Growing Up

Chapter 8

Caleb and Sabrina left the clinic and began walking back to Sabrina's house "Hey, can we stop by my aunts? I wanna tell Jamal." Sabrina looked at him "Why?" Caleb grinned "I just need advice. Plus with how Chris has been paying out I was gonna ask Jamal if he could help us get a place of our own. Ya know, for our little family." Sabrina giggled "That's fine. Your aunt has AC, right?" "Yea. She does." Sabrina sighed in relief, "Thank God. Being hot just makes this worse." The two walked into his aunt's house and back to his room, where Jamal was sitting on the bed staring at Cassie's ultrasound pictures.

"Hey, Jamal. Are we cool to come in?" Jamal stuffed the pictures under his pillow "Yea, sure." Sabrina looked around "Where are those waters?" "Oh, on the couch. There's juice in the fridge if you want." Sabrina wandered to the kitchen and Caleb sat on his bed. "You must be feeding her well, she's surely filling out some more." Caleb laughed "Yea. You good?" Jamal nodded "Yea, just missing her a lil. She went to her sisters for a couple weeks, and she sent me a pic of herself today. She's getting big."

Caleb laughed "You really are excited, huh? You know what she's having?" Jamal shook his head. "She'll be back Friday, we find out then." Sabrina came back in and dragged the trash can in front of her. "You good, home girl?" Jamal watched as she attempted to drink the juice before getting sick. Sabrina looked at Caleb and laid her head in his lap. "Bro, check this out." Caleb handed Jamal the ultrasound pictures they had just gotten and began to play with Sabrina's ponytail.

Jamal looked up "No shit. I knew you ain't been feeding her all like that! Hmmm, so that's why you were so happy last night. When are you due, girl?" Sabrina looked up, she had started falling asleep again and wasn't quite sure what was happening. "Huh?" Caleb chuckled "Just go back to sleep, Mi Vida. She's due January 12." Jamal watched how Caleb acted towards Sabrina "I don't think I have ever seen you this happy. Glad you found that type shit. It feels good."

Caleb nodded "Hell yea. Hey, you think Cassie's cousin could get us in? I got the money, we just aren't 18 yet." Jamal thought about it "I can talk to him. If you got the money, I'm sure he could get it worked out. Damn though, our kids are gonna be close. Fucking around getting into shit like me and Amari..." Jamal's voice began to trail. Amari was Alicia's daughter who passed away when Caleb was 12. "Yea, you want a boy or girl?" Caleb was trying to get off the Amari topic, since Jamal was the one who found her when she died.

"I gotta say boy. Teach him hoops, how to fight, how to treat a girl. You?" Caleb thought about it for a few minutes "Girl. I had enough of boys having 3 brothers." Jamal laughed "Fuck you too, then. Shit, Ryan and Marcell are about to get their asses beat right about now." "Why, whats up?" Jamal shook his head "Mannn, they are trying to go Demon. Chris paying me a band if I knock some sense into them." Caleb smirked "Shit, I would take Marcell one on one." Jamal looked shocked "Since when do you fight?"

Caleb looked down at Sabrina "Since the shit with Mom I've been fighting a lot. Only way to get my anger out, ya know?" Jamal nodded "I went to see her the other day, she ain't herself without the drugs. It's fucked up the mommy I know is the one on drugs." Caleb shook his head "I can't forgive her. My mom or not, it's not gonna happen." Jamal was beside himself "You can't hate her forever. Yea, she fucked up. But this version of her is better. Different, but better." 

Caleb started to shake and was trying to stay quiet so he didn't wake Sabrina "She doesn't learn. This shit happened when I was born. She's lost 4 babies since I turned 10. Why would I care? She sure as hell doesn't. Imma be a better parent than either of mine, that's a fact." Jamal agreed "Sure as hell. You're a good kid, young but you're mature. If you really want, I can talk to Chris and he can get you a cut."

Caleb gave a thumbs up "Sure thing. I got shit to do for him tonight but I don't want to leave her." Jamal smiled "Man, you care a lot about her. I aint working tonight, if you want she can stay here for a bit and I can make sure she's straight." Caleb agreed "Thanks man. I'll give you $20 for pizza or whatever, I'm not sure she'll eat any." Jamal chuckled "I figured out how to get Cassie to eat, she was real sick like that too. I gotchu bro." Caleb and Jamal sat and talked for a few hours, then Chris started calling again.

"Hey Chris." "Hey, lil man. What you up to?" "Nothing much. Chillin with my girl, about to do that list in a bit. Whats up?" "Nah, I seen Lydia. We fuck around from time to time. She said Sabrina's been sick, what's going on?" "Uh, I'll swing by and we can talk. Bout to roll out in a few." "Cool. I'll open the door." Caleb looked down and kissed Sabrina's head "Beautiful, I gotta go out. You can stay here, Jamal's gonna be home." Sabrina sat up "Oki, Papi. I love you." Caleb kissed her "I love you too. Is it ok if I tell Chris? He knows something is up." Sabrina sighed "Lydia probably said something. Yea, I guess." Caleb handed Jamal $20 and left.

On his way to Chris's, Caleb stopped at the drug store and bought peppermints and sour candy for Sabrina. He went into Chris' apartment and set his bag down. "Hey boss." "Hey lil man, talk to me. I ain't snitching to Lydia." Caleb pulled the pictures out of his backpack and handed them to Chris. "You knocked her up?" Caleb flinched, then nodded. Chris laughed "Bro, I already knew. She came over with Lydia plenty of times before and we would have deep talks. She always had eyes for you, and she's always wanted kids."

Caleb sighed in relief. "Shit, I thought my ass was gonna get beat." Chris put his hand on Caleb's shoulder "Nahhh. I give you props. Is this why you've been asking for work?" Caleb nodded "Can't let my kid live like I did." Chris gave Caleb a fist bump. "I will make sure y'all stay set. You just gotta let me know. You are one of my youngest, but you are loyal as hell. Text me when the list is done." Caleb nodded "Can I get Marcell one on one? I got beef right now." Chris' eyes widened "Uh, sure. Lil man. Didn't know you fought."

Caleb went and finished all the things needed: Bust out some tail lights on a traitor's car, dead mouse in some girls mailbox (basically meant someone knows you snitched), and a few other tasks. Caleb texted Chris "Got it. I'll swing by tomorrow."

Caleb returned home around 4, about an hour before his aunt came home. He went into the bedroom and found Sabrina asleep in the bed, with Jamal's bed pushed up to it. Jamal was nowhere to be found. Caleb texted Jamal "Where u at?" Jamal replied "Just went to get gatorade. It's easier to keep down and helps her keep her energy and shit. My friends are dropping this king bed off for y'all tomorrow. I got the keys today and wanna surprise Cassie. Just pushed the beds together for you two. Be back soon."

Caleb climbed in bed with Sabrina and laid on his back. He pulled her to him and she laid her head on his chest "You home for the night, Papi?" Caleb kissed Sabrina's forehead "Sure am. I think you need to tell your sister. She's worried." Sabrina nodded "I don't feel good enough to walk home though." Caleb smiled "Call her, my aunt won't be home for another hour. She can stop by if she wants."

Sabrina pulled her phone out and called her sister "Lydia, can you stop by Alicia's on your way to work?" "Uh, yea. You ok?" "Yea, just over at Calebs. Too hot to walk." About 15 minutes later, Lydia started knocking on the door. "It's open." Caleb yelled. Lydia came in and walked to the bedroom where Caleb and Sabrina were. "What's up, Sabrina?" Sabrina sat up and smiled "Where are the pictures, Caleb?" Caleb got the pictures out of his backpack and handed them to Lydia.

Sabrina leaned on Caleb and smiled. Lydia looked up "I knew it. Sis, I'm just glad it's his and not some asshole from the past. You know I had Jeremy at 16 and his father went and ghosted me, so you both have my support." Sabrina smiled. Lydia looked around the bedroom and noticed the beds pushed together "So, y'all staying here tonight?" Caleb nodded "The A/C helps with her being sick. My brother ran out for gatorade. Oh, here baby." He handed Sabrina the peppermints and sour candies. Lydia started giggling "He's smart. Those do help. Put the gatorade in ice cube trays, easier to suck on the frozen gatorade and keep it down than trying to drink it."