The Grove Chronicles

Chapter 27

Wandie instructed her employees at her Caldors job. She was one of the supervisor's  on second shift.  While walking off, the manager Bob approached her. " Excuse  me Wandie, can we meet in my office for a little chat?"  Wandie sighed. " Yes we sure can. 

In the office Bob discussed the lay-offs they were doing, to save the company money. Unfortunately, Wandie didn't have enough seniority compared to the other supervisors, leading her to be let go.  " You're a great worker Wandie, and you know I'd bend over backwards for ya...." " It's totally out my hands at this point." 

Wandie nodded, understanding the situation. " Bob, you did me no wrong." " I appreciate the opportunity." " Much love girl." The two shook hands, parting ways. " Lordy lord, it's always, road block in this path of life . she thought to herself. 

Later at home, she plopped herself on the couch, turning on some jazz to relax her. Ezail came in the house late, after being on the block. " Boy, do you realize what time it is, on a school night ?"   "My bad auntie,  Snuff needed my help wit somethin." " Well.... everybody need help nowadays." Ezails sensed a problem. 

" Yo you ok auntie?" " No, not at all...." " They made cutbacks at work, and well. of course, I was one of the first to go."  " All part of the game of life." Ezail shook his head. " Damn...."  ' You straight with money for now?"  " Yes I'm a'ight baby." " Your uncle Willie, work nights at the gas station up here on Remington Road." " He'll contribute." 

" Man, I'll never work at no minimum wage gas station." Ezail scoffed. " Well any job is better than no job." Wandie remarked. " Anyway, right now I need to be alone baby, so tired." 

" Okay cool, I'm bout to chill out myself, goodnight." " Good night child."  

While Ezail was lying in bed, he counted stacks of money. Suddenly his bedroom phone rang. " He picked it up quickly. " Yo wadup?"  "Baby it's me."  " Ah,  Ms. Apollo Creed.  Ezail laughed. " Very funny.." Esmyra sulked. " Papi grounded me for a month and a half." " Can't even hang out wit Selena or Traci....." " Hell, he doesn't even want me having a quinceanera." " Like I give a damn anyway."  

" Can't say I blame him, ole Patrelle got beat into the next universe." Ezail chuckled. The girl Patrelle suffered a mild concussion, along with a cracked rib. Her foster mother, decided not to press charges, leading Esmyra to get off easily. This was not Esmyra's first rodeo. In 7th grade she broke a boys eye socket in gym. However in this instance, thanks to Eduardo having pull, knowing the principal, she only received a 5 day suspension instead of 14.  

" Ayo buss it babe." " Patrelle is down wit Seville Boulevard....." " It's some pretty deep beef between us, so watch yo back out here a'ight?" " Yo temper gotta chill." Ezail ordered. " Bub, I don't fear nobody out here." " The way I'm feeling right now can't get any worse.' Esmyra sighed heavily. " Wasup mami, talk to me." 

" Babe...... so lately I've been having morning sickness and feeling  more  tired right?" " I thought it was nothing at first, like some minor food poisoning, but it's worse..."  Ezail pondered. " Oh shit, it's not a appendix burstin, you know my cousin just had his removed... easy fix." 

" Ezail Harris no!" ' I took a pregnancy test, and it came back positive!" "Bubba we're  having a baby!" Ezail stopped counting his bills, shocked in a paralyzed state. " Wait, time out on the play...."  " A baby as in another life?" ' Another human life?" " We created it?" Ezail acting  more and more cynic.  " Yes Chuck!" " Yes!"  Esmyra squealed.  

" Okay, My you sure?" " Is them test's even accurate?" Esmyra sucked her teeth. " 100%." " Plus, I know my body." " I know it too girl." " Shit this is crazy yo." " Word to my mother grave, I'm gonna be a dad.." Ezail shook his head. " Baby.."  You not mad are you?" Esmyra questioned. " Love, I'm not even close." " Shit gonna be hard though." "  Right now, let me worry bout gettin this paper and workin hard to go pro  in the future.' 

"  That's cool." " I'm scared though." Esmyra fretted. " Yeah, I ain't gonna front Ima little nervous too."  " Look, we gonna talk about all this later, at school." " Okay." " Love you baby." " Love you too mama, take it easy."