Chapter 1 #2
The young girl with braces working the coat check returned with my black Dolce he should be somewhere asleep.
Noah was sixteen and a big part of why I didn’t want kids of my own.
I parented enough when it came to him. My father, Stanley, had three kids by three different women in three different age brackets.
I was the elder daughter, had my life together, and was successful.
When Noah kept getting into trouble in middle school, his mom moved from Oklahoma to Florida so he could be closer to our dad.
However, I felt like I was taking on a lot of the parental responsibilities because Noah’s mom was just as half-assed as our dad.
Noah was the middle child, and we had a six-year-old brother named Maurice. Noah and I talked almost daily, but never at four o’clock in the morning. As if I wasn’t stressed enough, I braced myself and answered the phone to make sure that everything was okay.
“Hello,” I greeted him, pressing the phone to my ear as I struggled to pull the shirt on.
“Hey, big sis. I know you’re out of town, and I hope you weren’t sleeping, but I need a favor.”
“What? What’s wrong?” I quizzed, stuffing my feet into my damp shoes.
“My mom has been gone all day, and she isn’t answering her phone.
Can you DoorDash me something to eat? I haven’t ate since I finished off the last bit of cereal this morning.
My mom is so worried about running behind that nigga and ain’t even been to the grocery store.
Sis, I tried to eat sleep for dinner, but I woke up because my stomach was rumbling. ”
I rolled my eyes and pulled the phone away from my ear, placing the call on speaker. “Have you told Dad about the stuff your mom has been pulling?”
“Yeah, I told him everything last Wednesday when she never came home, and I didn’t have a ride to school.
He has been taking me to school since then, and I told him how she been moving.
He was supposed to talk to her. I’m sure he hasn’t.
He don’t want to get cursed out. Plus, if he would’ve said something, she would’ve already been in my face, asking me, ‘Why you telling everybody my business?’” Noah mocked his mother.
“I called Dad first, but he didn’t answer, so I’m calling you as a last resort. ”
“Noah, you don’t have to wait until you’re starving to call me. Call me at the first sign of some bullshit next time. I’m kind of tied up, so I just sent you the money, and you can order whatever you want to eat. I sent enough to hold you over for a few days until your mom decides to pop up again.”
“Thanks, sis. I love you!” Noah expressed before making kissing sounds.
“I love you too,” I replied. “I gotta go. I’ll text you in the morning.”
“Alright, sis. Have fun and be safe.”
“I will.”