Family Lies

Treasure

"Aye! You be back by a decent time!" Aunt Donna pointed her finger my way as she came downstairs in her work scrubs while watching me try to run out of the door. "Yes ma'am!" I opened the door and nearly walked right into Aunt Dottie. She was sitting on the front step on the phone crying. "You okay, Auntie?" I asked with genuine concern. I had just met her. But for some reason I felt like I'd known her all my life. We just connected. And I know it's very strange but I never got comfortable with nobody this fast. So yeah, worry filled me. Aunt Dottie started wiping her tears away as she looked up at me while nodding. She tried to tell me to go on quietly but I didn't want to leave her alone like that. So I sat down next to her and waited for her to finish her conversation. And it seemed like as soon as I did that she did.

"I'll call you back later, Irving. Treasure just came outside... Bye Bye." She flipped her phone shut and took a breath so big you would have thought she'd been holding it or something. "Was that your husband?" She only nodded while staring straight ahead. "Is everything okay?" Aunt Dottie looked over at me obviously forcing a little smile. "Yeah we're good."

I twisted my face up like I usually did when something ain't sit right with me. "But are you good?"

"Yeah. I'm good babe, you ain't gotta worry about me. Did you come out here to check on me?"

"Uhhh, don't flatter yourself." I chuckled while holding up my hand, causing Aunt Dot to laugh and gasp all at the same time. "I was actually just on my way to meet Nicci to play basketball."

"You need a ride? I'll take you," Aunt Dot offered and just before I could politely decline I heard my brother speaking up. "A ride where?" We looked back to see True leaning against the door. "I'm boutta go play ball with Nicci." True started laughing. "Gay ass." I stood up and sent a punch to his stomach. "I ain't in the mood for your goofy ass!" I said through gritted teeth. "Hey, come on now," Aunt Dottie said as she pulled us apart. "True if your sister likes that girl ain't nothin' wrong with that. That's her business."

True just laughed while shaking his big ass head. "You prolly gettin' a kick out of this. Come on, I'm goin' too." He started walking to the car ahead of us. I stood there confused as Aunt Dottie looked over at me. "Come on girl," she said flatly before nudging my shoulder and we strolled to her car. I pushed True away from the front passenger door so I could get in and he groaned. "Why I gotta ride in the backseat? Don't spare parts always get tossed to the side?" I rolled my eyes as our Aunt unlocked the doors. "That's why I pushed yo ass. And you always sayin' that! We don't even know which one of us came first." 

Aunt Dottie laughed as she opened her door. "True came first," she said before ducking inside. "Told you," True teased as I opened my door the littlest bit. "Shut yo ass up. Where'd you and Aunt Dot go when she dropped us off after the mall?" I asked quietly.

True shrugged. "We ain't go no where. She wanted to talk to me so she took me for a ride. Getcho ass in the car," he said while pulling my door open and then getting in the back and I got in myself.

"How'd you know that Auntie?" I asked as she pulled off.

"Know what?"

"That True came first? Oh and we goin' around Dollie house. It's a park over there."

"Oh... I was in the room. But if it makes any difference you was only a couple minutes behind."

"Oh my God! You was lookin' up Dollie coochie?" I asked, bout ready to gag. "Was she on that stuff? Did she have a bath? Please don't tell me I came out that cat on a dirty Thursday." I shivered and Aunt Dot and True both started laughing and shaking their heads.

"True you laughin' like you don't know Dollie let that thing go bad like raw meat. Ooooh Aunt Dot!" I shook my head in disgust. "Yo sister down bad girl. I ain't never seent or smelt nothin' like it."

"Oh my gosh," she tried to stop laughing. "Get off her. That's what them damn drugs do to you though. If I was you I'd just let that be a lesson on why you need to stay far away from all that shit." I started fiddling with my nails. "Trust me. She gave me plenty of reasons to stay away from drugs. I never wanna be anything like her."

"My sister made a lot of mistakes. We all have. But all we can do is pray and ask God to deliver us."

I went quiet— not caring to talk about Dollie anymore. When we pulled up to the park I saw Nicci out there hitting baskets. As soon as we parked True hopped out and started walking down the street. "I'll pick y'all up here in a couple hours, ight?"

"You don't gotta do that, Auntie. I got my bus pass," I told her but she just shook her head. 

"Naw it's okay babe. I wanna make sure y'all get home safe. Plus there's somethin' I wanted to talk to y'all about together. Ight? So... a couple hours." I nodded. "Okay." I started to get out. "And look out for your brother. Make sure he don't get himself into no trouble."

"Oh yeah. Me and True always got each other no doubt. See you later Auntie," I called behind me as I hopped out. I ran down the street to meet Nicci on the court that sat in the middle of the park and slapped the ball out her hand. "Oh you already disrespectin' me on my court." She laughed while pushing me and taking the ball back. I let her show off and make the last basket her ass was gonna make as long as I was here.