Chris.
"Man the block miss you my nigga." My cousin Mijo said as we sat in the basement I had converted into my bedroom.
Sighing I shook the spray paint in my hand. Yeah, I use to sell on the corner back in Tappahonnack but after my last arrest I quit and decided to focus on school and trying get my ass the hell up outta Richmond. We moved around my junior year when my mom decided it was only leading me down the wrong path as if the wrong decisions don't present themselves on every corner here.
"Man ion miss shit about the block."
Mijo chuckled after he put his phone away when he finished texting somebody.
"Well let me get up outta here." We dapped then him and I walked upstairs.
My mom stood In the kitchen over the stove, cooking. I ain't even hear her come in the house. I smiled and kissed her cheek. My mom was the only person who gave some type of sanity.
"Hey, baby I didn't know you were home." She smiled. "Oh Lord, you brought this hot mess into my house." She joked referring to Mijo.
"Hi auntie." Mijo said kissing her other cheek.
"You staying for dinner?"
"Nah, my mom said if ion bring my light skinned as--butt home I won't have one so I'ma head out but thanks auntie."
"Alright tell my sister to call me."
"I will."
Mijo walked out of the front door just as my so called dad walked in. My dad and I had a fucked up relationship after I witnessed him beating the shit outta my mom when I was seven. That shit scarred me for life, since then he just been open and honest about it so at night he'd get drunk and beat her senseless. Late at night I can hear her begging and pleading for him to stop. Him and I have fought on several occasions, and our last battle ending with me on probation. The judge requested I be put on house arrest the reminder of my senior year but I ain't give a fuck cause I barely go out as it is, what's the point?
"Hey son." My dad grunted flopping down on the recliner.
Disgusted by the sight of him, I ignored his attempt at a casual conversation then made my way back into the kitchen then back down to my room. I resumed spray painting on the basement walls. Besides dancing, art was another passion I did to keep me out of trouble.
After dinner it was the same routine, my dad sat in front of the tv drinking beer and my mom catered to his every need. I laid on my bed looking up at the ceiling until the arguing started and I slid my hands down my face.
"Fuck." I mumbled.
Slowly sitting up in the bed I reached for my hoodie and slid on a pair of black sweats then climbed out of the window above my bed and causally walked away from the house. I'd probably hear shit from my probation officer but anything is better the bullshit I lived with on a daily basis. I walked the quiet streets of Richmond just thinking.
**********
I ain't even remember falling asleep on the bench in the park, it was a restless sleep but it's the first peaceful sleep I've had in awhile. Stretching I got up and walked home. Everybody's car was gon' so I used my key to unlock the door then went straight downstairs to take a shower. It's Saturday and I ain't really have nothing to do, plus Saturday was a 'free' day as my PO calls it so I ain't have to worry about going down to the police station and checking in. I dressed in a pair jeans, slightly sagging, black crewneck t-shirt, and Jordan's.
