Tasha and Amir sat in Jean-Mary’s living room and played Deal or No Deal on Amir’s laptop. It was a birthday gift and he knew how to work it expertly. Tasha worked diligently to assure that he was just as bright and clever as his father. She had no desire for him to be a criminal, but she wanted him to be just as street- and book-smart as Andre. She had been weaned off being a ghetto hood rat and disapproved of most of the lifestyle associated with that, and wanted her baby far away from it. But it was those street-smart elements that made her the woman that she was. How else could she have been effective dodging the rain drops and rumors that a tornado was en route?
Jean-Mary was in the kitchen burning it down. She had bacon baking in the conventional oven and was whipping up a batch of her signature French toast. She added a splash of milk and vanilla and that really did something to the eggs and bread. Amir raced into the kitchen and asked, “Mama, can I have a lollipop?”
“Boy no,” Tasha yelled from the living room. “You have not eaten and you know better. Do you want bad teeth?”
“No, mom,” he said bouncing in the air.
“He’s a little hyper,” Jean-Mary said.
“Yes, he can sense that there is a problem. It’s not like we don’t spend the night here at all, Mama. But with the news and Andre being on it and then our meeting, he knows something is up.”
“Come here smart guy,” Jean-Mary said and pulled him in close to her bosom. He smiled and said, “I’m a big boy Mama, and I’m going to protect my mommy and you too with my powers that my daddy gave me. Daddy said I was the man while he was gone and I better do everything to keep you safe. So,” he said and ran out the kitchen and returned with a bat. “If a bad guy comes in here and tries to take you again, I’m going to beat him up, Mama. Ok?” He was dead serious and when she did not answer fast enough, he asked again, “Ok?”
“Yes, ok, Amir,” Jean-Mary said and spun her wheel chair around to the conventional oven. She then added, “Now sit down here and eat this breakfast big boy.”