Episode 9: Reunion

 Buzz Buzz Buzz Buzz

I put down my flat iron and look at the phone; it’s Shot.

I answer with urgency, “Hi.”

“What you doing?” He asked me.

“Doing my hair and getting ready for the party.” I informed him. “Are you coming?”

“Of course I’m coming. I got to see Mumma.” He assures me, “And I miss your potato salad babe; thats all i want right now.”

“Yeah, that’s all you want is potato salad?” I say sensually.

“Yeah that potato salad…” He flirts back.

“So where you at? What time you coming?” I ask while I continue styling my hair.

“I’m around. Bout to link with Cash, handle some things, change my gear and I’ll be there.” 

“I really don’t want to deal with his drama today.” Rolling my eyes behind the phone

“Me either babe but this how it is for now. You gon be safe tonight no drama, this about Mumma being home.” He comforts me with his words.

“Just hurry up before someone drops a chicken bone.”

“Ight, he walking out the house now so let me go. Love you hard.” He expresses to me.

“Love you hard too. See you soon.” We end the call.

As I get ready for the reunion, I feel a sense of fear and agitation about my predicament. My mother is an alcoholic, my father is dead, my mentally unstable brother, I am forbiddenly in love with his best friend, and I am pregnant at 19. I have no job or source of income. All I know is I was always provided for. Whether that had been my parents or my family’s dirty drug money. I have no real-life skills. Being the only girl is so hard on me. It’s like, I am stuck under a rock and can’t get out under it. That made me think of Patrick from Sponge Bob and I laugh out loud to myself. “Sponge Bob…” I say as I shake my head.

Shelly walks back into the room after her shower.

“Sis, that shower head is amazing! I’m going to upgrade my shower head at home.” She says while drying her feet in her naked body.

I banter back, “Oh! So you do have a home?” Shelly responds to my sarcasm, “Well, if you left the damn house and visited sometime you would know.” She continues to dry off with the towel. “First of all, I been to your house several times.” I say swinging my flat ironed hair at her. “Yea, when I moved in, when I had my house warming, oh yea and at my birthday party which was what… 3 years ago you stank heffa!” We laugh at each other. Shelly continues, “That’s why I don’t like your brother. Cash stank ass don’t let you do nothing or go anywhere. You’re grown, you need ya best life sis, for real.” She sprays her body down with scents and perfumes.

“Honestly Shell, It’s not just him keeping me in the house. I just don’t like that gang gang street life yall are into and I just want better for myself. I don’t want to be influenced.” I say as I grab my tan pull over hoodie, black jean and tan combat boots and lay it on the bed. Shelly looks at the outfit and say’s, “Umm…is that what you wearing today?” I look back at her and say, “Yea. What’s wrong with it?” Shelly responds with, “You know today’s weather is 75 degrees and sunny right?” I respond back with, “Yea and if I get hot I can take my hoodie off. You know I be cold, sis.” I try to throw her off the scent of my baby bump. She responds, “Yea, you do be cold.” We both start getting dressed together, and I try to turn around and hide my body. How am I going to tell her? 

Shelly gets primed and prepped with her makeup and hair. She is wearing a Pink crop top, and black jeans, and some pink and black high-top sneakers. She tops the outfit off with a black jean jacket. 

We jet downstairs to help Mumma set up for the party.

Mumma on the phone, “Yea girl, its 4 o’clock and I’m still waiting for everyone to get here…” She chuckles, “Yep, exactly black people time! And the food is ready… You can just come on over girl.” Mumma continues her conversation, “Some of the kid’s are here helping out. Caleo friend Mark here now starting up the grill, So just come on over. Okay, Bye.” She hangs up the phone.

“That was Ms. Joy, I told her I’m back in town and invited her over. Cause, it aint going to be just yall kids in here cutting up.” She laughs. Me and Shelly get excited about Ms. Joy. She is my mom long time friend. We love her because even when my mother and father was battling addiction, she would step in and help out. She never judged, just stayed a caring friend.

“It’ll be nice to see Ms. Joy.” I say.

Camren walks into the house holding what I always called “The Money Bag”. His face is still pretty banged up. “Hi Mumma.” He walks into the kitchen and greets everyone.

Shelly points at the bag and jokingly comments, “You must’ve had a good date.”

“Well, you know the bald ones always have the best funds!” Camren jokes back and we laugh. “I’m going to get ready for the party. I’ll see ya’ll in a little bit.” He heads upstairs.

“Ok. Let’s go sit in the backyard and see what Mark got going on with the burgers and sausages.” Mumma slides the patio door open as we follow behind her and close it back.

Cory sitting at the table on his phone having a bottled beer when Mumma says, “Uh Uh Cory! You too young to be drinking!”, and tries to snatch the bottle from him, Cory snatches it back, “And you too old to be telling me I can’t drink!” He banters back. Mumma brushes it off, “You better watch it boy.” she says with a sturn look in her eye.

“Mark, you ok over there baby?” Mumma asked.

“Yea but it is hot as hell over this grill Ma!” he yelled back.

Shelly get’s fresh and flirty, “Hiiiiii Mark!!” She waves, and poses with her hips.

“Hiiiiii Shelly!!” He flirts back.

“Shelly, don’t start that shit.” We both laughed.

Shelly recants a memory of when her and Mark got drunk and fucked in my bathroom. “Betch, it was so fucking small!” We laugh even harder. “Oh my gawd! That’s so nasty!” I laughed at her.

“Well, I didn’t say anything about you and Shot having yall little flings.” She reminds me.

“Stop repeating that! I told you that in confidence and girl you got a big ass mouth.” I turn my nose up at her. “Betch, you tell me EVERYTHING!” Shelly teases me. “Yea and I wish I didn’t, you blabber mouth!” We laugh.

Camren joins us in the backyard.

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