"A fight. You and Skipper.....got into a fight! The school year hasn't really started yet and you two are already starting a wrap sheet! I'd expect this type of behavior from Desmond and Andre. But you and Skipper???? This is unheard of! I just got off the phone with your daddy and told him how well you've been doing and then here you come with this!"
Meet Andre's mom Mrs. B. She was very nice but when it came to one of us misbehaving with we were kids she ruled with a iron fist. As she was giving us a disciplinary earful Prince and I sat on the sofa in the living room looking like two sad puppies that were just caught taking a monster sized shit on white carpet. The more she scolded the more we sunk lower on the cushions in our honest and genuine embarrassment. She really hated if we did. Anything that lacked eye contact was deemed disrespectful.
"Sit up straight and look at me when I'm talkin' to ya!" She snapped at us.
The sternness in her voice made us fearfully obey as we kept all focus on her from that moment on. When Mrs. B isn't in full mom mode she's pretty fun! My mom and Andre's mom would throw dinner parties and backyard BBQ's all the time when we were kids. That was a much happier time for Prince because he remembered the times where his parents were happy and in love. After that his childhood was nothing but dark days and even darker nights. Though I wasn't walking in his shoes and experienced his pain I understood that I had to be his friend and his shoulder to cry on. Out of the corner of my eye I can see Prince trying his hardest not to blink and I almost wanted to laugh at how stone faced he was trying to be. Mrs. B was still scolding us and at one point I tuned her out all together and shifted my eyes to the tv as Fat Albert played in the now silenced background. I was about to get comfortable and continue to watch when the creaking of the screen door broke my attention away front m the tv.
"Hey mama!" Andre yelled as he came inside and the screen slammed against the frame.
"Boy bring your narrow ass in here!" Mrs. B yelled back.
When she was mad at one of us she was mad at all of us.
"What'd I do now!?!?" Andre hissed at her throwing his bag in a corner.
"I should beat every inch of black off your body. What happened to 'I'll keep Skipper outta trouble'? That was your only job and he gets into a fist fight!"
"Mama it wasn't his fault that fool had it comin'!"
"I don't give a damn who's fault it was! The deal was for him to stay out of trouble and finish school! Now I gotta call his mama and tell her what happened. I'm still responsible for him until he's 18! Now you and him go to your room!"
"But mama why I gotta go to my room I ain't-"
"Boy back talk me again and you'll be picking your lips up from this floor now do what I said!"
With Andre being who he was he sucked his teeth and snatched up his book bag and did like his mom told him to do. Prince raised his hand like he was in class and waited for Mrs. B to respond.
"What boy?" She snapped at him.
Prince slowly put his hand down and tried to get his words out but he was so nervous that he stuttered out his question.
"C-c-can I t-take Regan home.....f-first?"
Scaredy cat. He only showed fear when it came to Andre's mom. Pitiful.
"Yeah I'm but not done with her yet! Mickey! I'm so disappointed in you! What would your father have said if he knew what you did today?"
Damn. She pulled the deceased parent card. It's cool because I aready no exactly what he'd say.
"Next time use the upper cut and crack a few teeth?" I joked giving a cheeky grin.
Mrs. B wasn't buying it.
"Mickey that's not funny! You know damn well-"
"Mrs. B relax! It's not like I get into trouble at school all the time. The last time I got into a fight like this was third grade. Why are you coming down so hard on us? Wilson got what he deserved for being a jerk."
"Regan that doesn't give you the right to punch a man or anyone for that matter. That goes you too Skipper."
She rolled her neck in Prince's direction and he lowered his head.
"Yes ma'am." He said softly.
"Come on Mrs. B give Prince credit. At least he stuck up for me when you idiot son just stood and watched!" I said slightly raising my voice just enough to state my case.
Andre heard me from his room because his door was open and immediately yelled out from down the hall.
"Hey! I ain't no idiot!"
"You're not you're something else!" I shot back.
"MAMA! Tell her to stop!" Andre whined.
Prince stood up from the couch and tugged at my shirt.
"Let me just take you home ok?" Prince said.
Mrs. B looked at Prince like he was trying to weasel his way out of his punishment. She crossed her arms and popped out a hip as she stared him down.
"Don't think you doin' something just to avoid this problem Skipper." She said.
"I'm not ma'am I swear. I'll be back before dinner. Please?"
Mrs. B couldn't keep scowling at us forever. Her face of stoned softens and she let out a little chuckle shaking her head at us.
"If I was in my right mind to use the sense the good lord gave me.....be back here before the street light comes on ya hear!"
Prince smiled so hard I thought his face would get stuck that way.
"Thanks Mrs. B! Come on Regan!" Prince exclaimed as he flew passed us and out the door.
I began to follow him when I was stopped.
"Regan?"
"Yes ma'am?"
Mrs. B grabbed my arm and pulled me close to her giving me a hug.
"If a boy like that don't know what your worth then he ain't worth your time."
She squeezed me really tightly before letting me go and smiling at me.
"Go on home. Tell ya mama I said to come by sometime."
She patted me on my head and sent me on my way. I met with Prince outside in front of the house and we walked arm in arm back to my house. Lucky for me I was able to get us home while my mom busied herself with house work and a Curtis Blow album. Once we reached my house and got up to the steps I turned the knob to see if it was unlocked.
"Don't have you keys again do ya?" Prince teased.
I reached down into the planter on the back of the railing and retrieved the spare key that we always had stashed for emergencies.
"The fuck do you call this then asshole?" I snapped putting the key in the door.
Prince came up the steps and stood behind me just as I got the door unlocked.
"You think you mom knows about our trip to the office today?" He asked me as he laughed.
No sooner did we step inside my mom was standing in the middle of the kitchen floor with her arms crossed and tapping her foot on the lanolin tire beneath her. Prince and I stood shocked.
"Regan Michelle Jenson and Prince Rogers Nelson have a seat. Right now."
Prince and I looked at each other and did what we were told. Here we go again.
