My Brother's Girlfriend

1- still just a young'n

I grew up at a street corner in a small neighborhood. This neighborhood was crowded and loud with people fighting every other day. I have seen more drugs being dealt by the age of four then I've seen eposides of elmo. There's graffiti everywhere, busted up sidewalks, and busted up faces if you gave someone the wrong look. This place was called the hood.

For those of you that have heard of the hood, but have never been, you think its awlful. Well, don't get it twisted. I have made friendships, and good ones-Ones that will help me out. I mean, I am strong independent now, but back then... was a different story.

I have been raised by my big brother Kolby (we call him K for short) for as long as I can remember. Along with K, was is his little 'girlfriend' Janalle, who shows up everyday to our small apartment. We were are own little family.

Now, I grew up without a mommy or daddy. I know. Shocking, right?

We were never rich to begin with, but we were making it. I was grateful for what I had and I knew how to share.

Now,there is something called the conner store, and in this store you buy the fake knock-off oreos, icecream sandwiches, bubble gum, iced tea, and most importantly, no, not starbucks... scratch tickets.

One day my daddy walked in there with me and I asked him for an icecream sandwhich. Now, take note I was 3 years old and my daddy was scary. I saw him hit my momma just a couple times but I wasn't dumb. I knew it was more. He worked for what he gave us and we didn't ask for more than hot water, heat, light, and food.

Now, I gathered up the courage to ask my daddy for an icecream sandwhich and right off the back... "No."

I wasn't shocked he said it. An icecream sandwhich was a privilege. I still haven't had one to this day. Shit. I am 17 years old and I still haven't done anything worthy of it.

Back to my story...

My daddy only went in there for one thing-the fifty sent scratch ticket.

"Daddy, how come you never buy the 6 dollar rather than the one dollar one?" I asked.

"Why pay so much to lose?" was his answer.

I have seen my daddy scratch many scratch tickets, but never have I ever seen him scratch over a one dollar one. He never wins.

"Daddy but if you never buy the six dolla', then you never know if the one dollar is good enough," I said, trying to reason.

He looked at me and sighed. He spoke to the man behind the counter. I couldn't believe my eyes. My daddy just bought the six dollar scratch ticket.

When we left the conner store, I found a penny on the ground.

"Here daddy thats good luck you know," I said and he gave me a small smirk.

"Who told you that?" he asked, the smirk still across his face.

My mamma told me but I didn't wannna get her in trouble.

"Just one of the kids at school daddy," I said innocently.

Finally, we arrived at the house. My daddy sat at the small table in the small kitchen. I gave him the lucky penny I found to scratch the lucky numbers.

"Now Tahlah you listen here good now" he said while scratching the large ticket with many numbers,"Don't listen to luck. It's bullshit. If you rely on luck, you don't try. You just think you don't have to try if you have good luck. I mean I ain't got no luck. I try my hardest, and then I try ten times my harder. And look where I am." He said as scratched the last number.

"See. Just another loser-six dollars wasted. Luck my-" he took a pause.

"...ass?" he said in an unsure tone.

"Baby girl, what does that last number say?" he showed me the ticket.

I looked at the ticket closely before saying,"17 daddy."

"I won! I WON THE MILLION!!" he shouted.

I gasped taken back. I was waiting for daddy to say just kidding but it never happened. Unfortunately.

So now I was rich, mom and dad can buy our own real house with an upstairs and a yard and lots of icecream sandwhiches.

But thats what I thought. I mean I was only 3. Some kids want a toy or phone, yet I just wanted my own yard. And an icecrream sandwich of course.

Later that night I woke up out of my bed and walked in the kitchen only to see daddy with a bag ready to go out the door.

"Daddy? Where you going?" I asked a little too loud.

"Shh... Baby, go back to bed... I will be right back. I am gonna go get my princess an icecream sandwhich."

My face lit up with joy. I have never been more excited.

And with that, my daddy left... and never came back.

But thats ok. I learned if I want a damn iceream sandwich, I am going to earn my own. I don't need no one's help. If I get help, I am lucky... And there ain't no such thing luck.