Page 11 of I'm So Mega
Mama held her finger up and focused on Ruth. “There is no such thing as catching a stray when it comes to a bullet coming for your significant others. What comes for them comes for you.” Her focus drifted back to me. “My husband can check you when it comes to me whenever he sees fit to, just like you check everyone about your wife. Now get your head out your ass, because you’re going to be a big fucking brother.”
Back To The Present. . .
That was exactly what I did. I got my head out of my ass and accepted the fact that my old ass mama and her older ass husband were having a child together. Samuel’s oldest daughter was thirty-two. Jayme was a cool chick who hung out with Ruth from time to time when her ass wasn’t in the streets. Jayme and I loved our little sister, and she had a bunch of killers that stood behind her.
“Megan, this is so beautiful. Come on so we can frame it before dinner.”
We walked the short steps to a closet that was close to the kitchen. I had a supply of frames in there that I used to frame her fifty-eleven pictures that she created for me. Once it was framed, we moved over to the display wall. Each of my children had their own wall. Pictures, certificates, and trophy filled shelves dressed each wall. Whenever I went through a rough time, this was where I came to remember my why. Megha also had representation on a wall.
We found a place on the wall to hang the picture. “Perfection,” she said, then kissed her fingers. At four, she had a bold personality which was true to the blood that flowed through her body. She went back to her seat at the table to start on another picture when we got back into the kitchen.
“Alright, everything is ready and on the table. We gonna head out,” Samuel said. “Megan, come on, baby.”
I shook my head. “Y’all don’t have to go. The more men here, the scarier it is for these nigglets. We gotta use your big, burly ass in another way outside of cooking.”
He burst into laughter. “I guess I can do that for you. Let me go change. Your mother packed a change of clothes anyway. Something tells me that we were staying whether either of us wanted.”
“Mega, are you going to stay in here all night? We are all sitting, ready to eat,” Ruth said when she came into the kitchen. She didn’t give me a chance to respond before she left out.
I paused for a moment to think about how I would discipline that pussy later. Her ass had been snippy lately. I knew she wasn’t pregnant because a year after we had the boys, I got a vasectomy. We made the decision not to have any more children after we saw how much of a handful our boys were. Those were her words, but mine were that they were bad as hell. She wanted to tie her tubes, but I didn’t want her to do anything to her bodythat she didn’t have to do. I checked every year to make sure we were good.
“Come on, Megan. Let me get you settled while your mama and daddy get changed.” She rushed over to grab my hand.
I set her in her booster seat at the table between my boys, her nephews. “Alright, let’s say grace so we can eat. Y’all pray, right?”
Ryne’s father’s eyes turned into slits. “Yeah, we can pray. That’s fine.”
I was about to say something out of the side of my neck until Ruth mumbledroseunder her breath. “Heavenly Father, we come to You thanking You for the food that was prepared and the hands that prepared them. We ask that tonight’s conversation be beneficial to all parties involved. I ask that You guide my words, so that they can guide theirs, and we can lessen the need for extra names on page fourteen of the newspaper. All these things we ask in Your name, Amen.”
Everyone followed with an Amen. Payton’s mother, Shanti, cleared her throat. “What’s on page fourteen of the newspaper?”
I stopped putting food on Megan’s plate to look at her. A sinister smile settled on my face. “The obituaries.”
Ruth dropped her head. Kellie’s and Maggie’s eyes bulged. It always baffled me when they acted surprised by my antics. I was the same Mega; however, I strived to be a man after God’s heart like my main man David. Ryne’s father, Ryne Sr., chuckled.
I understood a man that wanted a namesake, but Ryne? I didn’t want to listen, and I damn sure would judge. I guess he thought because it was spelled like a girl that he deserved a junior.
By the time all the plates were full, Samuel and my mama were seated. Samuel went with Italian tonight: stuffed shells, lasagna, sautéed green beans in garlic, Caesar salad, and Italian garlic bread. He matched the lasagna with a Sangiovese wine,and the Alfredo stuffed shells with a Sauvignon Blanc wine. Both came from the Basil Sands line that my mother and Ruth were obsessed with.
We ate silently for several minutes. Ned, Samuel, and I stared at Ryne and Payton like we had a problem. I appreciated that Samuel understood the assignment. I was sure he had practice with Jayme. Once I had my fill, I decided it was time to get this conversation started.
“Alright, so you boys want to take our girls to the dance. Why?” That was the question of the night.
Ryne and Payton glanced at each other. Ryne spoke up first. “Mr. Manfield, we’re all friends, and they’re pretty, so we decided to ask them. That’s really all it was.”
“So, you’re telling us that you don’t want them to be y’all girlfriends?” Ned asked. “You said our daughters were pretty. I actually want to correct you. They’re not pretty, they’re beautiful. So, yeah.”
Neither of them took that question. Ryne’s mother straightened her back in her seat. “Um, I think the invite was and is innocent. Your girls are very respectful as are our boys. There should be no issue.”
“Yeah, so this whole sit down for dinner with the parents is a lot and unnecessary. It’s just a school dance. Y’all acting like they proposed to them,” Ryne Sr. spoke out of turn.
Matthew shuffled in his seat.” Daddy, you want us to take Megan to the den to watch a movie? We can finish eating in there too.”
See, my sons knew when their daddy was about to be with all the shits, because who was this nigga talking to. I didn’t take my eyes off Ryne bitch ass Senior. “Yes, Son, do that. Matter of fact, I want all the kids to move to the den. We need to have an adult conversation.”
All Megan cared about was the fact that she was about to watch a movie with her favorite nephews. Ruth and my mama helped them get settled in the den. The entire time, I kept my focus on this nigga that in my mind, I killed and repented for the thought at least three times. Ruth asked if anyone wanted more wine before we got started.
“Ryne, we’re going to have a very candid conversation.” I looked to my side at my wife. “Baby, give me grace and understand as I will ask the same of Big G.” When she gave me her warm smile with a nod, I leaned over and kissed her cheek. This woman was everything.
