The Colors of Us

thirty-four

        It was closing in on noon and the Hoffman resident of Stamford, Conneticut was up and active. Jonas played Jay-Z's hit track A Star is Born at maximum volume as he stood in the kitchen prepping his meat for the grill. Guest weren't scheduled to arrive for another few hours but he knew that cooking on the grill took time. The last thing he wanted was to have drunk and hungry adults barking at him to hurry up with the food.

While he was handling the meat, Manuela was taking up all of the counter space with her materials and ingredients. One thing she loved to do more than anything was make hearts full with food. It brought her joy watching people enjoy a meal made by her.

Giovanni was right beside her to assist. He'd driven into town last night to celebrate the ball drop with them. There was no way that he was going to be anywhere else for the New Year when his family was whole for the first time in a long time. Per former tradition, Manuela had everyone write down their manifestations for the year and burn the written wishes with the fire of a candle.

He'd enjoyed himself.

"A slow transition from a lil broke nigga from the ville. Got a deal, a real life saver. Dreams of being behind the wheel like Jada." he rapped as he chopped the collard greens.

Jonas joined, "I chill now, cop a lil ice later. Cole you got the glow like a lil light saber so clap for 'em. Then applaud Hov he gave 'em the platform."

"Flow so sick already wrote the rap for 'em. No sir! The flow cold as the shoulders of gold diggin' hoes when a broke nigga approaches." they rapped together.

"You mess up my greens this music coming off." Manuela glared over at Giovanni who was starting to feel the song a little too much with the knife in his hand.

"My fault." he chuckled. He was about to get back in his zone 'til the next song transitioned into Dem Boyz. "C'mon Pops let me focus man."

"It's on shuffle. I can't control what plays."

"I'ma act right, Mama. I promise." he huffed and began cutting again.

Manuela smirked and shook her head at him. It reminded her of his younger days in his bedroom blasting any song he'd heard his father play. It was how he acquired the same catalog as Jonas. Let Manuela tell it, he idolized his father the moment he learned to crawl and could follow him around.