M:TINA!!! GET YO ASS DOWN HERE AND EAT. I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU AGAIN.!!
T:YES MA'AM. HERE I COME.
-I save my paper and close my laptop. I slip on my house shoes and head downstairs.-
M:took you long enough.
T:I know ma. I had to finish my paper for tomorrow.
M:umhm sure. Just eat. -she rolls her eyes-
T:ok ma. -I fix my plate and sit at the table. Right when I was about to eat the doorbell rang-
M:I'll get it
-I nod and eat my food. I heard talking then little feet running-
K:mommy!!! Mommy!!! MOMMY!!
-A smile spread across my face -
M:she's in here Khalil
His little feet came in the dinning room. I picked him up and showered him with kisses.
T:hey mamas baby!!
K:I miss to, mommy!
T:I missed you too. You have fun with your dad?
K:no. I wit gg
T:really?
K:yes. Daddy wit Ken
I shook my head. I give Jerome chance after chance after chance to spend time with his son, but he stay with Kenny and the boys. I sigh.
T:I guess you haven't eaten.
K:no
I shake my head and sit him in my lap. I share my food with my baby. It wasn't much just noodles. After we ate I sat Khalil on the counter and fixed him some juice.
M:ok I'm gone. I'll see you two later
T:ok ma. Thanks for dinner.
M:you welcome -she kiss and hugged Khalil-
T:say bye grandma
K:bye ma ma
M:bye baby. -she walks to the door but stops- Tell your brothers to call me when they get home.
T:yes ma'am
She left to go to work and I took Khalil upstairs to give him a bath. Right in the middle of him splashing me with water.......the lights cut off. Khalil started to cry. I sigh in frustration. I get my phone out and shine some light. I get him out the tub and put him in a towel. I carefully make my way to my room. I laid him on the bed.
T:Khalil don't move
K:yes ma'am -he said in between sobs. I called Marcus my oldest brother-
Mar:what bruh?
T:calm your tone. The lights are out.
Mar:what the hell?
T:yes and Khalil is here too.
Mar:damn. We on out way. Pack a bag for tonight. I'll text mom.
T:call her
Mar:iight iight
Marcus hung up. I shine my light and get my backpack. I put some clothes for me and some clothes for Khalil in the bag. I put personal things in my purse and put my phone charger in my laptop case. I still have homework. I brought everything downstairs carefully and went back and got Khalil. I forgot I didn't put him on any clothes yet. I lotion his body, slipped him on a pull up, and put him on an onesie. I carried him downstairs very carefully. He had cried himself to sleep. Poor baby scared of the dark. I sat on the couch waiting for my big headed ass brothers to come and get us. I rocked Khalil lightly just in case he woke up and we were still in the dark. Keys jiggled as the door unlocked. A tall frame of a man stood in the doorway.
Mar:Tina?
T:I'm sitting right here -Darius came in behind Marcus-
Dar:I'll get your bags. Take Khalil and get in the car
I nod and do as told. I put on my seat belt and held Khalil. I waited for my brothers to come on. I look out the window. I see the crime. Blue and red lights. Drugs. I don't want this for me. Neither for my son. I'm tired of the lights being cut off. The water stop working. Barely any food to eat. I need to get out of here. Knowing my family that's not about to happen. They want me to stay. I had the opportunity to leave when I was in high school. But my mom got scared. My dad got hooked on drugs and left. My brothers started selling. Everyone either tried to make things better for me to stay or used my selflessness to keep me here. Even though my mom smiles at me...I think she blames me that my dad left. She might not say it but it shows....my dad use to deal. Head of the game out here. We had a big house. Everything.! He gave it away when I got pregnant to keep me safe. Something happened one night. I came home and dad was gone. Mom drunk herself to death and we all moved. My mom kicked my brothers out. My mom and I moved into this small apartment/townhouse. It's run down and disgusting but mom won't move. She won't take my brothers money cuz she says it's illegal......I think it reminds her of dad...... ugh where in the world are my brothers? I guess they read my mind. Marcus and Darius got in the car. Darius drove off.
Mar:little man sleep?
T:yeah -I look down at Khalil-
Dar:we gonna put y'all in a hotel for the rest of the week
T:why?
Mar:cuz we said so
T:don't get smart
Dar:just trust us.
T:what about mom?
Mar:ehh she'll live
T:that's cold
Dar:we have our reasons. We'll give you a car so you can go to classes, that's it.
T:why
Mar:cuz we said so
T:fine
I guess you can see how Marcus is. He's the second oldest. Very smart but dumb. He dropped out of college cuz of his smart mouth. He can talk his way out of everything. He is just liked my dad. Mean at times but has a soft heart if you show compassion. Darius is like the mixer of my mom and dad. He's the oldest. Looks like dad but is gentle like mom use to be. He is the one that keeps us together. If it was up to Marcus...we'd both be gone. Darius is a gentle giant but don't piss him off. That's when my dad side comes out. Beat yo ass first and ask questions later....if you live. But I love them tho.
Dar:we'll have someone watching your every move to make sure that you're safe.
T:what's going on?
Mar:nothing
T:ummhmm
I side eye them. I close my eyes for the rest of the ride. Something wasn't right. They are keeping something from me. I can feel it's something I'm not going to like...... I need to know what it is.
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-Tori
