From a jit, love wasn't a word Mariah could look forward too. She couldn't depend on the word loyalty either. Staring out the window of her bedroom deciding whether or not she should just run away and start over. Her dad decided to do the same thing 6 months ago and her life had become hell since. So consumed in her thoughts, she failed to realize the devil (her mom) herself was standing behind her, preparing to strike her just for looking like her father. The slap came crashing down on her cheek and broke her trance instantly. "Mariah, I gotta work! So don't even think about leaving my house and you better have every goddamm thing in here clean when I get home!" her mom bellowed out and walked out the front door making sure to slam it loudly........ Just as quickly as it closed Mariah's big brother came walking in with a mug on his face. "I'm glad she gone it was getting hot out there waiting on her to leave sis. What you cooking today?" Mariah just rolled her eyes, and headed to the bathroom to examine her face. At 14 her father decided he no longer wanted to be married to her mother of 26 years. One day, she got off the bus and just like that he was gone. Although, he was on the other side of town it made her father a distant memory to her. Especially with his new girlfriend Debra in the picture. Not only did they work together, they moved into a new home as well together 3 months ago.
Mariah started her normal routine of chores and listening to her brothers beats and lyrics. Homework was always finished quickly before she even made it home on the bus. She was a straight A student with a bit of a anger problem, but for the most part she was an OK kid. "No," she told her big brother Rick while washing the dishes, "that percussion isn't right it's coming in to slow. Pick it up some." Rick always took heed and listened to what she told him. Rather she knew it or not her opinion mattered more to him than anyone else's opinion. He reset the beat machine and put his headphones as he listened to what his little producer in the making instructed him to do. Five minutes later after her smiling and giving him a thumbs up as she started dinner he began to bag up his weed for the day. Rick wasn't a major dealer in the game he just did enough to make sure his sister had clothes and money for school, his mom had cushion to fall on if she needed him, and money for himself to have studio time and pay his insurance. He lived downstairs with his homeboy Chris who gave him studio time at a discount. He couldn't imagine staying with his mom after the big fight they got into after Mariah ran away 3 weeks ago for being beat on one of there mothers drunk nights. Don't get it twisted her mother wasn't all bad, but at this time in her life she wasn't all good either. I guess it would've been hard for anybody to have to start life over after 26 years of being with somebody right?
Nonetheless, he always came to check in on her whenever her moms left for work and to keep the nappy headed lil boys away as well. At fourteen Mariah looked every bit of 20. Light brown skin with golden eyes, standing about 5'6 with dimples a smile to die for and the physique to match. It was a must Rick made sure to let it be known that she was 14 and most definitely a off limits virgin. There relationship was the only thing she felt that would never fail her. He was the reason she was alive. At the ultrasound where her mom found out she was with child her brother begged the whole bus ride to keep his baby sister. His mother swore that Rick would be an only child, but with much persuasion Mariah blessed there presence on that cold day on Halloween in 1989.
"Damn girl, don't burn it! Ma already done slapped the goosebumps out cha", he said to her jokingly pointing to the red bruise on her cheek appearing from the earlier slap she'd received. "It's still fresh dummy," she replied. "Not funny, I'm already ready to runaway again. Give me a reason!"
"My bad Riah, I just need a Lil more time Imma get us gone. I been looking at one bedrooms. I'll give you the room and hit the couch. I know moms been kinda hectic lately, but try and see she dealing with a lot too." "Fuck her! Ever since da left I've become a punching yelling bag! If you don't hurry Ima move me watch!" "Na shorty I got you just give me a few more weeks. I just got to talk to ma and make her agree to it. I got you though, OK? I got to peel though Cruella should be pulling up. Oh yeah, thanks for the help. Mall tomorrow?" Smiling she nodded her head and walked her brother to the door and closed it. She hurriedly straightened the kitchen back up and made her mom a plate set it in the microwave, took a hot shower and was tucking herself into bed by the time she heard the key jiggling the lock letting her know her mom was home. She didn't hear any fussing, so she rolled over and dosed off.
At school the next day her friend Jayla's birthday was approaching and although she didn't want to attend her friend's birthday party (she had an older cousin who was jealous of Mariah who would for sure be there). So finally, Friday comes and it's a sleepover, so her mom urges her not to go because she is aware of the older cousin as well. She insists on going. They are sitting around playing games and of course the girls begin to pick on Mariah. So, she just goes to sleep. She's not one for picking. She is awakened to hot sauce on her mouth, and she jumps up to find the cousin standing over her with the bottle. She runs to the bathroom to wash her mouth out and she is livid! she runs and jumps on Jayla's cousin and beats her until the girls break it up. Mariahs feelings are so hurt she yells at the girls asking why they didn't stop her from doing it but stopped her from beating her. No one answers so she leaves. She lives up the street, so she heads home. When she makes it, her father is in the car again sleep so she knocks on the window to talk to him. When her brother isn't around, he is her only peace. "Hey da, she must be home early tripping?" "Hey baby girl and yes she is. You're the only reason I put up with her or I would've been gone!" "I'll be right back da Ima go get you some blankets for the night. Have you ate?" "No not yet." "I'll bring that out too!" She runs to the house, opens the door and greets her mom (very dryly) "Hey ma".
