Curves

Chapter 28

Monique 

*

"Get up Mo," mama said hitting me with a pillow. "You're going to be late." After telling her everything that happened she made me come back to her house for a while. With Zy in jail I don't think she trusts me being alone. Toni convinced me to take some time off of work to get myself together. I used some of my sick days to make it happen. But I could only use three in one sitting so I'll be back to work Thursday. 

"Late for what?" I mumbled rubbing my eye. I knew my face was ashy as fuck from all the crying I've been doing. 

"Your appointment," she said digging through my suitcase and began pulling out clothes. "You're going to march your tail down to that doctor's office and get tested."

"But-"

"No damn buts Mo. Stop moping around and do something. You may not even have it and you're making everything worse by sitting here. Stop crying over spilled milk. What did I tell you growing up?"

"If you're going to cry you better do it standing up," I mumbled. 

"Exactly. I let you lay down and feel sorry for yourself long enough. It's time to woman up."

"Okay," I mumbled getting out of bed. "Can I take an hour shower?"

"Hell no you ain't gonna be using all my hot water. What the hell do you have to wash that takes an hour?" I pouted before going into the bathroom and taking only twenty minutes to wash. Mama already had my clothes laid out so I put them on. I came downstairs and she was hunched over in the corner talking on the phone. 

"Mama," I said suspiciously. 

"Huh?" She looked at me with innocent eyes. "I'm not doing anything."

"Who are you talking to then?" 

"Nobody." She hung up the phone and started walking towards the kitchen. 

"Mama don't tell me you're trying to put a hit out on Jamel," I whined. 

"Why not? That infected bastard played with my baby and possibly got you infected too. I would do it myself but I got warrants and shit."

"Mama!" My granny is a lot like Madea in some ways. When it comes to me she's ready to ride out. She used to tell me all about how she used to be apart of a gang some odd amount of years ago. She didn't talk about it too much but she used to always be ready if someone tried me. I remember when I was in high school these girls were trying to jump me and my granny came out with a pistol ready to shoot all of them. 

"What? You knew this. He's lucky I left that life alone or his ass would be in a body bag."

"It's okay mama. Just calm down. Don't do any drive-by's while I'm gone." 

"No promises," she said before I left. I shook my head. That woman is a mess. I drove off to this appointment she set up for me. 

She was right after all. I can't just keep crying over this. I'm scared, terrified really about living with this for the rest of my life. But if it's something I have to do then I'll just do it. I just really hope I don't have it. Without Zy here I don't know if I can handle something like that. As I was driving my phone rang. I recognized the number as Zy's aunt number. "Hello?"

"Hey baby how are you?" 

"I'm fine ma. Mama just told me to go get checked because she doesn't think I have it."

"Well she was a nurse. I don't think you got it either but it's better to be safe than sorry. I'll be praying for you baby."

"Thanks ma. How's Cadie?"