Just Be A Man About It

23.

Naomi

Mel and I are taking Jamie, Amar, and Malia to the park today just so we all can get out of the house. Malik and I are getting better. My trust is not fully there, but we are working on it.

Mel parks the car, and the kids get out of the car and run to the playground. I was surprised that not that many children were here this morning, but at least we can keep a close eye on the kids.

"Jamie, be careful." Mel yells.

"Amar and Malia! Please play safely." I yell.

"Okay!" They yell.

Mel and I walk to a bench near the playground and sit down.

"So how have you been Mi-Mi? How are you and Malik doing?"

"We're doing all right. We're just taking it day by day. I just can't believe that it happened still, like my heart was really broken. He was the last person who I would've thought would hurt me that deep."

"Girl, when you told me, I was ready to gut his ass. I swear Mi-Mi that was gonna be his ass. Nobody can hurt you. They'll have to deal with me ,and you know I'll gut a bitch for you boo."

"Mel you are something else for real," I say, laughing.

"But you know I'm ya rider all the way til the end."

"You know it."

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Malia

I was sitting near the pond full of Koi fish and pretty flowers that were surrounding it. I didn't feel like playing with Jamie and Amar.

"Hey Malia, you wanna get on the swings with me?" Jamie asks.

"No thank you. I'm okay."

"You sure?"

"Yea."

"Okay."

Jamie runs back over to the swings with Amar. I look over and see a lily standing tall and pretty. Lillies are my mommy's favorite flower. I pull the lily up from the ground and take off most of the stem. I put the lily in hair and stare at the fish. My mommy used to take me to this playground all the time. She even showed me the secret garden. The secret garden. I forgot about it. I get up and run over to Jamie and Amar.

"Hey you guys wanna go to the secret garden with me?" I ask.

"Secret Garden? What's so secret about it?" Jamie asks.

"It's a secret. Duh!"

"Sure. I'll go," Amar says.

"Gardens are for girls. I'm good with playing in the dirt."

"Please Jamie. You know you're the strongest. I wouldn't want anything to attack us," I say, giving him the puppy dog face.

"Oh brother," Amar mumbles and rolls his eyes.

"Well since you said that, I'll go."