Walk With Me 1

39

Beyoncé

"Mama ain't gone like this, Baba." Jazmine says as I put my shoes on.

"You ain't ti'd of always being in the house?" I ask.

She was complaining about being inside too though.

"Well yeah."

I help her into the backseat of the car.

"Can we go to Chuck-ee cheese?"

"Yes."

I just want out of the house. I drive us to Chuck-ee cheese's and it's great because I was craving their pizza anyways.

Jazmine eats a slice but is distracted by everything else. Eventually I get her to take a few bites and let her go on the the first game she wants to go to with her cup of coins.

Jazmine drags me gently to the games and I take pictures and play with her. It warms my heart seeing her have fun and hang out. It reminds me of my own childhood a lot. Once again I get more excited for India's arrival.

I've been around since Jazz was a couple of months old and to see her grow up is very bittersweet. I recall Nicki excitedly telling me and getting to experience many firsts with her. Not that it'll be any different with India, but I understand every child is different and the bond you have with each one of them is also unique.

Will India say her first words as early as her sister? Will she walk before one like Jazmine? What will her voice sound like? Her personality? I'm just excited.

Almost on cue, I get a few kicks, as a sign to keep eating my pizza.

"Baba, can we see the animal?"

"What animal?"

She leads me to the animatronics on the stage. They're scary but whatever for my daughter. I lift hee up and she reaches out to shake the chicken's arm and laughs.

"Baba, there's a game and the characters look like them."

"Really?"

"Yeah." She smiles big. "Baba, pet it."

I look into the animals beady ass eyes and get bad shivers.

"Baby, the duck is scaring baba." I chuckle.

"Okay, then can I go up there?"

She points up at the tubes and I nod.

"Go on, I'll wait right here."

She goes up the colorful tubing while I have her stacks and stacks of tickets and coins in my hand with that cup too.

I snap a couple of pictures. I'd send them to Nicki if she knew we were going out. Maybe I'll show her later once she sees how happy Jazz is.

"I love you." I kiss her cheek.

"I love you too, let's go."

We're here for 3 more hours before she gets tired and eager to buy prizes.

_________

Nicki is in the kitchen with her arms crossed. Jazmine is standing in front of me with some stuffed animals in her arms and prizes.

"Have fun?" She looks unimpressed.

"Yeah." Jazmine marches to her room with her new stuff. "Baba had fun too."

Nicki just smiles. I expect her to be pissed or annoyed.

"You got a cute necklace, huh?"

I nod. She kisses me.

"Y'all get ready fa dinner."

"You ain't mad?"

India kicks me right in the rib, almost like she's telling me not to push my luck.

Nicki shakes her head.

"Alla my girls had fun, right?"

She rests her hands on either sides of my stomach and India kicks, causing a wider smile.

"Yeah we did."

"Okay. You a adult. I know you can take care of yourself and the girls. Just be careful, 'Kay?"

I put the boa on her and she looks at me.

"You eat in this."

"Eat?"

"It's a new word. But I love you tons."

"I love you too."

Nicki playfully pokes at my belly, clearly irritating India because I get a big one to my ribs.

__________
Shawn Carter. That's it.