DROWNING

I Need You Now

                                        Brea

          "That's why I always say to watch who you get pregnant by!", Kristy's mom, Falicia spoke as she stood at the stove.

"Mama....that's not nice to say. That's like putting the blame just on the mother.", Kristy said as she diced onions.

"Men.....are dogs. When they come sniffing around, who is the one that opens their legs to let them in? Mhmm. The thing you young girls don't realize is that you got to check the collar to make sure they came from a good home.", she replied causing me to laugh.

"So what did Daddy's collar say?", Kristy asked with a mocking tone.

"It said future doctor! Oh and his family taught him well, girl! Manners and respect was his first language.", Falicia responded as she turned around with a proud smile on her face.

"What else did it say, baby?", Kristy's daddy asked as he walked into the kitchen with a big smile too.

He made his way to his wife and threw his arms around her, planting a big kiss on her lips.

"Get a room!", Kristy yelled as she threw diced onions at them.

Kristy and I had flew to visit her family.

I just needed a break from everything and this was definitely cheering me up.

Kristy's father turned to us and rolled his eyes.

"Kristy. This is what love is. I know it's hard for you and your friend there to find.", her father joked.

"Daddy, I'm dating Mike-", Kristy started with attitude.

"Justin's friend? Haven't you heard of guilty by association? I don't approve.", her father grumbled as he crossed his arms.

Kristy rolled her eyes and continued cutting onions.

"Uh oh, dad. She's giving you the silent treatment.", Falicia joked.

"I don't care. Don't bring him around me.", her father responded before walking out of the kitchen and back to the living room to watch the game.

Silence filled the kitchen as we continued our task.

I was peeling potatoes and just listening.

Kristy's family had always been my family too since I lived in foster care.

Meeting her in junior high was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.

"Speaking of....what are you going to do about the court hearing?", Falicia asked.

My humming stopped and I placed the peeler down as I thought for a moment.

"I....I think I'm going to do.....nothing.", I shrugged.

"Nothing?", Kristy and her mother both said in unison.

Laughing, I nodded.

"What can I do? Our apartment does not have enough room for them and they are at a stage in life where they are little.....assholes.", I admitted.

My kids are 10 and know what they want....

"I spoke to Jaci about it and-", I continued.

"You don't talk to kids about shit like that! You are their mother! You fight for them! Who cares what they want!", Kristy spat as she placed the knife she was holding down.

"Kristy-", Falicia tried to intervene.

"No! I basically helped raise them and she's just going to let him have them? Mom, you know that's not right!", Kristy interrupted.