GWEH (Go Away)

8. The Big Spoon

I rushed out and said, "My jewelry box is gone, and my panties are missing."

"But see yah!" Aunty Dion exclaimed.
She wasted no time rushing off to spread the news with a broad grin on her face. Leave it up to her to find joy in my predicament while I felt violated. Mommy was the next one, too; before, she was screwing, but now she had a poorly concealed smile on her face.

I was so embarrassed I went back in and locked myself in the bathroom while my mother was outside probably flirting with the officers, all thoughts of being robbed pushed to the side. She had called me to give a statement to the police but I refused because I couldn't bring myself to go out there and face them. What would they want me to do? Describe all my personal wear. There were some decent ones, but I also have about five periods, ones that I hope never see the light of day. And what would some thief want with my baggies? The whole situation was just strange and disturbing.

I hope the authorities will eventually catch who violated my home, but the likelihood of such is slim. The thief or thieves were brave enough to strike during broad day light, which means they didn't fear the law.

And another thing is that somebody must have seen, but I know every lip is going to stay sealed because almost every neighbor has beef with mommy because she nuh ramp fi gossip about them. So no one will talk. See why it is not beneficial to live badly with people? And me, the next one, too...I stay secluded from the world. Our situation was sticky like a rat trap.

The strange thing was that I had dreamt of a break-in the night before. What are the chances of that? I couldn't help but wonder if my dream had somehow been a premonition of what was to come. It seemed like too much of a coincidence. Was my subconscious trying to warn me of the danger that lay ahead? Or was it just a random coincidence?
Did I fail...cho.

I stayed in the bathroom, sitting on the tiled floor, until my mother knocked on the door, demanding that I come out.

"Yes, mommy?" I said, seeing her scrolling on her phone.

"Your father is waiting outside for you."

"Fi wah?"I said rudely without thinking. For weeks, he ignored me, and I still malice him since when he refused to give me fare to go to school.

"Yah smell yuh draws!" Mommy shouted angrily, then all of a sudden burst out laughing and said, "I forgot you don't have no draws."

"That's not even funny, " I said to her and stomped off to the room, picking up stuff that the burglar scattered all over. While I was doing that, one mind said to check my hiding spot, but I did not, for I was over a hundred percent sure the thief wouldn't think to check the spot where I kept my money. Plus, I did not want Mommy to know where either. It was a good spot, after all. I have saved a little over twelve thousand, though I will need to triple that for trade school. So I can't risk showing my hands, or I would lose it all.

"Likkle gal. Mi a chat to you, and you walk off! Put on your shoes and go with your father downtown fi mi deh," My vulgar mother shouted at me.

"Mommy.."

"Stop toe to toe with me before me, and you have nothing. Eric ago carry yuh go shopping, makes sure you pick a bigger tv and anything him a get fi you better get one fi mi too. And make sure he buys food, too."

"Mommy, but you need nothing and the food pantry pack."

"You really nuh have nuh sense enuh. Your father means like star apple tree, and today, he offered to help. Take all you can get because him sometime-ish. Treat him pocket like say a Christmas shopping."

"Mi nah go." I crossed my hand and try to puff up my face but failed because deep down mi fraid she flatten me like pancake.

"Tammy! You better take your big batty self out here before mi mad head take me. You are the reason why we are in this situation in the first place. Go now and get back mi tv!"

"How is it my fault? It's your key in the lock." I accused. I really don't know how I got the courage because, technically, Mommy considered any feedback or questions from me as a backchat.

"My key?" She asked, clearly getting even more irritated with me.

"Yes, the same key you lost at the dance." The sentence slipped out of my mouth.

"Likkle gal nuh argue with me," she got real defensive, and I could see her eyes twitch in anger.  She continued to shout while roaming through the kitchen drawer. "Make me tell you one more time, and you will see which God you a serve! Come out and try nuh come back inna here with your two long hands!"

When I saw that evil look in her eyes, I knew what was about to happen, and I wasn't about to stick around for it. Without a second thought, I grabbed my slippers in both hands and ran out of the apartment as fast as I could because I knew Mommy was going for the big spoon.

I could hear the ding of the metal spoon connecting with the door frame, but I was long out of reach, yet I kept running until I saw my father. He was still with that no name man, or atleast I did not know his name.

I ran up to Eric aka my father and stopped to catch my breath. That short sprint really knocked the wind out of me. I really need to start some rigorous exercise because walking alone nuh seem to cut it.

Looking back, I could see Mommy standing in the doorway, her face twisted in anger. I knew that I had made the right choice by high-tailing it out of there because she had goodly snuffed out my life with the way she looked crossed, angry, and miserable over one simple matter. What should I do because I couldn't stay out here forever?

The choice was simple: I would follow my pride and let Daddy buy back the items stole and then some more. Mommy would surely calm down if I came bearing gifts.

"Good afternoon, Daddy," I greeted Eric, who was strangely smiling at me as if I were his whole world. Am I dreaming or something? Maybe someone swap and clone my sperm donor?

(1095 Words)