Page 43 of Make Me Remember

They won’t be. Y’all come on.

Looked like the party would be here all over again. I loved my family. Although they didn’t really know Mekayla, because she was important to me, she was important to them as well. Before I could say anything to her, the doorbell was ringing. I frowned because it was too soon for anyone to be bombarding us. I’d just given my mama the okay.

I huffed and went to the door to find the mayor standing there. He pushed past me and asked, “Where’s Pam?”

I rolled my eyes and said, “She’s in there, Martin.”

When I followed behind him, he went straight to Mekayla and grabbed her hand. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

She smiled slightly and said, “Thank you, Uncle Mayor.”

What did she say that shit for? That nigga was grinning like a Cheshire cat. “You not just saying that shit to butter me up, huh?”

“Isn’t that why everyone says it?”

The smile fell from his lips, and he frowned. “Naw. They say that shit ’cause I’m really the mayor.”

“Nigga, you resigned. You ain’t the mayor of shit no more,” I said as Mekayla chuckled.

He gave me a smirk. “If you would attend the family meetings like you should, you would know that me and Marcus were reinstated. The best part is that we don’t have to abide by no fucking political shit. We can do what the fuck we want.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s because ain’t no fucking body out here but us. And we ain’t gon’ listen to you or Uncle Marcus thuggish ass.”

He pushed my head and said, “Oh, but I bet y’all asses gon’ listen. I’ll fuck your sewer system up and have shit backing up all in your house.”

I huffed as he turned to LaTee. “What’s up, lil mama. I’m sorry about your grandfather.”

“Thank you.”

“But you know what we gon’ do?”

“What?” she asked.

“We finna have a party to cheer you up. The whole family is coming over. Uncle Marcus has a daughter that’s somewhat close to your age. I think she’s five or six.”

“Really? A party?”

“Yep. Aunt Chrissy and Grandma Jen are coming over to fry chicken and french fries, and I think Aunt Tiffany is coming to help them. Everybody is coming, even some of our cousins.”

I frowned at him and asked, “Who?”

“Mal and Danica. They were at WJ’s house with Nesha and Martha when your mama called.”

“Oh,” I said with a head nod.

“So, I thought it was joke to call you mayor. I thought they called you that because you stay in everybody’s business.”

Uncle Storm frowned at Mekayla as I chuckled. “You know, since you grieving and all, I’m gon’ let you make it with that one, Pam. But you best believe, the next one won’t be free. You been sliding too much around this bitch.”

She laughed as he plopped down next to her. When she leaned against him and he didn’t frown or make her move, I knew she was in the family for sure.

“Hey! Jacob!”

I frowned and ran to the front door at the voice I heard. When I saw Karima, I ran to her and lifted her from her feet, swinging her around. “Damn! What’chu doing back already?”

“I actually went back to start wrapping some things up. My family needs me here. Y’all got more shit going than a little bit. All hands need to be on deck, if possible. I withdrew from school, and I’ll just go back to Lamar.”

I lowered my head. “But you seemed so happy to go. The family would have managed.”

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