Hard Times Purify

F I V E

Zih'aira ,

"How the hell can you let something like that slip your damn mind Kartier ?" I screamed into the phone , pulling up to his dad's estate .

"Baby I said I'm sorry . Damn , It honestly slipped your mind ." He pleaded .

"Taking out the trash slips someone's memory . Getting clothes out the dryer slips someone's mind . Not picking up your kids from school Karti . That's bullshit !"

"I just fucking told you I was sorry . Shit , I got caught up and forgot . My bad ! But don't try to chastise me like im some little ass kid Zih .When you fuck up I don't do this shit to you !"

"What the fuck ever Karti . You left my damn babies at that damn school for 2 hours . If it wasn't for Maria they'll probably be downtown and we'll be facing neglect charges stupid ass . Don't worry about it no more . Keep doing whatever it is that got you too damn busy to remember my kids . I bet I wont rely on yo black ass to go get them again !" I told him , before touching the red "End" button on the screen of the phone and throwing it in the passenger seat .

Parking and killing the engine , I got out and walked to the entrance while waving at the guards who were socializing by the door .

"Hey baby ." Maria greeted me when I walked into the living room .

"Hey ma ." I told her , flopping on the couch across from her .

"Fix your face. Your too pretty to frown Zih. He forgot . It happens ." she said , sipping her tea.

"But it's not suppose to . He's always too busy for something and I'm tired of it ."  I pouted .

She just chuckled and smiled .

"Where are they ?" I asked , standing up .

"With Jesus . I bet he's having a fit . I made them go in the office with him . Zuri knows she talks too much ." She rolled her eyes and smiled .

"Uhn uhn . Don't do my baby like that . That's the princess remember ?" I joked .

"Yeah , well it's time the princess go home ."

"Ok . Im going to remember that when you call wanting her to come over ." I told her , walking towards the office .

*******

"Mommy!" Zuri screamed when I walked into the office .

I laughed looking around . Kartion was on the laptop over in the corner , Zuri was sitting on the floor surrounded with books that I know she wasn't and couldn't read and Jesus sat behind his desk , with the phone glued to his ear as usual but by the look on his face you could clearly see that he was worn out with these two .

"Hey Noni . Hey pooh ." I spoke to both of them . Kartion didn't even give me a head nod , he was to into the computer .

"Daddy left us at school ." Zuri snitched , standing up with her hand on her little hip . "Why ?" she asked .

"Yes Noni , I know daddy didn't pick you guys up like he was suppose to and it was a mistake . Try not to go off on him ok ? And get your hand off your hips ."

"Ok mommy . Are we leaving ? It's Friday and I want to stay with grandpa and mawma ."

"You don't want to come home with me ?" I asked , leaning down to her level .

"Not really . Mommy we always there."

"Lies !" I laughed . "We'll see in a little while . I think grandpa and mawma might have something to do this weekend ."

"Nuh uhn ." she told me .

"How you know ?"

"I don't ." she laughed .

"Whatever little girl . We'll see . But come in the kitchen with me and let your grandpa finish up his phone call ."

"Ok ."

I watched as she pranced her little self out the room . I looked over at Jesus who was still on his phone . He gave me a thumbs up and a smile . I chuckled and walked out .

"Mommy , I cant reach the pickles !" Zuri yelled out to me as I walked in the kitchen .

Grabbing the jar of pickles from the top shelf of the refrigerator I sat them on the Island . Zuri climbed in the chair and attempted to open the jar .

"Mommy I cant open it ." she wined .

After grabbing the  Tostito's Queso Cheese from the refrigerator I opened the pickle jar .

"Hand me a paper plate ." I told her .

She reached over and grabbed one .

"How many you want ?"

"Three mommy ."

I placed 6 baby dill pickles on the plate , covering them with the cheese , and placed them in the microwave to warm the cheese .

After I finished putting up the pickles and cheese , Karti walked into the kitchen .

"Hey daddy !" Zuri screamed at the same time the microwave stopped and beeped .

"Wassup Princess ?" He asked , picking her up , sitting in her seat , and placing her on his lap .

"Nothing . Why did you leave me and K at school daddy ? We was waiting a long time ." She told him , folding her arms across her chest and raising her eyebrows , looking just like me .

He looked over at me and I gave him the same raised eyebrow look .

"If she isn't your child , I don't know who's she is ." He mumbled .

"Daddy !" She said , still waiting on her answer . Shoot me too .

"Princess daddy was busy doing something and he kind of forgot . You forgive me ?" he asked ? kissing her nose .

"A little . Ask me later ." She told him and turned around to grab a pickle from the plate .

"You got my daughter eating this now ?" He asked with a scrunched up face .

Pickles and cheese was something I craved so bad in both of my pregnancies and after Zuri , I still found myself wanting them .  Just so happens that Zuri likes them too .

"Yup ."

"Daddy try it . Its not nasty ." Zuri told him , forcing one in his mouth .

For the sake of his princess , he bit it , chewed it and swallowed it . The look on his face was something serious . I couldn't do nothing but crack up .

"See ?" Zuri laughed .

"Princess , its nasty ." He smiled .

"Oh well . More for me and mommy ." She shrugged and grabbed another , rolling it in cheese .

He stood up , placed her back in the seat and walked over to me .

"Don't think I forgot about you hanging up on me not too long ago and calling me all those damn dumb and stupid asses ." He whispered in my ear .

"Don't you think I forgot about you leaving my damn kids alone , at a damn school ." I told him , rolling my eyes .

"Roll them shits again ." He warned . And I did just that .

"Stupid ass ." I hissed under my breath .

He sucked his teeth walking out the kitchen , but not before he pinched my ass .

"Don't even think about it ." I yelled after him .

"We'll see !" He fired back .

I shook my head and sat down with my baby , eating our snack . I hate how I cant stay mad at dumb ass . It's been like that since we exchanged words for the first time .

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quick little something ...