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Cleo's Place
It was a warm Friday night and that meant girls' night. The week of hard work had finally come to an end and it was time to unwind. The girl's night always ended up at Lena's house but today they finally decided to have it at Cleo's place. The vibe was more chill and a little mysterious. Cleo's place looked so cozy and warm with different shades of tans and browns feeling up her living room with brown wooden furniture decorated with fashion magazines and candles.
Lena's place was such different vibes her house walls were covered in pastel purple furniture and forest greens and browns. Lena and Cleo were total opposites but somehow they mixed so well together. Lena was sugar to Cleo's spice. They had been best friends forever since they were children and tonight like many Friday nights was filled with much laughter and debate.
" Lena, you can't believe the bullshit that I have been through this week at that damn job, people don't know what they want and are mad when I can't figure it out for em like just pick a dawn shoe and leave !" Cleo huffed while taking a sip of her whine
" Awww but Girl, that's your job, you are so mean all the lady asked which one you thought was nice," Lena said while holding back a laugh
" Girl I ain't mean you're just too nice" Cleo retorted
A comfortable silence fell over the two as they sat in the living room propped up against the coach.
Lena gazed at her friend and decided to change the subject, she decided to focus on something or someone that should bring her joy her daughter Bebe.
" Soooo, how's Bebe been doing she's been getting so big, I remember when she was just a little baby ,what isn't she graduating soon? time sure does fly," Lena asked
Cleo sighed " I don't know she's doing alright, she's been doing okay in school and she doesn't do much but stay in that room all day. But all I know is she betta be up there finishing that damn homework and that room better be clean."
" Dang, Cleo she gotta do homework on a Friday ?! Every time I see her she's got her head in a book or a hand on a broom, she's a good girl, can't say that about other kids her age" Lena responded
Cleo side-eyed Lena a bit and went on with her " harsh love" parenting style
" She betta be or a got a rod for that ass " Cleo responded
Lena always thought Cleo was a little too strict when it came to Bebe. Bebe always listened and she was never in any trouble. She was so quiet, sweet, and obedient that she couldn't understand why Cleo was so stern with her. Hey, I guess it was to make sure that she didn't fall to the wayside like the other young girls her age. Maybe this sternness was out of love and protection at least this is what Lena would like to think. For some reason, Cleo began to feel uncomfortable , she began to feel judged and to shake the feeling she asked Lena about her job.
" Misses professional, how was your week at the plantation ?"
" Ahhh, girl you crazy it was the same as usual the guys flocking and the girls hate ting"
Cleo clapped her hands with laughter leaning into her friend's shoulder to hold herself together
" Girl, but for real I gotta keep my head on a swivel. These creeps at the office are always trying to get a feel, that's why I wear this fake ring, as soon as they try to push up on me BAM I hit 'em with the I'ss married." Lena smiled while laughing
The two friends were doubled over with laughter. They were laughing so hard they couldn't even catch their breath. They went on slapping their hands together and on each other's shoulders and thighs to subdue the pain that was on their sides due to their laughter. The wine had increased the intensity of their clownery.
A few moments had passed and they were beginning to feel beat well Lena was anyway
It was getting late and Lena was definitely too drunk to make it home so she had to spend the night. She had wrapped herself in the brown velvet throw blanket on the couch and was off to slumber after wishing her bestie a " good night".
Cleo shook her head at the sight of Lena and scanned the house to make sure that all her windows and doors were locked. After locking up the house she went from room to room scanning to make sure that Bebe had cleaned the house to her standards. In her mind Bebe was always trying to get over.
Cleo felt that Bebe wasn't as innocent as she played and she was a wolf in sheep's clothing. No one that dark can be so good, at least this is what Cleo told herself as she secretly held on to touches of anti-blackness and colorism in her spirit.
After looking closely at the counters and running her fingers across the cupboards for dust, she huffed.She couldn't complain about the job Bebe had done, but she was not satisfied she was sure that Bebe had messed up somewhere.
Before heading up to Bebe's room Cleo double-checked to make sure that Lena was fully out before she went up to her daughter's room. Cleo didn't want to disturb Lena's rest with the possible storm she wanted to rain on Bebe. She would approach Bebe quietly.
Cleo climbed the stairs to the second floor slowly, sure not to make too much noise .She walked down the dark hallway until she was faces to face with a brown wooden door with a purple flower sticker in the center . She slowly reached for the gold nob gripping and slowly turning it to minimize the sound of her opening the door. Cleo swiftly opened her daughter Bebe's room door in the hopes of catching her doing something that she wasn't supposed to.
The room was still she could see the outlines of furniture and could see the sheer lavender curtains moving against the wind from the open window. She silently scanned the dark room catching a glimpse of her dark figure through Bebes vanity mirror. She trained her eye on the pink velvet bed.
Cleo slowly walked into the room seeing Bebe was sound asleep on her bed in a yellow baby doll nightgown. Bebe was stretched out on her bed surrounded by brown bears and a little black baby doll in her arms. She looked so cute, so sweet, so innocent. Cleo could see Bebe's face from the moonlight that was coming in from the room window. As Cleo stood in the dark room hovering over her daughter she felt a warm feeling in her chest and then suddenly she felt a rush of anger come over her. The sight of Bebe sleeping so soundly angered her. Bebe was too big according to Cleo to be laying up with a doll. She's technically a grown woman 18, she needed to grow up. Bebe peaceful slumber would soon be disrupted.
