“Dat’s real fine ’is first treatment was so good, Shanny dear. But dat don’t give ’im a job or a college education for God’s sake...” Kerline shakes her head in frustration as she stirs the solution in the flask before her. “Yes, I know ’e’s trying real hard, lassie, but trying, it don’t pay the bills. You got your whole life stretched ’head of you, don’t be drowing it away on the likes of ’im.” Todd casts a sympathetic look Kerline’s way. She catches his eye, repeatedly firing a pretend gun at her pretty Jamaican head. “Look, sweetie, momma got to get back to work now. We talk it out over dinner. Just you and me, no Jamal. You ’ear me?”
Todd glides over to provide moral support as Kerline slides the phone into her purse. “Sounds like you’ve got your hands full, Kerline.”
Exasperated, she shakes her head and wipes tears from the corners of her eyes. “Like watching a slow motion replay of de worse damn dings I ever done, ’cept Shanteel is playing me part.”
Todd puts his hands on the sides of her shoulders and rests his head against hers. “It could always be worse. Hang in there, sister, it’ll get better.”
Kerline grunts dismissively, “Oh yay? You gonna get rid of dat boy for Kerline... ’fore me daughter finds out de ’ard way what being nineteen, wid child, and all alone is about?”
Todd scrunches his nose and stares straight ahead. Guess they don’t bother much with platitudes in Jamaica. “Wait, I’m confused. Jamal? Same Jamal who’s one dose into Doctor Hyslop’s treatment protocol?”
Kerline dabs her eyes again. “Yes, and dat dere’s on me. I wanted Shanteel to feel me love and support for dat stupid boy a ’ers.” Kerline roars with laughter. “A girl ’er age; ain’t no better reason to dump a boy dan ’er momma approving of ’im.” Her face turns deadly serious. “Shanny don’t need to know ’er momma’d love to kill dat boyfriend of ’ers with me own ’ands. You know what dat boy done?”
Now perplexed. “Uh, no, what?”
“’e been stepping out on poor Shanny.” Kerline shakes her head. “Even got ’nother girl pregnant, den talked ’er into getting rid a de baby.”
“Oh gosh, that’s terrible. So if Shanny knows this why wouldn’t she break it off with him?”
Kerline’s voice booms. “’e got dat silly Shanteel convinced, man, de diabetes was de only ding messing ’im up, ’olding ’is scrawny ass back.” She scoffs, “Wasn’t no diabetes dat made ’is momma a crackhead, ’is daddy a bum.” Her voice grows louder. “No sir! Wasn’t no diabetes told ’im to step out on me girl or dat digging ditches is better dan going to college.” Her anger spills over, the last few words spit out with disgust and disdain. “Now ’e done got ’er believin’ in ’im, and in us being one big, ’appy family.”
“I see.” Todd gives Kerline a big hug then pulls back and smiles at her. “You and I sure have been through it, huh girl?” He shakes his head as he reminisces, “I thought the worse was behind us when we brought you over from that pig Gorelick’s practice.” He rubs her upper arms encouragingly. “But I guess there’s a little more to get through.”
Kerline laughs. “Sorry to go all Island-crazy on you, man. You a doll for listenin’ to me ranting, but don’t you go worrying ’bout Kerline. Dat Jamal, ’e just a boy, and dat Gorelick, well ’e gonna get what coming to ’im real soon. Me sure of it.” Kerline makes a shooting motion with her hands. “POW, POW!” A grim look of satisfaction fills her face as she blows imaginary smoke from the tip of her make-believe gun. “Den Shanny and me, we finally ’ave some peace again.”