"Ma, where you want me to put the potato salad?"
"Over there next to greens." I put the potato salad down on the table and take a look at the beautiful decorations.
"It's pretty isn't it? I swear it gets prettier every year."
"Yeah Ma... it does."
Every year the community comes out together in hopes of ending the violence; thus coming up with the name Peace Day. It's always been at Finley Park and we always provide Barbeque, shelter, games for the kids, everything.... just so people can get off the streets and just come and celebrate. Then we end the day with a sermon and prayer by the preacher.
"Are your little friends gonna be here today?"
"I honestly don't know. Yanna is coming."
"What about Kaliyah and Mack?"
"I don't know about either of them.... I still gotta see, but I gotta go momma. I'll see you later."
"Alright baby. Please be careful."
"I will Ma. I love you."
"I love you too."
****************
"So are you gonna tell me what happened?", I ask Kaliyah as she watches tv.
"Nothing to tell. We talked and that was it."
"Did he tell you why he cheated? Did you forgive him?"
"Nope."
"Then what happened Kaliyah?"
"Nothing."
"Why won't you tell me?"
"Because there's nothing to tell."
"Yes it is bro and I know there is. Tell me what was said."
"Nothing was said Olivia."
"So you goin keep lying to me?"
"Ain't nobody lying."
"Yes you are and you know you are."
"Mchmt ain't nothing more to tell. He cheated.... so what?"
"It's more to the story. Why else would you be crying after that conversation?"
".........Because she's pregnant."
"WHO?!"
"The girl he cheated on me with."
"... I'm sorry K."
"It's nothing to be sorry about. I'm hurt, matter fact, I'm still hurting and then come to find out, she goin be having his baby. Crazy world we live in", she says sniffing.
"Bro come here." Kaliyah comes over and lays her head in my lap.
"It's ok.... just let it out." Her silent cries begin to turn into loud sobs.
"You're gonna be ok. You're gonna get through this."
"But how can I? This nigga cheated on me almost 2 years ago and it still hurts. It hurts to know how you give somebody your all and they still do you dirty. You give them everything; you give them all of you, and it still isn't enough. I did everything to please him, everything to make him happy. I supported him, I loved him, I cried with him, I did everything and the thanks I get is him cheating on me and getting his side bitch pregnant."
"I know and it isn't right. You deserve the world Kaliyah... you really do and one day you're gonna get it. Sometimes things happen for a reason. God sends us people and situations in our life, so that we can learn from them and make room for the better things in the future."
