A Chance for Growth

My Promise to you

The smell of cooking meat spread in the air. Music blasting in the roomy backyard. Decorations as far as the eye could see, as preparation for not only the Henson's but also the Howard's. Two loud and rambunctious families, who treat eachother like one big family. The whole block was gonna be live with noise.

There was nothing like a family barbeque, especially for a black family. Taraji was excited, a graduation was almost like a birthday but instead of boxed gifts and cards they got straight up cash. They already had 50 dollars each pinned to their clothes. With that many people coming over Taraji could only image what type of money she was about to get.

She stood on a step stool on her tippy toes to hang up her side of the streamer. Terrence had already hung up his on the other side of the canopy. He watched her closely, a half eaten popsicle in his mouth.

"When you fall and break yo neck, I'm not taking you to the emergency room." Bernice yelled from the sliding patio door. Taraji rolled her eyes, sucking her teeth.

"I'm not gonna....." Bernice's heart jumped watching her foot slip. Taraji let out a short gasp. As if Terrence had inhuman speed he caught his beloved before she could hit the ground.

"Damn girl." He snapped calming the quick beat of his heart.

"See no, Terrence hang that up instead. Tryna give me a damn heart attack!" Alice gasped with a spatula in hand standing by the grill.

Terrence set her down on her feet shaking his head. He easily climbed up the stool and hung the streamer. She pouted looking up at him and walking away. He chuckled jumping off the stool and chasing after her.

"Baby..." He called, she huffed poking her lip out. He swooped her up in his arms stopping her from walking away.

"Tell me you love me." He spoke through a smile. She ignored him glancing off. He grinned, his feet traveling near the big above ground pool.

"Tell me you love me or your going in!" He demanded, she squealed squirming in his arms. Their mothers watched by the grill shaking their heads.

"Their love makes my chest hurt." Alice spat, Bernice gave her best friend a playful nudge.

"That's called loneliness." She teased, Alice smacked her lips giving her friend a glare.

Their attention went back to their kids once again as Taraji screamed out her love for him while laughing. Terrence moved away from the edge setting her down on her feet, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips pulling a groan from him. His hands gripping her ass and squeezing.

"Aye!" Bernice yelled, the two pulled away from eachother blushing.

"I swear it's like they forget we're here." Bernice chuckled watching them finish setting up for the celebration.

"They are never gonna be able to leave eachother alone." Alice spoke watching them interact. Bernice sighed nodding in agreement.

"Never, They have something. I don't know what, but it's deep. I've never seen it before." Bernice added, Alice turned tending to the meat on the grill.

"Me either. When did they get so grown? Just the other day Terrence was crawling, and my little monster was pretending to cry to get cookies. Where does the time go?" Alice voiced holding back the tears.

"Let's stop before we start crying again." Bernice side wiping a stray tear.

"Mama?" Taraji called. They both turned to look at her.

"Can I go get a new outfit for today?" She asked, Bernice sighed while Alice laughed.

"Taraji when your older your gonna be a shopaholic." Her mother chucked.