*𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘴' 𝘗𝘖𝘝*
When everyone around me was tripping, yelling, crying and everything else my mind went black. I felt my heart beat in my ears and that weird ringing sound that people talk about was loud for me. I heard it over my mama, Peaches, convincing everyone that it's a good idea. I heard it over Dakari fussing with Carmelia and Amaree over his outburst. It all felt like a high pitch ringing. All of this shit felt like a dream, honestly.
I continued to sit in the chipped white porch chair watching my brothers and sister. Then my mama ca5me out with her smeared mascara and Auntie Rita following shortly behind her. The buzzing stopped and I could see my mama waving her arms at Dakari in protest. Chauncy ain't come outside, I assumed off the request of my mama since Dakari was the sibling who didn't fuck with him the most since he was the closest to Mama.
"You mean to tell me that you thought this to be a good idea to uproot all of us in hopes of getting closer to Q? Who suggested this? Was it that nigga, Chauncy? Nah, man, I'm gonna talk to this nigga."
Auntie Rita blocked Dakari's slim frame from passing with her meaty arms, extending her foot forward to block him further.
"No you not chile. I'm the one that told your mama it'd be a good idea to come here with me. Now, if you don't wanna come with her I understand but you know your mama want all her kids to be there with her. I mean look at her!" she looked over to my mama with her quivering lip and puffy lips, "She wants y'all here. And I can even get you all jobs if that's what you worried 'bout. I wouldn't set y'all up for failure, baby, I promise."
"But we got our whole lives in Atlanta!" Dakari objected, his nostrils flaring and eyes begging for a reconsideration. "I- I don't wanna leave my life in Atlanta."
"What life, Dakari?" my mama questioned, "You mean that fast ass girl Ajiia? The one that half of 9th ward has been with?"
Me, Dakari and Carmelia all looked at my mama with shock but Dakari looked absolutely pale in disbelief.
"Whatchu talkin' about mama?"
"That girl is messing around on you, baby. Some other mama in the shop I go to was talking about her, saying she was dating her son too and the son caught her cheating with someone else. I- I'm sorry baby. I didn't know how to tell you and I was gonna wait to say something but- then- look, please just think about staying with me and Auntie Rita. And you always said that you missed seeing Jamaree and Deshaun, now we can all stay together and actually start another life. And to get justice for Q. Don't you want that?"
My mama reached in for Dakari arm but he shook her off with a disgusted grunt.
"Man, whatever. Do what you wanna do."
Dakari walked off and exited the backporch, slamming the screen door behind him.
My mama began to head towards the backyard where Dakari sat but Auntie Rita declined against it.
"Just give him time, Peaches. Leave him alone and we'll talk about it later."
"But-"
"Mama, she's right." Carmelia agreed, her eyes sympathetically watching muy mama's erratic movements. Her eyes were wild, sad and her hair was sticking up in multiple directions.
"Go lay down mama, we'll help auntie clean up." Carmelia said, cradling my mama arm and patting it softly.
"O-ok... Parys, please check up on Dakari later on. For me, please?'
I looked at my mama pleading face and just couldn't bother to tell her I wasn't really feeling the idea either. In all honesty, it was bullshit but when I heard my auntie was gonna guarantee us jobs at I'm sure in her many salons, I didn't really mind it. I wasn't doing shit but doing facials at a shop that I wanted to leave anyway but I knew it wasn't the same for my siblings. They all had they own separate lives that seemed to be shaken up after Q died and, well, in a way I think this was the stimulus to have us change. But to the city where he got killed?
Damn, Q, I know you wanted your family with you but why like this?
I took a breath, said a silent prayer and nodded to my mama, "Alright, mama. I'll come along with you."
Both my mama and Auntie Rita looked at me with disbelief.
"Y-you serious Parys? You not gonna miss Atlanta?"
I shrugged, flicking an imaginary speck of dust off my jacket, "Its nothing for me there. I guess a change of scenery is ok. And I don't want you out here by yourself."
My mama shuffled over to me, landing sloppy kisses on my face while my Auntie Rita stayed where she stood and just clasped her hands happily. Carmelia gave me look as she stood next to my auntie and just rolled her eyes, stomping back into the house.
"Thank you baby. I hope your brothers and sisters decide to come too but thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you."
I looked out into the sky, holding back tears.
Don't thank me, thank Q. I wanna find out who killed him just as bad as you.
