Page 54 of Maceo

“Mama told me she had a lil’ date.”

“A date! Deja Giselle! What little nappy headed nigga is taking you to this dance?”

I didn’t care that we were in an expensive boutique surrounded by uppity ass people. I caught the stares of a few women who frowned at me.

“We got a problem?” I asked.

They quickly walked away. Smoke was on the other end of the phone cracking up.

“Deja, I know you heard me.”

She snatched back the curtain, glaring at me with her hands on her hips. My baby looked beautiful in this strapless peach-colored gown. I almost forgot she’d kept a secret from me.

“Maceo… I’m fifteen. I’m not a child anymore. Mommy and Daddy said?—”

“You ain’t a child, but you call them mommy and daddy.”

“It’s better than calling my daddy ‘nigga’.”

Smoke laughed. “She got you there, bruh.”

“Your relationship with Alec ain’t the same as my relationship with Pops.”

“You mean I respect my dad and you don’t?”

“I respect that ni—that man.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“You deflecting. Who’s taking you to the dance?”

“A friend.”

“Smoke, you better get your sister, man.”

He laughed. “Let me see her.”

A FaceTime call came through from him. I answered it and turned the camera so he could see her.

“Okay, okay!” he said. “Look at my lil’ Dey Dey. Pose for ’em, baby.”

She started grinning and striking poses while he hyped her up.

“Get ’em, Dej! Get ’em, Dej!” he sang as she danced along. “Stunt on them hos. You look beautiful, baby.”

She blushed. “Thank you.”

“Now go take that tight ass shit off.”

“Devin!” She stomped her feet and stormed back into the dressing room, swinging the curtain. “I can’t stand y’all.”

“All right, Penny Proud!”

My brother and I shared a laugh.

“You letting her get that?” he asked.

“I guess. She’s tried on fifteen different dresses.”

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