New Native Land (The Blossoming)

Chapter 5 (Who are you?)

I was sitting home doing my homework and looking over this permission slip form to play volleyball. I was pretty athletic and I also was bored so it was something to do, I just needed my dad to sign the form and give me $75 to pay for the registration fee and try out fee. I already had a physical done so I didn't have to worry about that.

I focused back on my homework for the most part, but it really bothered me because this Ahm guy was in the back of my mind. Like why was he so secretly involved in my life and I had no idea he was. Like who was he? What is going on?

I breathed out and refocused back on my homework and I finished it in no time. I went to my math homework which was extra because my math classes got harder because I choose my careers path in health. Math isn't a favorite of mine but it was an easy subject none-the-less.

Later when I was finished I walked downstairs to see what was in the fridge so I could cook it. And then there was a call to the house. I answered it and it was my mom. "Hello."

"Hey baby! How are you?"

I smiled because I missed her a lot.

"I'm fine. What about you? How are you?"

She sighed.

"I'm fine too, just a little more stressed than usual. Why you ain't call me?"

"I've been busy. Sorry. This school has us doing a lot of work."

"Aw, that's good. Is it challenging?"

"Not really, I thought it would be."

"Really? Well, I need to tell your dad so he can get you harder classes."

"Yeah, that would be better. I'm bored in school already."

"Yeah, I know. That was your problem here, that's why you always got into trouble. You're behaving right?"

"Yes, ma'am. I'm doing right up here."

"Okay, good. Because you ain't too old to get an ass whoopin'."

I laughed at her.

"I know momma. You should come visit though, I miss you and your cooking."

"Oh baby. I'll be there one day. And I taught you to cook, you can feed yourself."

"I know but I want your cooking."

"I'll see what I can do okay?"

"Okay."

We hung up soon after and she told me to tell my dad to give her a call. As much as I miss her, I'm glad her and dad divorced. They weren't getting along too well, I know she wasn't happy neither was he. But if I was going to stay with one parent it would be dad. I just wished he could've stayed in Houston, not moved all the way to New York.

I went back to the kitchen and ordered some chicken wings and rice for myself. I have no idea when my brothers are coming back and I just needed to eat or I'd pass out. I looked at my wallet and saw I didn't have enough so I went up to my dad's room and opened his money drawer and took out a twenty-dollar bill.

When the delivery guy came I accepted the delivery and said "Keep the change." He smiled and left. I sat down and I turned on the TV and I ate. I sighed because I'm so used to being alone at home it was ridiculous. My phone rang again and I walked over to it to see who it was. "Hello?" Draya said frantically. "Yeah, what's up?" I asked her and she sighed "Did you do the math homework?" I laughed because we took math together and she hated the subject. "Yeah, what's up?" I asked her and she breathed out relieved "Can you help me with number eight please?" She almost begged "Yeah, no problem."

I helped her out and she let out a huge sigh "Man, that was easier since you explain it. I was not getting it." She told me and I laughed. "It was in the book." I told her and she make a mocking laugh "I don't read the book girl!" I chuckled at her. "But girl, you causing commotion." She let out and I rolled my eyes "What do you mean?" I asked worried about the answer. "Well, people seem to think you and Ahm go out. And it's really weird because he don't usually go out his way for other people. But he's telling everybody in the hood not to bother you. It's just weird." I squinted at her reply. "I don't even know him though. I never spoke a word to him." I admitted. "Well he knows you. But like I said, don't get caught up with him." She told me and I nodded. "You're right." I said and we said our good byes and hung up.

A little later my brothers came home while I was watching a Kung-Fu movie on TV. "Aye Reag?" Malcolm asked me and I got up and looked over the back of the couch at him. "Yeah?" I asked confused. "Lemme ask you a question." He said and I nodded for him to continue. "Cecil don't drop you off at the bus stop do he?" I froze where I was at and my knees got super weak. I wondered how to answer this question. "W-Why?" I asked him curiously and he sighed out in defeat.

"Why you don't let Cecil drop you off at the stop?" He asked me and I sighed. "It's weird to get dropped off at the bus stop. People are going to look at me weird. If I do that I might as well have him take me to school." I fought and he shook his head. "Do you know a dude name Ahmed?" He got to the point again. Trey walked up behind him and looked at me strange. "Reagan how you know Ahmed?" Asking me the same question as Malcolm and I made a funny face.

"Do y'all understand that people have been asking me this question all day, and I literally tell them that I do not know who this man is and they don't believe me. I don't know who he is, or what he does. I don't get it." I explained to them and they both looked at each other and made a face. "We'll be back, don't wait up. And we'll talk in the morning about Cecil." Malcolm said to me and I nodded.

I have no idea what's happening but it's getting weird.