My next move was to call Siah. I was supposed to be meeting him, but this shit had just changed all that.
“What up, Jock?”
“I’m not coming, yo. Anj just called and something’s going on with Hari. I need to swing by, get her, and then take him to the doctor. Let's reschedule.”
“Aight bet, you need me to meet you there, you good?”
“I don't know what’s up yet, could be nothing, but I’ll hit you as soon as I know.”
“Make sure you do. I need to know what’s going on with my little OG.”
I ended the call and laughed. Siah was my dude. He was Jahari’s godfather and his ass was good as hell with kids, but had sworn off having any. I understood why, but hoped he would get over that shit one day. For him, kids were a reminder of what went down with his mom. That situation had his head all messed up. She died giving birth to him, and there was a small part of him that blamed himself.
Her life for his, is what he always said. It was like he couldn't really get over that, even though sometimes shit just happened. It was part of the reason why Siah and Senior lived the way they did. Both of their asses were afraid to love someone enough to feel pain if they lost them. Neither of them admitted it, but it was obvious as fuck.
When I reached Anj’s house I noticed her looking out the window, which was good because I was anxious to figure out what was going on with my son. I wasn't in the mood to be playing around with her. Before I could even get out the car, the door was open and she was coming out with Jahari in his car seat and his bag over her shoulder.
She was pretty as hell as always, but she looked stressed. I could see the worry in her face. Part of it was from knowing that I was about to get in her ass about drinking in the middle of the day while she had my son, but also I knew that she was genuinely concerned about our son.
I jumped out and grabbed Hari from her because I needed to lay eyes on him, just to give me a peace of mind. He was sleep, but his eyes were all puffy and I could tell he had been crying. I kissed his little face and he was burning up, which sent fire through my veins.
“How long he been like this, Anj?” I asked after getting him situated in my ride, while she climbed in the front seat. She knew I didn't play about my son, so she was tense as hell. I really didn't give a fuck though, it was about him and not her.
“A few hours. I gave him Tylenol, but his fever wouldn't break and he’s been crying for almost two hours. He finally just passed out.”
“Why the hell you just now calling me then? And why the fuck is your sister’s car here? She in there?”
Anj’s sister was trifling as fuck. She was a fucking junkie and a stripper who lived off her sister and mother. When their mother put her out, she came straight to Anj. I hated her dumb ass, and knew she had something to do with Anj drinking in the middle of the day.
“It’s not her fault, Jock. Please don't start.”
“The fuck you mean it's not her fault? You ain't never do this shit before, but she’s here and you’re drunk, with my son, I might add. Look at your damn eyes, Anj. They’re red as fuck. You been smoking too, I smell that shit all over you.”
“I was stressed. I just needed to escape for a minute, but I—”
“Man, shut the fuck up, Anj. I swear on everything, you better hope he’s good. The only reason why I tolerate you is because you’re a good mother to our son, but this shit right here got me rethinking that.”
“It’s one time, Jock, just one time, and you can't talk. You do the same thing and you know it.”
“Man, dead that shit, Anj. When Hari is with me, I don't drink, I don't smoke, and he’s my got damn priority. That's what a good parent does. What I do when he’s not with me ain't got shit to do with that, so don't come at me with that bullshit. You fucked up, so sit your ass over there and don't say shit, aight.”
She looked at me like she wanted to say something, but she was smart and kept her thoughts to herself. She knew she was wrong and she could tell that I was beyond pissed, so she did the right thing and kept her damn mouth shut.
*****
I sat in the hospital room with my son on my chest. He was finally sleeping peacefully after screaming his head off for damn near three hours after we got him there and the doctors were poking and prodding all over his body. That shit pissed me off, but I knew it was necessary in order for them to figure out what was going on with him.
After all of that, me holding him was the only thing that would calm him down and keep him quiet, so that was exactly what I did. The doctors had run all kinds of tests and were talking about doing a spinal tap, but I wasn't with that shit so they agreed to give him a heavy dose of antibiotics to see if that helped. Thankfully, his temperature had gone down and he was resting now.