A Lesson Learned

Chapter 12: Family Ties

"So has anyone heard from him?" Shelly asked sounding worried.

"No he hasn't called a nigga still," Charles replied hiding his emotions. He had begun to seriously worry about his best friend's wellbeing. It had been almost a week since his "disappearance." "I think we might take a trip to Harlem and find him," he said.

"Yeah we may have too, cause this nigga is fuckin' trippin." Shelly answered letting her emotions pour over. "I just don't know why he won't call at least his mother. I mean my aunt doesn't deserve this shit, his ass should at least have the decency to call her or my uncle."

Navarre sat there silently, holding in his thoughts and wondering if he should tell them what he knew.

Shelly began to think that maybe she should contact the police and put out a missing person's report. She learned from Navarre that Ahmad was living in Harlem with Darius but his exact whereabouts were unknown. She needed assistance if she was going to track him down. But first she wanted to call Ahmad's parents, after all this was their only son. She quickly left the room to dial them at home.

Arianna picked up on the fourth ring, "Hello?" She answered.

"Aunty, it's Shelly how are you?" Shelly asked in concern. She knew her aunt must be worrying.

"Hey I'm good sweetie. Just fine," Arianna responded sounding animated.

"Aunty I'm so sorry," Shelly apologized. "I don't know what's wrong with Ahmad lately but-"

Arianna quickly interrupted her, "Shelly why are you even still worrying? The boy is grown now, I'm not stressing it any longer."

Shelly was a little blown but her aunt's nonchalant attitude over the disappearance of her only son, but figured it must be some type of defense mechanism.

"I know this is hard but I think we should contact the police aunty," Shelly suggested.

"For what Shelly? The boy don't wanna be found and honestly I don't care too much about where he's at anyway. I washed my hands of that boy." Arianna declared.

"Aunty I know you're mad but we are all concerned and on edge right now. Now he had no right-" Shelly tried to voice her side but Arianna wasn't hearing it.

Cutting her off again she spoke with umbrage, "Don't fucking tell me what my own son had no right to do! You have no right to call me with this bullshit Shelly! Now Ahmad did what he wanted to do and I'm not going to sit here and chase after him. He wanted to throw his education in garbage and disappear without any explanation and that's fine. I just hope he knows he's no longer welcome in this house!"

"Aunty surely you don't mean-" Shelly tried to rationalize but couldn't get but a few words.

"Shelly I mean it damn it! And you better not call no fuckin' cops and have them coming over here for this bull shit. Ahmad can remain missing for all I care. You hear me? If you ever speak to Ahmad again tell him his mother and father are through with him! I don't want to see him ever again." Arianna fumed with a voice roaring through the phone. Shelly couldn't voice a response quick enough so Arianna slammed the phone down and headed to Ahmad's bedroom to throw out all of his belongings.

Tears began to flow down Shelly's face in frustration, she knew her aunt Arianna had to be mad at Ahmad but not to this degree. Arianna had went off the edge and basically disowned her son, leaving him from now on to fend for himself. Shelly didn't know a mother could be so cruel, so cruel to her only son who was barely 20.

Navarre entered the room Shelly had retreated to and saw her crying. He walked over and embraced her knowing something was seriously wrong if she was in tears.