Love From The Barber

Seventeen

We All Was Sitting In Mama Tina's House Eating Up The Food She Cooked. We Just Came From The Funeral And I've Been Wearing My Shades All Day. I Know It's Rude To Be Wearing Shades In Someones House But I Needed Them Because I Was Tearing Up During The Funeral Especially Seeing The True Love Of My Life Go Down In The Ground Was The Hardest Thing To Watch. Everyone Was Pretty Much Doing A Little Bit Better But I Know Everyone Was Still Taking It Hard.

"How You Doing?" I Heard. I Looked Up From My Plate To See Amari Take A Seat Next To Me.

"Shouldn't I Be Asking You That?" I Asked. Since Bey Was In The Hospital Amari And I Barely Had A Conversation To Ourselves. I Wanted To Give Him The Space He Needed.

"I'm Alright. My Mom Mentally Prepared Me For This Moment" He Said.

"She Did?" I Asked.

"She Didn't But She Did. I Had To Man Up Because She Already Told Me She Doesn't Want Me To Feel Sad...Plus She Said I'll Just Get A Huge Headache" He Chuckled Softly. I Smiled Wrapping My Arm Around His Neck.

"No Matter What Happens...Promise Me You'll Be The Best You Can Be And Be A True Representation Of How Your Mother Raised You" He Nodded His Head.

"My Grandma Said I Need To Stay With Her For A Few Days Before My Dad Takes Me...I Thought I Was Living With You" He Said Finally Looking Into My Eyes.

"I'm Trying To Make That Happen Amari" I Said. I Know Mack Was Going To Cuss My Ass Out Sooner Or Later Because He Knows About Our Court Date. Even Though We Were In Houston Tristian Flew Down For The Funeral Too. Thank God We Weren't Staying In The Same Hotel.

"Well Can You Hurry Before I Go With Him"

"Is There Something You Want To Tell Me Amari?" I Asked. He Looked Down.

"Amari" I Said. He Looked Up At Me. " I'm Scared...I Love My Dad I Don't Want Nothing To Happen To Him. It Was Just One Time"

"Tell Me Amari" I Said.

"You Have To Promise Me You Won't Tell Anybody"

I Nodded My Head Waiting For Him To Reveal To Me What He Was About To Say.

He Let Out A Sigh "My Dad Does Drugs...I Had No Problem With Him Smoking. He's Been Doing That My Whole Life But He's On Something More Hard"

"How Do You Know This?" I Asked.

"When I Was With Him One Weekend I Saw Some On His Nightstand... He Caught Me And Yelled At Me...And"

"Amari You Know You Can Talk To Me About Anything" I Said.

"He Beat Me So Bad He Left Bruises. I Think He Already Took Some Of It Because He Would Have Never Laid A Finger On Me For Something Like That. I Was So Scared And I Couldn't Tell My Mom Because That Would've Been The Last Time I Seen My Dad...That's Why I've Been Scared To Be Left With Him On A Daily. I Love My Dad But I Am Scared He Might Beat Me Again"

"Do You Know What Drugs It Was?" I Asked. Amari Shook His Head "Please Don't Tell Anyone...I Don't Want My Dad Getting Into Trouble" He Said.

"I Know, But You Should've Told Someone Amari"

He Looked Down "He's My Dad...People Make Mistakes...It Was Just A Mistake" He Said. But The Tone In His Voice Said That He Was Trying To Convince Himself That It Was Just A "Mistake"

"I'm Glad You Told Me" I Said.

"You Wouldn't Hurt Me Right?"

"I Would Never Lay A Finger On You, Can't Speak For My Own Though" I Joked.

Amari Laughed Looking At Jordan But Jordan Was Too Busy Eating To Notice. "Amari" Mama Tina Called. Amari Got Up "Excuse Me" He Said Tending To His Grandmother Needs. I Seen Mack Walking My Way And I Got Up "Let Me Holla At You Outside" He Said.

"This Isn't The Time Nor Place Mack And You Know This" I Said.

Mack Clenched His Teeth "Would You Take The Dick Outta Ya Ass And Meet Me Outside"

I Shook My Head Grabbing My Plate To Throw It Away. I Made My Way Outside To See Mack Smoking A Cigarette.

"Really? At Your Child's Mother Funeral" I Said Walking Down The Small Steps Standing Next To Him As He Looked Out Across The Street.

"So You Taking My Ass To Court" He Said Shaking His Head.

"I Told You I'm Doing Whatever It Takes. Once The Judge Sees That I Take Care Of My Son And I Make Good Money. I Will Win"

"Do You Think Amari Should Be With You Just Because He Is Your Child?" I Asked.

"Yes I Do. The Fuck You Mean Nigga"

"That Shouldn't Be A Reason, Not All Fathers Are Responsible Or Trustworthy Fathers Mack. You Have Some Fathers That Rape Their Daughters You Think They Should Still Be Living With Their Fathers?...No"

"You Know This Is A Different Situation"

"It's Not. Your Not A Good Fit To Raise Amari-"

"But You Are?!" He Yelled. He Threw His Cigarette Down Stepping On It To Face Me "That's My Son. My Son! And I Refuse To See You Raise My Son!"

I Looked Down "I Understand Your Mad. But I'm Not Trying To Cut You Out Of His Life-"

"How Would You Feel If Some Nigga Raised Your Son?! If Amelia Married Some Nigga And He Takes Custody Of Your Kid!" He Yelled Cutting And Off.

"I Understand Your Frustration-"

"You Don't Man But That's Alright. You Ain't Shit And I Realize That Now" Mack Said Pointing At Me As He Walked Back Inside The House. I Clenched My Teeth Bending My Head Down. I Know This Is Going To
Be A Nasty Case.