Page 76 of Don Caselli

Core shook his head and stood up. “I’m going to see my godson. Might need to save him from this house one day.”

I followed behind him while Stevie and Duke spoke about her taking him with her to the store. She didn’t need anything, she just wanted to people watch, and Duke was gonna make it happen for her.

“Daddy will kill anybody that complain about you crying. You cry until your lungs hurt, Dennis.” My brother was leaned over a bassinet with his back turned.

I half expected him to talk to the baby in baby talk, but his ass was talking like he was having a whole conversation with somebody. “What’s up, Mens?”

He didn’t rush to turn around. I could see him still messing with his son before he decided to turn around.

It was crazy seeing him without a fresh line up, and his facial hair was overgrown. The shirt he wore was stretched out around the neck, and he had a pair of sweats on. He looked just as tired as Stevie looked as he crossed the room and sat behind his desk.

Corleon had dipped into the half bathroom that was connected and washed his hands. He stopped by the desk where Menace sprayed his hands and then handed him another wipe to wash and disinfect his hands. Then he handed him a hospital smock to put over his clothes before he was able to touch the baby.

I was debating on if I wanted to even touch the baby with all this shit I had to go through to hold him. Corleon didn’t mind as he carefully picked him up, careful of his head and placed him on his chest.

“Hey Dennis… you putting your parents through it, huh?” He chuckled, as he looked over at Menace.

Mens had this sparkle in his eyes as he looked at his son. It was one that I had only saw once before, when I graduated from college. He wasn’t one full of emotions, but if you watched him close enough, you were able to see the small hints.

“Who is Dennis?”

“My fucking son. You don’t give a fuck about your nephew?” he asked, and I shook my head because all these fucking names had me confused.

Stevie was Wanda.

Menace was Mitchell.

Now I had to deal with Dennis. Who the fuck was Dennis, and why were they calling this baby that?

“I thought he was a junior.”

“He is.”

“Never mind… I don’t care.”

Corleon did this soft bounce thing while he held the baby. “I can’t wait to have another one.”

“Another one?”

He shot me a look. “You said he didn’t make my god daughter?”

“Aye, I’m not doing this with the both of you… not today. What the fuck is so important? I’m tired.”

“Not too tired to be out in Brooklyn with that girl,” Corleon busted me out, and I looked at the snitch.

“I’m grown.”

“Ecru’s cousin.”

“Her name is Navy.”

Menace messed with his hands as he looked at me. “I saw the way you looked at her when she was in the back.”

“She cool.”

“I think death is cool. Wonder… I think she’s spectacular.” He sniffed the air. “She down here?”

“What in the fuck?” Corleon blurted.

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