Chapter 7 #2
“Ooou, look at the first recipient of my shitty concoction calling. I’m not going to answer. I need her mouth drier than cotton from fussing about me not answering, so she will suck down four frozen cups with ease,” King held out comically, causing us to laugh hard.
“We aren’t smoking with them, honey. We are going to eat, get Momma Orthella settled in, and send their asses home.
I don’t have time to forget that the colon cleaner has laced over twenty-five frozen cups.
If I get out of hand, please snatch me from wherever and remind me that King is out to blow everybody’s assholes out who allowed Min to drive his truck recklessly,” Mona pleaded as I skirted from the stop sign.
“I got you covered,” I told her, wrapping my arm around her tighter.
Focusing on the road that would become curvy soon, I asked, “Momma, you good back there?”
“I am.” She said as if she was smiling.
“Good. You hungry?”
“Not now. I will be later. When you gon’ teach me how to care fo’ Azaria?” she asked lovingly, making me smile and Mona nod.
“In a week. I need y’all to get a feel of each other. Yo’ ears gon’ have to work overtime to handle that monster. She’s smart as fuck an’ sneaky. Momma don’t let my child feed you nothin’. Ain’t no tellin’ what it’ll be,” I said seriously.
“Gotcha.” She giggled.
“Thank you fo’ cuttin’ up at that home,” I offered, approaching another stop sign.
“Why you say that?” she inquired, placing her hand on my shoulder.
“‘Cause I was fo’ to five business days away from settin’ that place on fire, so you could be wit’ me,” I answered honestly, pressing the brakes.
“August, I ain’t gon’ live wit’ y’all long.
I’m much to handle. Yes, I can take care of myself, but there gon’ be things that I need help wit’.
I ain’t sayin’ I’m gon’ be a burden to you.
I’m sayin’ I prefer to be in an assisted livin’ facility.
I choose not to put too much on yo’ shoulders.
If I could have my eyesight, I would be tucked to yo’ side like Mona,” she offered, not satisfying my need of having her close to me.
“Not good enough fo’ me. I ain’t been under the same roof as you since I was young.
I miss seein’ you wearin’ those ridiculous nightgowns.
I miss hearin’ you hum befo’ going off on whoever.
I miss the feelin’ of knowin’ my rock an’ protector close by when I close my eyes.
I’on want you in another assisted livin’ place.
I make hella illegal money. Yo’ bedroom handicapped accessible ‘cause I made sho’ you always had a comfortable place to be.
I can brang somebody in to help you wit’ bathin’.
I can wash an’ style yo’ hair. Hell, I been doing it.
I’mma still take you to the nail shop an’ get them feets an’ fangahs done.
Momma, I can’t handle you leavin’ me, an’ I’m grown.
I can be childish as shit, but I’m all man.
I can take care of you, run behind King when he get out of hand, an’ choke Kingdon out when he’s pushed to the point he finna kick a nigga to death.
I can handle you while being a full-time holla to a child who seems she’on give a fuck ‘bout shit ‘til I pop that ass. I can handle takin’ care of you while I support my firstborn going to college in a different state. I can handle everything on my plate ‘cause I’m man enough to let people know when I need help. Let me take care of you. Please. I’m beggin’, an’ you raised me not to beg nobody fo’ shit.
But I’m beggin’ you! I need you! I fuckin’ need you, Orthella Rose Abbott!
Ain’t no way ‘round that! Stop makin’ me beg fo’ you to be near me!
” I said harshly and emotionally as tears flooded my eyes from the years that I wished Momma was next to me, watching me turn into a man at an early age.
“Pull over, Aug. I’ll take us to y’all’s crib,” Kingdon voiced as Mona lifted off me while sliding the seat back.
“I got the wheel, Kingdon,” Mona said as I pulled onto the side of the road while my woman wiped my face.
“Okay,” Kingdon replied as Mona faced the steering wheel.
As she slid the seat upward, Momma slid her short nails down my neck, causing me to shiver.
Warmly, she said, “Son, I ain’t makin’ you beg to have me near.
I’m sorry you feel like that. I see myself as a lot of work when you got yo’ own family to look after.
I don’t need you puttin’ too much on yo’ plate.
I’ve always put you first, even when I knew Blanche wasn’t a good person fo’ you to be ‘round. Yet, I trusted my brother, an’ I always will.
I’ll give us livin’ under one roof a six- week chance.
If I feel you have too much on yo’ plate, I will seek another assisted livin’ facility. Deal?”
Not liking her time frame, but it was better than no time at all. I nodded. “Deal.”
“I love you.”
“I love you.” I exhaled, resting my hand on hers. “A shipment of mystery/suspense books in braille on the way.”
“Ooou, sounds like a good time gon’ be had. Who’s readin’? You or me?” she asked, tugging on my ear as Mona skirted from the side of the road.
“Me.” I smiled like a little kid as King grinned and nodded.
“Momma’s smarty pants,” she teased, causing me to chuckle and nod. “You gon’ teach Azaria to read Braille?”
“Of course. She ain’t no different than August Junior. She gotta read to her grandma too. An’ when need be … she gon’ help the next person whose sight was taken from them,” I offered as my woman relaxed on my body and mashed the pedal.
“Speaking of my grandson, where is he?” she asked, stroking the back of my head.
“All the kids, except King Junior, at Kingsley an’ Ryan’s house. King Junior wit’ his grandparents,” I said as our cell phones rang.
“Four phones ringing at once isn’t good.” Kingdon sighed deeply as I retrieved Mona’s and my phones.
“Is it ever,” I said to myself more than to them, seeing Ryan’s name on my phone and Kingsley’s name on Mona’s phone.
At once, the devices were answered. Bass, shouts, and hoots consumed my ears as I was thankful the four phones ringing at once weren’t a sign that something major had gone down.
In my left ear, a badass party was had, and Min was in the center of it.
Oliver hooted for Simon to get it as Kingsley shouted, “If you can hear me, we are back at my house! Bring Auntie! She’s never been to a party hosted by one of us!
To be clear, I’m going to kick Phineas and August Junior’s asses when my knees return in ten to fifteen business days! See y’all soon! Be careful!”
In my right ear, Ryan said, “I’m driving your truck to my house. Head that way.”
Smiling, I nodded. “A’ight.”
“Momma, you tired?” I asked, ending the calls.
“I hope the fuck not!” the twins hooted, rocking my woman’s truck.
“An’ I ain’t. Party time?” she inquired, intrigued.
“Absolutely!” King, Kingdon, and I answered, pumping our fists.
“Then, a party we gon’ have while I get a feel of the new people in y’all’s lives.
Kingdon, I expect us to dance while you tell me all ‘bout the pregnant pussy owner you need in a few hours. Mona, I expect us to groove to whatever song my knees can handle. I sense yo’ energy off, an’ I need to know how to get it back on track.
King, we better have two blunts befo’ devourin’ a good meal.
I need to know ‘bout school, the next plans fo’ you an’ Min, an’ the latest niggas you don’ buried.
August, make sho’ you don’t get too wasted an’ have me sideways from hearin’ the foolish shit you’ve done,” Momma said seriously, making us cutthroat niggas smile.
She was the second woman who made it her business to have one-on-one time with us.
“Yes, ma’am,” we replied as King and Kingdon placed their hands on my shoulder, giving me the strength that was easily taken away by Momma wanting to be in a home away from me.
I nodded six times, signaling that I was receiving everything they were tossing into me.
“Family over everything,” Momma, Kingdon, and King said lovingly as I wrapped my other arm around my distraught woman.
“Family over everything,” I recited, sliding my hand up Mona’s shirt. “I love you, guh.”
“I love you,” she declared, sliding her left hand to my face. “Always and forever. Through rain, sleet, hail, snow, and firestorm.”
Needing to put her mind right, even if it was for a few hours, I turned up the radio and made sure the speakers pushed out the bass.
Sitting upright, I placed my lips to her ear and said, “Let yo’ worries go ‘bout yo’ readin’ an’ comprehension situation.
Don’t worry ‘bout the shit yo’ brothers got yo’ name tied into.
Daddy got you covered. Never forget that.
We gon’ continue celebratin’ the twins birthday wit’ nothin’ but havin’ fun on our minds.
When we get Momma an’ Azaria settled into they rooms, I’mma make you reach fo’ the stars while cummin’ on this dick an’ waverin’ yo’ tongue in my mouth.
Do you understand an’ accept what’s gon’ be our only mission when we fall in our beds? ”
Rubbing the back of my head, she nodded.
“My guh. My world. My heart. My everything. Relax on me an’ open the motah up in this bitch. I’m ready to throw this dick every which way,” I said, causing her to laugh, shake her head, and mash the pedal.