Page 21 of On Everything 2
"Five thousand dollars? That's how much my old bitch spent on lip gloss in a week. What the fuck is wrong with you, yo?"
"Nothing is wrong with me, Hov. I'm trying."
"Trying to be a bum. Nigga why ain't you making things easier for your mother? Some of us would kill for a mother like Aunt Tiny. Shit, I know I would, yet you just leech off her like a pussy."
"Look, Hov, I don't know what else to do, alright. You fired me from working for you, yet you put a word on the streets that no one is to do business with me. It's like the only option I have right now is McDonald's or some shit."
He sat down on the steps, rubbing his hands together as he looked down at the ground.
"Listen, when you're ready to man up and really be about your money, then get at me, but until then, go work at McDonald's, do whatever you need to do to put money and bread on the table for your family nigga."
"So, you saying there is a chance that I can work with you again?"
"Maybe. If you grow up and finally start being a man, then I'll work with that version of Tony. But never again with this leaching ass little boy in front of me."
Tony looked up at me with puppy dog ass eyes and then the front door to their brownstone opened up behind him.
"Hov. My favorite nephew. I didn't know you were out here, baby."
My aunt Tiny's voice could be heard before I could even see her face. She was the smallest lady I know, hence the name Tiny. But her voice was high-pitched so she was loud as hell. Her Dominican accent was thick, and talking to her, you could quickly tell that English was her second language. Aunt Tiny has always been my favorite aunt, and that is why I try to look out for her dumb ass son the way I do.
Aunt Tiny wrapped her arms around my waist, and I kissed her on top of her head. She always talks about how she used to carry me around on her hip, and now she's a third of my size.
"How are you doing, Aunty?"
"I'm fine, my baby. Had I known you were stopping by, I would have made some Quipe."
She spoke of one of my favorite dishes. She had to make it for me since my mama's been locked up because it was only out of her kitchen that Quipe ever tasted right to me.
"I didn't know I would be stopping by either. I saw your son and decided to come through and try to talk some sense into him."
"And I thank you so much for that. God knows that someone needs to."
She pushed him upside his head.
"But tell me why I was just in there on the phone with Kassandra, my homegirl who works at the salon with me, and she said that Councilman Davis didn't show up to the city council meeting that was going to discuss redoing the sidewalk on 5th and Lester. Have you heard from him? A lot of people are disappointed because they went up there with signs and shirts."
"Nah, I haven't heard from him since the tournament. I'm not sure if Cashmier has, but I'll ask her."
"Okay. I also wanted to let you know that I have a video call scheduled with your mama for next Tuesday at 3:30 pm. You should come over and speak with her. She talks all the time about how she misses you. She should be getting a release date within the next couple of months. You two really need to reconcile before then. It's been almost 20 years."
"Yeah, I know, but I will have if I have the time to talk, Aunty. I'm a busy man, you know."
"Oh, I know. My money getting nephew."
Her eyes looked past my shoulder towards my car.
"Oh, is that my boy Crew? With his cute self. Hey baby!"
I looked back over my head and saw Crew standing outside the car, waving back at my aunt.
"What's up, Ms. Tiny! How are you doing, beautiful?"
"I'm good, baby! Why didn't you come over here and speak?"
"I didn't know you were in there. Did you cook?"
"Not today, baby. I told your friend he should have let me know when you were coming, and I could have had something done! Especially for your cute ass." She said that last part under her breath.
