Round Here

Chapter Twenty Two

May '84

May started off fine. The past two months were hard. Vinny has struggled more with the drug use. Sonny and I are still clueless on how to help him. He just keeps doing it. We've been hiding it from the rest of the family or have been trying to. Vito thinks he's off the ecstasy but he's not. He's gotten into liking it more and some new drug too. Marlon told me that. A good thing is the twins celebrated their birthday on Friday, so that was good. I can't believe my girls are eleven already. They're growing up so fast, too damn fast that's for sure. I always remember the day they were born. Hell, I remember all them being born. I remember when they were all so young. I wished they were all small again. I just couldn't believe my little Marble was going to be sixteen this year. Wow, I'm getting old. So is Sonny. 

Today was a nicer day. It was Tuesday the fourteenth. Sonny and I were at home relaxing. The kids were at school. Marlon was picking them up since we let him borrow the car. Well we let him borrow Tom's car. I was paying attention to the t.v. when Sonny decided sticking his hand up my dress was an okay thing to do. "I don't think so." "Why not?" "The kids are due home in ten minutes and it's gonna take me longer than ten minutes to go." He smiled. "Later?" "I'm always down for later. I'm gonna go start making dinner since they complain they're always hungry." "Want any help?" "I think I'm okay love." He kissed my cheek. "Call me if you need anything." "I will make sure to do that." I got off the couch and went into the kitchen. I was surprised to see Vinny come in through the back door. "What are you doing coming through this way?" I said as I turned the burner on. "Trying to beat Marlon into the kitchen. Cause he doesn't want me to tell you Sonny was giving him head in the car." I sighed. "And how do you know this?" He smiled. "I walked out to the car after leaving school and saw them doing it. You know they didn't even stop until I banged on the car door." I heard Marlon panting as he came in. "Mama whatever he told you wasn't true." I just shook my head. "Okay go into the living room so I can cook. Vinny you stay here." He left. He looked at me. "Why can't I go?" I turned to him. "Your teacher phoned me earlier today. Said you and Violet skipped lunch and went somewhere. Where'd you go? Don't lie to me either." He smirked. "Wasn't gonna lie to you. I was gonna tell you where we went. We went to the park. I can tell you we had lunch. That's for sure." He began to laugh. "Gross, send your father in here will you." "Yeah I can do that. I'm going downstairs for a bit. Just to watch a movie by myself." "Better not be anything bad." He rolled his eyes. "No I'm gonna watch The Jungle Book." He left the room before I could answer. 

Sonny came into the kitchen. "What's up baby?" I pulled him in closer. "I need your help." He smiled. "With what?" I pulled his zipper down. I managed to reach my hand in without any trouble. "San, not now. I'm playing Lego with the girls." He seemed to change his mind when I moved my hand lower. I pulled my hand away when I heard my son come in. Sonny turned away so he could do his pants back up. I washed my hand. "Mama, I don't wanna eat." I turned to see him standing there. Sonny gave his son this look. "Well it's not an option. You're eating. Come play Lego with the girls and I." Sonny said to him. He sighed as he listened to his father. "I'll be back for more later Mrs. Corleone." He winked at me before leaving the kitchen again. I focused back on making dinner. 

I finally finished making dinner. I called for my bunch. "Mama! Mama!" Rafi came and ran over to me. "Oh, sweetie be careful. What's the matter?" He grabbed at my dress. "I hurt my head mama." "How?" I asked as I placed their dinner on the table. "Daddy and me were being silly. I tripped and hit my head on the toy box." "Not good baby." I kissed his forehead. He went to his spot. I noticed Sonny was missing from the table. "Santino where are you?!" "Relax I'm right here." He came over and sat down. "Auntie when is daddy coming home?" Junior asked. "He should be home either tomorrow night or the next morning. Don't worry he's finishing up his last concerts here." He smiled at me. "Okay, is he doing good?" "He's sold out each show. I'd say so." He liked that. "Mama, Mr. Roberts said I got the highest mark on the math test. He said he's very proud of me." "I'm very proud of you too. When do you guys get your report cards?" "We got them today." Vinny said. "And how come none of you have shown me?" Sonny laughed. "Cause they showed me." I looked at him. "Well that's nice. Mama wants to see them after dinner." "Okay. Oh and mama guess what." I looked back to her. "What?" "Today we had track and field and Vinny got first place in lots of stuff. We watched him." I smiled. "That's good. Vinny why didn't you tell me?" He groaned. "Cause it's not important. That's why." I thought it was. I was happy for my children's successes. "I think it is." He didn't even look at me. "Well here you can have these then. I don't want'em." He carefully handed them over to me. I grabbed the six ribbons. I put them in my dress pocket. "Why don't you want them?" "Cause I said it's not important okay. I don't want them and am not proud of them. I'm not proud of anything today." He seemed upset. "Okay love. I'm sorry you feel that way." He just turned a bit red before continuing to eat. "Mama, Rafi threw his napkin at me." I looked at the cheeky grin my son had on his face. "Rafael, we don't throw things at others." He stuck his tongue out at me. "Stick your tongue back in your mouth." He did. He just giggled. I ignored him now.