"𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐈 𝐈'𝐌 𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 shed for a minute! Margaret is here if you need anything okay," Graham asks. A thirteen year old, Noelani, sat on her bed, watching Hannah Montana on the TV. "Ok Gam!"
Graham has been dating Margaret for a year now. Noelani didn't really know much about her but she noticed her dad was a little happier than usual. The door closing, sounded throughout the trailer.
Margaret took one last puff of her cigarette before she let it out in the ashtray on the side of the bed. Smoke escaped from her mouth and nose as she got out the bed.
She readjusted her robe, that was gifted to her by Graham as a Christmas present. Margaret walked out into the hallway.
Noelani laid in her bed and she jumped, seeing Margaret standing in the doorway. "You scared me—"
"Why are you just laying in this room doing nothing? There's shit that needs to be done around here."
Lani sat there, confused. "Excuse me," Noelani questioned her.
Margaret shook her head at Noelani. "I don't see how he puts up with a lazy excuse of a daughter like you! Every time I come over you are just sitting around here watching TV," she raised her voice.
This was the first encounter her and Margaret have ever had. Margaret rarely spoke to Lani unless Graham is around.
"I do a lot... you are the only one that doesn't do anything," Noelani replies. Her heart was racing. She was just praying her dad would walk in any minute and save her.
"Excuse me little girl! Watch how you speak to adults. Remember the only reason you are even living in this house is because you are his little charity case and Graham felt bad that your mom died," Margaret pointed her finger at her as her face reddened.
Noelani shook her head. "No I'm not.. they were in love with each other—"
"And she killed herself to get away from you! In love?" Margaret laughs loudly. "Graham would never be in love with a black girl especially one that doesn't know who the father of her child is," she spat.
Noelani grabbed the closest thing to her and threw it at her. "Shut up!" Margaret gasps. Lani ran out of the room and as she ran into the living room, Graham was walking into the house.
Graham watched a hysterical Noelani run up to him, "What happened Noelani," he asks. Margaret speed walks into the room, breathing heavily. Graham prayed they were just playing tag or something.
"She threw a fucking remote at me," Margaret yelled, holding her cheek.
"Wait calm down with all that yelling," he warned her. Noelani cried silently. Graham closed his eyes, taking a deep breath in and out.
"Now tell me what happened?"
He opened his eyes and Margaret was pacing around the room, "I came in her room telling her to clean it up and she talked back to me," Margaret lied.
Graham furrowed his brows. "Noelani wasn't even raised like that. And if you only asked her to clean her room where did the remote come in at?"
Margaret shrugs. "I-I don't know I was just telling her to clean up her room," she stutters over her words.
Noelani mugged her, rolling her eyes. "She's lying dad! She came in my room calling me a charity case, lazy, and talking about my momma," I explained to him.
Graham looked down at his daughter then back at his girlfriend. He knew she was being truthful because she called him Dad and not the nickname she gave him when she was younger. "Ok um Noelani go to your room while I handle this," he demands, not taking his eyes off Margaret.
Graham was definitely going to put her in her place. Noelani walked past Margaret, not making any eye contact with her whatsoever as she went to her room. Lani was going to eavesdrop.
"Graham I—"
"Margaret what's wrong with you that's my fucking daughter, you hear me? You don't ever say no stupid shit like that to her. I raised that little girl and I taught her to do chores and to clean. Plus her room isn't even dirty I went in there before I walked out. And as for Selene her name should have never came out your mouth!"
Margaret raised her eyebrow. "I didn't say Selene's name."
Graham pushed the door into the wall causing both Margaret and Noelani to jump at the sound of it. "I wouldn't give a fuck either way, don't mention her at all especially if you're gonna talk down on her," Graham yelled.
Noelani never heard Graham as upset as he was now. "Well I'm sorry let me help you feel better," Margaret tried to give Graham a kiss but he backed away.
"Get out." he says. Margaret stood there, dumbfounded.
"Wha—"
"Get out Margaret!"
Margaret flinched at the sound of his voice, "Ok!" She headed to his room to get her things.
"Come in my house disrespecting my child and her mother! The fuck is wrong with you... find yo' own way back home too," he exclaims.
Lani watched as Margaret walked out of Graham's room with a hand full of clothes.
Margaret stared at Graham, who was sitting on the couch bouncing his legs up and down. He never looked over at Margaret so she took that as her cue to leave.
The door opened and closed. Graham sighed, slowly standing, heading to Noelani's room.
She looked up at him and he sat down on her bed, staring at her. "I hate that you had to see me act out of character but that was unacceptable and out of place for her," he says to her.
"Don't tell me anything else she said because I might have to go find her but just know the bullshit she tried to feed you are all lies. I love you with all my heart and Selene loved you as well," he assured Noelani.
Lani nods. "I know," she says, smiling.
"She will not be coming back again so you don't have to worry about her anymore," he warned her.
"Ok."
Graham stretched out his arms, "Can I get a hug," he asked. Noelani nodded and hugged him.
He rubbed her back and held her tight. "I'm sorry that you had to deal with that ignorance," he whispered to Lani.
"It's okay!"
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𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦. 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦.
