Page 51 of My Brother's Keeper
He looked at me, then at her.You sure you’re going to be ok?
I squatted down.I promise I will take care of her. I got you.
He gave me a slow nod and headed inside. Alyse fumbled with her hands. “Colby kissed me,” she blurted out.
My head flew back.Who the fuck is Colby? You letting niggas put their mouth on you, Alyse.
She glanced around. “He’s white. The point is I was showing him around TSU because he wanted to see the difference between Hillsdale and TSU and—”
Spare the minor details, Alyse. What the fuck happened? See, right now, you’re not getting Jalen. You're getting Peanut, and if you keep dragging this shit, you’re going to get a fuckin menace. Now, tell me what happened.
“He started making these Black jokes, and I tried to walk away, but he pulled me back and kissed me. I didn’t want it to happen, but he did it, and your brother saw. They started to fight, and Colby,” she paused. “He is the reason your brother is hurt.”
So your little friend tried to ruin my brother’s career. You know him? You know where he lives?
Xavier came outside, “You told him, didn’t you?” he snarled at her.
I pushed his shoulder.Don’t do that shit. Did you see him kiss her?
“Yeah, nigga I did and the Muhfucka,” he paused. “Tried to end me.”
Alyse stepped in front of me. “Do you believe me?”
I knew she wasn’t lying, or at least that’s what my heart told me. However, that Colby bitch was done not only for trying to take advantage of Alyse, but also for the shit that he did to my brother. Zay couldn’t get in motion, but I could.
MALI
I stood on the lawn, glancing at the boarded-up house. For years, I thought this would be my family's forever home and that it would be passed down to me while my brothers were in college. I would have a wife, a good job, and kids running around. Shit, I was having the kid, but no wife. I had the home, but no real job, and only one of my brothers was in college.
I knew it was going to hurt her when I told her, but her finding out another way is what hurt the most, and a nigga couldn’t take it back. I held the whiskey bottle in my hand and stared at it. I slowly cracked the top, and the screams coming from the bottle called out to me. The smell of its age wafted across my nose. At this point, I didn’t know what I was fighting for. I couldn’t see past tomorrow, and with the flick of my wrist, I knew I would be back where I started. I held the bottle up as I inhaled deeply. “God, I don’t know what you're trying to tell me, but I want to obey. I want to,” I paused as I glanced at the bottle. “I choose a forever—”
“Nigga don’t do it!” I heard Monfua’s voice as I poured the whiskey onto the lawn.
He closed his eyes and then opened them, “Thank God.”
Beans stepped up. “That’s a nigga with a heart.”
I shrugged. “I guess. It’s hard as hell, man,” I broke down. “Wh-what am I supposed to do? I have a baby on the way, and she hates a nigga.”
“Yeah, I thought I heard her say that. Congratulations, my nigga,” Monfua said to me.
That shit hurt even more. I wanted my child to be able to be proud of their father, to hear great stories, but the only onesI have to tell are about my liquid lover. “Chin up nigga. The damage is done. You move forward because you can no longer think about yourself. It’s a baby involved now, so anything you do is for that little one.”
I nodded my head. “I need to talk to Chev. I want to step away from the Zoo.”
Monfua looked at me, confused. “What?”
“The truth is, I’m still healing. I will still be around, but I am not a servant of the Zoo. This is about sobriety. I will work my way back up.”
I had honestly made up my mind when I had gone to AA. The Zoo was everything a nigga needed, but until I felt like I was truly ready, I needed to step away. I glanced at Beans. “That’s the Mison I know. Symph, she will come around, she’s just a little heartbroken.” He said to me.
I couldn’t lose my girl; she was going to be what I needed to keep a nigga’s head on straight. “Ayo, Beans, I need a favor.”
“No!”
I laughed. “You don’t even know what it is.”
“I don’t need to know. I granted you one already.”
