Chapter 15
August
Eight Days Later
Louisville, Kentucky
“Dad, I know you aren’t shedding tears again.” August Junior laughed, causing our squad to look at me, smiling.
“Fuck yeah, I’m sheddin’ tears. Young man, we been through som’ shit together. I don’ got attached to you so heavily wit’ each passin’ month. I’on wanna let you go, but I gotta let you become the man you destined to be.” I choked up, staring at my son as he lovingly looked at me over his shoulder.
With his hands filled with bags, he turned around and walked backward. Lovingly, he admitted, “Thank you for allowing me to step into my first-choice school, away from y’all. I know that took a lot of courage to do. Don’t think I’m not going to be a little homesick. I love you, Dad.”
“No thanks needed. I couldn’t be that leash-holdin’ parent wit’ you. You’on deserve that. You meant to shine harder than a batch of diamonds. I love you, Son. I love you,” I voiced as the cackling women ahead of us did what they had done best since we hopped in the rented van.
“I’m so glad when they trout mouth asses go to sleep. I’m sick of hearin’ potato chip bags buss open, an’ a bunch of ‘mm’som’ peez’,” Thiago hissed lowly, causing us to laugh and nod.
Our women and very dependent children had worn us thin since everyone spent the night over Mona’s and my house. We had August Junior’s close family and associates’ going-away party.
“Y’all asses worried about y’all’s women, but not one of y’all see Kingsa about to whack the shit out of that little boy who brushed up against her.
” Kingdon laughed from King’s phone. He and Aleana had to return home for work.
Yet, he wouldn’t dare miss out on August Junior’s first day of living away from us.
Hurriedly, we put our eyes on the whack-a-motherfucka and look crazy afterward, child, walking alongside Min.
We didn’t say anything to Min as Kingsa drifted off in our direction, yellow shovel tight in her hand.
Her little lips were curled tightly. With her toes polished black like her mother’s and cousins, she rose on her tiptoes and ran faster behind the little boy who bumped into her.
“Whack his motherfucking ass, baby girl, so I can empty out this Target bag and shove it over his father’s face,” King prayed evilly while dropping his head.
As we howled in laughter and stopped walking, Kingsa whacked the boy on his left shoulder. Nastily, she sassed, “Don’t bump me again.”
“Oooowww!” the boy cried, rubbing his shoulder and looking behind him.
Kingsa stood her ground, glaring at the boy as his parents looked at their son before looking at my mean-mugging cousin. The straight-backed parents dressed business casual, focused on their son. The father’s face informed us he wasn’t pleased about Kingsa’s actions.
With his chest poking out, King cheered, “Good job, Kingsa. Walk with, Daddy.”
“Yes, sir.” She nodded as the light-skinned woman with a round face looked at the daddy-daughter duo and huffed.
“Min! A bitch huffed because our daughter whacked the shit out of their son’s shoulder because he bumped her!
You know our daughter has manners when others don’t, which means these motherfuckas up here ain’t teaching their kids how to apologize!
I’on hit bitches, just niggas! I might need your hand to palm a bitch’s face, baby!
” King spoke loudly as Min was no longer laughing as she spun around.
“I swore my husband said a bitch huffed about some shit that should’ve been rectified by a simple apology, correct, honey?” Min fussed, stomping our way. Naturally, the other beat-a-bitch-to-a-pulp ladies were on their heels, ready to kick off August Junior’s first day in his college dorm.
“All hell.” My son laughed, posting on the wall as Phineas retrieved his phone.
“But that damn phone up,” Kingsley hissed as the couple scurried about their business while putting their son between them.
“That’s where his lil ass was supposed to have been at from the jump!” Min sassed loudly before looking at Kingsa.
Kneeling, Min ran her fingers down her daughter’s face and asked, “Did you whack his ass good like we practice?”
As we laughed hard, Kingsa nodded fast and smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Always remember. No hitting for the fuck of it. Only when twerps act like they can’t apologize for bumping. Right?” Min reassured, standing and reaching for Kingsa’s hand.
“Right,” the cute princess said as Azaria dug into her Hello Kitty purse.
While Kingsa slipped her hand into her mother’s, my chocolate princess extended a lollipop to her cousin. Once Kingsa accepted the candy, the girls smiled and hugged. Our male squad, especially me, was pussy ass niggas hooting, “Awe.”
“Y’all are wild.” August Junior and Phineas chuckled, pushing from the wall.
“Hey, August Junior,” a flock of pretty girls of all shapes and brown hues held out while waving and slowly walking by us.
Tipping his head back, he coolly said, “What’s up?”
“Look at those thirsty pussy traps there,” Thiago said lowly, causing the males to laugh.
I didn’t laugh because he didn’t lie. Females loved flocking to a top 1 basketball player with a great, promising future. Ensuring he remembered what I told him, I called my son’s name loudly.
Turning to face me, as the girls had for sure slowed their strides, I said, “What’s rule number one?”
“If I’m going to bag and tag, I better have my own condoms and put them on this thang,” he answered, doing the beat-it-up dance slowly.
King and Kingdon excitedly hollered, “That’s my boy!”
Not up for being the silly man like usual, I nodded. “What’s rule number two?”
Doing the Abbott two-step dance, he answered proudly, “I’m not up here, seeking and peeking a relationship. I’m here to get an education and fling the ball into the net. Swish!”
“Straight like that!” The Quad Ts and the twins hooted proudly.
“What’s rule number three?” I asked as we were nearing his room.
“No stalking, because I’ll put that paperwork on you.” He cheesed, two golds on his bottom incisors glistening.
“Our boy!” The Quad Ts and the twins hooted as I nodded.
“That’s right. You got a lot of admirers, Son.
I’ve seen it since we stepped on the scene.
Don’t get caught up in nobody’s web. Don’t fall fo’ no sob stories or cute laughter wit’ sparklin’ eyes.
You ain’t got time fo’ nobody’s child to sob or laugh them drawls off that yo’ momma an’ me bought,” I said seriously as the fellas agreed while the women stopped walking and looked at me.
Mona smiled and nodded. “I second that. Come on, Son. Let’s meet your roommate and his family. I’m starving, and I’m sure you would like to show Phineas around your temporary home.”
“He finna show him ‘round where fo’ what? We finna go get som’ to eat as a family,” I fussed as August Junior and Phineas walked by her quickly.
Dropping her head and tilting it to the left, Mona stared at me through narrow eyes. Her fingers twiddled against her thigh as she said, “Didn’t we have a conversation about us letting them step into a little adulthood while we are having lunch separate from them? I swore the fuck we did.”
Stomping into her face, I pathetically said, “We did, but Mon—”
“No, but Mona shit. You agreed that he could have lunch on campus while showing Phineas around. You know why I suggested that as well. To make sure Phineas doesn’t get caught up in having babies after babies and not furthering his education.
Being stuck and stagnant. You said that was a great idea.
You said that since I made a valid point, you would settle for having dinner with August Junior and breakfast with him before we leave tomorrow.
Are we in the business of reneging now?” she asked warmly, lifting her head upright and raking her nails through my beard.
“Nawl.” I exhaled sharply, shaking my head as two soft voices from behind us made us look that way.
Both girls, who resembled sisters, were shy as they fumbled with their fingers. The taller of the two warmly asked, “May we have access to that room, please?”
“Oh, my. Well-mannered, I likey.” Mona grinned, softening the girls a lot.
“Of course.” I nodded, pulling my wife to me, so the nervous girls could step into the room.
“George Junior where are your sisters?” a soft-pitched-toned woman inquired from inside my son’s dorm room.
“Right here, Momma,” the taller of the girls answered nervously, walking into the dorm room.
“Let’s greet our son’s roommate and family. I need to lay down some ground rules,” Mona voiced, grabbing my shorts’ waistline.
“August Juniorrrr!” The taller of the two girls said, less nervous, friendlier tone.
“Germoneyyyyyy!” my son said proudly and even friendlier than her. My eyebrows were higher than seeing Azaria sneaking into the kitchen to grab a yogurt cup after I told her ass no.
Mona and I damned near broke our necks to get inside the dorm to see what the fuck was happening around them. We almost tripped over each other’s feet as we had to come to a halt urgently upon seeing the smiling duo, walking toward each other.
With his head held high, August Junior asked, “So, I’m going to assume that you haven’t replaced your lunch, yet?”
Blushing, she shook her head and said, “Not yet. I prefer to get settled into my dorm room before checking out the lunchroom.”
“Okay. Be sure to hold onto your food this time. I might not be around to give you $20.” He smiled, flicking her chin. I opened my mouth to ask his ass what rule number four was, but Mona rushed to clamp my lips.
Backing away, she grinned and nodded. “Trust, how badly I’m starving from helping my brother move in, followed by having to move myself in, I won’t have anything in my hands but water and small soap suds.”
“Sounds like a solid plan,” my son spoke as Germoney pointed behind her.
“Um, I should get going to help my brother set up. Teamwork makes the dreamwork or whatever,” she said lovingly, mesmerized by my boy, who seemed as if he was captivated by the brightest light from a U.F.O.