Islan-Dise

In Common

Islan
~~~~~

"How you got me out here, ion know." I pass Boon the blunt.

"I had to get away. It's crazy as fuck what you just found out. Nie, you see why I don't claim her weird ass. Glad Tre arranged fah her to stay at the hotel."

"At this point neither do I. She had me out here thinkin this man ain't want nothin to do with me. Me and this man cried all afternoon. Found out I have two mo sisters and a stepmom."

"Damn. So it's not just us." Boon wears a look on his face that's difficult to read.

"Look, I don't know them from a can a paint. Y'all the only brothers and sisters I know."

"Na man. Um happy fah you. It's just gonna be some adjusting. Seeing you get to know'em." He passes the blunt back.

I turn to him and look in his face. "You my right hand bro. You ain't gettin replaced."

He smiles. "Yeah, I know."

We loosen up after a couple drinks and start feeling the music. Honestly, the more the alcohol seeped into my bloodstream. The more I thought back to my conversation with Correl.

Earlier today

I walk side by side with him onto the dock. We don't say anything at first. This person whose face, skin tone, height I have. Still, I know nothing of him. When we reach the end of the dock, we both sit down.

He glances over at me. "I feel guilty."

"You ain't know man."

"But, I can't help it." He turns his face to the lake. "There was always this void in my heart. There was always something missing, but I never understood what." His voice is low and comforting.

"You had no way of knowin."

"Then why I feel like as a parent I should have known someone was walking around here with my dna?"

I have no idea how to answer that. I have no idea about any of this. But just being close to him felt good.

"I want to be as open to you as I can. Nothing is left off limits. Ask me anything." He turns off his phone and pushes it to the side.

"Ion know if you was aware of her living conditions?"

"No. When I left she changed her number and I would even call from other people phones but once she got wind it was me, she would hang up and block their numbers too." I just listen. "Crazy thing is, she did let me see her one time when I came home to visit."

"Did you come to the apartment?"

"We met out for dinner." He drops his head. "You were probably sitting at home then. She could have mentioned you then. You were probably 3 at that time."

"So she had to pregnant with Boon."

"She wasn't showing at all. It's possible though." He sighs. "Tell me about you. I wanna know everything."

"Shit ain't much to tell. I really ain't have a life. I spent most of my childhood tryna keep my siblings on track. She didn't make that easy. She never kept a job. We went hungry often. Actually, we went without a bunch of shit."