Life Just Keeps Going On

Brooklyn

I dribbled the ball and shot it in the net, right from the three-pointer line. I grinned, i was getting better at basketball, yes! I got the ball and dribbled around the blacktop, getting ready to jump. And I did, successfully dunking that shit like Shaq did back when he broke the board. 

"Indi, mama wants you. And give me that, reverse oreo." James said chuckling, stealing the ball from my grip. I sighed and crossed my arms. 

"Yeah yeah, I'm going. Remember who bought you that basketball, and remember who's two years older than you." I remarked with a smirk. He rolled his eyes, typical James-type behavior when he doesn't have a come back.

I turned around and hopped on the rusty old ladder attached to our the ancient Brooklyn apartment, and started to make my way to my bedroom. People would usually widen their eyes when I did this. Hell, I would too. I was a hundred pound five-foot-nine stick. And a girl, let's not forget that. I had to jump about roughly twenty inches to hang from that first step with my hands. Then i had to basically do a pull up and get my body and knees over those steps, so then i could actually walk all the way up. Impressive, for a twig covered in cloth.

I went into my bedroom, then in to our rented-out hallway. I found mama cooking in the kitchen, her curly black hair tied up in a slick bun, and a content look on her face. She always loved cooking, especially for a crowd, but today it was just the family. 

"Hey mama, you called?" I asked, grinning. She looked at me and grinned back, her light brown eyes twinkling against her ebony colored skin. 

"Yeah sugar, I just need you to run to the store and get me a couple of things. The usual... eggs, flour, sugar, and some tin foil." She said calmly, stirring her homemade salad dressing in a bowl. 

" 'Kay, I'll be back in twenty minutes." I said, grabbing my wallet and taking out a ten and a five, then cramming it in my jeans pocket.

"There's money on top of the fridge, India!" Mama called out as I was walking away. 

"I got this one!" I called back, closing the door and locking it.  

I ran down the steps, hearing other people's tv's and what not. While opening the main door, the cold 6 pm air hit my face, tingling my skin but keeping me at a perfect temperature. It was about sixty something degrees, and people were already out with their short-shorts and tan ktops. 

I entered ShopRight and grabbed a basket, then went through the isles and got what I needed. I got on line for check out and put my things on the conveyor belt once I was next. I smirked when I saw who would be my cashier. 

"Well hey there Eli, hows life?" I asked as he rung up the items. He laughed.

"Oh God, not you. My life is perfect, thanks for asking." Eli said with exaggerated dignity. 

"Eli, I'll need you to stay here a couple more hours!" His boss said as he ran by the registers, talking on the phone.

"Wanna rethink that?" I asked, swallowing back the laughter that was bubbling up inside me. He glared at me and crossed his arms.

"I think we should stop hanging out. You are directly causing the removal of my free time." He said. I smirked.

"Nah, I think it's just you." I said, glaring back. He broke into a smile, clearly joking.

"Whatever. More money for me. Anyways, how is your life? It must be fascinating to be the only white kid in the family, right?" He asked. I laughed and playfully shoved his shoulder.

"They're actually really nice. Best adoptive family I've ever had, but I think they're trying to fatten me up. Yesterday we had fried chicken with mac and cheese and everything." I said as I bagged the items. He snorted.