Brave Face

Chapter Two

Nasir POV

"I keep my grill twisted just to show the kids it's real,
We ain't picture perfect but we worth the picture still" ~J.Cole (Crooked Smile)

Screeeeeeeeech....

I jolt away, sweat dripping off my forehead, breathing deeply. This is the third night in a row I have had this dream.

In the dream I am in a car accident, but I don't know how it happens. All I see is my mangled car and me on the inside. Sometimes I see another figure but it's too covered in blood to make out.

It always seems so real but I don't remember it happening, well I don't remember much of anything. My memory spans back about nine or ten years give or take. I can't remember my home town, my parents or any other piece of defining information.

Sometimes it's frustrating, sometimes I wonder am I oppressing something. Maybe remembering who I am is not a curse but a blessing.

"Dad, you were yelling in you sleep. Did you have another bad dream? You get those a lot," my six year old daughter, Nasuri interrupts my thoughts, standing at the door gripping her favorite stuffed animal.

"It's ok baby girl, and I do have a lot of them don't I. Probably because there's a monster under my bed" I say, jumping out of bed, lunging towards her. She moves out of the way and bursts out laughing.

"Monsters aren't real. Only Nasi thinks they are," Nasuri says, making a duh face. I shake my head and pick her up.

"Well that's too bad, ya see, only people who believe in monsters can have ice cream to make them go away. I guess I'll just have to take you to your room and put you back in bed," I say, pretending to walk to get room.

She wraps her arms and legs around me and whisper-yells a firm no. "I believe in monsters like Nasi. I need ice cream to make them go away too," she says pointing to downstairs.

I pretend to be skeptical of her, staring at her extra hard with squinted eyes, before I finally give in. "Okay princess, you really do believe. Now you have to be real quiet or you are going to wake up Nasi, and you know how grumpy Nasi is," I says, reminding her of our unusual acting feline.

"Okay. Really quiet," she says, putting her index finger over her lips. I smile and take her down the stairs.

Placing her on top of the counter I get out two bowls and the ice cream. I hear a pair of feet, scrambling to get down the stairs.

"This is how you guys treat me? You have go away monster ice cream without me, now what if a monster came and got me while y'all were down here," comes the loud voice of the ever so dramatic Nasi.

"The monsters won't get you because I am awake, duh," I says, grabbing another bowl from the cabinet. When I set it on the counter, I see a sleepy Nasi, waiting patiently for an explanation. I simply pick her up and set her on the counter, blowing a raspberry on her cheek.

"Okay. Who wants chocolate chip cookie dough," I ask already knowing the answer. Nasuri jumps up and down, saying I do, I do. I give her one scoop of ice cream and place the top back on it.

"Okay and that must mean you want banana nut cream," I says gesturing to Nasi.

Her face scrunches up and she shakes her head no. "I'm allergic to nuts daddy, why would I want that," she says in a matter of fact tone.

"Ohhh. I'm sorry. I must've forgot. So do you want, brownie blast instead?"

"Yessss," she says and I give her one scoop of brownie blast. After scooping out my banana nut creme, we clink spoons and begin digging in. When we are done I quickly wash the dishes and wash my hands really good, before I touch Nasi.