Rain

Reconnections.

Picture of Marline on the side (Rain's grandmother)

T H E N E X T M O R N I N G

It was a bright sunny day in July. The sky was painted a bright blue and the shiny green grass glistened in the sun. I look out of the hotel window. I could feel my excitement bubbling up inside of me, my champagne cork ready to burst. I looked at the clock, 8:07 grandma should be here at nine. I turned over in the bed, being face to face with my mother. I began shaking her so she could get ready.

“Wake up momma, it’s almost 9” I shake her awake, after a few times I give up. Mom was a heavy, heavy sleeper.  And I wasn’t about to get smacked, I turn over again in bed and let my thoughts get through my head. I mean will momma ever leave Monte? The question went threw my mind almost every day. I just hope they don’t get into a serious relationship, so serious that it comes the marriage.

Who would want to marry a guy like Monte? he couldn't keep his dick in his pants even if he tried. And he has the most possessive side to him, its like he's some type of monster at times. I won’t lie, I worry about my momma. What if one day he decides she’s not good enough for him? And kills both of us and worse, get away with it.

I know I shouldn’t think about things like this: But I can’t help it, my mind won’t let me. I’m scared of losing my momma I know, I don’t like her all the time but I have all of this love in my heart for her, and I don’t know what I’d do without the woman that made me. She’s my whole entire world, I can’t forget I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her.

Me and my momma been threw so much shit together, it don’t make no sense. From her leaving me with my grandma, us living in a 1 bedroom apartment: I didn’t know when my next meal would come. I remember kids teased me in school, because I wore the same 2 or 3 outfits everyday. We ain’t have no hot water, heat, lights, none of that. But we still survived.

Only a strong woman can cope with that much, I hate to admit it: But my momma was one strong woman. I know it was hard for her to try and get school done and take care of a kid. But the reason she left me with my grandma will forever remain untold. And to be honest, I don’t even want to know, what if she didn’t even want me? 

“Rain, get ready it’s almost 8:30” She rubbed her eyes and faced the other side of the bed, closing her eyes once again. I searched for something to wear, after 5 minutes I picked out my peach high waist skirt, blue ruffle tank top, and my white wedges.

I strip out of my clothes, checking the water temperature. I step into the shower letting all of the hot water on my body. I close my eyes as the steaming hot water washed down on my body. Lathering my Dove body wash on my towel, washing my whole entire body. 15 minutes later I was done, I wrap a white hotel towel around my body. I pull out my baby lotion before applying it to my dry skin.

I take my women Degree deodorant, rubbing it under my arms. I then slid on my pink boy-shorts, and my blue bra. I turned on the water foist grabbing my white electric toothbrush, and my Colgate toothpaste, and began brushing my teeth. 5 minutes later I was still in my panties and bra with the same white towel wrapped around my body.

I debated on what I should do for my hair, either a bun, curls, straighten, then it hit me – Since my hair was down to my chest I could curl it, and part it putting half of it in a pony tail and the rest down. I plugged up my mommas wand curlers. I began sectioning my hair piece by piece. 

30 minutes later I was completed with my overall hairstyle. It looked really decent, I grabbed a soft brush and began putting edge control on my hair for my baby edges. Since i was done with my hair, i could finally get dressed. I slid on my dark blue ruffle tank top carefully, and I put on my high waist peach skirt on. When I got done with that, I sprayed some perfume all over me.

I then put on my gold medium hoop earrings, with my peach bangles. I exit the bathroom, to my mom and Monte who had already been dressed. Momma was dressed in a yellow sun dress, with heels and her hair had been in a bun. Monte had on some ugly ass shirt, with ugly ass shorts, some pretty ass Jordan's, but to top it off: His ugly ass face, yuck yuck 3 times.

“When did you get dress ma?” I ask, grabbing my white purse she chuckled before replying, “You took so damn long in the bathroom me and Monte took a shower in Ashley's room, you look nice baby” She said, I laughed I really didn't plan on spending that much time in the bathroom, but I’m a girl.

“Thank you! You look like the sun in that dress, madam” I teased, doing my British accent, momma just rolled her eyes, “Can you believe it's not butter?” I began laughing uncontrollably at her corny, yet funny joke. “Your oddly dark skin makes me believe” Her jaw dropped before she playfully hit me on my arm. I loved moments like this with my momma.

“Alright come on bae we gotta go!” My grandma was going to meet us downtown, and I was so excited to finally see her. My emotions went wild.

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“Wake up, Rain we’re here” My momma shook me awake, the car ride was so long that i fell asleep. I flickered my eyes open. The big ocean, tall buildings with graffiti on them, huge grassland: That's how i knew we were downtown. I fixed my hair and skirt before exiting the car. From a distance I saw my grandmother, my eyes lit up in excitement. After 2 years, I’m finally seeing her again. I took a deep breath before running up to her, hugging her squeezing her tight. 

“I missed you grandma!” I squeal, I felt warm water on my face i already knew, that i had been crying: Tears of happiness. She embraced me tightly, i smiled at the scent of her peach apple lotion. I got up fixing my clothes once again. I looked over at momma who had tears filling her eyes, she ran into the arms of my grandmother. This was such a happy family moment, the rest of our relatives just watched, and some even teared up.

“My baby’s” Grandma said, I  smiled “Rain you’ve grown up so wonderfully” She said, I  just smiled, I appreciated every moment right now. “Grandma! I love you so much!” I squealed hugging her once again, words couldn't express how happy i was right now. 

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The rest of the evening we had a cookout, this was by far the best family Reunion that we had in years. And grandma made it even better. Right now, me and grandma were walking towards the ocean water, she needed to talk to me about something.

“Rain you got more goodies than your momma up there, girl” She teased laughing, this is what i loved. She could always brighten up the day with her amazing smile. “What did you need to talk to me about?” I say crossing my legs lady-like. I wanted to cut straight to the chase: What if i can live up here with grandma?

“Listen baby, I’m getting old. And sooner or later i'm going to make my transition from the world. I want you to be very very careful about that Monte guy, you understand me? Something rubs me the wrong way about him. I don’t want you getting caught up in any of that non-sense, you understand? I want you to try and get your mother away from him: As soon as possible. He's bad news, and never ever let him do anything to make you feel uncomfortable, you understand? What I’m saying is be careful around him”

The words lingered in my mind, what did she mean by bad news? Did she know something that i didn’t? The words didn’t help at all, if anything i had been frightened by what she said. Monte and my momma had been unbreakable. It would be impossible to separate the two. But i took grandma’s words carefully: Be careful.