MakynzeeAs I finished at the salon, I heard Jay’s ringtone.“My ride stood me up, said he had to go help your man with something, so I feel it’s only fair that you get your ass to this airport and pick me up.”I wondered what Kalil was up to as I made my way to the house to switch cars and then to the airport. There was no way all of her bags would fit in the tiny trunk of the coupe. When I made it to the airport, she was waiting outside. She had a lot of bags, so I guessed that meant she was staying for a while, and switching cars was a good idea.She hugged me and said, “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner.”“You’re here now.”“Where we eating? I’m starved.”“Kalil took me to this one spot I’d never heard of before; they have good catfish.”“Good, I haven’t had catfish in forever.”Of course, he would call while we were talking about him.“Hey,” I answered.“What you doing?”“Just picked Jay up. What you got Donte helping you with that’s so im

Kalil Clouds rolled and rain was imminent. The funeral was being held at the gravesite. On the ride over Mak told me that her mom used to tell her if it rained the day of a funeral the person was going to Heaven. She said it didn’t rain the day of her dad’s funeral and hadn’t spoken a word since. The only time she let go of her death grip on my hand was when I stood in as a pallbearer. Chino, Ralphie, Bruce, and Donte volunteered as well, along with others I didn’t know. There were two caskets. It nearly destroyed me when Donte and I carried the tiny white one. Mak wore dark shades so I couldn’t tell what she looked at. Jaida’s shades weren’t as dark, so I could see her watching Mak. The minister asked if anyone would like to say anything and Mak’s coach stood up. I couldn’t remember his name—Calvin? He stood beside the casket and looked down at Riley. His mouth opened, and a sob came out as he crumpled against the podium. Someone helped him

When we got back to the house I tried to wrestle with KJ, but he didn’t want to. He went to Mak and turned into a snitch. “Daddy hurt my belly.” She brought him over to me and held my hands while he did his version of punching me in my stomach. When I pretend to cry, but he ignored me. His attitude sucked. They went into the kitchen and I laid down on the couch. I could hear them singing and laughing as I started to doze off. After a while silence permeated the air and I sat up. “KJ, sweetie, no. You’re supposed to tell me when you have to potty.” “I sorry! Please, no my hurt. I not do it again.” His little voice was laced with panic and fear and I could tell he was crying. Mak let out a gasp before speaking, her voice soft. “KJ, I would never hurt you. I know it was just an accident, stop crying. How about we go change your clothes and you can play with your toys in the bath tub.” He didn’t stop crying and watched as they came out of

Makynzee            Jasmine was here. Not actually in the house, but on the porch. Kalil hadn’t let KJ go back to her house since the day we found the marks on him. She told him she wasn’t with Troy anymore, so he was letting her take KJ for the weekend. Selfishly, I didn’t want him to go, but what could I say. He was her child.Kalil and I needed some time alone anyway. Between school, work, and KJ there wasn’t much left for the two of us. He had to go by the club tonight. Not quite my idea of a romantic evening out, but it was his job, so I guessed I had to suck it up. I could hear KJ crying outside and to make matters worse, he was screaming my name. I wondered if this felt as awkward for Jasmine as it did for me. This was her house. Her ideas had been all over it, but I’d changed just about everything. The door opened and Kalil walked over to me and sat o

We left after that. I figured Donte would tell Kalil what’d happened, so I wasn’t surprised to find him waiting in the garage when I opened it.“I tell you not to let her do nothing stupid and you throw the first blow?”“But she called Jay a sideline ho.”“So! Is it true?” he asked.Irrelevant. No one got to disrespect her in my presence. While we went back and forth Donte pulled up and blocked Jaida’s car in. He knocked on her window, but she refused to acknowledge him and eventually Kalil told him Donte come inside. I slipped into Jaida’s car and we watched in silence as the went inside.“How mad do you think he’ll get if I ram his car?” she asked.“Guys are crazy about their cars, I’m sure we can think of something else to do.” She chuckled and with both of us calmer I could think logically.“If he wanted anybody else he w