Chapter 8 #2
“She goes out almost every week, and I feel like that’s a little excessive.
Symphonee is still young, and I think she needs to prioritize being at home more rather than running the streets with her friends.
Then she booked this last minute trip and hopped on a plane like it was nothing.
She’s been acting weird lately, and I don’t understand what has gotten into her,” I explained.
Granny wiped Noodle’s mouth, then turned her attention to me.
“You’re a hypocrite,” Granny stated matter-of-factly. I was taken aback by her statement.
“What do you mean? How am I a hypocrite because I think she should be in the house more?” I could feel myself getting upset, but I wanted to hear what she had to say.
“When you were her age, you were constantly running the streets, and even though you claimed you hated going out, it didn’t stop you from being in those clubs or at those house parties drinking, smoking, and everything else you wanted to do.”
“Yeah, but that’s different. I didn’t have a child to take care of.”
“You do now. You’re acting as if you don’t understand where she’s coming from, and that’s what makes you a hypocrite.
Lyric has had a rough upbringing, and she hasn’t been able to live like a normal young person.
You’re acting as if she’s being neglectful, when in reality, she is using her village while trying to live life.
That girl has had so much taken from her.
Do you really think she should have to sacrifice her fun years just because she’s a mother? ”
I sat back and thought about what she was saying. Lyric was forced to grow up sooner than most, and she still took care of business. I guess I had been judging her too harshly because she wasn’t allowing her circumstances to slow her down.
“At the end of the day, Lyric is doing everything she is supposed to as a mother. When she got pregnant, you agreed to be there for her through it all. How can you tell her that she has a village to count on and then judge her for using it? Symphonee isn’t lacking anything, and neither is her momma; that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
If we want to get down to the real truth, then we can lay it all out on the table. ”
“What you mean by that?” I asked curiously.
“The reason you’re upset about her staying out and partying has nothing to do with this precious little baby and everything to do with the fact that she’s out living her life instead of being at home waiting for you to walk through those doors.
“I don’t know who you think you’re fooling, but you aren’t doing a good job, baby. We all see the way you look at her and the way you carry her. The arrangement may have started out as you helping out a friend, but that ship sailed a long time ago.”
Granny pulled my card as I sat there trying to come up with a valid rebuttal, only to come up short.
“Look at you. Over there looking dumb in the face. You get that from your silly ass momma.” She huffed, getting up from the table with Noodle perched on her hip.
“Granny, why you gotta do me like that?”
“I ain’t doing a damn thing. I just can’t stand a dumb mothafucka.
You’re walking around with your lip all poked out ’cause you’re too immature to tell that young girl you have a thang for her.
Meanwhile, the two of y’all are living up in that house together, raising a damn baby, and doing who knows what behind closed doors.
If that doesn’t say bonehead, I don’t know what does. ”
I watched as she cut a slice of cake and put it on a plate. Of course, Noodle’s ass was impatient and started squealing before they could even get back to the table.
“You ain’t about to rush me, little girl. You’re just as greedy as ya funky ass daddy.”
“I was never greedy.” I shot back. My family knew Symphonee wasn’t biologically mine, but none of them cared. As far as they were concerned, she was mine, and that was it.
“Shiiddd, yes the hell you were. I remember cooking some smothered neckbones and leaving my plate on the bed because I forgot a spoon for the rice and gravy. Baby, I wasn’t gone more than two minutes, and your little ass had my plate on the ground with a neckbone in each hand.
Your diaper was covered in gravy, and you were tearing those neckbones up.
I was so mad, I thought about pushing your little ass over. ”
“That’s cold-blooded. Noodle, you hear how yo’ gran is talking about me?” I tickled her little belly, making her giggle.
“Her chunky tail is just as greedy. I learned my lesson with you, though. I make sure she has her own plate of food so she can leave my shit alone. Back to what we were talking about before. You need to be honest with that girl and tell her how you feel.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. Logic kept telling me the same thing, but for some reason, it wasn’t as easy as they were making it seem. I wasn’t afraid to tell Lyric how I felt about her. What made me hold back was what those feelings would mean for the future.
“I don’t think she’s ready. Like you said, Lyric is living life and trying to find herself.
The only reason I don’t say too much about her partying the way she does is because she isn’t mine.
If we decide to be together, I’m not going for none of that, so I think it’s best for me to leave things the way they are.
She’s tryna kick it and be in the spotlight, and I’m tryna build a legacy, settle down, and travel the world.
We just aren’t on the same page, and it would be wrong of me to try to force her to become something she isn’t ready for. ”
“You aren’t wrong. That’s exactly what happened with your triflin’ ass momma.
Your daddy wanted to quit the drug game, move out of the projects, and build a family.
Your mother was so caught up in the popularity that came with having money.
He wanted kids, but your mother was conceited and didn’t want to sacrifice her figure. ”
“Then how did she end up pregnant with me?”
“Well, your dad ended up falling for someone else while your momma was running the streets. Your momma knew he was ready to move on, and she didn’t want to lose her spot.
The next thing I know, she’s at my house celebrating a positive pregnancy.
She made your father miserable the entire pregnancy, but he catered to her every need.
Her ass was still in the clubs with a big ass belly.
I cussed her triflin’ ass out a couple of times about it, but she was hardheaded.
“Your father wanted you more than anything, but where he went wrong was tryna wife someone who wasn’t ready.
He thought she would change once she saw the life he was trying to build for her, but it never happened.
The moment you popped out of her cooter, she was back on the hoe stroll.
Her loose coochie tail was popping it on a handstand before her six weeks were up.
Out there smelling like placentary juice and Pink Lotion. ”
I didn’t mean to laugh, but Granny Nessa had no chill.
“You do know that’s your daughter, right?”
“And? The truth is the truth. She had yo’ daddy so stressed out, he was sitting in my kitchen looking slow just like you.
The only difference is that the woman in your life has the potential to be everything you need.
All you have to do is show her that she deserves it.
Lyric has been beaten down by life and the people who were supposed to love and protect her.
She needs someone who will be patient and show her that she’s worthy.
She’s a pretty girl. Most people will look at her and assume she has it all figured out, but you know better.
You see the broken parts. It’s the reason you hover over her and are so protective.
“The problem is, you have to choose. You can’t have a family behind closed doors and then claim to be single when you’re out in public.
Lyric might be young, but she’s not a fool.
She knows you’re too busy hunchin’ on those auto thots, and now she wants to have her own fun.
If you want her, then you need to be ready to fully commit to her.
If not, let her go and keep pumping on those bobblehead jezebels with the stiff booties.
All I’ma say is that I’m Switzerton around her.
If Lyric wants to bring some fine buff nigga over here to meet me, I’ma let him in. ”
Granny had me fucked up, and she knew it because she started laughing.
“Fix your face, boy. If you don’t want to see her getting put through the shower curtain, you might want to step your cookies up or whatever the young folks be saying.”
“Yeah, you talkin’ crazy now. I’m about to head out of here. Are you sure you want to keep her all weekend? I don’t mind taking her home with me.”
Symphonee was licking cake from her little fingers without a care in the world. My little princess had a nigga’s heart on lock, and it only grew stronger with time.
“Oh, hush. Me and my gran-girl are gonna have a ball. We’re gonna eat this good food, watch a few recorded episodes of Golden Girls, and take as many naps as we want.
I had to rearrange my date with Deacon Raymond, but that’s okay.
He gon’ be dreaming about this sanctified cat by the time Tuesday rolls around. ”
“Sanctified what? You know what, I don’t need to know. I’m about to get out of here. ’Cause you think I’m one of ya little friends and I’m not Gloria or Clara. Come give me kisses, Noodle mama.”
I lifted my baby girl out of Granny’s arms and smothered her face with kisses.
She squealed with delight, kicking her little feet as she pushed my face away.
Her deep blue eyes melted my heart, and I knew I would do everything to make sure she had the life she deserved. She and her momma deserved it all.