Chapter 18 – Wrizzle #2
I pulled up to my Uncle Dark’s crib, and Lil Insane's mom, Jada, and his Sister, Lala, were outside going crazy. There was a police cruiser and several detectives outside of my Aunt's home, talking to the family. I watched my Uncle Dark begin pacing the yard, and my Aunt and Cousin Lala's screams could be heard down the block. I took a deep breath before getting out of the car. I wasn’t ready for this. It was always hard to bury the people you love. It was even harder seeing my family hurting and knowing there wasn’t really anything that I could do about it. Lala and Lil Insane were close but completely the opposite of each other. Lala was much older and more mature. While Lil Insane was caught up in the streets, Lala chose to go to college and pursue nursing. Now, she was an LPN, married with a set of twins. She moved from New Jersey and was staying in Delaware, and only came to visit during weekends and holidays, but that didn’t stop her from being close to her younger Brother.
Even though she had chosen a different path, she was with the shits when it came to her Brother.
She didn’t play about Lil Insane, and everybody knew that growing up.
He rarely called her when there was drama because he knew that she had a career and didn’t want her to risk losing it over bullshit that he was always caught up in.
She felt some type of way that her Brother was always pushing her away and keeping her out of his life, but we all knew that it was for her protection, and this day was only proof of that.
“They killed my Brother!” Lala cried, running into my arms as soon as I walked into the yard. All I could do was hold her and try to console her as best as possible.
“I know, don’t worry, Cousin, I’m here for you always and forever.
I got you and the twins for life.” I told her, giving her my word.
Life was short, and there was no telling how shit was going to go when you were in this street shit.
I didn’t know what my fate would be, but I knew that while I was breathing, I was going to make sure my family was good.
I looked at her twins, and it was sad seeing them, knowing that their favorite Uncle was gone.
I was blessed to have my Father in my life and his wife to help me with my son, Wasim.
They kept him most nights, and today was a day that I didn't want him to have to witness.
My Aunt's sadness and hurt in her eyes were hard to see.
I have never seen her so hurt as she is right now.
I walked over to embrace her, and her body went limp in my arms as she hurled a gut-wrenching scream.
She was heartbroken like never before. It was hard to watch.
“You better find the Motherfucker that did this to my family before I do.” My Uncle Dark barked at the officers. They knew him all too well; in fact, everybody did, so they were certain his words were not a threat but a promise.
“Listen, y'all know how this goes. You have to let us do our jobs. A full investigation will be conducted into your son's murder, and it will be personally handled by me. I’ve known and dealt with you and your family for years; you have my word that I will see to it that your son receives justice for what happened,” the officer promised. My Aunt rolled her eyes before storming off. She didn’t fuck with the law since the death of her little Brother when he was 16 years old.
He was killed by a rookie police officer due to mistaken identity.
The officer pleaded guilty and had served some time, but that didn’t change my Aunt’s feelings and hatred towards police officers, and she made no secret of the fact that she disliked them with a passion.
I followed my aunt into the house to check on her. I knew this wasn’t the right time for her to be alone; she had just lost her son and needed support. “Hey, Aunt Jada. I know that this is hard, but I want you to know that I am here for you.” I told her.
“I don’t know what’s happening- first my Brother and now my only son!
” she sobbed. I did my best to console her.
But there were no right words to say to a Mother that just lost her only son.
I dropped my head, thinking about my latest actions towards Lil Insane and how petty they were in comparison to what was going on now.
He had always been the life of the party, and no matter what we went through, we always found a way to eventually work that shit out.
The fact that he was really gone seemed so surreal.
“What am I going to do without my boy!” my Aunt sobbed.
“His birthday was this month, and I was going to throw him a surprise birthday party.
I know that that party would've brought everybody together and all differences would've been put aside, but now it will never happen. The police took my Brother from me, and the streets took my son. What else do you want from me, Lord?” She broke down.
“He stopped doing drugs and was finally getting his life back on track. He was even talking about making things right between him and Holly and wanting to marry her; he was really trying.”
I continued caressing her on her back until my Cousin Lala walked in.
She ran to her Mother's side and broke down like a baby, and now my Aunt Jada was the one doing the consoling.
The news traveled quickly through the hood, and before I knew it, the entire block was filled with cars and people coming by to give their condolences.
Lil Insane's passing had brought people around that we hadn't seen in years.
Even his middle school and high school friends, teachers, and principals stopped by the house to offer their respect.
Lil Rude pulled up, paying his respects.
We were both in deep regret, remembering what we had done to him.
It was something that could never be taken back, and that's not the way I wanted to remember our relationship.
A tear fell, and I quickly wiped it away.
I couldn't believe that my younger Cousin was really gone.
I looked down at my phone screen at the picture of Gutta Barbie and me.
I didn't want to lose what we had; life was too short.
I couldn't believe that she wasn't by my side right now.
I knew that any other time she would be, but I had really fucked up when I hit her.
I knew that no matter how hard it would be, I needed to make things right between us.
I needed her; she was my everything, and I couldn't allow things to end this way.
“As I was explaining to your husband outside, Mrs. Reid, it is very important that you share any information that you feel may be able to help us solve your son's murder.
I know that your history with us isn't the best, and I feel that for your son, we need to put all differences aside so that we can work together to find the person who did this and bring your son some justice.” The detective walked in and spoke.
“Who let this man in my house!” my Aunt snapped. She pushed my Cousin Lala off of her and quickly stood to her feet.
“I want this shady son of a bitch out of my house right now!”
Her yelling caused my Uncle Dark to come rushing inside the house. When he saw my Aunt cursing out the detective, he quickly tried his best to calm her down. I stepped in to help, knowing how fast things could end up escalating.
“Ma, calm down, please!” Lala begged.
“Don't tell me to calm down in my own house when I just lost my son. Get this fake lazy Motherfucker the fuck out of here!” Aunt Jada continued going off.
The detective claimed he was only doing his job and trying to help, but her Brother getting killed wasn't a part of the job, and it damn sure didn't help anything; in fact, it only made things worse.
I felt like my Aunt deserved respect in her home, especially regarding her family.
If she wanted the nigga gone, then he had to go.
I decided to step in and address the detective.
“Detective, with all due respect, I think my Aunt just needs some time and space; she just lost her son.”
“That's understandable, but at some point in time, we will need to speak with her about any issues he had; my office will be in touch.” He said before walking closer towards me. He leaned in and began speaking in a low tone.
“What you need to be more concerned about is having your story together when Latoya’s family moves forward with the missing person report for her son, Wasim. I think it’s safe to say that we all know exactly who has him.” The detective smiled before walking away.
I stood staring the detective straight in the eyes without blinking.
There wasn't gonna be any talking later, and I wasn’t explaining myself when it came to my son.
If my Aunt said she wanted nothing to do with them, then that was final, it wasn't shit else to talk about.
He got the hint and tapped his partner, and the two walked out.
When they were finally gone for good, my Aunt Jada lit some sage and continued mourning the loss of her son.
My phone went off. I quickly pulled it from my pocket, hoping that it was Gutta Barbie calling, but instead, the bitch Tiffany's name popped up, causing me to grow further irritated.
I was tired of her calling me every other hour.
I have been dodging her calls for a week.
I knew she was carrying my child, but I didn't have anything to say to her.
I needed time to clear my mind, and most importantly, I needed to find a way to let Gutta Barbie know the truth, even if we were on bad terms. I had to be the one to tell her before someone else got to her first.