Wholeheartedly #4
He stopped dead in his tracks at the smell of his mother’s perfume. His heart began to race hoping she hadn’t come alone. His father was the only one that could stop his mother from putting her hands on him.
Wallah crept into his bedroom, peeking out the blinds.
He saw his dad’s car and his sister’s car.
Delice. He knew she wouldn’t be able to keep the shit to herself for long.
The plan was to sit his parents down weeks ago.
Every time he went to do it, he backed out.
The only thing Wallah had ever been scared of was his mama.
“Wish me luck, fat man.” Wallah rubbed his stomach, making him giggle and reach for his hand to stop him.
He was halfway down the steps when he could see the faces of his loved ones.
His mother, Rena, sat on the couch, let’s spread, leaning forward like she was checking shit at a meeting.
The gangstas in her hair shined like she gotten them done that morning.
Her gun rested in the center of her coffee table.
His father, Tracy, stood next to her, hands in his pockets, almost keeping her from getting to Wallah. He could see his father sighing. Delice wouldn’t even look at him as he reached the bottom of the steps. Carmell began to wiggle away from him to get to her.
“Your nephew wants you, snitch,” he said.
“Un-unh,” Rena talked with her hands. “This ain’t on her. What kind of brother has his sister lying for him anyway?”
“You know better,” Tracy added.
“Explain this shit, Wallah, and explain this shit fast, nigga.” Rena spoke through gritted teeth.
Wallah sat on the arm of the chair.
“Asses go in chairs.” Tracy raised his eyebrows.
“This my couch,” he argued.
“We don’t give a fuck,” they argued simultaneously.
Delice snickered in the corner, with Carmell giggling in her lap. She was rebraiding his hair and he enjoyed it. It took him a second to warm up to her, but now she was in the running for being his favorite person.
“Shut up,” Wallah snapped on Delice.
“Boy, who you talking to like that? Not my daughter.” Rena stood up.
“Rena sit your ass down.” Tracy scrunched his face up. “Delice go on and find you something to do before I let your brother teach you something”
“And we gon jump him,” Tracy chimed in.
“Jump who son?” Tracy asked, scooping Carmell up. Carmell held his fingers in his mouth, nervous. “Not mine.”
“I only said something because they just identified that Jane Doe as Cassidy. Streets saying that she got herself involved with the Turners. I didn’t want you to end up like her,” Delice wiped tears from her eyes, leaving the room like she was told.
“You see there?” Tracy started. “You got everybody worried about you. Go on and get to talking Lah, so you can calm your mother down.”
“What you want me to tell you about the birds and the bees?” he sighed, stretching his arms.
“Wallah, stop fucking playing with me,” she threw a pillow and he caught it before it hit him in his face. “Who’s his mother?” Rena asked, staring Carmell in the face as Tracy sat down beside her.
“You wouldn’t know her,” Wallah answered, still avoiding what was obvious his parents stopped by for.
“Try me.” Rena glared at him. He looked away and she knew. “Please tell me that boy’s mother is not Boom’s baby mother.”
“Delice already told you everything, so what you want me to say?” Wallah asked, irritated.
If he had been allowed the opportunity to tell his parents for himself, it would’ve gone better. He couldn’t help wanting to wring Delice’s neck for telling on him.
“She told us everything but what the fuck you were thinking.”
“I didn’t know she was his at first.”
“Did you find out before she got pregnant?”
Wallah looked away again.
“Boy, are you fucking stupid!” Rena roared. “Answer me before I shave that beard off your fucking face.” She stood, strangling the air.
“I loved her!” Wallah yelled so loud that his body shook. “I loved her,” he defended himself, eyes watering.
“Aw, fuck.” Rena sighed, pacing in a circle. “Does Tina know who that baby belongs to?”
“I don’t even think she knows he ain’t Boom’s yet. The way shit going though, it’s only a matter of time,” Wallah explained hand on his head. “I’m sorry.” He sighed.
“Don’t be sorry now,” Tracy was smiling at his grandson. He turned to Wallah with a more serious expression, “Don’t be sorry, be ready.”
Wallah nodded his head.
“I’m sorry but a head nod ain’t gon’ do it for me. I need you to pack a bag,” Rena counted with her fingers, “clean your guns, get some cash—”
“Mama, I’m not sixteen no more.” Wallah laughed. “I’m fully capable of taking care of myself.”
“I know that. I made sure of that. But this ain’t’ even about you.
You done pulled your dick out and fucked all of us.
We had a truce with Tina. You knew that.
And now you think she’s just coming for you.
Baby, she’s about to use that as an excuse to come at me.
And you won’t be chilling in this nice ass townhouse when she does.
You my security. Pack a bag, you’re coming home.
” Rena twisted her lips. “I’ll be in the car.
” She snatched Wallah’s keys from the table.
“Delice!” Tracy called out to her at the top of the basement steps.
“Yes, daddy?”
“Get that car seat out of my trunk. You and your mama get it set up.”
“Daddy.” She looked at his keys like they were foreign objects. “I’m just a girl.”
“Girl, get on out my face, now.” He pointed her out the front door.
“What’s up, Pops? You ain’t clearing the house out for nothing.’ Wallah sighed. “You don’t think mommy wild me out enough?” he asked.
“I need to say the part she didn’t say.” Tracy’s face got stern.
“I’m so disappointed in you. We raised you up in this shit, so you’d know the dangers of it.
You knew that you were putting us all in harm’s way and still made that decision.
Most importantly, I’m sorry for your loss son.
I know she must’ve been real special.” Tracy gripped his shoulder , giving it a shake before pulling Wallah into him for a hug.
“She was, Pop.” Wallah allowed himself to cry on his father’s shoulder.
His father gave him a few minutes to let it all out.
He gave him another five to gather his things.
It’d been a long time since he was in the streets, but the essentials stayed the same.
Get your Opp before they get you. They’d be aimed on Tina before she learned anything about Carmell’s real daddy.