Page 40 of Maceo

Thaddeus collapsed to the ground. His body twitched, then went limp. Deuce stood and looked back at me.

“Nobody else?” he asked.

“Nah, man. They ain’t trying to go anywhere.”

“Then that’s on them. The offer was extended. We’ll see if anybody else wants to leave. Offer once. If they say no, move the fuck on. Jaeda, send the trucks and crew in to clean this shit up.”

“Copy that.”

I sighed as we dispersed to the other trailers in groups. This was the part I personally hated. You couldn’t help a muthafucka that didn’t want to be helped or didn’t see a problem with their circumstances. I knew how tonight would end. This wasn’t a disbandment. Somebody else would be appointed, and the cycle would continue.

“Anybody home!”I yelled, walking into my parents’ house.

I immediately heard the heavy footsteps upstairs, followed by their pounding as my little brothers came running down. I opened my arms to them, and they damn near knocked me over.

“I take it you’re happy to see me,” I said, squeezing them.

“Yes!” Damaris said, kissing my cheek.

Kilow followed suit. “Damaris has been getting on my nerves, Shar. Please take him with you.”

My brother punched him in the arm. “You get on my nerves too, punk.” He turned to me. “Rina, I need some money.”

“Well damn, Damaris! Can I get in the door good before you run my pockets? What happened to the money Maceo gave y’all last week?”

“I spent some and saved the rest.”

“Then spend what you saved.”

“Then I won’t have anything saved.”

“So you wanna spend my money so you can save yours?”

He shrugged. “I mean, technically, wouldn’t that be me spending Maceo’s money?”

I scoffed as Kilow died laughing. “Oh, you think that’s funny? Watch I don’t give y’all another dime, and I’m gonna tell my man not to give you anything either.”

That wiped the smile from their faces.

“Quit playing, Shar,” Kilow pleaded.

“Nah, it ain’t my money, right? Bet.”

I headed into the kitchen with them on my heels, pleading their cases. My mama stood at the stove, shaking her head. She was used to our back-and-forth.

“Mommy, please get your two broke best friends,” I said, going over to hug her.

She laughed. “Nobody told you to spoil them.”

She was right. Even before I had a man, I spoiled them. I didn’t make a lot as a CNA, but I’d been hustling since I was fourteen, and I knew how to save a dollar. All throughout high school and college, I did hair and nails. I babysat and house sat. My daddy spoiled me, so I spent his money and saved my own, much like Damaris was trying to do to me.

“They are my babies,” I said, shrugging. “Even if all they do is use me.”

“People only do what you allow, baby. Kilow, Damaris, go sit your asses down somewhere and stop begging like me and your daddy don’t give you money. I know one thing… that homework better be done.”

They retreated and ran back upstairs. Cicely Gladden was a small woman, and her bark was nothing compared to her bite. She didn’t play, and we all knew not to push our luck with her.

“Where’s Daddy?”

---