For The Dollars Or The Love

Meet The Browns

Symphony was in her car seat babbling about school, while I drove to Jamal's house. I actually love to hear her talk about everything she does at daycare, I know she's ahead of a lot of the kids there because I started teaching her early. The car was quiet with the exception of Symphy talking.

"You want the radio on Mama?" I asked looking at her through the rearview mirror. She smiled at me, and nodded her head. I flicked the nob, and Big Sean's Control blasted through the speakers I can't lie Kendrick Lamar went in on his verse.

"Mommy, where are we going?" Symphony asked bobbing her head to the music.

"I can't tell you it's a secret." I sang, as I turned the corner. I heard Symphony gasp then giggle at the realization of where we were.

"Grandma Vivi!" she squealed as I pulled into Mama Viv's driveway. I got out of my car, and went to the back to get Symphony out her car seat. I hoisted her on my hip, locked my car, and went to the door. I left Symphy ring the doorbell while we waited for somebody to answer the door. We heard the sound of a lock being shifted, and the knob turning, I expected to see Mama Viv, or Jamal. But instead of them there was this caramel skinned guy with piercing brown eyes.

"Can I help you?" He spoke with a hint of attitude, ugh sexiness factor is now dead.

"Are either Jamal or Ms. Vivian here?"

"Uh yeah. "

"Could you tell them Cara and Symphony are here?" Instead of getting them I guess he got the hint that Jamal and his mother knew me because he let us in. I set Symphony down on the floor, and she yelled for Mama Viv.

"Is that my grandbaby, and my daughter?" Mama Viv came out of the kitchen dusting her hands off on her apron, as Symphy ran to her.

"Grandma Vivi!" Mama Viv placed Symphony on her hip, and hugged me.

"Girl did you forget you got a family over here?" She asked me still hugging me.

"No ma'am, but between school, work, and Symphony I haven't had time to stop by. It won't happen again I promise."

"Make sure it doesn't, now come on so I can introduce you to my nephew." She gestured to the guy that answered the door. "Chris this is my self adopted daughter, Caramia and her daughter Symphony. Cara this is my nephew Chris."

"Hey." We said at the same time as we shook hands.

"Hi cutie." He pinched Symphony's cheek causing her to giggle.

"Hi." She mumbled out hiding in Mama Viv's neck, I expected this she always gets shy around new people. I knew she wouldn't want to leave Mama Viv's side, so I went to the family room where I knew Jamal would be. I plopped on the couch next to him, and picked up the other Xbox remote.

"You ready to get spanked Jamal?" I asked raising my eyebrow at him while his cousin sat in the recliner.

"Please girl," he scoffed. "I can whoop you with my eyes closed."

"Negro, you been saying that since we were kids, and I'm still waiting on you to do it." We were playing Mortal Kombat, yes I said Mortal Kombat, don't judge me. Jamal chose Smoke, and I chose none other than my girl Sonia. Like always, Jamal was struggling to do the special moves, while I was destroying him. Needless to say I beat Jamal four times. "And once again I remain undefeated!" I yelled then started doing the Nae Nae.

"Dang cuz, you gone let her punk you like that?" his cousin asked.

"Man I been beating this punk since we were kids, he will never take my title as champion. The only time he came remotely close to winning was when we played 2k."

"Damn, ma you play 2k too?" He asked, as Jamal came over, and swung his arm around me.

"Nigga," Jamal said. "don't let the skinny jeans, nails, and makeup fool you, she's a straight up tomboy." He's right, hell Jamal is the only person I chill with, I don't trust females for real. Jamal being bisexual is the closest thing I have to a female friend.

"So," Chris began, "you telling me if I play football with you, and you get tackled that you won't cry?"

"No, it's football you're gonna get tackled, but I guarantee you won't tackle me."

"Pssh," he scoffed. "you one of them wanna be hard girls. But in reality you'll cry over the simplest things." Now it was my turn to scoff, this nigga was trying me, Jamal knowing where I was going came in with our yearbook from middle school.

"So I'm a wannabe right?" I asked showing him the page with the sports teams. "Then what is this?"

"That's you!" He yelled flabbergasted.

"Yeah, now look at the next page." He did as I said only for his eyes to land on my solo picture that had Most Valuable Player under it. Yeah ya girl was the MVP of her team.

"I see ya lil mama, what position did you play?"

"I alternated between quarterback, and linebacker, for all three years." I shrugged. I was good as hell back then, I probably still am, my last year of middle school was the hardest because I was working, and playing football.

"Do you still play?"

"Nah, I don't really have time for it now."

"Damn, that's gotta suck."

"Not really, my cutie in the kitchen is my top priority. So between her and school, I don't have time for anything else." I headed towards the kitchen to sit with Mama Viv for a while.

"Cara, are you still working at that place?"

"Yes ma'am." I held my head down as I answered her question.

"You know I don't like you working there."

"I know Mama, but the money is good, and they give me good hours so I can go to school and still have time for Symphy." Mama Viv hated that I worked in a strip club. When I told her where I was working she tore my butt up, literally, I was thirteen getting a serious whooping. "I know you'll help me with whatever I need, but you know I won't let you do that. You've been taking care of me since Jamal and I were kids, I owe you so much. Mama I know you hate my job, but you know I hate hand me outs when I have a stable job that allows me to provide for myself and my child."

She hugged me, and kissed my hair before she spoke, "You've always been so strong willed, you were the same when you took Symphony in, I told you not that you were too young to take care of her, and you made it a goal to prove me wrong. I may hate you working at that club, but I understand your reasoning. I don't tell you this often but I'm proud of you for everything you do." See this is why I loved Jamal's parents, they never looked down on me for what I did, I'm kinda upset that Papa Craig isn't here. I'll have to stop by on one of his off days.

"Mama," I said checking my phone for the time.  "we gotta go, but we'll make sure we come by more often." I set Symphy down on the floor. "Go say goodbye sweetie."

"Bye Grandma Vivi." She pouted, as she followed behind me to say goodbye to Jamal, but we ended up seeing Chris first.

"Bye, it was nice meeting you." He addressed Symphony next. "Bye cutie, it was nice meeting you too."

"Bye sis." Jamal said hugging me, and kissing my cheek. He hoisted Symphony on his hip causing her to giggle. "And you Itty Bit, you not leaving until I get some love." Symphy hugged him around the neck, while he showered her with dozens of kisses. See what I mean this here was my family, and they were all I needed.