Page 21 of All The Smoke
“You’re the only one that doesn’t want to accept the truth, son,” he said, having the nerve to look at me sympathetically.
“You got ya truth and I got mine, Bishop.” I shrugged.
“Only one of them stood up in the court of the law though, son.”
“We both know how fucked up the justice system is though, right Mr. Trafficking Cocaine in the Eighties?”
Since he was a few shades lighter than me, I saw his face heat from shame and guilt.
“I had that expunged and that was a misunderstanding.”
“Expunged or not, you caught that charge, my boy.”
He shot to his feet. “I don’t have to sit here and listen to this!”
“Then get the fuck out.” I tossed my head toward the direction of my front door. “I didn’t invite ya ass here anyway, nigga.”
If it were possible I would have seen smoke coming from his ears. Bishop was a prideful man and it really fucked with him to hear me talking shit and standing my ground.
“You have fallen so short, Solomon.” He shook his head.
“And you fell shorter,” I quipped. “You think ya sins are less than mine because you stand in front of a congregation of people feeding them all the bullshit you don’t even exercise yourself every Wednesday and Sunday?”
“I’m a man of God.”
“You full of shit,” I fired back. “You and your wife.”
“You have no respect for your father, the bishop.” He shook his head, clearly disappointed, but I didn’t give a fuck. I didn’t appreciate his ass coming in my shit poking his chest out and talking shit about my mothafuckin’ brother.
“The most ungodly man I know.” I chuckled. “I stopped respecting you the moment you stopped being a father to your son who is more godly than you’ll ever be.”
I could tell I had struck a nerve by the big ass vein protruding from his forehead and neck. I took satisfaction in that. He needed to know my nigga was still solid no matter what he was going through. That was what I most admired about him.
Tugging on his coat, his eyes cascaded down his lower body until they traveled to mine again. “Anyway, I came to let you know I’m entering the mayoral race.”
“And? What you telling me that shit for? I don’t even vote.”
“I’m telling you because I need you to cool it on your extracurricular activities, Solomon, and stop this with Noah,” he replied. “I don’t need this stuff coming up again, circulating town and affecting me and my image.”
I scoffed and shook my head. “That’s all you give a fuck about, man.” I didn’t know why I was disappointed. He and my mother always showed us what was important to them and that was each other and what other mothafuckas thought. “Go ahead and bounce.”
I got on my feet, ushering his ass to the door. I’d heard e-fucking-nough and was over the shit now. I’d rather watch asnail and turtle race or some shit than listen to or share space with him any longer.
“Solomon…”
I cut him off. “I’m gon’ keep hustling to take care of my son and brother, and I’m not ever switching up on him, Bishop. Either find a way to do your thing around that or cut me out ya life like you did Noah,” I continued and shrugged. “Either of those options work for me but if it counts for anything I’d prefer the latter.” I ended the conversation there, slamming and locking my door before going back to my living room to chill for the rest of the night.
6
Kaori.
“Where are you?” my best friend asked as soon as the call connected.
“I just got off,” I said as I slid into my car, tossing my bag into the passenger seat.
“Where are you about to go then?”
“Probably to Phat Fish to get the Friday special, then home,” I admitted. “I’m tired as hell.”
