balls and old bread. She wanted to cry, but what other choice did they have? It was either stay until she could reach Asia for more money or go running back to Sandino and pray that he wouldn’t kill her ass.

  She decided to stay; she was never going back to that life.

  “Come on boys, let’s try and get some sleep,” she suggested.

  As they all curled up together on the dingy lumpy mattress, Kareem hugged his mother for the first time since they left Florida.

  “I’m sorry I called dad. I really thought since he might’ve missed us he would stop taking the pills and things would go back to the way they used to be, but I was wrong. I promise…I’ll protect and take care of us from now on.”

  Chapter 10

  Sandino rolled over in bed with mixed emotions after receiving the call from Kareem. He sat up and thought about what his son had just said to him especially the part about getting help. Kareem seemed very upset and blamed his father for ruining their family, which surprisingly hurt Sandino a bit.

  “Dad, you told me and Jordan the horrible stories about the way your father treated you growing up. You promised us you would be a better father, but you lied. You’re no different than he was,” Kareem kept saying.

  Sandino wasn’t surprised by Kareem’s words. He knew his son was tough and had his same kick ass mentality. He also knew what he needed to say in order to get in his son’s good graces, even if it was a lie.

  He told Kareem he was going into rehab once they came back home. He went on to explain that the pills were the reason he’d been acting crazy and abusing his mother. Sandino then told Kareem that he really missed them and promised to never take another pill or hit his mother again.

  When Sandino could tell Kareem was softening up, he asked him where they were. Minutes later, Sandino displayed a wide grin when his son told him they were in Atlanta. Unfortunately, the phone went dead before Sandino could get an address or exact location, but he was satisfied for now.

  Sandino dialed Black’s cell phone again, who was actually right downstairs. He’d tried to call Black a few times right after Kareem called, but Black never answered. With Sandino’s knee acting up once again, calling Black would save him a trip from having to move at that moment. Ever since the injury, his knee was known to do that from time to time, which is another reason why Sandino stayed so angry a lot of times. When Black still didn’t answer, this time Sandino limped out the room, and down the steps.

  “Yo Black, I found her ass. She’s in ATL some damn where. Get yo’ shit. We’re gonna catch a flight this time!” Sandino yelled. He’d been so tired and worn out from chasing Skye the day before there was no way he was about to do the same thing all over again.

  When there was no response, Sandino opened the door to the guest room to find Black and some fat trick passed out naked on the bed with a plate of cocaine sitting between them.

  “Black!” Sandino yelled. “Get your ass up. I tried to tell you this shit last night, but you were fucked up then, too.” As soon as Black mumbled something and turned over, Sandino slammed the door.

  “I can’t deal wit’ this bullshit my knee is killin’ me.”

  It was obvious that Black wasn’t reliable like Cruze, and at a time like this, Sandino needed his friend by his side. Unfortunately, after they got back to Miami, Cruze asked Sandino to drop him off in Overtown and hadn’t been heard from since. Sandino wasn’t the type to kiss anybody’s ass, but regretted the way he treated him. Besides, Cruze was really the only true friend Sandino had. He pulled out his phone to call Cruze, but quickly changed his mind.

  “Fuck that nigga, I don’t need him, I’m Sandino Washington! Niggas sweat me, not the other way around.”

  He limped back to his room and grabbed his bottle of Oxycontin off the night stand then dropped five tablets into his pill crusher until they were completely powder. He poured the powder on a mirror, straightened out three long lines with a razor, grabbed a straw and started sniffing aggressively. He then walked into the bathroom, grabbed the small mirror that held the left over cocaine from the night before and snorted a line of that as well.

  Moments later, Sandino laid back and prepared for his high to kick in. When thoughts of his family tapped danced around in his head, Sandino glided his hand over the spot where Skye slept. He really wished he could control his temper and stop beating on her so they could be a family, but the truth was…he couldn’t.

  ******

  An hour and several cocaine lines later, Sandino abruptly jumped up off the bed and immediately started throwing shit around the room, especially frames that held pictures of Skye and the kids at several vacation spots.

  “Skye, if you don’t bring yo’ ass home, please believe that you will never live a normal fuckin’ life!” he shouted as if she could hear him.

  Looking at a picture of Skye in Barbados before she had Payton, thoughts of another man touching her model-like figure popped into his head. She was gorgeous, and the thought of her possibly spending time with another man really enraged him. Suddenly, he fell to his knees with visions of his childhood in mind.

  “It’s Peaches’ fault that I lost my fuckin’ family. If she’d been a better mother I wouldn’t have turned out like this!” Sandino belted. He then jumped up and started pacing the floor. “You know what… I’m goin’ to see that bitch. Somebody gotta pay for this shit,” he said throwing on some sweat pants.

  He hadn’t seen his mother in over four months. Even though they’d been on speaking terms for years, Sandino had yet to confront her about his feelings, so it was still hard for him to forgive her. The memories of how she’d let his father abuse them his entire childhood always seemed to settle into Sandino’s thoughts, causing their rocky relationship to go months without communication. She’d never even met Payton. He promised himself he would never treat women the way his father did, but instead he ended up being just like him.

  “The sorry muthafucka even had the nerve to die before I got a chance to tell ‘em how much of a fucked up father he was,” Sandino said.

  Snorting the last line, Sandino grabbed his keys, ran out the house, then jumped in his car. Yelling from the time he backed out of his driveway all the way to Coconut Grove, Sandino was pretty fired up when he pulled up in front of his mother’s house.

  “Let me grab this, just in case,” Sandino said about the .45 under his seat. “As far as I know, she might have a boyfriend now, who might have to be dealt wit’.”

  Getting out of the car, Sandino power walked up to the front door, then banged on it with the side of his fist. Seconds later, a woman came to the door that looked exactly like his mother.

  “Sandino Lamont Washington, stop banging on this damn door like you the police!”

  He looked at his aunt, Shelly who he hadn’t seen in awhile. She was still pretty, but had aged and put on at least fifteen pounds.

  “Don’t just stand there, bring your crazy ass in and give your auntie a hug.”

  Sandino
walked into the house without even speaking yet alone hugging her. “Peaches!” he yelled.

  Sandino walked back though the house he’d bought his mother when she finally decided to leave the rough Baltimore streets. She’d actually been in Florida longer than he had. When he heard music coming from the backyard, he quickly walked outside to find several of his family members drinking, cooking out on the grill and lounging by the pool. They seemed to be having a good time.

  “Baby, your mother isn’t here. She’s in the hospital. She’s very sick,” Shelly informed. “I thought you knew.”

  Sandino suddenly had a change of heart about the reason for his visit when he heard the news. He stood for a minute gathering his thoughts. “What’s wrong with her? Why didn’t anybody call me and tell me my mother was in the hospital? Y’all muthafuckas know how to call when you need some damn money!”

  “Don’t disrespect me,” Shelly shot back. “I’m still your aunt.”

  “Why didn’t someone call me?” Sandino repeated.

  “My brother did call you…several times actually, but you never answer your damn phone. Hell, I even tried to call your house, but your crazy ass has the number changed every week.”

  “What about Skye?”

  Shelly let out a slight laugh. “Tried that too…she never answers either. Y’all probably thought we were calling for some money.”

  Sandino’s demeanor finally softened a bit. “So, what’s wrong wit’ her?”

  “She has lung cancer,” his aunt replied.

  Rage instantly came upon him once again. He looked at his aunt and the rest of her family. The same family who would never help or give his mother a place to stay when they were running from his father.

  “So, y’all sittin’ around here havin’ fun when my mother up in the hospital sick?” Sandino didn’t even wait for a response before he pulled out his gun and fired several shots in the air. All the family members instantly started running. You would’ve thought Sandino was Nino Brown from the movie New Jack City from the fear everyone now seemed to have. His aunt tried to calm him down as the rest of the family members scattered.