Bastard

attempt

   Warmest greetings to anyone joining me here. I wish you blessings, and I hope all mothers had a very nice holiday.

   It's been good being able to be here with my sisters Mona Lisa and Ruby away from everything. It's been a long time coming.

   When I arrived here I was greeted by my squealing sisters who showered me with hugs and kisses and put a drink in my hand. They were sorry not to see Daenarick, and when we sat down and I let it all out, they were moved to tears, and of course ready to go find Taz. I told them it was what it was, and that's what it is.

   Mona Lisa and Ruby assured me that all was gonna change someday, and that Daenarick would come around. But until then, they suggested I keep loving him and reaching out to him. They spoke of how scandalous it was for Shantrelle to keep him from me for so fucking long.

   My dear Ruby is the medium of our family, and she had quite a lot to say over drinks. She told me she felt Shantrelle is still harboring feelings for me; I told her I already knew that, but that I just didn't understand why. We spoke of the incident with Herb and Ruby told me that Shantrelle saw concern in me and takes this as love and devotion. When I told her that I still see to Shantrelle's needs, as in paying her bills and shit, she let out a whoop and called for Mona Lisa. "Chile, come in here and get our brother!"  😂😂

    Of course Mona Lisa wanted the tea, and both of them drilled me about exactly what it is that I do for my three children's mothers, and afterwards they told me they were proud of me for taking responsibility but I was killing myself working whilst they just sit back and receive. I asked them not to judge me too harshly, or the mothers, for I knew what kind of drama I must bring to their lives, and it's the least I can do for them.

     Mona Lisa kept grabbing my face and telling me she couldn't believe how handsome her baby brother has gotten, and she said "Oh, I know why they going crazy over you! Boy you are too damned fine! And I know you before today! A mess!"  Now why? My sisters know how to make me blush, and all I could do was just smile and laugh.

   After a while, the other guests started arriving. Mona Lisa hired a d.j. and reserved the ball room for us. There was good food and the drinks were aplenty, yet I was still in my funky mood. I knew my sisters must think me daft after all I told them.

   My brother-in-law pulled me aside to catch up. I tried my best to be normal but when one of the servers started flirting with me he and the rest of the fellas there started giving me hell.

   To make matters worst, my sisters' friends were getting drunk quickly and that group is one hot mess when they're intoxicated; I remember how they cut up for the wedding. Already I was being pulled on.

   Mona Lisa took me by the hand and we went dance together. She could see right thru me. She asked that I try to enjoy myself. She grabbed me by the face again and began her praises of disbelief once again, and once again my big sister had me blushing hard.

   Of course I brought my stash with me, but left it in my car along with their gifts. I wanted to surprise my sisters.  When I went out to Lucille one of the friends, a chill one, asked to join me. It didn't bother me none and I said it was cool. I opened up the door for her and she got in, immediately noticing the back seat piled with gifts. As I rolled me a few blunts, the blunts I'd need to get me thru the night, we made small talk. She asked, I answered. All I wanted to do was smoke my blunt, and once I got to toking I offered her a hit.

   Of course, our absence was noticed, and the friends made a huge deal about it, saying me and the friend was trying to get away and shit. It couldn't be more false. I just needed to get high to deal with being around all these people.

   Mona Lisa stood for me, telling me not to give her silly peeps a worry. She bet me $100 that they would all probably flirt with me, and that I could take anyone if not all of them down. I asked Mona Lisa what she was smoking 😂 She told me she was serious. "Them bitches need dick in they life like they need Jesus"  I assured her I wasn't the one.

   My sister laughed her ass off at me. I had to laugh too. We were just standing there, enjoying each other. "You a mess I tell you! A mess!" She reminded of someone dear when she said that.

   We danced again, trying to show each other out. Mona Lisa said Mother Dear must have been smiling down upon us. I couldn't have agreed more. I was attempting to have a good time.

   That's when Cotton walked in. I looked at Mona Lisa and she just raised her eyebrows and stared back. "What? She's a friend of the family. And she's a mother who busts her ass daily. Of course I was going to invite her here to relax... y'all need to fix whatever y'all got going between y'all and keep it pushing! Let's just all enjoy ourselves."

   Cotton was saying her Hello's when she saw me and Mona Lisa, and she made her way to us. Cotton is always looking lovely, but she's the law. A pig. NOPD.

   But she's also been a friend of our family, and she was once my good friend when we were kids. When we pursued a relationship she decided to chase after her daughter's father and I accepted that. It hurt me but I moved on. She was the one who kept trying to get in touch with me thru Hassan and some of my other peeps, but I figured it best not to fuck with her again. We did have a good time together, and she was someone different from Semaj, but Cotton left me at a vulnerable time in my life.

   Cotton and Mona Lisa squealed, hugging each other. Cotton thanked her for inviting her, then she came over to me. I could see the unsurety in her eyes as she opened her arms for a hug. I complied, staring at Mona Lisa as I did. Cotton told me it was good to see me again. I said likewise and tried to be civil. Cotton asked if we could find time to talk later; I told her we could, but my heart wasn't into it. "Girl, what you did to my brother?" Mona Lisa asked her, then to me, she said, "Cotton must have put that nooky thang on you, or maybe you work it out on her. Me. I don't know, but I know y'all need to relax and talk things thru."  Cotton seemed pleased.

   Of course later meant when everyone was retiring to our rooms. That's when she wanted to talk. She asked me if I could speak to her in her room, for she had unpacking to do and was tired. I asked how work was and she begged me not to be that way. She said she knew I didn't agree with her job. I told her it wasn't any of my business, that she had her job as an officer long before we reconnected.

   Cotton think she's slick, started undressing for the night. She asked me what my problem was with her. I got up to leave. I told her if she didn't know, she didn't need to know and that was that. I told her it was nice to see her but I was going to bed, and I reached for the door. Cotton stopped me, closing the door and cornering me up against it.

   I wasn't for the bullshit, and I didn't want to ruin our family vacation. I stood there, trying to reserve myself. Cotton began to cry and with that came all her confessions and feelings for me and I just wanted to go to my room and smoke. I don't need her to be doing all that. What I had for Cotton is no more. I need her to understand that but she doesn't want to. Cotton began to cry more, burying her face in my shirt, talking about how she misses me.

   I gave her a hug, not a tender one, just a hug. I looked her in her face and I told her that I needed to go. She begged me to stay the night with her and when I told her I couldn't she asked if I would find some time for her whilst here. I was able to open the door and leave and I did so. Dealing with Cotton is not something I signed up for.