Treshawn and TreVon come eat...dinner is ready! I'm not gonna tell y'all again.
Man, Tracee we heard you the first time...the food ain't going no where. Chill! says Treshawn as he comes from downstairs.
Well if you heard me you should've acknowledged me the first time. Don't get smart with me boy.
What's for dinner anyway? ask TreVon as he walks in the kitchen. Betta not be chicken and rice. I'm tired of that shit.
Watch yo mouth Von! You gone eat what we got...and if chicken and rice is all we got that's what you gone eat...so eat up or starve! She sits their plates in front of them.
They both let out a big sigh and start eating.
It's been a struggle for me and family for the past 2 years going on 3 years now. We live in my grandmothers house that she left for my mom when she passed 5 years ago. Momo (as we all called her) was a big influence in our lives. When she passed we all were left lost pretty much. Especially my mom...it was like she lost her other half. She lost her mom, her best friend. It was unsuspecting...we were all caught by surprise when she passed. Every since then life has been hell pretty much. You would think one would be over a death after 5 years or at least accepting of it. I have although I miss my Momo dearly. My mom on the other hand has not...and because of that it has put a burden on all of us. She turned to alcohol and was prescribed antidepressants. It's like she's just existing and not living. Her and my brothers are dependent on me.
"Yo, Tracee! We need lunch money. Treshawn tells his sister. We couldn't even eat lunch yesterday."
Tracee looks at her brothers and rubs her head in frustration. The twins were 13 now and growing by the minute seemed like. Two growing young boys means two always hungry boys that are also growing out of their clothes.
"I got y'all...don't I always?" Tracee asked her brothers.
They both look at Tracee with worry on their face. "Yeah I guess Trace."
I knew my brothers worried about how they would get what they needed or where and how we would get our food everyday. I always made sure to reassure them that everything would be okay and to not worry...because I always made it happen no matter what.
I work tonight so make sure y'all clean this kitchen and make sure all your homework is done. Shawn, go upstairs and check on Ma and see if she wants something to eat.
"Man you know she sleep and out of it...no point in going up there"
"Just do what I said and go up there...before I knock you upside yo head boy" Tracee holds her hand up as if she was going to slap him.
He laughs and runs upstairs. "Always threating somebody yo"
"Cause I'm the big sister I can do that", she says as she smiles. Now you get to cleaning.
For the most part the twins respected me. They have their moments but they're teenagers what do you expect. I worked as a home aide caretaker at nights for an elderly man named Mr. Bobby. I also was in school studying to become a nurse. I had a full plate on my hands but I some how managed to balance it all out by the grace of God. Along with work, school, the twins and my mom. I had Mario as well...my boyfriend of 5 years. The best boyfriend a girl could ask for. He's been there and here for me through it all. We've been together since 9th grade. We were high school sweethearts. All of our friends call us the old married couple because that's exactly how we act. I definitely can see us actually becoming just that in the future.
While getting ready for work my phone rings.
"Hello"
"You up?" It was Mario on the other end. He always calls and makes sure in awake and that I don't over sleep.
"Yeah babe, I didn't even go to sleep. I was up handling stuff wit the twins. What you doing?"
"Just got home. Tired as shit. Wish you didn't have to go to work tonight. I could use one of your infamous massages."
"Oh really now? blushing as she talks.
"Yeah, you work soo hard tho baby...I think you might need one of your own infamous massages."
They both laugh.
"Hell yeah I do. Wishful thinking though"
"I got you baby. When your next off night?"
"Next week some time probably. I'm working the rest of the week and this weekend."
"You always work and no play baby. I wanna play sometimes and you should too"
"Mario, you know I have to work. I wish I didn't have to soo much, but I have no other choice."
Mario hates how everything is always left up to me when it comes to my family. He says that I'm enabling my mom and that she's actually taking advantage of me. When it comes to this we argue a lot and here lately we've been arguing a lot. I don't know why he would say my mother is taking advantage of me. That is so not the case. My mom has a problem and as her daughter I'm here to take care of her no matter what my loving and caring boyfriend thinks.
"Yeah, well I've told you many times she needs to go to rehab Tracee."
"Ugh, Mario we're not gonna talk about this right now. I'm gonna be late for work...I will talk to your later."
"There you go running from the truth and reality once again. Have a good night at work Tracee." He hangs up.
I hated when he did that. I knew he was telling me right. I just don't like to hear it. I hated to think that it had gotten so bad for my mom.
