CHAPTER TEN
Kane
“So what are you going to do about this?” Ant asked for what seemed like the hundredth time already. We’d been visiting my mother when my cousin Bundy first called me. Like most times when he would call, I would let it roll over to voicemail, but by the seventh call, I knew that something had to be up, so I answered him. The minute he started talking about the shit that happened back in Chicago, I instantly had a bad feeling, and boy, those are never wrong. Now I was sitting here with my head in my hands, wondering what the fuck I was going to do and how I was going to keep whoever those niggas were from coming after me and mine.
“Man, I really don’t know. Bundy didn’t say everything. All he said was that the nigga he made us rob was out looking for the niggas who did it,” I said, shaking my head. I shouldn’t have gotten involved with that shit, but the nigga begged me so much that I ended up doing it anyway, and me being the nigga I was, I was always the one to look out for my family, so I did it. Now I was regretting the shit, because I still had no idea who the fuck the nigga even was to try to take him out first.
“Man, just let me know what you want to do. You know a nigga will be with you regardless.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m just kind of fucked up with myself for even doing the shit without getting all the details and shit. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I know I was robbing somebody and shit, but I never fully got all the information I should’ve,” I said, shaking my head. I couldn’t believe that I was actually this careless. Never in all my years of being in the streets had I been this sloppy. “I’ma just chill on it for a minute, make sure Keyon straight and shit before I go ahead and pay that nigga Bundy a visit.”
“All right, but you may not want to chill on this shit too long. You never know what the fuck may happen.”
“Yeah, I know. Like I said, I want to make sure that Keyon is straight, and then I’ll deal with the rest of that shit,” I said as I got up from my chair. “Come on, man, let’s go grab something to eat before we head back over to the hospital.”
“I ain’t gon’ argue with that,” he said as he began rubbing his stomach.
“Yeah, I bet yo’ greedy ass ain’t, nigga,” I replied as I led the way back up into the kitchen. I turned out the lights and headed to where I smelled the sweet and savory smell of soul food.
“Daddy!” I heard my daughter yell the minute I stepped into the kitchen.
“Myri,” I replied, walking over to her. I picked her up from her seat and wrapped my arms around her small frame.
“Ouch, you’re squeezing me too tight, Daddy,” she said in between giggles.
“I’m sorry, baby. Daddy just missed you so much,” I said as I let her go.
“I missed you too.”
“How’s it been going? You being a good girl for Grandma?” I asked her.
“Everything has been fun, and I’ve been a very good girl,” she responded as she began walking back over to her seat.
“Oh, I can’t get no love, Myri?” Ant said, sounding as if he were hurt. When she heard his voice, she turned around as fast as her tiny frame would allow her to. Ignoring what my mother had told her a million times, she ran straight into his arms, almost knocking me down. I loved the bond they both shared. Ant was the only sibling that Ahmyri’s mother had. So once she died, he made sure that he was very active in her life, both he and his mother. Due to her being sick, she didn’t come out much, but that didn’t stop her from asking for her only granddaughter.
“When did you get here?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck. She then placed a kiss on his cheek before he placed her back down.
“The same time your daddy came. We were chilling in the basement though, shorty. How’s my favorite little niece been?”
“I’ve been great. Where’s Amir?” she asked, referring to her little cousin.
“He’s at home with his mommy. When are you coming by the house to see him and Grandma Marie?”
“When I’m done visiting Grandma Katrice,” she told him.
“Okay, good. Now go back and eat the rest of your food, li’l bit.”
“Okay,” she responded, but not before giving both of us a quick hug.
I waited until she was seated before I eased my way over to the stove. Before I could even reach the stove, my mother stopped me.
“I know damn well you wasn’t about to go playing anywhere around my pots without washing your damn hands, Kahreem,” she said before she smacked me on the side of my head.
“Sorry, Ma,” I said, rubbing the side of my head where she had hit me. I then walked over to the sink and proceeded to wash my hands like she told me to.
“You too, Anthony. I don’t know what’s gotten into you boys. Y’all ain’t too big for me to go upside of y’all heads now.” She continued to fuss. She then walked over to the cabinet and grabbed two plates before she began fixing both of us a plate. “It seems like the only time I get to see you boys are when y’all are hungry. Y’all gon’ make me start charging y’all asses for a plate.”
“Ma, we just been busy, that’s all.”
“Busy my ass. You’re never supposed to be too busy to come and pay your mother a damn visit,” she said as she placed our plates on the table. “Go on and sit y’all knucklehead asses down and eat.”
“Yes, ma’am,” both Anthony and I said together. We then bowed our heads and said grace before we began digging into our food. Ant had been to my house numerous times. He knew what was up with my mother.
“I see some of the things I’ve taught y’all haven’t changed,” she said, smiling like a proud parent. “Now how’s everything been going with you boys?”
“We’ve been good, Ma,” I said, keeping it short. My mother was one to pry into other folks’ business. I had no problem with her wanting to know what was going on with her only child, but there were certain things that I didn’t want her to know.
“Uh-huh, okay,” she said, rolling her eyes. I paid her no mind as I continued to eat the rest of my food. “How’s Marie, Anthony?”
“She’s great, ma’am. Chemotherapy has helped her out a lot. Outside from her being tired sometimes, she’s doing just fine.”
“That’s wonderful. You tell her I asked about her now.”
“I surely will.”
“Damn, y’all must have been really hungry,” my mother joked as she watched us clean the rest of the food off our plates. When we were completely done, she collected them and placed them in the sink before coming back over to the table with two bottles of water. “Y’all want something to take home with y’all?”
“Yes, but fix two for me please,” I told her as I opened the water and downed the whole thing.
“Don’t get greedy, Kahreem, or I may not fix nothing,” she joked. “You was always a heavy eater, but damn, boy, two plates?”
“Both of them aren’t for me,” I said with a smile. I looked at Ant, then back to her. I couldn’t lie. I felt like a big kid in a candy store every time I thought of or talked about Keyon. Shorty had a nigga feeling all goofy and shit, but I loved that, and I loved her.
“Is there something I should know?” she asked, looking between Ant and me.
“Myri, go play in your room while I talk to your grandma,” I told my baby girl.
“Okay, Daddy,” she said, doing as I told her. I waited until she was out of my sight before I turned back to my mother, who was sitting there staring at me.
“So?” she asked impatiently.
“Okay, Ma. I met this girl a few weeks ago, and I’m really feeling her and shit.”
“Oh, my God, why haven’t I met her yet?” she asked, jumping straight into questioning mode.
“Well, she’s in the hospital right now.”
“What? Why is she in the hospital? Kahreem, tell me you didn’t find one of them chickenheads.”
“Nah, Ma, she’s not a chickenhead. I would never even step to her if she were,” I said truthfully.
“Well, what’s wrong with her, and why haven’t I met her yet?”
“Because I was going to wait until the right time.”
“Well, now is the right time. You’re going to get your daughter together while I go upstairs and get myself together, and then we are all going up to that hospital,” she said in a no-nonsense tone. I opened my mouth to stop her, but she raised her hand to shut me up instead. “I don’t want to hear a word from you, Kahreem. Go on and get Ahmyri ready.”
“Nah, Ma. She said that she wasn’t feeling too well and that she was going to sleep. I’ll take y’all to see her tomorrow morning,” I said, trying to nip that shit in the bud.
“You better not be lying to me, Kahreem,” she said, giving me a stony look. “Have your ass back here early in the damn morning. Don’t make me have to come looking for you, because you know I will.”
“Man, I told you I was going to come, so chill out,” I said, heading for the door. I didn’t know why I turned my back to her after I just basically had an attitude with her. I should’ve known that she wasn’t too far behind me. That was why when I felt a hard sting to the back of my head, I couldn’t do anything but laugh. I didn’t even open my mouth. I simply shook my head and continued out the door, because if I said something, that wouldn’t be the only slap I would get. I heard Ant having a laughing fit behind me, but I kept it quiet. The only thing I was worrying about was this meeting between my mother and my girl. I really hoped everything went cool once we arrived at the hospital. My mother wasn’t one to like people easily, and I really wished she’d like Keyon, because I planned to keep her around a long time.
* * *
The next morning came faster than I wanted it to. I spent the whole night thinking and playing out the many scenarios about how things could go. I barely even slept. All I kept thinking was that this was going to end badly, although I didn’t want it to.
My phone started to ring, pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked at the caller ID and noticed that it was indeed my mother calling me. I then looked over at the clock on the nightstand and noticed that it was a little after eight o’clock. I mean, she could have at least waited until maybe nine or ten, yet she’s calling this early. I didn’t even answer the damn phone. Instead, I placed it back on the table and rolled out of bed. Before I could head to the bathroom to take a piss or brush my teeth, the phone was ringing again. I started not to answer it again, but I knew that it would only piss her off more, so I decided to answer it.
“What’s up?” I said, answering the phone like it was all good.
“Don’t ‘what’s up’ me, boy. I know your ass saw me calling that phone. I’m not playing with your ass. You’d better be at my house in the next hour, or we’re going to have a lot of problems,” she said and hung up the phone.
I stood there looking at the phone in disbelief. I really couldn’t believe that she did that shit, but then again, this was my mother. Anything was possible with her little ass, which meant I needed to hurry my ass up and make it to her house, or else there was going to be a problem for real.
* * *
Thirty minutes later, Ahmyri, Mom, Ant, and I were walking through the halls of the hospital. I couldn’t lie. My heart was beating louder and harder than a muthafucker. I honestly thought my ass was about to have a panic attack or something. Hell, I had to laugh at my own damn self. I didn’t know how Keyon was going to take to my mother or even how my mother was going to take to her, but like I said, I could only hope for the best. My mother was a tough cookie, and Keyon could be also.
“What room is she in?” she asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Right here,” I said, nodding my head at the door we were currently standing in front of. She didn’t say anything as she grabbed Myri’s hand and left us standing there.
“I see you over there shaking like a stripper. You must be thinking the same thing I’m thinking,” Ant told me.
“Shit, if you praying to God that my mother likes Keyon and everything goes right, then yeah, we’re thinking the exact same thing.”
“Shit, I’ve been praying since we left the house. Moms can be quite feisty. I remember that time you first introduced my sister to her. Hell, I thought she was going to chew my poor sister’s head off, but li’l sis held her own.”
“Yeah, it was a good thing Ava held her own, or else Myri wouldn’t be here.”
“Shit, don’t I know it? Let’s get in here before we find your mother choking the girl out.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Come on, man,” I said as I took a deep breath. Again, I said a quick prayer before I walked in the room.
When we walked through the door, we heard what sounded like laughing. I thought I was tripping, but when we rounded the corner, Ant and I were both shocked at the sight before us. Sitting on the bed by Keyon’s foot was my mother. Crazy thing was, instead of her choking her out with her hands, they were both dying laughing at whatever they were talking about. When I saw Ahmyri sitting between her legs comfortably, I breathed a sigh of relief. God was really looking out for me.
“What are y’all up in here talking about?” I asked, breaking up the party.
“Well, if it ain’t the damn devil himself,” my mother yelled, getting up. She walked over to me and smacked me on the side of my head.
“What the hell you do that for?”
“Boy, watch your damn mouth talking to me,” she responded. “Talking crazy. I should smack your ass upside your damn head again. Say that shit again, I dare you.”
“Man, Ma, chill out,” I said, throwing my hands up. I wasn’t a fool, and I wasn’t going to play like one either. I wasn’t about to disrespect my mother. I wasn’t brought up like that. I knew better, and I knew there were times when I should just shut my mouth. Right now was definitely one of those times.
“That’s what the hell I thought,” she said, rolling her eyes and walking away. “Now I’m going to ask you one question, and I want you to answer it. Okay?”
“Man, what you want? I don’t have time for you to be trying to chastise me and sh—” I began to say but stopped when she gave me one of her looks.
“And what?” she asked, inching closer to me.
“Nothing, Ma. What do you want to ask me?” I said, getting straight to the point.
“Why you ain’t tell me what was going on with Ms. Keyon?”
“What do you mean? I told you that she was in the hospital already.”
“You didn’t tell me everything that was going on with her. Like the fact that she was pregnant and carrying twins,” she said sternly.
“Man, that’s what you tripping for?” I asked, not believing she was acting like this behind that.
“You damn right,” she said, punching me on my arm this time.
“Ma, stop hitting on me, man. You hit hard, girl,” I said, pretending like she had really hurt me.
“Yeah, you ain’t felt hard yet. Now answer my question, Kahreem.”
“Actually, I was going to wait to tell you because I didn’t know how to. I didn’t want you thinking what you’re probably thinking right now.”
“And what is that?”
“You’re hard as hell, Ma. You remember how everything went down with Myri’s mother? You almost chewed the girl’s head off,” I told her honestly.
“Boy, that shit was different and you know it,” she said, sounding as if her feelings were hurt.
“Ma, you know I love you. You just have a way with you.”
“Boy, hush. I’m just being your mother, that’s all,” she said, wiping away the lone tear that had escaped from her eye. “Anyways, I like Keyon. She seems good for you. I just hope everything turns out right for the both of you.”
“Thanks, Ma, and I hope so too. I’m trying to be in her life for a long time. Shit, I’m already going to be there for the next eighteen years. So that’s basically forever, right?” I said, trying to crack a joke to lighten the mood.
“And you’re going to do right by her, too,” she added.
“I will, Ma, I will,” I told her.
We all talked the whole morning away until my mother said, “Okay, well, come on and take me home. Let’s get on before you make me miss the noon news, boy. You know how I feel about watching the news every day and night.” She began getting herself together. I picked up Ahmyri and walked over to Keyon, who looked a little sleepy, and I placed a quick peck on her cheek.
“I’ll see you when I get back, baby,” I told her.
“All right. I’m going to take a quick nap. These babies are killing me.”
“Okay, I’ll see you later. Come on, Ma,” I called out.
“You can just drop me off at my house once you drop Mom Dukes off,” Ant told me.
“All right, that’s cool.”
“See you later, shorty,” he hollered to Keys as we left.
We were walking down the hallway to the elevator when my phone began ringing. I looked down to see that Bundy was calling me again. I was going to answer it, but then I thought about my mother standing right next to me. I didn’t need her hearing anything she didn’t need to hear, so I’d just call him back after I dropped them off. I really hoped he wasn’t calling me with no bullshit, because I already had enough of that going on from his ass right now.