Crack Baby

(7): "And It All Came Tumbling Down"

Ominous.

"Y'all get off that game and come eat!" Nile yelled out to both Pharaoh and Hezekiah. One could hear the pausing of Madden '06, the thunderous sound of the boys' feet hitting the stairs as they trampled down them.

"Ouuu weeee! What you cooked today, lil pretty lady?" Ro exclaimed with utter excitement. He absolutely loved Nile's cooking. She could revive even the most depressed person with her soul food. She was what he liked to call 'Cajun mami'.

She made sure to incorporate her Cajun culture in everything she made. Tonight he was pleased to sit in front of some Cajun Shrimp Pasta, baked tilapia - seasoned to perfection -, shrimp stuffed buttered dinner rolls and the tastiest Cucumber and Lemon water he'd ever had.

"Have a seat, boys." Both Ro and Baby pulled out their chairs and plopped down, prepared to dig a whole through every dish. The duo reached out for the platters but they both were yanked back by their collars abruptly.

"Uh uh. Not before we all join hands and say grace. You know how we do it under this roof, Baby. Don't try and show off for Ro's hyper active ass." Nile scolded.

"Oh shit, my bad, Nile." Baby apologized. Nile tapped his lips lightly but also hard enough to inflict a necessary amount of pain.

"Watch your mouth around me."
"Nile, you been doing that to me since I was 6. I'm 19. I'm too old for that shi--"

Nile raised her hand again as if to say "wanna bet?"

"You may have grown up into a young man but you're still my little Baby. I'll treat you as such every chance I get. I don't care who's around."

Baby rolled his eyes and chuckled a little. "Aight, aight. I hear you." He glanced at Ro and shook his head out of slight annoyance.

"Aye but that's real talk, though, Baby. You got folks who love you. Lot of folks can't say the same about their people. Cherish that."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, nigga. Let's eat."
"Not before we say grace." Nile intervened again.

"Can we please say grace before this woman shits a brick? My stomach is touching my back." Santana said as he entered the dining room rubbing his belly.

Santana approached Nile, pecked her lips and trailed the kisses along her nose until he reached her forehead.

"How you ain't slap him? He cussed in front of you."

"That's a grown man. My man at that. You can cuss when you pay bills." Nile retaliated.

"Dawg, why black moms always say that shit?" Baby whispered to Ro?

Ro shrugged and continued eyeing the meal hungrily.

"Alright my handsome pack of wolves, let's all join hands." They all took each others' hands and lowered their heads.

The minute Nile parted her lips to begin grace, their doorbell sounded.

"I'll get it." Santana said as he stood up and approached the door. He looked through the peep hole and saw that it was Ryder. He quirked his brow and cussed under his breath but only because whenever Ryder showed up to his home at this time of night unannounced, it was always some bad news. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure nobody was paying attention and peeled the door open gingerly.