The Struggle

My Intro

"Yea I'm a young nigga named Omar
I got girls here and from afar
They call me Longchie
Cause of my long body
If you mess with me
Then you will see
I ain the one to be messed wit
If you mess wit me, then you'll get hit
I'm from the hood
And I ain up to no good
Try me I dare you
And that will be the end of you to."

"AYEEEEE!"

We was all in the school parking lot. Everyone around me caved in and started dappin' me up, putting they arms around me, and pattin me on the back. I smiled and felt like I really belonged here.

Then Pa had to mess it up.

I came to my bus stop on the city bus from school, and walked about a block home. When I got there, Ma was sitting at the kitchen table crying. I slammed the door, locked it, and ran over to her.

"What's wrong Ma?"
"Baby," she sobbed. "Yo daddy left us."

Rage filled my body like it was Kool-aid and I was the pitcher. I whipped out my phone and called Pa. He ain even have the decency to answer. Matter of fact, he sent me to voicemail after the second ring. I shook my head and put my hand on Ma's shoulder.

"Ma, don't even trip over him. He ain worth it. He's a punk. I mean, what kind of man just walks out on his family and don't even answer his son's calls. You need a man in the house, and you got me. We don't need him."
Ma forced a smile and said, "But Omar, how are we gonna get a nice house. And how am I gonna get you nice things? Now we have to move to Alabama and make a home for us there, since our family down there offered to help us."
"Ma, don't worry about me. I'll get a job. I'm 17, I should've been had a job anyways. I'll still keep my grades up too, that way I can go to college and play basketball and go to the NBA. Then, I can even start my music career, and become a famous rapper. I got big dreams Ma. Then once I accomplish these dreams, I can take care of you. We ain gotta move Ma."

Ma started laughin and shook her head. I had a feeling she ain really believe in me but hey, at least I made her laugh right?

I stood up, walked over to Ma, and gave her a big hug. Then I went to my room to start on my home work. I played some classical music on my phone to help me think, and distract me from everything that was happenin in my life. When I was finished, I hopped in the shower and went to sleep. I woke up the next morning, and didn't smell the familiar smell that I smelled every morning.

"Ma! Where's breakfast?" I asked as I walked into the kitchen. I didn't get a response. I ran throughout the house looking for Ma for 5 minutes, and couldn't find her. I started panicking, because Ma was always here every morning before I went to school and cooked me breakfast.

I was gonna be late if I didn't hurry and catch the bus, so I grabbed by book bag and checked the cabinets and fridge for food. They were literally bare. Forget it, A voice in my head said. I ran out the house, locking the door behind me, and got to the bus stop just as it was pullin' up.

"Wassup Longchie!" said the bus driver, Black.
"What's good Black!" we dapped each other up and I sat in the middle section of the bus.

I got to school, and said bye to Black. A lot of people were just chillin on the front steps loudly playin Kodak Black. I shook my head and smiled. I really don't wanna leave this place.

I saw friends and said wassup to them in the hallways as I got to class. Nothing really interesting happened in that class, or even at school today, so lemme get straight to the part where I got back home from school and saw Pa standin in the front yard.

Crazy right?

I walked right past him like he wasn't there because to me, he wasn't. He was nothing to me. He tried to explain to me, while I walked in the house, the reason he was leavin. I ain wanna hear none of it.

"And son, I just don't feel the same way about her anymore. I will always love you son, and I'll pay child support and-"
"Pa. Shut up. I don't wanna hear any excuses of why you leavin. Ma has done nothin but take care of you and love you. But you can't see that. If your relationship is boring you can find ways to spice it up. The fact that you ain even tryin to make yall work shows you don't love her," I pointed to Ma, "or me," then I pointed to myself. "Just leave me alone, I got homework to do." I stormed off to my room, slammed the door, and flopped down on my bed. I heard Ma and Pa arguing, which made Ma cry even more. I put my apple white headphones in my ear, and started blastin Hot Boy, by Troy Ave.

I finished my homework a couple hours later, around 7, and went to check on Ma. Pa had already left, and she was making dinner for us in the kitchen.

"Hey Ma. You ight?"
"We leave day after tomorrow, so you can say goodbye to your friends at school tomorrow."
"For real Ma? I thought we was gon try and make it work here."
"I thought so too, but with yo daddy showin up like this, I just can't live in the same city, or even state, as him."
"Ma, come on. I won't let him in the house. We can get a security system."
"With what money!" Ma yelled. I took a moment to look at how hurt, stressed, and tired she was. "I just can't do this baby. I don't even think I can take care of you anymore."
"Ma I told you Imma get a job and help take care of us."
"You shouldn't have to though. It's my job to protect you. I'm just sayin, don't be surprised if I send you away to yo grandma's."
"But Ma I don't wanna live wit Granny and Gramps."
"Too bad! Yo education is what's important. You need to succeed Omar."

I shook my head and walked outside. I thought family was supposed to be what's important. I walked down the street and to the store. I got me one of them sprite cans with the Keep Ya Head Up song by 2pac on em. Then I walked back home to eat what Ma had cooked for me. It was some fried chicken with collard greens and hot sauce. I thanked her for the food and ate up. That's when Pa had the nerve to show back up.

He knocked on the door and me and Ma glanced at each other. She had the "yea, we most definitely leavin" look and I had the "I'm sure he will go away if we don't answer the door look".

Pa continued to knock on the door, and then his knockin turned into bangin like he was trying to tear the door down. He started yellin saying he knew we was there, but we continued to ignore him. I went to my room and got under my covers, and fell asleep once he finally stopped knockin.