Family Hustle : "I Am My Brother's Keeper"

Chapter Two : "On the Regular"

                                 - Cynn
       "Dinners ready!" yelled mommy. She's been in the kitchen cooking for hours making daddy's favorite which was also my favorite, shrimp and grilled chicken Alfredo with Caesar salad and garlic bread. I rushed to the table mainly because I haven't ate at school today, or yesterday. I'm skipping meals because I'm trying to lose weight, kids at school and even my own big sister teases me about it.

Dad was on the way home, so the rest of us sat down at the table. Mom starts putting our plates down infront of us but, I noticed she puts a portion on my plate that is half of what everyone else has. Nyc see's the confusion on my face and laughs. Not to disturb her but, I asked my mom why my plate isn't like everyone else's. "Maybe because your 14 years old and you weigh 170  pounds" blurts Nyc . "And what is that suppose to mean Nycole?" mom says. "It means she's too fat for her age" Nyc replies and Tommy laughs. I instantly get red. "Aye chill out" Vinny yells. In a calmer voice he turns to me and says "look sis if your want you can have my plate and I'll take yours, I'm not that hungry anyway". "You know that's not gonna help anything" Nyc says. "Nycole shut up with your smart ass mouth!" My mom screams. "How about you shut up Yelana and instead of being in MY mouth all the time, you should check on why Cynn ass is so obese, or actually where ya man is at, wasn't he suppose to be here by now?" Nyc says challenging our mom . "That part" Tommy throws in. "Nycole I'm not gonna tell you anymore..",  I couldn't take anymore of the back and forth so I just run back into my room.

I just burst out crying, because I didn't understand. I've been starving myself, getting up an hour before school to run and I'm still not good enough. Why was Nyc so cruel? I mean I expected kids at school to be like that but, I thought she was suppose to love me. I'm her own blood for crying out loud. Over my cries, I still hear them arguing and Vinny trying to calm it down. I just don't get it. Confused and upset I decide to cry myself to sleep and miss another meal, maybe that will make her satisfied..

                                   -Yelana
        "Nycole I'm not gonna tell you anymore! Stop being so damn disrespectful to your sister and what the hell is that suppose to mean?" I yell at her. Watching my baby girl run out because of her sisters comments disgusts me, but at the moment I couldn't run and comfort her I had to know what was going to be Nycole's next smart remark. "Yelana quit acting like you don't know you ain't the only one my daddy is fucking on! I mean come on, you have to be smarter than that!". "Nyc shut the fuck up already!" Vinny yells . As she was about to clap back he stands over her and clinches his fist and says "What the fuck did I just say". "Vincent calm down please" I say to him grabbing him back. "Nyc lets go, because if a nigga think he gone put his hands on you, he gone get dropped in this bitch" Tommy chimes in. "Bitch ass nigga do something then!" Vinny snatches away from me. "What the fuck are y'all in here yelling about" Da'Vinci says walking in the dinning room. "Yo wife in here arguing with Nyc and yo son think he gone hit on my sister, and that shit ain't flying with me!" Tommy says. "I'll drop you and that bitch!" Vinny says to Tommy. "First off, Tommy sit yo ass down you ain't do shit and second off Vinny don't you ever disrespect your own blood, and lastly Nyc how many times I gotta tell you bout that shit?" Da'Vinci says. "You know what Tommy and Nycole , y'all can get the fuck out right now , I don't got time for all this shit and Vince come holla at me!" He says walking out the dinning room and upstairs. "That's fine with me, I ain't wanna be in this bitch anyway! Come on Tommy!" Nycole says walking out the door with Tommy following behind her.

With just me and Vince in the dinning room I'm just standing there on the side of him. He turns to me and sees me in awe. "Mama I'm sorry, I just hate when she talks to you like that" he says. "It's okay sweetheart, just go see what your dad wants" I say. "You sure mama?" He says. "Yes please just go, I don't want him getting more upset" I say. As soon as I seen the coast was clear, I drop to the ground and start crying. This family just isn't what it used to be..