“My whole life I was catered to like a young boy growing into a man was supposed to. Ever since I could remember I’ve been told I’m the prince of the sun, the moon, and the stars. My girlfriend knew her place, and now baby mama finna learn hers because like I said? We don’t share nothing but a child. No sex, no kiss, no attraction, no nothing. So it can be done. Ain’t nothing clouding our heads, or distracting us from it.”
The men shook their heads with a laugh.
“Boi, where the hell you from again?” Another asked as they all laughed. “Talking all this moon, sun, and stars shit. What that got to do with pussy?”
“Everything,” I smiled confidently.
“Look,” Tucker cut. “You would think it's him, but it runs in the family. I’m married to his sister, and it's the same shit I hear every day.”
“I can’t help that I was loved on as a child.”
“Did yo mama tell you everything the light touches is your kingdom too?” The man cracked with the Lion King joke as Michael fell out laughing.
“Nah, didn’t have to. Sun told me herself when I was inside yo wife last night,” I said as the man shot up from the table, almost knocking the cards. I raised my hands in surrender, trying to keep from laughing as the other two brought him back down.
“Better watch it boi.”
“Shoot, maybe he’s on to something Earnest. If the baby mama come out here playing into it, either she’s weak or we ain’t doing something right.”
“Both,” I laughed. “She’s weak, and you ain’t never too old to learn something new.”
“You cocky Epps, a lil too cocky,” the man said with a squint of his eyes. “You gon meet yo match one day though.”
“I tried to tell him,” Jason said, snatching the ball back, starting up a one on one. “When she comes by, tell her you taking her to South Carolina.”
“I will,” I said. “Whenever she get here----.”
“Which is now,” Michael said as Tucker jumped in, snatching the ball from Jason. I looked back seeing her SUV come slowly down the road, circling the park like she was looking for a place to park. Somewhere under the large trees where there was shade. I could hear Beyonce playing from inside as she pulled up close by the card table. A shadow of her figure in the front seat moving about before shutting it off altogether. She paused for a second before the door popped open, and she stepped out. I started to walk towards the parking lot, but stopped when she closed her door, and adjusted the strap of her black sports bra. Strands of her hair stuck to the side of her face as she blew a quick breath. She’d been working out. Caramel brown complexion red from the sun, her legs were far from toned but in the black tights, it didn’t matter. All anyone saw, all I saw was a full figure curvy body glistening in the sun.
Having a baby did something different to her body….Even her…
A simple move like bending down to tie her shoes showed what was sitting in the sports bra, almost spilling over. Nah...She didn’t have those when I last saw her...Not even close to…
Michael suddenly cleared his throat as I cut my eyes to my brother who grinned hard at me. Wiggling his brows. Almost threw my shirt at him when he started to laugh, faking like he was ducking.
Pia reached in the car to grab a red baseball cap, and keys before walking around the other side. Didn’t she have skin problems? What was going on with her skin? Looking at her now, I could barely see a scar, but that’s not... that's not how she looked like last time. What happened to the scabs that were alongside her body?
None of this is how she looked. It was different seeing her fully clothed at the movie theatre. Wasn’t even paying her no mind when I saw Violet…. Then again at Delilah’s house ...Nah...this is Pia? How she really looks?
“Nigga you got lock jaw or something?!” The Vet laughed with a slap of his hand on the table.
“You did good youngin, she’s a pretty thang. I was ready to clown you but she’s beautiful,” another said with admiration just as Violet’s small sneakers could be seen touching the ground.
“You’re late,” I started, walking up to her car, trying to ignore the light floral scent from Pia. Even as sweaty as she looked, she still smelled good.
Tried to ignore everything about her, but when she bent down to reach inside the car, it was all I could do not to stare. Until I saw Violet looking up at me, watching. Wearing a small Nike shirt, and shorts with sneakers. Hair covered with her own red baseball cap. Blue popsicle in her hand with her lips a dark blue from her treat.
“I told you I was busy on Sundays but you insisted on wanting to see her,” Pia muttered, throwing her bag on the floor before closing the door. “My trainer took me to Stone Mountain and since I had to take Violet with me just so I could meet you….” She put her hand up with a shake of her head. “I don’t need to explain anything to you. She’s here. Whether I’m late or not, she’s here.”
I reached down to pick my daughter up, and carried her back to the court with a proud smile.
“You wanna meet your Uncle Mikey?” I asked, using the name my niece called him.
With Pia behind me, I introduced Violet to my brother first. Letting him hold her as she remained quiet, not like the playful personality she was last night in the rain. She looked sleepy, and the small popsicle was barely hanging on in this heat. Large hat almost swallowed her head, and face whole, but at least it kept it covered.
“Ohh you couldn’t deny her if you wanted to,” Jason laughed, tilting her hat up to see her face. “How could Pia look her in the face every day, and not see you? Can’t do it.”
“Shows you what type of woman she is. What type of female dog I’m dealing with,” I muttered while glancing back, seeing Pia standing awkwardly to the side as men openly eyed her.
Good, feel uncomfortable.
“You wanna see a magic trick?” Michael asked, putting her down as he bent the knee to her level. Violet didn’t say anything. Distracted from the boys playing basketball, but he kept trying until he got a small smile from her. I looked back at Pia who stood, and waited. Arms across her chest, face covered from the hat.
“Why don’t you wait in the car or go get something to eat? I got her,” I called out, but she glanced at her phone.
“She needs a nap, and she needs a bath so…”
“You just got here!”
“Homer, it's hot,” she complained. “You’re the one who wanted to meet out here----.”
“Because you wouldn’t tell me where you lived! I would have came to your house or----!”
“That’s not happening. You don’t need to know where I live----.”
“Man I don’t give a….” Watching my words with a groan before bending down to pick her up. “Tell Uncle Mikey who I am Violet,” I said instead. “What’s my name?”
“She’s already calling you Daddy?” Tucker asked, shocked. “How is that possible?”
“I told you she know. Skye women, they know. She’s been here before,” I beamed proudly but the look on my daughter’s face said otherwise. She looked back at Pia, still holding on to me, but her eyes were on her mom.
“Violet?” Getting her attention again. “Who am I?”
“Does she talk?”
“Nigga she talks,” I snapped at Jason, but the more we attempted to get Violet to speak, the less interested she seemed to be. She pressed her lips against the popsicle before holding it out for me.
“I can have some?” I asked. She stared at me, no smile, no expression before shaking her head and bringing it back to her mouth. “You won’t share with Daddy?”
“No.”
That small no was enough for all of us to finally laugh, and smile at her speaking.
“You see where she gets her attitude from,” Tucker hinted as we all looked back at Pia who was silently to herself, waiting. Only to slowly make her way over towards us. “Hey Pia, don’t think we met but a few times for family functions.”
“How are we related?”
“My
dad is your mom’s brother. Tucker Freeman’s my name,” clearing his throat nervously.
“Oh,” she smiled, face turning red. “I’m sorry. My memory is not my strongest trait unfortunately. We probably have met, I just don’t remember. Your brother Stacey is the one getting married soon?”
“Yeah,” he nodded. “All my mom talks about.”
“And you’re Jason Turner right?” Pointing to him as he nodded. “I think I might have seen your wife while picking up Violet. They go to the same playschool.”
“So she told me last night,” he nodded, glancing at Homer. “I think most of you women drop the kids off there. My mom made a big deal about getting the girls accepted in there.”
“Yeah my mom had to step in for Violet as well. Interview process was brutal,” she let out.
Michael waited for his turn to be acknowledged, but Pia said nothing. Looked at him, and said absolutely nothing.
“Aight well shit, I’ma say it. I’m Michael. We met before. Club, and the hotel room that night you were drunk. Sorry for how things turned out, but it's in the past now. Can’t do nothing but move forward. Can’t wait to get to know my niece.”
Pia said nothing, just flashed a quick smile but that was it. This wasn’t the same timid girl. I had to keep reminding myself. Maybe she couldn’t fight for shit, but her demeanor was off. Closed off to us.
“Is she sick? What’s wrong with her?” I asked, putting Violet down who immediately went to Pia’s legs for cover.
“Nothing is wrong with her. It’s hot. She’s been running around all day. Sure she’s probably tired, and hungry.”
“So let me take her out to eat,” I said. “I leave tonight, but I can----.”
“I don’t think so. I have food at the house that she can eat. Maybe another time,” she said, reaching down to clean up Violet’s soaked hand from the treat. Attempting to take it from her, you could see Violet start to whine, and cry before Pia left her alone. “Are we done here? My daughter has school in the morning.”
It felt like the entire court grew silent. Not even a sound of a basketball dribbling behind us could be heard. Michael coughed nervously while Jason, and Tucker smirked towards each other. The card table full of nosey old heads looked on with anticipation.
“What were you saying earlier Homer? About dominant, household…. Man’s man. Something or another,” Jason mumbled before he, and Tucker laughed. Almost forgot who the fuck I was my damn self until I caught Pia staring at my chest again.
I smiled. More like grinned. Gaining control of this.
“Aight Pia,” I sighed, scratching at my head. “I see what type of shit you on today---.”
“I’m not on anything---.”
“When can I see my daughter?” I cut in, going straight past the bullshit. “I told you to come out here earlier, you came late on purpose. Knowing I was going to leave around this time anyway---.”
“I was busy---.”
“You had two years of being busy!” I snapped, stepping closer as her eyes dipped low again. “Yeah go head and look at my chest. You already know, I wouldn’t touch you with a 10 foot pole, you hear me?”
“Ohh!” Someone laughed as I smiled. Gaining momentum.
“I’m not gonna argue in front of Violet because that’s probably what you want me to do, but I also won’t meet your boyfriend. I don’t need to. If he was a man about this, he would step aside and let me step up to handle mine, but since y'all playing house----.”
“10 foot pole,” she repeated in shock, head tilting up as I looked into her eyes. Still seeing the small bruise from my sisters. “Wow. Interesting----.”
“Aye look, before y'all go at it. It’s hot,” Michael cut in, standing between the two of us. “It’s hot as hell out here. Pia, you ain’t right for keeping this baby away from him, and nah that boyfriend need to know his place. He ain’t the father, he never will be. My brother deserves a chance, same chance you gave this other nigga. Homer was just trying to let you know we got a family gathering in a few weeks. Sorta like a family tradition….We all getting together in South Carolina, cookout at night, few games for the kids. Only happens every few years or so. Music, and whatnot. We thought it would be a great idea if Violet could come. So she can be introduced to the family. I know my mama can’t stop talking about meeting her grandbaby---.”
“No,” Pia cut in, glancing at her phone.
“I’m not asking you to take my own child,” I laughed. “I’m not asking you anything. I’m telling you---.”
“Here we go,” Jason muttered as Pia stepped forward, closing the distance between us with Michael’s arm still weakly in the middle.
“Let her know Simba!” The Vet yelled as people on the court watched the show down. “Let her know who runs the kingdom!”
“I ain’t yo lil boyfriend, I’m not yo daddy, and I’m not the type of nigga you can walk all over. I see you lost a lil weight. Body look good,” giving her a series of claps with a nod of my head. “So you got a lil confidence about cha self. Aight. Go be bad then, but that shit don’t move me. You had two years of doing what the hell you wanted to do. Had I been in the picture, she wouldn’t be at no fucking daycare being raised by somebody else. She wouldn’t be looking up at me like she don’t know who I am, but got my whole gah damn face. What type of woman are you?!” I pointed. “To do that to a child, not to me, but to a child! Don’t even matter,” I suddenly laughed with a lick of my lips. “You played yourself Pia Milton. I tried to do it the right way, but after losing my relationship, the love of my life to this bullshit, I no longer give a fuck. So nah, I’m not asking to take Violet. I’m telling you where she’s going to be. Either get with it, or we’re gonna have a problem. She’ll be back the next day. Safe, and unharmed.”
“Hold up, hold up,” Michael let out, trying to step all the way in between us but Pia yanked his arm aside, and stepped even closer until she was right up on me. Looking down at her pinched face with one hand holding her daughter, keeping her close.
“You think you’re so cute Homer,” she sneered. “I wish I had some long drawn out insults to hurl your way, but the truth is, you’re not worth it. Wouldn’t touch me with a 10 foot pole? Excuse me?” Cocking her head back. “You were by far the worst lay I ever had. What a waste of a night----.”
“Ohhhh shit,” someone let out as a few people laughed.
“Nigga she said his dick small---.”
“Boi she didn’t say that! Stop lying!”
“Too quick, too drunk, and too sloppy for my liking. It's a wonder I gave birth to a second you the way you gave yourself to me in the first 10 seconds. Trust me,” standing on her toes. “If I could take it back, I would. I regret ever meeting you. The way you prey on women to boost your ego is sick, and your mother should be ashamed of how she raised you. So instead of blaming my daughter, and calling her bullshit for breaking up your relationship---.”
“I didn’t call her----.”
“BUT YOU DID!” She screamed. “You did! I heard you loud and clear! I don’t care how you feel about me. I don’t care if you get your sisters, all the women in your family to come attack me. Disrespect my child again. I dare you,” she threatened in a low voice, eyes sneering. “My boyfriend will gladly beat your ass. His brothers will beat your ass because they are fiercely protective when it comes to her. The cops will beat your ass all the way to a jail cell, and my daughter...well,” she laughed. “She has a mind of her own. Takes after your sisters so she’ll let you know how she feels herself.”
Backing up, she looked down at Violet.
“Say goodbye Violet,” she cooed. “Time to get a bath, and go eat.”
Out of nowhere, Violet let out a short scream. Stomping her foot towards mine before slamming the popsicle by my shoe as I backed up. She looked up at me with angry eyes and held her hand out.
“NO!” She yelled, muttering words that didn’t even make sense. “TOP IT!”
Only to turn, and stomp off. One small foot m
arching after the other with her body leaning from side to side. Yanking her hand from Pia’s grip and crossing her arms over her chest like she was upset.
“Violet?” I called out.
“Dem spirits keep bothering her,” Michael laughed. “Or she really could just be going off on you, saying you ain’t shit, and whatnot.”
She turned around. Hand held out with her fingers stretched like she was ordering me to stop. Yelled out something before turning back to walk off with her mother.
“All that macho talk, and you get told off by a baby?” The Vet let out before the entire court broke out in laughter. Jason threw his hand on my shoulder as I watched Pia’s every move.
“It gets worse before it gets better, my friend.”
“What happened to being a man’s man?! Huh Simba?! Ahh in the junnnnngle!” He suddenly sang as the entire court followed behind.
“The mighty jungle!”
“The lion sleeps toniiiight!”
“Wait! Wait a minute!” Michael laughed while I snatched my shoulder from Jason’s grip. “Yall can’t do my brother like that! Yall gotta come correct if you finna clown him! Hit em with that,” dropping low as he began to suddenly bop, and stomp his feet. “Uh weeeeeeeeeee! Eeee eeeee!”
“Fuck all of y'all!” I snapped, snatching my shirt off the ground. Attempting to go after Pia to get away, but she slammed her car door shut, and backed out without remorse. Looking at me one last time before swerving out of the complex. I looked back at the cackling park seeing nothing but niggas clowning, and carrying on like hyenas and monkeys in a zoo.
“It gets worse before it gets better man,” Jason repeated with a laugh. “Welcome to fatherhood.”
Pia Milton
“You told him off?” Delilah asked. Voice carrying in the bathroom late Sunday night. It was the only time I could get peace, and quiet. Violet was sprawled about in my bed, sleep. Dre…. He was still obviously upset. Decided not to spend the night.
Hoodwinked Page 14