So High

16. Kaleb

*not edited
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June 16th, 2017

Forever mine,
All because you're my kind.
Aw, baby,
I got what you want, you got what I want,
And we were made for each other. (oo-oo)
Forever mine,
And I'm so glad
'Cause it gets better with time.
Oh, girl
I like what you like, you like what I like,
And we were made for each other.

I watched all of the old heads dance around in my granny's backyard. She decided to throw a family barbecue for my Uncle Mike. It was his 40th birthday.

My Uncle Mike was my dad's brother. There was only three of them. My dad being the oldest, my uncle mike being the middle child, and aunt Kim, the youngest.

I've never been close to anyone from my mom's side of the family. I've never even met them. Who knows if they even knew I existed.

Anyways, Uncle Mike was the family's golden child. He was CEO at his own PR firm, wealthy, and a family man. He recently married his long term girlfriend, Tonya, and they had a new born child together. She was about 8 years younger than he was.

His and I's relationship was pretty surface. He only stepped in financially whenever needed and for that I was was thankful, but other than we didn't really talk much.

"So Kaleb," one of my older, third cousins, Rachel brought me a plate and sat in front of me. "What are your plans for school?"

"Thank you," I took in from her. "So I got a full ride scholarship to Florida State—-"

"My baby gone be playing basketball." My grandma bragged, coming up behind me.

"Oooooh, is that what you want to do professionally?" Rachel smiled.

I wiped the corners of my mouth to rid of some of the remnants from the rib I had took a bite of.
"I hope so, if not, I have a plan b."

"Good, it's always good to have a back up plan in case things don't work out the way you planned." She pointed.

"You know," my uncle Mike came over. "You can always call me for help if basketball doesn't play out. Do you know what you want to major in?"

It seemed like I had questions flying from everywhere and I hadn't even moved in yet. I could just imagine what it was going to be like when I came home from breaks.

"Zoology, minor in business."

"Okay, well I've got a networking event coming up. Some very important, including, the director of the Wakiki Aquarium."

"In Honolulu?"

"Yes, maybe we can talk about getting you an internship there next summer."

"Oh yes, that would be amazing." I shook my head excitedly.

"That is too damn far. Ain't nobody going to no Hawaii." Granny interjected.

I rolled my eyes. "Grandma...please."

"Mama, let the boy be a man. He's got to start thinking about his future." Uncle Mike sipped the beer in his red, plastic cups.

"Well we can talk about internships in Hawaii when he starts school. For the time being, I'm going to go pull out the desert."

I shook my head. I personally thought this could potentially be an amazing opportunity for me.

"And that's my cue. Kaleb, I'll text with you the details on the mixer soon." He followed behind my grandmother for some desert.

"Okay." I got up as well.

I had been sitting out there talking to family members for a while and it was going on 3 o'clock. I threw my plate away.

I was officially ready for a nap.

"Alright Rachel, I'll see y'all."
I waved.

"Alright hun, good luck in school."

There wasn't anyone in the house besides my grandmother, uncle, and his family. Which meant I shouldn't have had any problem going straight to sleep.

I walked through the living room. "Kaleb, where you going?" My grandma stepped in front of me.

"My room. I'm tired." I looked at her confused.

"Ok, I just—"

I heard the toilet flush from the hallway and someone come around the corner.

The man I hadn't seen in almost 7 years, tall with a slight grey beard.

"What is he doing here?" I looked her, visibly upset.

"He's here for me." My uncle mike, stepped in.

My dad stood there, not saying a anything. Typical.
I can't believe my family had went behind my back this. They knew our situation.

"Kaleb I—"

"It's fine. I see how y'all are." I eyed both her and my uncle before walking to room.

I stopped, sizing my father.

It was in this moment I finally realized just how angry I still was at him. "Bum."

He couldn't even look me in the eye like a man.
"Kman..." He started.

"You don't get to call me that." I brushed passed him, slamming my door once getting in my room.

I paced around before sitting down on the bed and for the first time in a long time, I cried.
———

Short chapter, really took this time to build on Kaleb's background. It can't just be about Kaleb and Atiyya every upload bc it isn't realistic.

I'm keeping promise to my weekly updates so chapters probably won't be as long as before because I'm updating so often. I'm thinking about trying to find a day during the week where I can update as well. But Sunday's for sure so turn those notifications on!