From The Hood

Chapter Two

I rinsed Jaden carefully and made sure all the soap was gone around his crotch before pulling him out the tub while he was dripping wet, I grabbed a dingy-white towel and wrapped it around his small body. He clutched his ball and I smiled while holding my hand out for it, he handed it over and I twisted my body a little to face the goal and threw it, I even shocked myself when it went in.  Jaden jumped in excitement as I laughed in amusement, I actually made the shot! I wiped Jaden dry while getting off my knees from in front of him as we were face to face, I lifted him in my arms with the towel still wrapped around him. I went to the door and unlatched it before pulling it open and pushing it out the way while stepping out the bathroom, I glanced down the hall to find the living room empty, Auntie Jackie must of left already. I walked straight to Jaden's room and sat him down on the bed while walking over to his stack of training diapers, I grabbed one while opening his drawer and finding something for him to wear. I grabbed a pair of socks and tossed them on the bed with one of the training diapers from his stack, I walked back over while picking up a pair of dirty socks and throwing them toward his dirty clothes pile, which was slowly growing bigger.

"Honey." I turned to face Mama as she leaned against the threshold, holding a flamed joint while staring out the window.

"What?" I asked, catching her attention.

"I'ma need hundred dollars."

I went back to looking for something to put on Jaden that would go with his red polo shirt without answering her.

"Hello, I'm talking to you." She snapped, fixing her posture as I turned my head to look at her once more.

"I don't have any money." I told her snappily.

She glared at me and I glared back until she turned and stopped off, the sound of her door slamming made Jaden jump as he watched the little altercation from the bed. I shook my head as I took a seat on the bed with a his polo shirt and some stretchy pants, he looked up at me and I smiled to reassure him everything was okay. Jaden was going to be a smart little guy that already knew how to walk by seven months, how to draw by nine months even if they were just scribbles, and how to bite off a burger by nine months as well. I heard Mama's door open again and I could hear her heavy stumps as she came toward Jaden's bedroom, where she knew I'd be.

"Go to River Park and get me a pound." I stared at the flying twenties as she threw them at me.

"No." I said boldly, standing up to hold my ground

"What?" She asked dangerously, taking a step to me while cocking her head a little closer to hear me repeat myself.

"I said n-"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jaden followed me as I stepped off the curb of the street while glancing up and down the road to make sure no cars were coming while I passed through, school was already out and I knew that the dealers would be here by now. River Park used to be very popular but after the almost 24/7 water park opened, it was where everyone would go and it became abandoned slowly. Many drug lords tried to claim it as theirs but there was only so much room to take because the territory was already claimed, it was already taken before it was abandoned. I glanced around as the day started to darken, the sun had just set and it was starting to get chilly out, I looked back to see if Jaden was following me and surely he was. I reached my hand out and he quickly latched to it as we walked the length of the park until I was able to look at the lingering bodies close to a lit LED streetlight. The hue of the light casted long shadows as I stared them down while slowly moving closer, making sure to be careful not to scare them incase they had a gun or knife. I paused and lifted Jaden up onto my hip and moved closer as their talking got louder.