taraji h.
"mama, wait, when will you be back?"
"in a few hours winter, i just told you that princess."
"can i go, please? i don't wanna stay with nana and grandpa. their house smells like rat balls."
"moth balls, you mean?"
"yeah, the little white things."
"no, you can't come, but ill be back quicker than you know."
"winter, come on in here, fore i get my switch!" my mama yelled out.
"mama...." she whined. her bottom lip started to quiver while she folded her arms.
"not this time, win. go inside."
"WINTER! NOW!"
"no!"
"hey! now, look, i let you joke around and everything, but dont get beside yourself winter. go inside like she told you."
"i wanna go home." she cried loudly and stomped away. i couldn't leave her like that.
"aye, stop the car. come on, winnie!"
"huh?" she turned around with the shiniest, watery eyes. kinda broke me a little, "you're letting me go?"
"yes, come on."
"okay, bye nana love you." she's so fake..
i helped her into the suv and buckled her seatbelt.
"those tears won't always work."
"yes they will."
"you right."
"can i hold your phone?"
"no, but let's talk until we get to the jet."
its more to life than cellular devices. i don't want them living on phones or ipads all the time. i try to keep them occupied, so they forget they even have one.
"i wanna understand why you think throwing tantrums when you don't get your way is the answer."
"because it makes me sad when someone tells me no."
"yeah, and that's one hundred percent our fault because we spoiled you since you were a baby, and soon that's gonna stop. you can't be thinking it's ok to be disrespectful just because someone told you no. it's not cool, nor is it cute."
"autumn too"
"autumn has never disrespected any adult, but we talking about you and yo behavior. after today, all of the acting out when things don't go yo way is over with. the disrespect, i don't ever wanna hear you raising yo voice at no adult, you understand me?"
"yes"
"pick your head up. what we just say?"
"big girls don't cry."
"thats right. i love you, win. you may be a little annoying, but you're still my baby."
"i love you too, mama. also, since we're here, am i your favorite child?"
"i don't have favorites. i love all my kids the same."
"i know it's me, but okay, i guess. where are we going?"
"to get ms.barrino"
"she's so big, and her voice is little like a baby."
"yeah, i know. very soothing."
☆
by the time we got to my jet win was knocked out. i picked her up and stepped out of the suv. i took her shoes off and put her in the bed before leaving out.
