Mama's Little Girls

one

Beyoncé Knowles
A week earlier
Willie's Garage

"Morning, Miss Rita." I greeted as I entered the garage.

She grinned my way, heading out. "Morning, Bey."

I tied my hair into a low ponytail, preparing for my days work. "Hey, Maya." I gleamed, seeing my favourite neighbour.

On her hip sat her daughter. I waved at her daughter before Maya greeted me back. "Hey, Bey."

I kept walking until I reached Willie, who was engrossed in the engine of a car.

I quickly popped some gum into my mouth, zipping my work jumpsuit to the top.

"What up, Willie?"

Willie raised his head, looking my way. "What's up, young blood?"

"How are you?" I questioned, peering into the hood of the car.

He deeply sighed, releasing a low chuckle. "Old and tired, Bey."

"Not looking a day over 60." I joked and he whipped me with the rag in his hand.

"That woman say this engine won't start."

Maya huffed, frustratedly. "Yeah, well, it won't." Then she turned her attention to me. "You know, Bey, he was supposed to fix it."

I reached my hand into the engine, examining the problem.

"Never did." She remarked.

I knew she was tired of her car breaking down.

"He don't know what he doing. That fool can't even see." Maya poked fun at Willie.

"I saw yo momma the night you were made." Willie clapped back.

I stifled a laugh at the two.

"Whatchu say to me?" Maya cocked her head to the side. "Don't you make me put this baby down. That ain't no way to talk to me. I gave this car service one of its best clients."

"Yeah, you never let me forget it, neither."

"That's right." She nodded her head.

Before they could continue, I spoke up after a minute of just looking at the engine. "Maya, I'll take a look at it for you. Take a seat."

"Thank you." She muttered, adjusting her daughter on her hip. "You all right?" She asked her baby, to which she received a nod. "You better do something. You know Chico quit?"

I closed my eyes before walking back over to the other side of the car.

"You don't want to lose my boss as a client." With that, Maya left and I turned over to Willie.

I dug in my pocket for a wad of cash. "Here you go, Willie."

"How much is there?" He questioned, flicking through the money.

I sighed. "Not enough, but I'll get it to you. I promise, ok?"

I pivoted on my feet so I could go back to checking the car engine out.

"I just lost one of my drivers. He was the only one classy enough to drive the old cooperate types."

I lifted my head from the hood. "Will-"

"Now-now, listen, Bey-"

"No, no, no, Willie." I shook my head, wiping down a thin metal rod. "You know I can't stand them people. They think they better than everybody el-"

"Hear me out!" He cut me off again. "The pay is good."

"I hate them stuck-up types." I shuddered at the thought of it.