Page 45 of Don Caselli

They ain’t even know with the way I was wrapped around Navy, I was about to fuck around and give her my last name, make her a billionaire, and retire the whole fucking family.

“I got dranksssss!” Navy held up red cups and did a little dance.

“Auntie Shandra, you want?”

“Girl, stop playing with me!” she was the first to grab a cup, and passed out the rest to all of us.

I looked at the red slush in the cup, took a sip, and pulled the cup back. “Fuck.”

“Yeah, strong, eh?” her grandfather laughed. He reached down below him and pulled out a bottle of El Dorado rum. “Give me your cup, give you a little of this.”

I watched this man pour more into my already strong cup and hand it back. He then topped his cup and tossed it back. “And call me Skip. None of that Mr. Mess.”

“Got you, Skip.”

“Eh.” He held his fist, and I bumped it.

“Skip, don’t get that boy drunk!” an older woman called from the top of the steps, and Navy resembled her fully.

I mean Navy resembled her moms, but the woman who I assumed was her grandmother was the blueprint and then she said copy and made Navy and her mother. Her aunt Shandra looked like her brothers and father, and Greene did, too.

“This the truth-teller, Annie… will let us know if he can hang.” He chuckled and nudged me.

“Poppa, did you make enough food?” Navy asked.

“Yeah, enough in the house… go make him a plate.”

I smirked. “Appreciate it.”

Navy stood there with her arms crossed. “You know what… come inside so you can tell me what you want.”

I excused myself and took my cup. The drink was strong as shit, but good, too. My body felt hotter with every sip that I took. “How are you, Mrs. Abrams?”

“Wow, so handsome and well mannered. Nice to meet you, Landon.” I assumed her mother had already told her mother about me. “Call me Nana, or Annie.”

“Call me Shaundra… or Auntie.” Her aunt came and hugged me.

“Nice to see you again, Mrs. Perkins.”

“It’s good to see you again, Landon.” She gave me a hug, and I made my way inside the building.

Her grandmother lived on the first floor, so when I stepped through the door, it felt like home. I’ve never been anywhere that felt like home, and this place legit felt like it. The family pictures of everyone covered the walls and, the leather sofa with a nana blanket draped over the back with pictures of Greene and Navy.

I noticed her love for plants came from her grandmother because she had the same plant that Navy did. Except hers was wrapped over the kitchen counter and around the kitchen window.

“What you want to eat?”

“Anything… starving,” I guzzled the rest of my cup and sat it down. She tossed a towel over her shoulder and grabbed my cup to fill it up.

“Wanna take a shot?”

“Yeah.”

She poured us a shot into two small plastic shot glasses and handed one to me. Standing in front of me, she looked up. “You alright?”

“Feeling that drink.”

“I bet.”

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