Portray

Fresh Start

"Well, this is us." Don said, pulling along the curb of a one-bedroom home.

"boy need some work but it's ours."

Tray looks out his window at the Brightmoor home. The bushes and grass were overgrown. A huge crack in the sidewalk leads up to the stoop. And the gutters were over clogged with soggy leaves.

When they got inside, an aroma of tomato sauce filled the house. At the doorway, Don was greeted by a little girl with a pacifier in her mouth. He picks up his daughter and swings her around. Off instinct, he sniffs her then stretches out his arms.

"Hey Jay, when's the last time you changed baby girl?" he peers around the corner to the kitchen.

"I've been tied up with online classes and fixing dinner," Jay said, coming from the kitchen.

"how about you go change Jadonna and I'll get the table set." she suggests, kissing him on the cheek.

"Now you see why I try to be at work." he mumbles, taking his daughter to their bedroom.

Jay playfully waves off his remark, turning to Tray,

"Hey, welcome home, boy!" she said, greeting him with open arms.

"It's been a while, I see y'all official now." Tray embraced her.

"That boy stuck to me like a tick on a poodle." Jay smiles really big.

"once we were expecting our lil' girl, his crazy butt stepped up and made me his Mrs." she lifts up her hand, displaying a small diamond ring on her finger.

"I already know how ya mama roll, she been on him since junior high." Tray recalls how things were back in the day.

"I've been his girl ever since. Funny thing is it don't even feel it's been that long."

* * * *
The three childhood friends sit at the dining table holding each other's hands in prayer. Tray couldn't recall the last time him and his family prayed over a meal. Its been ages. Soon after, chatter exchanged and laughs were shared with mouths full of spaghetti. Something then dawns on Tray. The fact that he'd never taken the time to appreciate family meals at the dinner table.

Ever since he could think back to the time he was able to hold a fork correctly, this was the norm growing up. Yet, the prison lifestyle opened him up to a whole different world.

"So, Tray," Jay said, twirling a fork in her food, "I hear D is setting you up a position at the factory." she looks from her man then to Tray.

Tray took a moment to respond, "I'm gone check 'em out some day this week." he replies, looking down at his plate.

Several things on the mind. Don clears his throat, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"Like I said the other day, I put in a word with Larry," he spoke to his wife. "he's been trying to get in some guys for the shipping and packing department. Ain't shit sticking for real though. The dudes he hire either slacking, not pulling their weight or coming in late."

"Management don't seem to give a damn who they bring in, I seen fools hired on the spot and got grafitti on their face." Don reassured Tray.

"It'll look better if you got your papers in orde

Tray nods in agreement,

"Got a temporary I.D. from Jackson. Gone look into hitting up the DMV tomorrow." he said.

"I'm turning the truck back in to unk in the morning," Don said to Tray,

"if you up by 8, I'll shoot you up there."