Terminal 1

Life Changes

A month later...

"Zac..." Fatima called, nudging him on the kitchen table. "Zac.."

Zac snorkels awake, "I'm up!!!" He utters in a daze looking around at the pile of papers and books scattered around the table. "Shit, what time is it?" He yawned.

"You slept down here all night studying, you literally have 45 minutes to get to class." "SHIT!" He hurried off, "Wait. Iyonna's doctor appointment is today."

"Big Ma and I will handle that, just brush your teeth and go." "But my paper. I wasn't finished." He blurted worriedly.

"Or did I finish.." "Zac, one thing at a time." Fatima told him. "Go get the test done then spend some time working on your paper later.." "But I don't have time.." "Zac, you're wasting time sitting here trying to figure it out, you need to leave.."

"Ok, ok..." he rushed off, as Fatima quickly made him a protein shake, and gathered his things.

Zac hurried to use the restroom, wash his face, brush his teeth, then head downstairs. As soon as he did, he was greeted at the front door with a protein shake, his backpack, and Fatima with Iyonna in her arms.

"Dada..." He smiles, "Thank you." Kiss, "You're welcome." Fatima replied, kiss, "Be good Munchkin..." "Dada.." Iyonna whined, reaching out to him. "I know but I gotta go Daddy loves you both." Hold Iyonna for a quick second, nuzzling on her, then passing her back to Fatima. 

As he opens the door to leave, "What the fuck?" "Baby please I need to talk to you..." "Ma, I don't have time for this.." as he brushed past her expeditiously.

"Big Ma!!!" Fatima called, with a warning. "It's too early in the morning for my gun, hang on..." Big Ma called back,

Fatima starts to close the door, "Uh excuse you." "No. Excuse you. Because you're not coming into this house without Zac's or Big Ma's permission." Fatima told her sternly, "so yeah. You can wait." As she closed the door in her face.

Big Ma gets downstairs, "Who is it Cupcake?" "Zac's mom." Fatima replied, "She looks banged up though."

Big Ma shakes her head, "Joe don' beat her ass again." "Take Iyonna upstairs please Cupcake, get her ready so we can leave." "Yes Ma'am." Fatima uttered, only slightly leaving because although she knows Big Ma can handle herself, she don't play about her.

And after the stories she heard about Zac's mother and his step father Joe. She's definitely with all the shits about them.

"Momma?!" "Whatch won' girl?" "Joe is at it again." "I can tell by the eye and busted lip but again. Whatch won'?" "Momma please!!!" She begged. "I need somewhere to stay."

"And I don' told you no Manda." Big Ma reiterated, "We go through this errtime. I'm not letting you up in this house for the people to come and try to take it away. You can go to a shelter or back to rehab because I can tell you got that itch again."

"Momma, I'm not using!" Amanda blurts, "So why you itching?!" Big Ma takes a whiff of air, "Hell you funky..." "Exactly, I haven't washed up in days..." Amanda confessed wryly.

"Amanda Heaven Taylor." "Momma please?!?!" Amanda begs again. "I don't have anywhere else to go. I've been out on the street." As tears escaped her eyes. "I swear I'm not with Joe anymore because he started back using. I want my son back. I'm trying to be a better person for my granddaughter.." she pleads with sobbing tears, "I just need some help..."

For the first time in over a decade, Big Ma's heart softens, "Listen. I'll take you to the church house..." "Momma, I'm not going to that church of yours. They're judgmental and self-righteous." "You either go back to rehab or go to God because as I told you before, you're not coming back here." "Ok, ok.." Amanda utters, wiping her tears away. "I'll try the church..."