Memoirs of the Hood: Book One

The Beginning

"Hey! Stop all that running through this house. If y'all want to run around, the backyard is where it should be done!" I yelled at the small group of kids who had crowded into the living room for Kylia's birthday party. They instantly stopped and quieted down before turning on their heels and running out of the back door. I let out a sigh of relief as I headed back into the kitchen where the adults were. I picked up my glass of wine from the marble counter and went to take a seat on the bar stool that sat at the island.  

"All I'm saying is that if a nigga can't lay pipe or if his bank account isn't nice. Why are you still there?" Marsha asked Tammy who was seated next to me. Tammy timidly sipped her wine as he shrugged her shoulders.
"Maybe she just loves the man Marsha. Everybody ain't a gold diggin' hoe like you" Patricia spoke up in Tammy's defense. Surprised by her response I slightly choked on my wine while watching Marsha's face twist up in anger. She rolled her eyes at Patricia before turning her attention to me.
"What you got to say Kira?" She asked.
"I'm not fooling with you today Marsha, so let's not even go there" I replied to her while sipping from my glass.
"Humph, I guess you too good now?" She replied. I cut my eyes at her already aware of where this conversation was going.
"That's not what I said" I said to her.
"Well that's what you implied" she retorted.
"It's not. Why is it that every time I invite you to my house you always have to start some shit? It's old and I'm tired of it. It's like you come here for a problem and I'm not about to entertain it so if that's what you want to do today then you can go" I spoke calmly while glaring at her. She starred back at me with challenging eyes and neither one of us budged.

"Fine! Tell my niece I said happy birthday" she said while lifting from the chair. She snatched up her large MCM tote bag and headed towards the back door.

"Lexus and Mercedes! Let's go" she yelled. Lexus, who was the oldest wasted no time marching into the house and out the front door while Mercedes drug her feet and whined the entire time.
"But mamaaaa, I don't wanna leave yet!" Mercedes cried out. Marsha rolled her eyes and snatched her by her arm pulling her out of the kitchen.
"Girl, bring your ass on and I'm not telling you again" Marsha yelled at her.
"Okay Marsha, you don't have to be so rough with her" I spoke up.
"You know what Kira? Fuck you aight? Don't be telling me how to handle my fucking kid." Marsha replied. Ignoring her, I bent down so that I was face to face with Mercedes I handed her a candy bag and a piece of cake.
"Since you couldn't stay I made you something to go. Now be a big girl and stop all that crying. This weekend you, me and Ky are gonna have a girls night okay?" I said with a smile. She nodded her head as her curly pigtails bounced and smiled.
"Okay TeeTee."
    I wiped her face and kissed her forehead as Marsha stormed off. I walked her to the door and watched as she ran to catch up with Marsha.  I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding as I ran my manicured nails through my freshly pressed hair. Walking back into the kitchen I noticed just about all the adults were gathering up the remainder of  the children and heading out. Way to go. Marsha has ruined another one of my baby's parties. Even though I was pissed I managed to mask a smile and say goodbye to everyone. I turned on the television in the den for Kylia and started to straighten up the kitchen.
   I had just about finished when I heard the front door open. I few seconds later there was laughter coming from the den so I knew Darryl was home. I rolled my eyes as he entered the kitchen with a talking Kylia on his hip. He walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of Heineken.
"Party over already?" He asked before he took a sip. I nodded my head while wiping down the stove.
"Let me guess.. Marsha?" He quizzed.
"Of course, I don't know what her issue is, but I'm sick of it" I replied.
"She's jealous of you Kira and I'm getting sick of her ruining my daughters' birthday and disrespecting my house. I don't want any of those people over here from this point on" Darryl said. I started at him for a moment to make sure I had heard correctly.
"Those people Darryl? Really? In case you forgot those people are my family and I can't just abandon them!" I replied with much attitude.
"Why the hell cant you? In case you forgot they had no problem abandoning you when you were pregnant with Kylia? Hell. If it wasn't for me, you'd probably still be in that shelter" he yelled back.
"Wow Darryl, that was low and you know it" I said shaking my head.
"It's true and you know it" he said as he walked out of the kitchen.
As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. My family did abandon me before Kylia but I could understand why. My grandmother had been housing and caring for us as long as I could remember. By us, I mean my mother, my four siblings and I. With me being only sixteen and pregnant it would only bring more expenses to our already crowded household so my grandmother had to choose me or them. I know it would've made sense for me to shack up with my baby's daddy but he was away on a full scholarship at the University of New York. Because he was older than me at the time, he graduated just before Kylia's arrival and was able to make a living for us in a middle-class neighborhood in East Germantown. He had worked multiple jobs to provide for us until he landed a job as a pharmacist at the local hospital and we've been good ever since. Although his family cut him off financially because he chose to have a child outside of wedlock with a "hood chick" from Philly he made a way for us which I was forever grateful for. They came around just after Kylia turned one even though things between us were still rocky. I was taken out of my thoughts when I felt a tug at the hem of the camisole I was wearing.
"What's up mamas?"
"Why did Aunty Marsha make Lexus and Cedes leave?" Kylia asked with a slight pout.
"Because she's mean, now let's get you ready for bed" I replied taking her small hand and leading her upstairs.
I took her into the bathroom and ran her bath water. I helped her out of the tan Burberry dress and sparkly red Marc Jacobs flats she wore and placed her into the warm water. She splashed around for a few minutes before playing with a few of the toys she kept in the bathroom. After a few minutes I washed her with the Suave Kids berry wash and then rinsed her before draining the water and helping her out of the porcelain jacuzzi tub. I dried her off before dressing her in a pair of Frozen pajamas and tucking her in. I smoothed out her two curly puff balls and kissed get forehead. She yawned and snuggled down into her blankets, flipping off the light I cracked the door and headed down the hallway to the master bedroom.