One late night shift for Onika turns into a long time away from her small town when her last customer happens to be more out of the ordinary than usual.
I ignored the many stares I was receiving and focused on my boys, jungle telling Nas he can't beat anyone in basketball. I had to laughter at them, I had never seen either one of them play so the conversation was odd to me. "Nasir" I hummed stopping their argument "Huh?" He asked looking back at me "how long can we stay here ?" I asked. I was unsure about what I wanted as far as leaving my home behind for good. Everything was just here waiting for me like I had left it as if my life continued after I had left. I really dropped everything to be with him even thought I wasn't given an option.
"I don't know not really in a rush I was thinking we could spend the week" he informed me, I nodded my head and sipped on my soda looking around. The familiar faces held no interest to me anymore, in New York I rarely saw anyone twice unless it was at the mall. It was fascinating knowing that I'd only ever have that day to see some people for the first and last time in my life. Why did I like this place so much ? It was boring and repetitive , ok not saying getting shot at was fun but it kept me feeling alive. I hadn't felt that in a long while, our food was placed in front of us I smiled at it.
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"I can't believe I never came to this place while I was here. Had you not forced me to eat some I'd still have a vendetta against it" I said to jungle who was enjoying his side salad. "Everything here is so cheap they been ripping us off in New York" he said offended. I nodded and rolled my eyes "yup. And y'all let em" I told him opening my chopsticks I had learned to use them properly and felt like a pro eating with them now. It was fun, "why no pink hair ?" Nas asked me I shrugged "I didn't take any with me so I guess it's black hair for this week" I told him. He laughed and stared at my chopsticks then at jungles before shaking his head. "Weirdos" he said eating his food with a fork , it made me smile because had we been alone he'd make me sit in his lap and teach him how to use them. Then tell me he was better at it than I was.
We ate and they asked about this town, I told them that it was like one in a movie. How everyone knew everything about everyone and the schools and small historical sites we had. "What you usually do?" Jungle asked "I had a mine to five so at first I'd just go in and come home watch some tv cook and sleep. Then I got out of school and decided to take the night shift which rarely anyone did. It's got business more on weekends when people would come by from a party or a club to tame their munchies. I liked it better "
For jungle he was at home most times too, playing his game or tryna find son new to do. I know Nas told him he had to watch me but it was more than that. I could tell he didn't want jungle too involved in the gang, kept him away and hidden protecting him like he did me. "Okay so when we get home you being forced to watch a movie" jungle told me, I usually made them do stuff like that with me for fun. I know they both liked it deep down "good cuz I had way better cable than y'all" I said popping a piece of sushi into my mouth.
"Ouch" Nas said to me
Nas
She seemed happier today , she was humming and bouncing she was always sweet but today she was just a little bit more with the hugs and kisses. Also her house was great, I never spent time at Anyone's place before and her was like home. I loved my own house but that shit was huge and empty filled with the memories of business deals drugs and guns. The only sense of home there was when nicki got there and started making us all begin to act like actual human beings with families. Now her house was the embodiment of everything she had given us. Something small cozy and inviting I could never leave New York but shit I didn't wanna go back for right now. No guns on me or her , baby girl was smiling and happy on her birthday. Jungle and i was getting some treatment other than tough love that I knew was benefiting both our minds in some way. This was my family I want a normal future with them , I could do it , for her I could do it.
