Finding My Way Back

Surprise Surprise

Chapter 9

Surprise Surprise

Crater arrived at her office this particular morning feeling a bit drowsy. She had cried herself to sleep and woke up to Terrence and it all just caught her by surprise. She hadn’t realized how much she had blown off her Nana and her old life, the people she came from. She couldn’t believe she felt completely comfortable with sending her grandmother a dime every month yet never had anything to say to her. But then again Crater didn’t even do that personally, on her here trustworthy assistants handled that every month.

“Good morning Ms. Maliah.” A voice sounded. Crater flashed a smile as in to say ‘Good morning’ and continued to her office. She had several hours until set today and the interview of a lifetime. The hit NBA star was doing his very first off sports camera interview with them, The Scoop family. She had to get her mind right. She arrived in her office plopped down in her chair with her jacket on, tote bag still in hand, and her briefcase on her shoulder, she leaned back and stared at her office ceiling then dropped everything. She took off her outfit jacket and pulled out her bottom right drawer behind her desk. She then began to dig deep and found her stash. She couldn’t decide which one so she pulled out both; then went for her personal favorite, vodka flask first. She took too big gulps of it first and exhaled for air then gathered herself for her whiskey flask. She didn’t even pinch her nose she simply took it to the head until she heard a knock at her office door. She quick started to fumble with everything.

“UMMM… One minute, I’m uhh…changing.” Crater yelled. She thanked God for the black tented glass they got installed in the building now because with the other straight glass she would have been in trouble. “Come on in.” She said closing the drawer from putting away her flask and popping two pieces of mint gum into her mouth.

“Hey girl, I need…-“Seven stopped talking and noticed Craters blood shot red eyes. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay girl?” Seven asked with pure sincerity.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine girl. Things just getting a little crazy around here.” Crater tried covering up everything.

“Oh no ma’am. If anybody values their career and stays on top of things missy, it’s you. Please hit me with another bullshit lie.”  Seven said with a face that looked dead to say ‘You know damn well you can lie better than that.’

“It’s just my Nana, she’s sent me freaking fifty thousand emails and I have yet to one. It’s been almost seven years Seven since I’ve been home and three about maybe four since I’ve spoken to her. I ain’t seen her, heard from her, or even shot her a damn email.” Crater spoke while slapping her desk laptop with tears in her eyes.

“Awe Crater, your busy, you know.” Seven said trying to ease her from betting herself up.

“NO! This isn’t right. She raised me, took me into her home. My sister and I; and I can’t even sit and find time to freaking write her a PERSONAL DAMN CHECK to send to her house.” Crater couldn’t control her emotions; she was beyond pissed at herself. “I don’t even know what my sister is up to. She could’ve gotten married, got a degree, done something with her life. My Nana could be dying. DAMN IT!!!” Crater continued slowly lifting her hands to cover her face of shame.

“Cray Maliah…-“ Seven was cut off from a very frustrated and angry Crater. Crater rose from her seat and looked more furious than ever.

“And that’s another thing. THAT ISNT EVEN MY DAMN NAME. I CAME FROM SPENCER. No one ever knows my real last name. I went to my front desk of my condo building this morning and asked, ‘have they ever received mail for a Crater Spencer’, and you know what that man told me? ‘OF COURSE WE DO. We just never know who Spencer is.’ He handed me three men shoe boxes on mail for Crater Spencer. WHO THE FUCK ELSE NAME IS CRATTERRRR.” Crater screamed and cried telling the story all at the same time. She not only knew she was hurting herself, but she was hurting her Nana by the only source of figuring she was okay was through a weekly show.