Hood Math (HDLY#4)

Chapter six

Tamel looked at the picture on the wall closer. "Who's that?"

"Yeah, you wouldn't recognize him," the woman standing with her arms crossed in front of him remarked. "He was a ball rolling around in my stomach when you decided to play gangster and join your little hoodlum brother."

"Tonya, listen, I..."Tamel was at loss of words. All these years he didn't even know he had a son out there in the world.

"Save it, Mel," Tonya said rolling her eyes. "I don't want to hear it. I couldn't watch you turn into what you was becoming. You wasn't that person before you want in and I know how much Mama Richards meant to you but you were still better than that. I knew once you got out and started getting those hood ideas that I couldn't be a part of it. More importantly I couldn't let him be a part of it." She pointed at the picture of the smiling boy.

Tamel was still amazed and kept staring at the picture. "Why you never said..."

"Mel, I told you that you had to make some changes because changes were going to come," Tonya replied.

"That was just it," Tamel said. "You always talked in riddles. You never came out and said anything."

"Yeah, exactly," she said then unfolded her arms and pushed back his head with her right index finger to prove her point. "I wanted you to use your brain. That's why God gave you one, right? Not to be out here being chased by police and pretend thugs. How did you find me anyway? You know I could get arrested just by knowing you."

"I know," Tamel lowered his head. "But I didn't have anyone to turn to and I needed someone that I knew I could still trust."

"How you know you can still trust me?" Tonya asked.

"Can I?" Tamel asked sheepishly.

"Of course you can, you idiot," Tonya smiled. "But I still don't want to be a part of your shenanigans. I still have our son to raise."

"Wow, I have a son," Tamel was still processing the thought. "What's his name?"

"Tamel," Tonya answered with pride. "As soon as I gave birth to him, he looked up at me with the same confused look you always use to give me when I tried to make you use your damn brain. There was no other name that would fit him. He was your son and still is the spitting image. You know only smarter and cuter obviously because his mother is a goddess."

Tamel laughed. Tonya always knew how to make him do that. No matter how tough things got, Tonya could always make him smile. He knew he was pushing her away pursuing his street dreams but at the time he had a point to prove. Now he wished he had just settled down with her.

Tamel looked around. "Where is he? Can I see him?"

"School," Tonya answered. "You know where smart kids go to learn. But you still haven't answered my question. How did you find me?"

"You know I always have a way," Tamel responded.

"That's not an answer," Tonya replied. "That's something a little kid that has no way of talking would say. You're a grown ass man that know how to use words. So tell me."

"Why?" Tamel asked. "The main thing is that I found you."

"Yeah, well like I said I have more than just me to worry about," Tonya said. "So I need to know who else is looking for me because of you."

"It's just me," Tamel assured. "I just needed to see a friend."

"A friend, huh?" Tonya snickered. "Friends don't take friends' virginity so we pass that stage when you stuck your little wee wee in me and came in two minutes."