Page 48 of Hood Legacy

“Silver tooth gang member!” Krude called out as he came into the house. His daughter, Praise, was strapped to his chest, but she was alert and looking around like she knew some shit was about to go down. “You know that nigga trying to take your woman?”

“Krude!” Mercy and Nine yelled.

“Nah, tell the man the truth,” Krude said, waving them off. He slapped Mercy and me on the leg, acknowledged us, and then sat on the table and faced Deuce. “What did we talk about when it comes to your woman? Never let a man step to yours.” He put his hand on Deuce’s shoulder and shook his head. “Gang, August is taking your woman to the prom.”

“I know,” he said, then nodded. “We talked about it.”

“Who is we, son?” Nine asked Deuce. “You and Faylin?”

“No sir,” he answered as he turned to face his father. “I talked to August.”

“What did y’all talk about?” Nine asked.

“Don’t worry about it, Daddy,” Deuce said, shaking his head. “We have an understanding.”

“Deuce–”

“That’s what I’m talking about, Silver Tooth Gang Member!” Krude laughed and clapped his hands. His seven-month-old daughter mimicked his actions and laughed. “Put your foot down! This little shit doesn’t mean nothing cuz Faylin is yours.” He put his hand out, and Deuce dapped him up. “I like the energy.”

“Krude, you ain’t helping,” Nine sighed.

“And I’m not supposed to, nigga with gray eyes,” Krude said, shaking his head. Praise kicked her feet as she laughed at her daddy’s wild movements. “Deuce stepping up. Put some respect on that man’s name. He ain’t playing with August.”

The doorbell rang, and Mercy jumped from the couch to answer it.

“If he tries to get fresh with her, I got you for an alibi,” Krude said, tapping Deuce on the chest.

“He knows better,” Deuce said, shaking his head. He sat forward, resting his elbows on the top of his legs, and tinted his hands in front of his mouth. Every so often, he’d nod his head then smirk. He was plotting something.

I watched Cross sit up, tap the table to get her son’s attention, and signed something quickly. He shook his head, and she kissed her teeth. Her hands were moving so fast that I started to get dizzy. Deuce nodded, then turned and looked at his daddy, who only smirked.

“She said what she said,” Nine said with a low chuckle. “And we both know that whatever Cross Strong wants, she gets.”

“Yes, sir,” Deuce said, nodding. “Respect.” He stood, dapped his daddy up, walked over to kiss his mama, and then sat down on the steps.

“You’re creating a monster,” Nine told his wife once she put her hearing aids back in. Cross shrugged, then smiled. “You too pretty to be plotting with a six-year-old.”

“He’s my baby,” Cross said, standing. She came to sit beside him, but I noticed her eyes didn’t leave Deuce.

August walked into the living room with his brother, December, and his wife, Six. They greeted everyone in the house, and we chatted while we waited for Faylin to come downstairs.

“Alright, Legacy, you gonna have to get your best friend together,” Krude said, coming to sit next to me. He assisted with Praise standing on his lap. “She up there crying again.”

“Because she’s a crybaby,” I laughed, and Krude nodded. “But I have faith she’ll be fine once Faylin leaves.”

“She better,” he said, shaking his head.

When Faylin finally came downstairs, I realized why my friend had cried. She looked beautiful in a Princess Tiana inspired dress and hairstyle. August’s tux was the same green color, and his cut was fresh. They took a few pictures together before Faylin took some with her parents.

“Aye, Faylin, take a picture with Deuce,” Krude called out from the kitchen. He handed Praise to Cross, then walked over to Deuce, still sitting on the stairs. “My boy needs one for his memory book.”

“Okay,” Faylin said, nodding. She shared a look with Mercy before turning to Deuce. “You want to take a picture?”

“Yeah,” he said, nodding as he stood. He stood next to Faylin, ensuring he didn’t step on her dress. Mercy took a few pictures, and on the last one, he lifted his shirt to show his fake knife and flashed a smile.

“That’s what I’m talking about, Silver Tooth gang member!” Krude laughed. “Step hard at all times!”

I sat quietly in my seat, trying to hold my laughter in. I may not have been born into this family, but I loved that they had accepted me because no one else was like them.

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