GWEH (Go Away)

2. Boy Bye

"Psss," somebody cat called at me as if they were spraying Baygon. I don't particularly appreciate how the thirsty draws chasers don't know their limit, so I did not look back to see who it was.

"Tammy, look yah nuh." Nieko's voice was heard close by. Actually, he sounded way too close for my comfort. I was already angry from the incident with the three little birds, so I continued to the clothesline without sparing him a moment.

When we were going up, I had a huge crush on Nieko. The boy is nice with fairly light skin and a young Denzel Washington features. I used to follow behind the boy like a shadow. But but I never grew in my features back then, so he and his friends called me black dun doce. From then on, I grew to dislike Nieko and avoid him like a plague. I don't know if it's because I dislike him, but I could swear that the older he gets, the uglier he looks in my eyes.

It's even worse that Neiko doesn't know a letter in the word humble. Before you see him, you will hear his clangorous mouth boasting about the smallest of things. Earlier today, I was doing laundry in the bathroom, and I heard his loudmouth bragging about a new edition of Clarks shoes that he was sporting in the yard.

Anyways, I rushed to take the clothes off the line, trucking them into the basket. I was in a hurry, so I had to fold them when I get in from the dew rain. The sky looks ready to open up fully anytime soon, and I want to be inside before it does. I was focusing on that until someone came and grabbed my butt. My reflex turns on, and I span around, rassing the culprit with all my might.

"Yow yuh neva hear mi a call yuh," Nieko said, rubbing his arm, smiling like the slap did not phase him. Sadly, I missed my mark. I was going for the face, but I was 5 feet two, and he seemed two feet taller with his long self.

"Weh yuh a bbc touch mi fahh?" I yelled at Nieko, but all he did was smile, reminding me that he had no limits or boundaries. Not even shame him, nuh shame.

"Easy yuh self nuh man. I was just admiring your fat batty Inna dah little tight batty rider shorts." He grinned, stepped back, and looked me up and down, then tried to touch my bottom, but I boxed his hand away and picked up my pace, taking the clothes from the line.

"Sass Christ Tammy, mi neva know a so you did sexy. All these times you did a hide yuh nice body under them baggy clothes deh?" he went on a rant, while I  grabbed the couple clothes off the line and took up the full basket, balancing it with my hips. Then, I carried the clothespin bag in my other hand.

I turned to walk away, but Nieko blocked my way.

"You just don't know your limit. Man, move out of my way." I was more than annoyed with him. This was the same boy who called me names growing up, never failing to make me cry daily. But who is to blame him? We were kids, and that was years ago...years ago, since I started avoiding him and everyone else in our age group. But why is there interest all of a sudden? Nothing has changed, right? Well, other than that, my mother's genes began expressing overnight, and I was curvy in all the right places with a big double-D bust, wide hips, and five pounds on each buttock. But I am still that chubby girl from those many years ago. I was his victim and not ready to forgive and forget.

"Woiii Tammy. Look how your front fat til it buff!" he shouted as if he were talking to the whole lane. In some way, he was. I profiled him, so I know he likes to make a show of everything he does.

Hissing my teeth, I pushed past him and the unnecessary excitement. This situation right here is one of the reasons why I usually don't wear skin-tight clothes outside. But in the rush to retrieve the laundry before it started raining, I forgot to wear a pleated skirt or baggy pants.

I walked as fast as my short leg could take me, but Nieko was taller and kept up with me without much effort. The front door was in sight but seemed so far away.

"Yow, you're full of attitude, sah. But mi will let you off easy. With a body like that, you can have whatever you want. Weh, you say. Come hang with me, and we can get some ice cream."

"Boy, bye!" I said, bringing myself back to the apartment. He followed me straight to my grill when Aunty Dion and Miss Garcie were about to leave. I already knew the conclusion they would come to and the rumors that would result from it.

I sighed in acceptance, it is what it us. I stepped past them, and went in because what's done is done. They have said the worst about me, so it's just another day in my life.

As I suspected, Aunty Dion started on my case before I was out of earshot. "Look at the little piece of shorts she wore outside. Cheryl sent her to pick up clothes, but Tammy out here a looking man."

"Nieko, you and hard inna things?" I heard Miss Gracie ask. I am really growing to hate Miss Gracie.

"Yes, a wah? Unu too nuff, man!" Nieko responded. When I heard the little crosses boy say that, the clothespin bag dropped on the floor. But I was not going to harbor the unnecessary drama, so I kept my mouth shut and then went back and shut the grill and the door. Thankfully, Mommy was in the shower, so the mix-up missed her, at least for now.

I folded up the laundry and put them away. Then, I continued my studies.

***

It was about nine in the evening, and I decided to take my bath and go to sleep. As mi ago Inna the bathroom a mommy that stop mi.

"Mi ago Princess party, mi nah come in tonight so come lock the door and the grill behind me," mommy said.

I look her up and down. She was barely covered. Just like me, she was short and curvaceous, but she was not as self-conscious or modest. She had on a silver jacket that was open, revealing a flat tummy with a pierced belly button and doubled D breasts that had nipple patches. Her pants were not even pants with all the slits on the side and butt. Yup, my birth giver looked like a certified hooker. "Tammy, why are you looking me up and down like that?" She asked angrily.

One thing, my face will always give away what I am thinking.

"Nothing, mommy. I have to reach school early. My exam is at 8:00 a.m.," I told her, changing the subject.

"Ok. Good luck," Mommy said dryly while grabbing her purse and putting in her keys. I was glad to see that she had money within, so I finished what I meant to say to her.

"Thanks, Mommy, but remember, I need fare," I said. Notice that I did not even bother to ask her for lunch money because I knew I was not so lucky. I already shared some food in a covered dish and froze a water bottle for tomorrow's lunch.

"Ask your worthless pupa. I don't have." She said the one sentence I was dreading.

"But mommy—" I began to say while holding back tears.

"Tammy! Stop stressing me out! You are almost nineteen. I was much younger than that when I had to fend for myself. You almost big woman, go look work or make your father or man give you money!" my birth giver barked at me and slammed the door on her way out the apartment, leaving me in tears.

(1339 Words)

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-JoJo