Circa. June 2014
I watched as Melo and his friends talked from afar. He looked different, the blonded fro on his head sat up better. I wondered what they'd talk about? I mean probably just boy stuff like Drew talks about basketball a lot. Melo was so good at basketball, my husband was going to be one of those big basketball players I saw on tv and I knew it.
"Carmen what dis word bout?" Little Ron asked as he pointed to the word 'faith' on his coloring sheet. With assisting the camp came helping the real little kids. Little Ron ain't but four so he can't read yet. Everytime they'd give him a worded coloring sheet he'd call for me to define the word for him.
"Faith, it means like to believe in something. Like I have faith that you'll stay in the lines." His concentration on the coloring was strong but even now you could see he went out of the lines a bit.
"I don't know about that, it's hard." Whined Ron. Checking the little watch Big Momma had got me for my birthday I saw that their break would end soon and Big Momma would take me home to get something to eat. I wasn't that hungry but thinking about it now I could eat.
"Let me help you." I suggested gaining a small nod of acceptance from Little Ron. I grabbed a simple green crayon helping him shade in the vines. Someone called my name and I looked up to Ms. Johnson. She dismissed me saying that I should look around for Big Momma knowing that it would take me a small while to find her. Big Momma was very friendly so much that she could be at any part of this building, talking to anyone, lost in a conversation. Waiting on her to find me I'd miss the lunch break.
Quickly jogging out I was met with a body bumping to it. Before I could apologize the voice of the body spoke first. "Carmen I was just looking for you...Uh here." I looked up connected the voice and body with Melo who is now holding out a brown paper bag to me.
I look at him skeptically, "what's this?" I asked taking the bag from his embrace.
"A lunch, " Answered Melo simply. I thought about big momma and how I'm supposed to be looking for her. I'm sure she's occupied and would probably just tell me to wait in the car while she continued to talk for another ten minutes.
He smiles at me once before going into his bag and taking out another brown bag which I'm sure was his. I opened the bag taking a look at the items he'd packed for me. "Why'd you make me a lunch, Melo?" The lunch looked good. My eyes layed on the cosmic brownies that I loved so much. I wondered if Drew had told him so.
"I..ion know."
I mumble my gratitude with a simple thanks. He nodded his head up humbly taking a sip from a water bottle. I noticed he'd packed me one too which explained the weight of the bag. I wondered why he really gave me this lunch? Why he was even talking to me right now? Even after I told him about how Drew would react. At this point I was thinking he wanted Drew to be mad at me. Like this was some type of set up joke or something.
I started walking off my head still down as I'd probably have to wander the building for fifteen minutes looking for Big Momma. A hand holds my small wrist. I glance up seeing the belonger of the hand was Melo. He looked down at me, his lips pouted a bit. "I thought you was gonna stay here with me and my brother." A sigh left me lips
"I don't want Drew mad at me"
Melos head moved from left to right as he scanned the hallway. There was no one here, you could still hear the sound of people talking but a deaf person would believe they were alone at this part of the building. Melos eyes landed back on me. "Carmen" my name sounds weird flowing out of his mouth as smooth as it did. I fought to make eye contact with him. "Look just come on"
