Page 40 of Until the Ink Dries

My mother laughed. “Willard, please!”

“What happened?” I asked, taking a seat at the table.

“So, back when your father was in the motorcycle club, we used to go to FreakNik every year. You know what time it was. Short skirts, vulgar dancing… you know your mama could get down with the best of them,” she added with a giggle. “I was a bad mamma jama.”

I shook my head. “Oh my gosh, Mama.”

My father laughed. “She was. Still is.” He winked at her, making her blush.

“Anyway,” she continued. “One year, it was super hot outside, so naturally, I wanted to wear something cool. I had this cute little tennis skirt, and you couldn’t tell me nothing. I got on the back of that bike and we started riding. That wind had the skirt flapping and all my goods were out. We pulled up to this stoplight and a man in the car next to us whistled at me?—”

“Long story short,” my father said. “He didn’t whistle at anything else that day. I knocked out four of his teeth.”

“Daddy!” I exclaimed.

He shrugged. “Just make sure that Benjamin character doesn’t let anybody disrespect you. I don’t wanna have to see that young man.”

“Daddy, Benny isn’t my man?—”

“But, he’s a friend.” He reached out and cupped my chin. “Any man that doesn’t respect you as your friend doesn’t deserve to be anything more. You hear me?”

“Yes, sir.”

He smiled and kissed my cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

He went back to reading his paper. I sat there for a moment, munching on my bagel before speaking again.

“Sooo… I’m thinking about extending my stay.”

My mother smiled. “I’m all for having you around a little longer. I mean… I’d be happier if you moved back. Now, I won’t beg, but you know you can always come home.”

“I know, Ma.”

The thoughthadcrossed my mind a time or two over the last couple of months. I knew I could stay here or with Shirah until I locked in on my own place. I’d built a life back in the city, but this… this was home. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to move back.

* * *

The block party was in full effect by the time me and Shirah made it to Thorn Parkway, aka The Parks. Several grills were going, and there was a DJ and a dance floor. Three bouncy houses were set up for the kids as well as face painting, snow cones, and ice cream stands. I saw a few people dressed up as popular kids TV characters, having dance battles with some of the kids. Some of the local shop owners set up booths offering hair cuts, braids, or a few other services.

There was a lot happening, but everyone seemed to be having a good time.

“Oooo, the niggas is out!” Shirah said, looking over her sunglasses.

“Girl, didn’t you just have Jordan at your place last week?”

“I did, but Jordan isn’t my man. I’m single and I can look. So can you. I mean, that’s unless you and Benny are trying to?—”

“Let me stop you there. Me and Benjamin are just friends.”

“Maybe, but Benny doesn’t let just anybody around his baby.”

I rolled my eyes. Since I told her about our impromptu meeting in the square, she was convinced that there was more going on between us than there was.

“That was a coincidence, Shirah.”

“He could have sat anywhere, but he sat with you. He let his baby girl fall asleep in your arms. Jordan said she told that man’s mama that you were his girlfriend.”

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