Page 121 of Don Caselli

“Feels nice, huh?”

“Never had that.Wenever had that before… Other than Skyler, Stevie didn’t come to Menace with family. They’ve made peace with it being just them and their son.”

“Yeah. I love that for you. A family that protects and loves you like we do. I know being the youngest you haven’t always felt the love.”

“Shit is life. None of you asked to be without parents… can’t be the main focus.”

She took hold of my face. “That doesn’t mean we couldn’t have been more present with you. You moved out on your own at nineteen, Don. That’s a baby and you had to figure out life on your own. Menace taught you some things, but everything you’ve had to learn was on your own.”

“Could say the same about you, too.”

She shrugged. “Well, yeah, we all can’t have everything that we want. If it’s meant for me to be in love and have that life, then I’ll wait for God to tell me.”

“Or Allah.”

She smirked. “Stop talking to Gerald.”

“Would you convert for him?” I questioned, curious on where her head was at. She was fighting hard, trying to convince herself that she and Gerald would never be together. Zoya was a woman that self-sabotaged shit when it was going good for her.

She couldn’t fathom that life was being kind to her, and she always had to fuck something up. I loved my sister, but she battled a lot of shit internally that I prayed she eventually spoke about.

“Probably. Gerald is a good man, so I know he would be a good boyfriend or husband. I’ve been big dawg for so long that I’m ready to retire. Have a man lead me… let me be soft. Never experienced that before.”

I could see she was tired, and this was something she desired so much. She wanted a man that would lead without her ever having to say a word. Goon was that nigga, and she just needed to let him in.

“Oh, I see you met Bando… he’s set to be put down next week. He’s such a good dog,” the volunteer at the shelter said, as she kneeled down and rubbed his nose through the cage. “Oh, you jealous one, Mink-Mink.” She reached over and started to pet Mink-Mink.

“What about Mink-Mink?”

She stood up and folded her arms, looking down the long corridor of dog kennels we had passed. “You’re standing in death row… all these dogs are going to be killed next week. I hate they even call it that, but facts are facts.”

“Why are they running around here killing dogs?” Zoya was horrified, as she looked down at Bando.

“Can’t afford to take care of them. We get little donations, and we don’t have the space to feed and keep the dogs.”

I looked down at my phone. “What is needed?”

“Let’s start with a bigger facility and more funding to feed them.” She reached to pet Bando.

“I’m taking Bando with me,” Zoya blurted.

“Really?” the volunteer went to hug her, and Zoya shot her a look that told her to back the hell away. “That’s amazing. There is no adoption fee for either of them… let me go tell the front.”

“Where’s the owner?”

“Jordan? She’s in her office… probably pleading with any or everybody to help us out. She literally sold her car to afford the next two month’s rent,” the volunteer continued to tell us her boss’s business.

I nodded down the hall. “Her office is this way?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Get my baby up out this cage while I’m talking to her,” I told her, and she was all too excited to give Mink-Mink her freedom.

I walked down the hallway to the small office at the end of the hall. On the other side of the door, I could hear someone venting and what I assumed was a hand slapping a desk. I knocked on the door and waited for them to answer.

“Hassan, I don’t want to fucking talk about my feelings… damn. I’m frustrated, and no I don’t want your help.” I could hear her hand slap a desk for the second time, as I knocked on the door. “Amber, I’m on a call right now.”

I opened the door, poking my head into the office the size of a janitor’s closet. I was looking at the space in the office and trying to figure out how she got behind the desk. “Good thing I’m not Amber.”

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