Suddenly #4
“I’ma bring a belt to your ass if you don’t go in there and finish your homework.”
“I’m done.” Khyell whined.
“Let me see it. And every one of those math problems better show your work, too!” She called out to Khyell who was already halfway to his room. “You know his little ass been using a calculator for his math homework? Teacher been deducting points. He don’t even care because he still passing.”
“Sounds like Boom.” Henni snickered, face buried in her phone.
“It’s not funny. I’m trying not to be too hard on him, but I’m feeling like if I don’t nip this shit in the bud, he’s going to be too far gone, soon.
He’s mouthing back to teachers and me. He had to sit at the daycare for a few because they had a half a day and Meka said he was being a little bully. ”
“You think we need to get him in some kind of therapy?”
“I thought about it, but the first thing they jump to is labels and medication. Those diagnoses give them a personality before they can find one. I’m not ruling it out, but I want to give him a chance to work through it first. In the meantime, I’m about to knock this spoiled shit out of his system. ”
“Funny you say that because the check came in. I’m sitting here thinking of all the shit I can buy him. He can forget it. I haven’t touched a dime yet because I wanted to talk it over with you. I’m thinking college funds, yearly vacations, emergency money...”
“The first thing you need to do is pay yourself back for the funeral.”
“I’m not worried bout that. I’ll make it back.” Henni shrugged. “What you think about private school?”
“Henni. Take what you’re owed. Nobody gonna look at you crazy. You sent her off beautifully. I know that shit wasn’t cheap. Put that money back in your account.” Jakia raised her eyebrows. “You hungry?”
Henni nodded. She placed a plate on the table for Henni, herself and Khyell. “Khyell, come eat!” she called out to him. Jakia scooped Carmell up and placed him in his highchair. The bowl in front of him had cut up alfredo so he could easily feed himself.
“Private school. What you think?” Henni asked again.
“Ain’t that for rich kids? I’m not leaving my friends.” Khyell added his two cents.
“Stay out of grown folk’s convo,” Henni snapped.
“Matter fact, take that plate in your room.” Jakia suggested.
The adults remained silent until he was hidden in his bedroom.
“I think that’s going to have the opposite effect.
I’m not raising no entitled, ungrateful child.
Maybe when he’s older, has some idea of what he wants to be and is less impressionable. ”
“I can see that. What about a house?”
“That would be nice. It can’t be any old house, though. Has to be something that can last. When they’re older, they can rent it out or sell it. Yeah. I’m with that.” Jakia nodded. “Not that it’s up to me. Keyona gave you that money. You don’t have to consult with me.”
“I want to. We’re a village for the boys. When it comes to them, we need to be on the same page. At the bare minimum they need to see us on the same shit behind them.” A knock at the door ended their conversation. “That’s for me.”
“How you inviting people to my house?” Jakia rolled her eyes.
“Door dash.” Henni opened the door pulling the plastic bag inside. She pulled a pregnancy test from the bag and tossed it at Jakia. “You’re pregnant.”
“Bitch.” Jakia stared with no expression.
“You gained at least twenty pounds.”
“Because I’m off the percs,” Jakia defended.
“I’ve had twins. I watched Keyona be pregnant, twice.
” She demonstrated with her fingers. “And 90 percent of my clientele is women. Not to mention I have a specific service for mothers going into labor. I know what the fuck I’m talking about.
You’re pregnant. I can damn near smell it on you. ” Henni twisted her nose up at Jakia.
Jakia snatched the test up. “I love to prove a bitch wrong.”
She rushed to the bathroom, following the instructions on the pink box to a T. While she thought Henni’s assessment was wrong, it made her worry about what Henni being right could mean.
She was still adjusting to being a mom of two.
Well, guardian, because the custody hearing was still riding her shoulders.
Hussein was gone and that left the boys with no father figure.
A few moments of vulnerability had made her a hoe who didn’t know who her baby father was.
And God forbid the baby was Twon’s. She could cry, but she wouldn’t.
She left the bathroom b-lining for the balcony.
“I was right, wasn’t I?” Henni smirked.
“I don’t know,” Jakia responded breathlessly.
“Then what the fuck is wrong with you?” Henni’s face scrunched. “Where the fuck are you going?” She asked over the sound of the sliding door opening.
“To smoke my last blunt,” Jakia answered shutting the screen door like the outside was solely for her.
The worst-case scenario loomed over her while she pissed onto a stick that would change everything. That was all the confirmation she needed to know she was pregnant. Life always did its worst to her.