Big Daddy D -slow updates

Are You My Mother?

Duka lay on his bed flipping through his comic book trying to be inconspicuous. Dayquan was on the top bunk talking in low tones to someone on the phone. The eleven-year-old didn't normally eavesdrop on his older brother but Dayquan always seemed to be doing fun stuff.

He tossed his book to the side when Dayquan hopped off the top bunk and headed for the closet. "Where ya goin', Junie?"

Dayquan pulled on a black shirt and grabbed his jacket. "None of yo' bidness, nosey."

Duka frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not nosey."

"Yes, you are." He put his jacket on and paused. As if something occurred to him, he turned to his little brother with a raised brow. "How much did you hear?"

"Nothin' at all."

"Duka..."

Hearing the warning in his brother's tone, Duka held his hands up in surrender. "Honest."

Dayquan put his hands on his hips and smirked. "Then how you know I'm goin' somewhere?"

"You always do when you done on the phone."

"Uh-huh."

Duka's face lit up with a smile. "Can I come?"

"Nope."

"Aw come on!"  He tugged on Dayquan's shirt. "You never take me anywhere."

He snorted. "What I look like takin' my little brother wit me?" He pried Duka's little paws off his clothes. "You're eleven, I'm twenty-two. I'm a grown man."

Duka was no fool. He knew a few things. He snorted at his older brother. "If you so grown, why you still livin' at home?"

"You pay any bills?"

"No."

Dayquan flicked his forehead and smiled. "Aight then."

"What does that mean?" He rubbed his stinging forehead. Dayquan's flicks were no joke.

"You ain't got no authority 'round here, shrimp."

Deflated, Duka flopped in the chair by the desk with his hands over his chest. "Nobody ever does anything with me anymore." Dayquan worked all the time. When he wasn't working, he was going to community college or hanging with his friends. Donnell worked in a salon by day and at a drag nightclub six days a week. Deedree graduated and went away to college out of state. He only saw her on winter and summer break. Dazia was four years older than him but she was always with her friends.

Dayquan paused with his hand on the knob and sighed. "Aight, listen. Jace is takin' you to mom's for the weekend. I'll spend time with you when you get back."

Duka stood up and glared fiercely at his brother. "I don't want to go there. I hate it there. Her kids always mean to me and she's always...high."

A feeling of guilt washed over Dayquan. How could he not understand his little brother's feelings? Although they spoiled him, he was often alone because everyone worked and were into their own things. He put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "I know It's not fun but you have to go to mom's. The law says so. I'll take you out for burgers and onion rings when you get back. Deal?"

Duka looked at him with narrowed eyes. "You promise?"

Dayquan held out his pinkie finger with a smile. "Pinkie promise."

"Okay." Duka smiled and hooked his pinkie with Dayquan's. "No take-backs."

"Bet. I know it's rough but try to have a good time while you're there."