Page 102 of Maceo

He grabbed my hand and led me into the kitchen. My family had settled at the table, so we took a seat. After bowing our heads for a quick prayer, we began passing the food around. I’d made a spread of mashed potatoes, Mississippi pot roast, smothered green beans, mac and cheese, and honey butter cornbread.

“How’s school?” I asked my brothers as I tried to make light conversation.

Damaris slapped his chest with pride. “You know your boy made the principal’s list.”

I smiled. “I’m so proud of you, D. That full ride scholarship is yours.”

He popped his imaginary collar. “Well, you know. What can I say? I got the book smarts and the looks. Sorry there wasn’t enough for you, Kilow.”

Kilow playfully shoved him. “Shut up. I made the principal’s list too, Shar.”

“I’m proud of you, too, Ki. I’m gonna have to treat y’all.”

Kilow grinned. “We accept all forms of payment. Cash, Cash App, Zelle, Apple Pay, Venmo?—”

“A check or money order is good too,” Damaris added.

Maceo chuckled. “Y’all funny.”

Kilow smirked. “Deja thinks I’m hilarious.”

“Oh, you got jokes?” Maceo asked, grabbing him up in a headlock. “You better be treating my sister right, lil’ nigga.”

Kilow kissed his teeth. “That’s my baby. I’ma be a good man for her.”

Damaris rolled his eyes. “He gets one lil’ chest hair and thinks he’s a man.”

“I got more hair on my chest than you do on you ba?—”

“Kilow!” our mother scolded.

“My bad, Ma. Tell your son to leave me alone. He’s just mad because my chick is badder than his.”

“All right now,” my father said. “Women are not objects, and you shouldn’t like them for looks alone. Y’all are too young to be so serious, anyway.”

“Dad, you and Ma have been together since you were sixteen,” Damaris reminded him.

“And you got married and had three kids,” Kilow added. “Looks like being serious worked out to me. Deja would make a pretty bride, and you know I’ma be fly in my tux.”

My mother waved her hand. “Please change the subject. I’m not ready for this conversation at all. As a matter of fact, eat your food.”

My brothers laughed as they dug into their plates. An awkward silence fell on the room. I looked at Maceo, and he gave me an encouraging smile and nudged me to say something.

“So Daddy… how is work?”

“Fine.”

“Oh… Mama? How have you been?”

“I’m fine, Sharina.”

I wasn’t used to them being short with me. I was both a mama’s girl and a daddy’s girl, through and through. This shit was killing me. I felt the tears rushing to my eyes, and I didn’t want to cry in front of them. I tried to get up from the table, but Maceo gently grabbed my hand.

“No. We’re gonna address this shit right now.” He turned to my parents. “Mr. Paul, Ms. Cicely. I know y’all are upset, and youhave every right to be, but I don’t like the way y’all are making my woman feel right now. She drove herself crazy trying to make sure everything was perfect for tonight. Y’all are sitting at her dinner table, damn near ignoring her, and that, respectfully, that shit is gonna stop.”

My father opened his mouth to speak, but Maceo cut him off.

“I get that you’re upset. Blame me. Take it out on me. I can handle it. Should I have said no to Shar joining me in the field? Yes. I shouldn’t have been out there without my family in the first place. That’s my mistake. I have to live with the fact that five innocent lives were lost because they were helping me with a good cause. That shit will never sit right with me.

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