Page 29 of The Greek's Destruction

I knock again, harder. This time movement is heard in the house.

“Who the hell is it,” momma yells.

“It’s me, momma,” I yell back.

“Nina,” she questions, unlocking the door, then opening it.

When I was little, I used to think my momma was the most beautiful woman in the world with her satin like brown skin, jet black hair that she always kept styled, and pearly white smile. The woman before us is a shell of my momma. Her hair is matted all over her head, she has dark circles around her eyes, frail, and her skin is ashen. Her once beautiful smile is yellow with teeth missing. The old robe she has on has seen better days.

“Nina girl, what are you doing here? And who is this,” momma asks, taking Zar in from head to toe.

“I came to check on you and this is Balthazar.”

“Balthazar? What kind of name is that? What are you,” momma quizzes, scrunching up her nose? I roll my eyes with embarrassment.

“It’s Greek, ma’am. I’m Greek,” Zar proudly replies with a smile.

“I see, well don’t just stand out there, come on in.” Momma opens the door wider. I really hadn’t planned on going inside, now that I’ve seen her, but when Zar places his hand on the small of my back, nudging me, I guess I am going inside.

Momma closes the door once we’re in. “Y’all have a seat on the couch while I go throw something on.” She heads down the hall before I have a chance to tell her we weren’t going to be here long.

“Aww, look at you with the pigtails. You were cute,” Zar teases walking over to get a better look at my first grade picture.

“Boy please! I look like a black Pippi Longstocking! Not to mention, I’m smiling too damn hard for a kid who’s two front teeth were missing,” I laugh, hitting his arm. Unfortunately, we had recess before the pictures were taken, so by the time I sat down, I had one pigtail going North and the other going South.

“Well, I still think you look adorable. You think our babies are going to be as cute as you were,” Zar asks, still staring at the picture.

Babies, I hadn’t thought about us having babies. It was way too soon to think about having babies. Ignoring his question, I say in a rush, “I’m gonna go use the bathroom.”

Zar chuckles as I turn to make my getaway. Walking down the hallway, I couldn’t help stopping to take a peek into my old bedroom. I wished I hadn’t. Inside were more garbage bags, a weird smell, and clothes thrown around everywhere. I quickly close the door. When I get to the bathroom door, I start to step in, but stop when I hear momma talking. Her room is right next to the bathroom and her door is ajar.

“Yeah, yeah she’s here,” momma says.

Who was she talking to about me? Sneaking up to the door, I glance through the opening to see her sitting on her dirty bed with her back to the door, rocking.

“Look you told me to call you if she shows up, well she’s here now and she has some big Greek dude with her, so you better get here quick. I’ll try to stall them as long as I can.” She pauses listening to whatever is being said on the other line before saying, “Whatever, you just make sure you have my dope and my money. A deal is a deal!” She drops the phone on the bed, then starts snapping her fingers, doing the happy dance.

Anger, sadness, and so many other emotions hit me at once, but the one that stings the most is betrayal. Betrayed by my own mother for some fucking money and drugs.

“So, that’s how it is, momma?” I seethe, pushing the door open all the way. Tears burn my eyes.

She jumps, turning to face me. Guilt written all over her face. “Dammit Nina, you scared me!” She nervously laughs.

“Who was that on the phone?”

“What,” she asks, trying to play dumb.

“I heard you! Who was that?!” I point to the phone.

Momma looks at the phone then back at me. “Girl you must be hearing things. I wasn’t on the phone.”

I needed to get out of here before I put my hands on my momma. As angry as I am right now, I’m two seconds from doing it. Spinning on my heels, I walk away with her calling my name. Zar appears in the front of the hallway. He sees my face wet with tears and rushes to me.

“What’s wrong, Nina? What’s wrong?”

I shake my head. “Just get me out of here, now!”

“Nina, wait don’t go,” momma pleads, running up behind us.

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