Diamonds in the Rough: VOL. I

three

"Your ass ain't slick." Andre Sr spoke as Dre dropped ice into the cooler in front of him. He looked over to his dad and smiled. "Yeah your mom going let your ass slide. But you know you wrong for dipping out of here when that countdown went down."

"My fault pops." There was no point in Scar trying to explain that he had business to handle. His dad didn't care anything about the street shit he got into.

"You better be happy she's in a good mood. I would smack that smile off your face." Scar laughed as he stood up straight. His father had once been his height. But over aging he was standing a few inches shorter than him at six feet.
His mocha brown skin had a few wrinkles in it.

They shared the same smile but Andre got his other facial features from his mom. "I knew to bring my ass back. Even brought Ty to be sure she had somebody else to fuss at."

"That don't change me fussing at your ass." His dad scoffed. "You take care of what you needed to?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "That situation is good."

"Better be. I'm not burying my son."

"Dad I'm straight." Andre smiled shaking his head. "Where Mo at? Why she ain't come through?" He asked. His dad took a deep breath as he sat in a chair.

"You know Monica can't stand your aunt. She told your mom if she was going be here she wasn't coming." He shook his head. "Your mom always want to let all these motherfuckers over here knowing they going be asking her for money and shit."

Scar frowned. "Who asked for some bread?" He leaned  back against the counter behind him.
"Who didn't. She passing it out like she don't know that's just going lead them to calling in a week for more."

"How much she give?"

"Thousand here. Couple hundred there." His dad shook his head. Andre Sr had been over his wife's family since the day he had the displeasure of meeting them. Scar loved his mother, but he shared the same sentiment as his father when it came to her family. When they found out she was pregnant with him, they had turned their backs on her.

Kicking her out of the house and even fighting her when she didn't want to help them with shit. They had been toxic and draining for his mother. But that never stopped Alyssa from being the anchor they needed. She would give money, time, even be a baby sitter to kids who had no problem with disrespecting her.

"Don't worry about that pops. I got dukes."

"Please boy. I already know that shit. It don't mean my wife ain't setting herself up for the slaughter." He leaned forward in his seat. "Guess you don't understand that part just yet."  His eyes moved to Scar's. "When you planning on letting go of the bullshit you call a career."

Scar knew he couldn't bullshit his dad so he didn't try. "I know I need to leave it behind."

"And you ain't making no moves to do that."

"Not yet no."

"You know why most niggas end up in a grave or a cell? Because they think since some shit is going they way that mean there won't be no consequences. You too comfortable with that bullshit. It's been going in your direction for years. Cops ignoring shit they should be on. Pay attention, you building an easy case for somebody over the local cops."

Scar didn't like the sound of that. But he knew his father wouldn't speak on something he didn't peep for himself. "Tyson going be the one who get you knocked with his loud, flashy arrogance. It's time to make some changes son."

"I hear you pops."

"Do something about what you hearing me say. Not just telling me you hear me Andre. If I gotta come get you, I will. But it ain't going change the fact that one of these motherfuckers, friend, foe, or even cop will take everything from you. Then what? Who going be there waiting when you don't got none of this shit?"