Jayde
Malaki sat three seats down leaving me alone with Mama. The room was still, the only audible voice was Mrs. Harrison's who was telling Mama of our behavior. Every once in a while she'd side eye us, we both knew it was only to show Mrs. Harrison 'she cared'.
If she acted any different Mrs. Harrison would be sure to call the state and let them know, which would cut her check every month. Mama was already suspect for the bruises our bodies carried every morning. She'd threaten to call DCF already, I guess Mama gave her one of 'her talks'. "Thank you, Jerry and I will definitely take a look at the problem once we get home. Goodbye." She spoke getting up as she tugged my sleeve.
Mrs. Harrison smiled waving us goodbye. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Malaki flick her off, walking out. Thank goodness her back was turned. I chuckled, my little brother was such a character. "Whatchu snickering fo'? That's what y'all do na'? You go around cussin' these educatuh's out? Throwing desk'n'shit?" She shoved me out the door. I rolled my eyes and just kept walking.
She didn't care, she's only doing this shit cause that lady had in her for half an hour. She pulled a cigarette from her pouch, lighting it up. "You can't smoke that around hi-"
Slap!
"Shut yo' ass up." Grabbing my stinging cheek, I sniffed. This wasn't anything new, actually I'm surprised I got a slap. Usually I get punched. I noticed Malaki getting ready to speak but I quickly shushed him before she could see. I didn't want him getting hurt because she wanted to be ignorant and stupid. My face burned like never before, I knew she wasn't gonna hesitate to throw a much harder one at him.
Once we reached the car I sat in the back with Malaki, our 'dad' Jerry was in the passenger seat also smoking a cigar. The windows were rolled up leaving the musty smell of the substance to linger throughout the car. "What took so long?"
"That damn principal was tellin' me bout these bitch ass kids."
"What about them? They done did some shit 'gain" he side eyed us through the rear view.
"Done did." I mumbled. He snapped his head back and threw a sloppy punch at me. Then another one. And another. "Ok! Ok! I'm sorry!"
I wasn't sorry, I just wanted him to stop. It didn't work, he kept going. The punches he was throwing felt like bricks eventually turning into numbness. "You son of a bitch! Why'd you hit her so m-" Malaki was cut off with a punch to throat causing him to immediately loose air. Jerry was getting ready to throw another one but I jumped in front of him earning one in my chest. "He c-can't breathe. Please, no no more." I cried. My left arm was weak so I used my right to shield us.
"Stupid bitches!" He spit turning back to the front. "And don't think y'all off da' hook eitha', once ya' get home take y'all asses to the basement y'all ain't goin' to school tomar'."
I gave Malaki his inhaler seizing his wheezing. "You ok?" I mouthed. He nodded. We both let a tear fall knowing what was coming next. Tonight was gonna be a cold night. The basement had nothing for us to eat but dog food, the AC was on full blast in there and we weren't allowed to be in clothes period. The floors were cold, there were bugs and rats, and we were to stay there for a week.
"Kids got some nerve, you do all you can for them and they treat you like this. Ain't that's some shit J?" Mama chuckled.
"Shut cho ass up fo' I make you go down thea' with them."
~
