"Speaking of. Have you talked to your brother lately?" Tameeka asked.
"Naw. It's been about two weeks since I've heard or seen him. He probably got his privileges taken away for fighting or something. Them fools always trying to test him up in there."
"I can see that ‘cuz your brother was the man out here. Shit, to be honest he still the man out here and those dudes in jail know that. That's why they be trying to test him."
"So who gonna watch Q since we hanging out tonight?" I asked totally forgetting about my godson Quentin.
"My stepfather Cedric gonna watch him. Shit, since he don't have a job he better be able to watch him. He not doing nothing else."
"Right. Your mom is such a hard worker. I'm surprised she hasn't kicked him to the curb."
"I know ‘cuz my mom is notorious for that. I guess she really love that dude or whatever. If it had been anyone else they would've been gone. She probably gave him a special pass since he actually put a ring on it."
"I guess. Any luck with Quentin's dad coming around?" I asked. I know I had asked a pretty redundant question but I always asked my best friend periodically just to see if anything had changed.
Tameeka sucking her teeth gave me all the answer I needed.
"Hell naw. His dad is like having a baby with a motherfucking ghost. He's pretty much non-existent. Besides, my son is already two and a half. If he's not gonna come around then I would prefer if he just stayed out of our lives altogether."
"I feel you on that."
"Can't be doing the in and out shit with me. My son don't deserve that."
"You're right."
My mind went back to when my best friend had gotten pregnant with her son. She had just turned fourteen and wasn't really dating anyone steady. When she learned she was going to have a baby her mother flipped out on her and the guy she'd gotten pregnant by had disappeared too. Eventually her mom got over the initial shock and had been her rock ever since. As her best friend I had her back as well. I don't know who she had Quentin by but whoever he was he had to be one sorry individual to turn his back on his son. Tameeka was right and her and Quentin were probably better off without him anyway.
"Well they about to let me off in front of my house. As soon as I grab my bag I'll pack the rest of my things and I'll be down your house. I'm gonna need you to flat iron my hair."
"How did I know you were gonna ask me to do that. That's cool. See you in a few."
The doors of the bus opened and I stepped off and made the short trip up the grass and into my porch. I pulled my house key out so I could open the door. When I opened the door, like clockwork my brother Tahj was sitting in front of the television playing his game. I just shook my head and knew I wasn't about to be his favorite person but I didn't even care at the moment.
"Tahj, did you do your homework already?" I asked as he paused his game and looked back at me.
"I'm getting off my game now Kyhanna. Dang, why can't I just do my homework later?" He asked clearly having an attitude.
"That would be all fine and good if you actually did your homework so until you can stay on top of your work put your game to the side and get this homework done." I urged. He sat his controller down in the middle of the floor and then stomped up the steps making sure I heard his every step as he made his way to his room. My mother emerged from the kitchen chuckling.
"Girl, the way you holler at Tahj you would think that you were his momma instead of me."
I felt like saying the way I had to raise him I felt like he was my son too but I didn't want to piss my mom off since I wanted to still go to the party tonight. So I chose to keep my comments to myself.
"He be giving me such a hard time with his smart mouth."
"Me too. I pop his mouth every chance I get." My mother said as she sat on the couch and lit up another cigarette.
"How are you? Are you doing better?"
"I'm okay baby. Don't worry about me honey. Wish you were staying home with us tonight."
"I know but Ma this party is about to be turned up and everybody gon' be there."
I ran up the steps and retrieved my duffel bag with my things inside of it, grabbed an extra pair of shoes and then came back down the steps.
"Well have fun. I love you Kyhanna." My mother walked up and hugged me. She held onto me like she was getting ready to burst out crying. I had never seen my mother get this emotional for anything but I guess she had a sentimental side.
"I love you too Ma. Why are you crying?" I asked her as I noticed a single tear escape down her cheek. I felt like there was more than what she was telling me but she wouldn't open up to me.
"I'm crying because you've really grown up to be a beautiful young lady. No matter what happens I want you to always know that I love you. You better hurry up and get to Tameeka house before you get left. You know how she is." She said which caused me to laugh right along with her.
"You are so right. Well I'll be back later. And Ma, I love you too." I leaned in and gave her a kiss on her cheek and then I headed out the door.
I text Tameeka once I started walking down the street and when I made it to her stoop she was already waiting for me in the doorway.
"Bitch, it's about time." Tameeka huffed.
"Girl, I would've been over here sooner but my mom was acting all emotional like she was in the middle of a nervous breakdown or something."
"What? I ain't never know Brenda to show any emotion seriously. What's going on with her?"
"She claims nothing is wrong but my mother has that habit of bottling a lot of stuff inside."
"I know you glad to be out the house for once. Most of the time it's the other way around."
"Right. I didn't even give Brenda a chance to sucker me into watching my little brother. I hit her with the news of me going out early this morning."
"I know that's right well come on so you can hurry up and get dressed. I'll finish my makeup in the bathroom while you get dressed in my room."
"Okay cool."
We walked in the living room and as soon as Quentin saw me he ran up to me and wrapped his arms around me.
"Auntie Kyhanna I missed you!"
"I missed you too sweetheart. Have you been being good?" I asked him as I waited for him to give me an answer. It didn't matter when I asked him Quentin never hesitated to tell me the honest truth.
"He's been trying to be good but you know how Quentin is. It's good to see you Kyhanna. It's been a while." Cedric Tameeka's stepdad said as he looked up from his cell phone and smiled. I offered a simple smile and kept it moving.
"Yes it's been a while. Good to see you too." I replied not knowing what else to say.
"No, it's really great to see you. All of you." He stated and I started to walk away from him toward Tameeka's room but somehow I could feel his eyes staring at my ass as I walked from him. Maybe I was imagining things but I could've sworn he was undressing me with his eyes. I had minimal contact with Cedric but I always got a vibe from him when I was around him like he tried to kick his game toward me but I tried my best to ignore him. Maybe I was just being paranoid. I didn't bother to say anything else and when I turn my head back around he was still staring at me like I was a piece of steak or some shit. I hurried up and went into Tameeka's room and locked the door as soon as I stepped inside. I knew she would probably grow suspicious as to why I had locked her bedroom door when she was just down the hall but I couldn't run the risk of Cedric accidentally slipping into her room claiming it was an accident.
I pulled my outfit out of my bag and laid it across her bed and started to get excited about going to Marquis party. I never really liked to go to many parties but just the fact that I was going to see Kwame there caused the anticipation to build within me. I was too busy staring at my outfit to realize that Tameeka had started banging on the door.
"Kyhanna please open up my door. Why you lock it like you scared someone gonna break in here?"
I walked over to the door and unlocked it so my best friend could enter in her own room. I shut the door as soon as she stepped inside.
"Girl, I do be feeling a little uneasy around that perverted step father of yours. I always feel like he's staring at me or something."
"He probably is with his nasty ass. Shit, I can't stand him myself and I have caught him on more than one occasion staring at my ass but he knows that I'm off limits that's if he wants to keep his life and place of residence. Girl he ain't never leaving my mama. He got it too good here."