Chapter Two

I blinked once, twice. My mind wanders back to the present. I didn't own a car, but I was saving up for one. I had two means of transportation to work-the bus and a Lyft. I took the Lyft when I did night jobs and a bus every other time. It was almost ten by the time I got home. I lived in a four-bedroom house with my entire immediate family. It was cramped, to say the least.

“You need to stop talking to that boy, Talia.” Trick said, storming after our sister into the living room.

Talia walked into the living room eating today’s dinner- fried chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes. “Ion got to do nothing. You aren’t my daddy. I’ll date Marquis if I want to.” Talia said, taking a bite of the seasoned skin of her chicken.

Trick took Talias’ plate and started picking off of it as he ran away with it. Talia ran after him. “Give me my fucking plate, Trick! I’m going to beat your ass!” Talia growled.

In this house, there were two guaranteed laws. One, anything you owned was fair game if left unoccupied. Two, anyone’s business was everyone’s business.

“I do not want to talk about this. I am not going to stop talking to my baby mama. She’s my daughters’ mama. She is going to be around.” My oldest brother Brayden yelled before leaving the house. He slammed the door so hard I jumped.

His girlfriend, Courtney, looked at the door. She wasn’t smiling or frowning. Her mouth in a straight, firm line, arms crossed across her flat stomach. Courtney walked back to their shared bedroom, I assumed, and closed the door. I shook my head at everyone’s antics.

See what I mean? Everyone’s business.

I walked past the living room and to my bedroom. I had the bedroom by the kitchen and next to the living room. My sister had the room next to mine, which was more in the hallway, and then there was Trick's room. Bryants room with Courtney was located by the living room. It was the most oversized room in the house because my little four-year-old niece shared it with them.

I turned my light on, and the dim illumination only brightened my room enough for me not to bump into anything. I took off my saggy, blue PINK shirt and black leggings before sitting on my bed—the hundred dollar bill hanging out of my leggings slightly on the floor. I picked up the bill and turned it over. The feelings of admiration and disdain consumed me. I needed it. Everyone did. I hated that I needed it. Everyone did, for the most part. I placed the money in my wallet, making a mental note to deposit it into my bank account tomorrow.

I never kept change on me, not with the kind of family I had. I learned that the hard way when Trick stole five hundred dollars from me, but that's another story. He still denies doing it, but that's another story. I know he did it but again, another story. I went into my bathroom and started running some bathwater. I poured a generous amount of lavender bubbles from Bath and Body Works into the tub, adding stress relief scented bath salts.

"Mi'a, you're home. When did you get here? How was work? Can I play with your tablet?" My niece Amarah fired at me.

I patted her head, placing a kiss on her cheek. "I just got home. Work was fine, and sure you can use my tablet."

Amarah clapped her tiny, light-skinned hands together. "Yay! I love you, Mi'a." She proclaimed. I rolled my eyes. Amarah loves me when she gets what she wants and hates me when she doesn't. This kid was a player, but I loved her. She was my little mama.

On the bed, my phone began to ring; I picked up my Samsung Galaxy s7. Yeah, it's old, but I hated changing new cellphones as much as I liked getting new phones. In the end, hate won. Speaking of 'mama,' mine was calling. I knew what she would want, especially this time of the night. I always answered, though. I always answer.

"Wassup, mom?" I answered. My niece glared at me, her left foot sticking out a hand placed on her mini waist. She had Talia written all over her. I shook my head and glared at her back.

"The tablet." She whispered, hand out. I groaned slightly before getting up to get it. I took my Samsung S6 tablet off the charger and handed it to my niece. She sat on my floor to play with it.

"And Charles, he is so amazing. He does this thing with his-"

"Ok, TMI, TMI! Too much information." I had almost forgotten I was on the phone with my mother and my bath. My bath. I dashed to my bathroom, and the tub filled just right. I turned now, ceasing the water movement. "Mom, I'll call you back. I'm getting into the tub."

"Wait! Wait! Can I borrow fifty for my medication?" My mom asked over the phone.

"Chienne!" I said, placing my phone down so I could undress completely.

"You said, yes?" My mother misunderstood me. I have been reading French ever since I was in high school, and I'm taking it now in college in my freshman year. You would think my family would start picking up on my French or at least the cussing words I called them.

"I said no. I just sent you money yesterday, mom. I'm not giving you any more. I have bills to pay, and I'm saving up for a car." The steamy, hot tub made my body feel at ease. I could feel the day’s stresses floating away.

"Mi'a. Mi'a. Mi'a!" My mom yelled.

I reached my body halfway out of the tub so I could hang up the phone. I know what you're thinking. I'm a bad daughter. It's just fifty bucks. You got paid a hundred that you're exploiting from your client and if you're a smoker. It's just a little weed. It comes from the earth. It's good for you.

And to all that, I say, "Va te faire foutre! " It's my money. I earn it, and I'll use it as I please. My mom calls multiple times a week just to borrow money and then not pay it back. She argued that she had me and took care of me. My defense children aren't asked to be born. It's the parents that did the deed. I rest my case.