"Of course he did it on purpose!" I slammed a burner down on the table. "He ain't crash my car when he was driving it!"
"Rakim, it was an accident! He didn't even cause it! You just want to hate your cousin!"
"Like he dont know how to play victim" I spat. "You better let his ass know before I do. Travis paying to fix my shit up before I put him on the block myself"
"It's just a car-"
I clenched my fist. "I have to stop talking to you because you never understand"
Whitney twisted her lip to the side. "Whatever, I have school anyways. I don't have time for you"
"Yeah, take your young ass to school"
"Get out. Don't ask me to do your hair nomore. I'm serious."
"I forgot how sensitive you was" I got up and gave her a side hug.
Her grandmother got picked up by one of her church friends so I didn't have to worry about that.
I went home, and pink bonnet lady was standing on the porch like it was her job.
"Your parole officer is here to see you go to school and you not even home?! You must want to go back to the slammer, Rakim!!! You must do!"
I laughed because of how she said it. She tried to slap me, but I turned my head and she hit the back of it. "I was getting my hair done. Chill out"
"Since yesterday? And you don't tell me to chill. I oughta-"
Everything she said after that was just squawking.
"Goodmorning, Mr. Mayers" My P.O. said from the kitchen table.
"Morning" I walked around her. "Are you going to sit in my classes with me today too?"
"I figured that since you have no ride, I'd make it my personal mission to take you to and from school"
". . . I'm good"
"I wasn't looking for your approval"
"He always has been his father's child. He must want to end-"
"-up like him too" I finished. "Regardless of what you think, I am not a dummy"
-
I slid into the passenger's seat.
"RAKIM, WHEN ARE YOU GONNA SEE YOUR SON? HE KEEP ASKING ABOUT YOU"
"THAT LITTLE BOY IS NOT MY SON-"
"He is your junior! And he calls you daddy! You looked after us before" Ella said. "I don't know what the problem is now"
I laughed and bit my tongue because I was about to say something that I shouldn't say infront of my P.O.
"Find his real daddy and see what he do for him. That boy is not my kid. You just want money"
"You are a shit person, but you are his hero, Rakim" Ella tried to reason with me.
"I'a send somebody to drop off some groceries. Bye" I hung up.
I spotted Whitney as soon as we pulled up to the school.
I got out of the car before she fully stopped and slung the clear backpack I had over my shoulder.
Somebody bumped into me from behind, and I turned around.
"You was just the little nigga I wanted to see" I wrapped my arm around Travis' neck.
He coughed, and I shook him up a little.
"I uh- I got your car fixed and it's clean now" He handed me my keys and a spare key.
"It better be exactly how I left it" I pushed him away from me. "Where you get the money?"
"I do little side jobs" He moved a braid from out his face.
"You should know better than to lie to me" I walked off.
"Rocky!" Dianna grabbed my wrist.
"Wassuh?" I kissed her on the side of her face.
"This was the last place that I would expect to see you, unless you was running"
I haven't been here since 9th grade year. The first marking period.
"Nah, I just got home" I threw my arm around her.
"You know I was assigned to you for peer mentoring. Your parole lady met with me personally"
I backed off. "So that's how you rockin'?"
"You already know that I got you, Rakim. I'ma look out"
"Thank you, babygirl. I owe you one"
-
