Affinity

Chapter 4: The Trouble with Brothers

" Let's bolster the lies of humanity and touch our fore-finger to our noses in recognition that our motor skills are still intact." I sat crossed legged on Raheem's couch reading a line of poetry I'd written down just the other day. A spark of creative writing had hit me and I'd filled up two pages of new material that day. Rah cleaned the kitchen quietly as he listened to my voice waft to him; I always held a beckoned breath waiting for his reaction.

" Your amazing." He poked his head around the corner so I could witness the sobriety in his words, there was no fanciful praise here, just genuine adoration. I smiled sheepishly, trying my hardest to not let on my shyness. As many times over the years as I'd shared my poetry with him he had never met me with anything but an honest opinion, an open gratefulness as he recognized all it took for me to share such personal work with him.

I sat for ten more minutes reading syllabled lines that rhymed at points and turned complex meanings, simple, with a couple trick words that most reserved for philosophical textbooks they really hated to touch, as Rah continued tiding up. He was definitely the cleanest most organized man I had ever encountered. When he joined me on the couch he stretched my legs over his lap and laid his head back. As soon as we'd entered his apartment after our burger stop I'd related to him why I'd had a sour behavior that evening. It was a situation that caused a flexing of his jaw, but a cracking smile at my candor-ridden response to the man. He'd laughed it off with me and suggested I let the ignorant remain in their own domain because I'd lose about every breath I had trying to fend them off.

Buzz, Buzz

We were both broken from our trance of relaxation as the buzzer to Raheem's apartment signaled that someone was trying to get his attention.

" Expecting someone?" I couldn't help the sarcasm and slight irritation in my tone; before I could reign my thoughts in I had far-fetched scenarios of some woman at his doorstep.

" That's not the case, but no I'm not expecting anyone." Rah answered the question my face had asked as he got up from the couch and went to the intercom.

" Who is it?" He dropped his baritone three octaves to intimidate whoever was on the other side.

" Its Time bro, come down here and let me in." I heard Rah's brother's voice and instantly relief washed over me.

" Ard, here I come." Rah came and kissed me on the forehead before going to get his brother, " You cool?", was his question as he walked to the door. I shook my head yea and waited for their return.

" Hey Ab." Rah's older brother barreled through the door and damn near lifted me out of my seat with a hug. Travis was older than Rah by three years and hadn't grown out of his childhood nickname despite the street life he'd adopted a couple years back.

" Hey Time." I smiled over his shoulder at Rah, asking what was going on, no response followed. I stayed standing and went to the bedroom to change and give the two some privacy, even though ear hustling was definitely about to be apart of the journey.

As soon as I entered the bedroom I saw the bag Rah packed for me on the floor near the adjoining bathroom. Opening it I found he'd packed no pajamas, which in fact wasn't a total loss, it just gave me an excuse to wear his clothing. A rarity I'd only experienced a handful of times before when circumstance had rendered it the gentlemanly thing to do and he had no choice but to follow his chivalrous nature. Now that things were different, I love you's having been exchanged and all, I now had free reign to commander his clothing at will. There was excitement again. So big and bright I had no clue what to do with it besides stuff it down and pray the feeling would pass before I walked around looking a gleeful fool.