Page 36 of Welcome to the Table
“I know you miss home, and I wish you could have come home on your own time, but this shit that’s going on is critical. The extra security is for after his departure,” she said, passing the blunt to me.
“But Wisdom gon’ be here, right? I asked.
“Yeah, but he has a life, too. He can’t watch us every day. Of course, I am not going to hold you hostage while you’re here. You were doing that enough in New York,” she told me, and my eyes bucked out of my head.
“Don’t look like that. When it comes to my fucking children, whether they are here or on Pluto, I got eyes everywhere. I had eyes on you since the day you left. Not your father’s security, I had my own. I knew you didn’t go anywhere but school and back to your apartment. That was borderline depression. I hate that you had to be forced to come home by Hollygrove.” She chuckled.
“But this needed to happen, so think about it as an extended vacation,” she told me, and I nodded my agreement with my silence.
We moved to the sofa that was on the left side of my room to continue smoking. I was about to see how much information I could get out of her. I sat on one side, and she sat across from me, taking her slippers off and propping her feet under her. I did the same because I knew she was about to spill some tea.
“What’s tea, Momma? Because I know it’s burning yo’ tongue and waiting to spill out,” I told her with a giggle. She grabbed my pink ashtray to flick the ashes before speaking.
“You gon’ have to lean forward because yo’ paw got cameras all over this bitch, and he ain’t sleep yet, so he gon’ hear us,” she said. “But, then again, I don’t give a fuck what he hears because this my shit. The cameras were his doing,” she said loud as fuck, and I laughed.
“After I came upstairs to do my lil crying and being mad spell,” she said, but I knew how she really felt. My mother had serious separation anxiety when it came to my father?he was all she’d ever known, at least as far as I could tell. I knew her heart strings were being pulled every which way but loose, but she had to take it to the chin and act accordingly.
“I was so upset that he didn’t tell me he was leaving beforehand. I didn’t know about any of this shit until he told everybody. I felt like he was keeping secrets, and you know how I feel about that shit.” She picked the blunt back up and smoked.
“He walked in, and I had my pink AR15 pointed at his ass, but he talked me into putting it down.” I felt my face warm. I never knew my parents to fuss, so this had to be serious.
“He pulled his on me and talked me into putting mine down, amongst other things.” She blushed, and I dropped my head bashfully.
“I know yo’ ass ain’t still a fucking virgin?”
I felt her eyes on me, but I refused to look up.
“I know they had a slew of niggas in New York who were at your feet, and you never gave in.” She was right, but I wouldn’t let her know that.
“Yes, I am still a virgin. My mind wasn’t on sex or niggas in New York,” I told her, and she shook her head.
“I know my children, so I know that much about you, and I’m proud of everything you have accomplished. I taught all y’all well,” she told me, and I smiled.
I lifted my head to look at her.
“She better stay a fucking virgin, and stop telling her our fucking business. She is a child and doesn’t need to hear what the fuck be going on in our bedroom!” My father’s loud ass voice came through the speaker.
I almost pissed on myself. My mother ignored him. She reached over on the table and placed her entire handprint on it. I looked at her, confused.
“I’m always ten steps ahead of your father. My handprint can stop his ass from hearing what we say, but he can still see us.”
I laughed because my mother hadn’t changed over the years.
“Now, let me tell you the other shit before he comes busting in this room, showing his entire ass.”
My eyes were trained on her because I wanted to know. I scooted closer to the edge of the sofa.
“There is a snake in your father’s operation that has to be found.” I looked at her, and she rolled her eyes.
“You really think it’s a snake or a setup? Are we in danger?” I leaned more toward the first part.
I just found it strange after all these years that someone would try anything. My father played a big part in different communities around the city. Food giveaways, back-to-school giveaways?amongst other things, to help the community, so I found that hard to believe. Everything was coming full circle. That’s why I was in the city.
“Baby, we are never in danger. Whoever is playing with this family better count their days,” she told me, and we both turned our heads at the door being kicked open.
I watched as my daddy walked into the room, looking like the Grim Reaper. I had never seen that look in his eyes before.Anger. Almost immortal. His walk spoke volumes. He was mad. He walked closer toward us, looking from me to my mom, and I was scared for us both. He stood in front of my mother.
“You muted the fucking system so I wouldn’t hear what the fuck you told my daughter?! Get the fuck up, Athena,” he tried to whisper, but I heard every word.
