Chapter 12
Verse Twelve
On the ride to Kaleela’s community center, fatigue set in as Scooter felt sleepy.
He’d been at his grandmother’s waiting for Mango to finish up her study session.
It was after an all-night session with Lanky.
He had the studio all to himself since Donovan took the weekend off to celebrate the good news about their tour with Chaney.
In no time, sleep soon found him as snores lightly escaped his mouth.
The roads grew bumpy from unpaved potholes, causing an occasional jerk of his body.
His head fell in her direction, his full lips coming into view.
They were the same lips that tasted her pussy, made her come.
If asked, she’d say they were his best features as the center of her panties moistened.
“Kaleela, focus,” she warned herself. She needed to do this after Shawn had sent her a threatening text. He was concerned she’d relapsed. She hadn’t, not with the boys, but she did owe it to herself and to Shawn to do the work she’d started long before they entered her life.
When the truck came to a stop, he immediately shot up and glanced around.
“Kee, baby. You’re good?” She smiled at the slip he’d made. He rubbed his eyes and cleared his throat, not realizing he’d fallen off to sleep.
“Damn, I apologize. Nigga was supposed to be company.”
“Still company,” she replied. “You’re here, right?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “I am but where are we at?” She pointed and sighed, filled with mixed emotions.
After her third stint in rehab, it came to her.
She wanted to do something useful with herself that had nothing to do with her former life.
She couldn’t believe it had been more than a year since she’d been there.
“Bradshaw Community Connections. The Gift of Giving Back,” he read. It didn’t hit him at first but once he’d made the connection, a faint grin appeared.
“This yours?”
“Yes,” she whispered, feeling emotional.
She remembered the day they had the grand opening.
Her close friends from Reagan to Gabby, even Chaney, came out to support her and Shonasia as they dedicated this community center to those who’d benefit from it the most–those that were less fortunate.
It wasn’t much to many but to those that needed a safe haven, it was everything.
“Had it for a few years. I rarely come through, but it’s fully staffed. The director is Mrs. Otto,” She chortled when she heard her voice in her head. “Her ass.”
She ran a tight ship and was worth every single penny.
Like clockwork on the fifth of the month, they have their monthly conference call with the small board of directors.
He wanted to ask why she wasn’t more present, but he figured she’d share whenever she was ready.
He was glad he’d reached out since it was clear she needed a friend.
“Bet she’s good at it.”
“Better than good and she doesn’t play but the parents and kids love her.”
“Tough egg to crack like you, huh?”
“Naw, nothing like me. She’ll bend over backwards as long as you level with her. I’m the opposite. The second your ass ain’t upfront with me, I bring all the smoke.”
“Girl, ain’t no damn body scared of your ass.”
“Anyway, it’s also why she’s here and I’m not. A motherfucker mistreats a kid in front of me or has them in the streets doing some inappropriate shit to meet their needs and my shit comes out. I’m still working on handling conflict by using my words.”
“I feel you on that, but I’m on that same wave when it comes to kids. I’m ready, baby. Take me inside.” When she looked at him with dreamy eyes, he quickly stole a kiss. “And thank you for bringing me.”
“Thank you for coming.”
“Hold up. Now, if Mrs. Otto starts staring and flirting with me, don’t hurt her. She can’t help herself.”
“Fuck you.” She tittered as he stepped outside of her truck. By the time she’d lowered herself and was settled into her wheelchair, they headed inside. She could tell that he was excited while her palms were sweaty. They made it to the front door and she stopped.
“What?”
“Give me a second.” She took a deep breath. Heck, a few of them as she mentally gained her bearings. She was more than the boss, she was the owner but the people that really made it happen were inside, the ones who showed up every day.
“I’m good.” Scooter then opened the door, ushering her in with his hand. He gave her an encouraging nod as she entered. Once he was inside, he closed the door and like she had since the day she took him to her home, she’d impressed him yet again.
“Damn, you weren’t playing, huh?”
The lobby area alone was equipped with several leather sofas and chairs with wall paintings that practically reached the ceiling.
He was into fine art, as well. It was a silent guilty pleasure anytime he spent time with his father’s mother.
She’d take him to museums and art shows until he was banned from seeing her.
He had to be around ten. He tried rekindling his interest with Serita, but she’d usually check out after the first few paintings, complaining she was tired or her feet hurt.
If Kaleela wasn’t damn near perfect, she was perfect then.
“The art?” He pointed to the large mural in front of him. “You had a hand in getting it?”
“Mostly from the local high schools. As a part of the opening ceremony, I worked with a few high schools and their art programs and did a contest. No winners since I had plans to use all of the art. When I was little, I loved to color. I’d get lost in all the blending of colors, creating more colors.
For Christmas one year, our foster mother bought us coloring books.
Most of the others were pissed, but not me.
When they tossed theirs in the trash, I grabbed them when no one was looking. ”
“That’s what’s up. This was a genius move,” he whispered and stood before one that took his breath away.
It was a pregnant mother, cupping her womb.
She was surrounded by three children, a boy and two girls.
Words of affirmation surrounded her that elicited an emotion he could relate to.
Words like “confidence”, “perseverance”, and “strength” that were all indicative of his own mother, despite their struggle during his childhood.
It further moved him as he imagined the child in her womb was Mango while the others were him and their two other sisters.
“Now that one I can’t take credit for. It was Mrs. Otto’s idea.”
“Great idea, but out of all of them, which one is your favorite?”
“Probably this one.” She pointed to one that had a family sitting around the dinner table. “I definitely had one I had to have. Gave them five thousand dollars for that.”
“Worth it, for sho’. You pouring into their shit comes back tenfold every time.”
“It does. We apply for grants too, but my goal was really to give these kids a place to land after school, even on Saturdays in the summertime. We also help with college applications, offer scholarships for book vouchers, laptops, even tuition for their first year. I found out early on that the streets will eat your ass up if you don’t know how to survive, play by the rules. ”
He looked down at her, feeling some strange kind of flutter in his stomach.
Who was she? The woman before him was nothing like the one he’d heard about from pistol whipping to balling out with a gang of strippers at the strip clubs, even the stories about her and Chaney fighting over the years.
She was nothing like that woman, but she was her, just a better version of her she must have kept hidden. Why, he had no clue.
“Definitely some great shit happening here. Kee, you should be proud.”
“Yeah.” She nodded. She didn’t feel proud though. She felt ashamed from staying away for so long. “Follow me.
They made their way down the hall entering into an open space where a large aquarium ran the length of the wall came into view.
It was filled to capacity with fish that ranged in all colors, shapes and sizes.
Benches were around the perimeter along with racks filled with brochures about their services.
In nearby rooms, the chatter of children’s voices were heard.
“Let me let them know we’re here. This way.” He followed her when they turned into the first office filled with easily five, maybe six staff. At the sight of her, they gasped, a few almost in tears as she greeted them.
“Oh, the boss lady is here,” a young girl called out, clapping her hands. She quickly jetted around the desk and made her way to them.
“Miss Kaleela, to what do we owe your beautiful presence? Oh my God, we miss you.”
“I miss you too, Kaneka, and nothing. Just decided to stop by. It’s been a while. How are your babies?” Scooter assessed she couldn’t be much older than Mango, maybe nineteen or twenty.
“Reynold is six months today and Reniyah is two going on twenty. I’m throwing her a party in a few weeks.
You must come. They’re growing up so fast. My mama said I’m doing too much but children are a blessing.
It doesn’t matter since she’s the one planning with Rennie.
Imagine a two year old being a party planner.
” Before Rell and Travis, Kaleela would have disagreed with the part about children being a blessing.
“Ms. Pam doesn’t play about her grandchildren, huh?
“Nope but she’s come a long way. Hopefully, she can quit that second job when I finally graduate with my CNA license. I’ll be able to work at this nursing home on the weekends.” She then looked at Scooter who stood there smiling.
“I’m so rude, girl. Just speaking but ain’t speaking to everyone. Who do we have here?”