“I don’t give a fuck about you and your childhood. The way I feel, I hope it was horrible because a bitch like you deserves the worst,” I spat.
“That’s enough, Essex. You know better than to be cursing in front of me like this, and you’re being disrespectful. At the end of the day, she is your mother, and right or wrong, you only get one.”
“I apologize for being disrespectful in your house, but I don’t think that’s the only thing I’m sorry about. You’re still makingexcuses for her and trying to get me to show respect to someone who doesn’t deserve it. You’re saying I only have one mother, but what kind of mother was she? Even when I lived with her, she was never around.
“If she wasn’t in the clubs and bars getting sloppy drunk while I was at home starving, she was chasing behind some man who only wanted to use her as a cum rag. For years, you have gone behind my back to help someone who never cared about you or me. You have a lot of nerve giving her the money I worked hard for when I’m the one who has been taking care of you since I was a youngin.
“How many times were the lights cut off? Or what about when the fridge was empty because you were too busy feeding the less fortunate so you could look good in the eyes of those spiritual scammers you called church leaders? You might have provided me with a place to live, but I haven’t forgotten how I had to get out in the streets and hustle to make sure there was food in the house and the bills were paid. I guess that must be where she got it from, huh? Everyone has an issue when it’s time for me to speak my mind, but no one has a problem spending my money.”
Granny slapped my face, but I wasn’t even tripping. I was telling the truth, and I was tired of holding my tongue. My relationship with my granny changed as I got older, but I would never forget anything. I had taken care of myself my whole life, and everyone wanted me to forgive and forget when neither of them wanted to take accountability. On the outside, it looked like I had it all together, but a nigga was fucked up.
If it hadn’t been for Lyric and Noodle coming into my life, who knows where I would have been. I more than likely would have been dead or in jail because I didn’t view life as valuable, not mine or anyone else’s. They were the reasons I changed the way I carried myself in the streets. I went from robbing and runningin niggas’ traps to playing it smart. They motivated me to strive for something bigger.
“I’m gonna head out.” I got ready to walk out of the kitchen, but Granny grabbed my arm.
“Essex, I-I’m sorry. I should have never put my hands on you. You know that isn’t how I get down, but I got so upset. Please, let’s sit down and talk,” she pleaded.
“I’m cool on talking right now. You take care of yourself,” I told her.
I wasn’t the type of person who would talk things out when I was upset. The best thing to do was to give me some space to cool off and then try to have a conversation. With the way I was feeling, I would have probably cut her off right along with her daughter.
Enoka continued to yell behind me, but I had already given her more attention than she deserved. As soon as I got in my car, I peeled off without looking back. My emotions were all over the place, and I was trying to get myself back in order.
A picture of Lyric and my baby girl popped up on my screen, instantly putting a smile on my face. My attitude was fucked up, so I didn’t want to answer, because they didn’t deserve to get the remnants of anger from some bullshit they had nothing to do with. I never ignored Lyric’s calls, but I wasn’t ready to talk to anyone.
I let the phone ring until my voicemail picked up. I thought she would send a message or something, but she called me right back. I didn’t want her to see my face, so I declined the video call, but I called her back the regular way because I thought there might have been an emergency or something.
“What’s going on, baby?”
“Why didn’t you answer my call?” she asked.
“I’m sorry. I just left my granny’s house, and I was going to call you back once I got settled.”
“I called you on FaceTime, but you called me back regular. You got a bitch in the car with you? You don’t want me to see your secret family riding with you or something?” Lyric fired off random-ass accusations.
“Man, gone on somewhere. You know damn well I don’t have any bitches, and I definitely don’t have a secret family. Hell, when I’m not working, I’m under your ass. When would I have time to spend with my other family?” Leave it to her to make me laugh with her foolishness.
“You would be surprised how creative niggas can be. That bitch is probably cackling under her breath while y’all ugly, cross-eyed kids are in the back seat licking ketchup off the windows. She’s probably over there telling them you can’t be around all of the time because you’re in the army or an undercover spy, and the whole time, you missed little Timmy’s soccer game because you’re too busy sucking farts out of my ass. She’s a better one than me.” Lyric sassed.
I laughed so hard, I almost needed to pull over. My girl was a fool, and people didn’t even understand how funny and crazy she truly was.
“Lola B, get the fuck off my phone with this bullshit. You done created a whole scenario in your head and ran with it.” I shook my head while chuckling.
“How do I know it’s not true? I can’t prove anything because you decided to ignore my FaceTime call. How do I know a crackhead with no teeth isn’t sucking you off right now? Hell, it might be one of your granny’s friends. Clara is always giving you that look like she wants a piece.”
“Clara has glaucoma. She barely knows what she’s looking at, silly woman.”
I disconnected and hit the FaceTime icon. Lyric’s gorgeous face appeared with my mini-me sitting next to her on the couch, headphones on.
“See? Ain’t nobody in my car. No crackheads, no secret family, and no old ladies.” I lifted the phone from the holder to show her.
“Pan it on your lap. It could be a little person in there. Those hoes are small and flexible.”
“I’m about to hang up on your ignorant ass.” Doing what she asked, I panned the camera over my lap, then placed it back on the holder.
“I guess I’m satisfied. If your daughter wasn’t sitting here, I would ask you to pull it out and let me see something.” Lyric winked.
“With the way you’re over there acting, I might need to stop giving it to you. You’re sounding a little crazy.”