Chapter Twenty-Three

So that happened, I thought to myself. Lillian was waving goodbye to her friends who were now driving away and back to their homes. The house was cleaned up and I was ready to take my afternoon nap. It was Saturday and almost three in the afternoon. I said yesterday I'd take Lillian to my house and let her get the black experience. Today I felt stupid for letting myself be so irresponsible yesterday. First, by letting Lillian have boys over and then not telling her parents but that went hand in hand with the first thing. Most importantly, by letting Lillian kiss me but she did practically hold me down but God did I enjoy it.

I shouldn't have enjoyed it. Curse these racing, raging hormones. Lillian was waiting patiently by my car and I turned to lock the door. This was a bad idea. Such a bad idea. I unlocked my car doors and got into the driver's seat. "Buckle up." I commanded to which Lillian happily obliged.

"I am so excited. What's your family like? Is everyone black? I can't believe you're the youngest. Tell me more! Please! Please! I feel like I know nothing about you." Lillian ranted as I pulled onto the road.

"Well, my sister is a year older than me and more girly. She is irresponsible and annoying. She's always in trouble and can't keep a job to save her life. She's also loyal and fearless. She cares and she loves hard. My two older brothers are complete opposites and they have different dads. Me and Talia, my sister, have the same dad. So same mom for all of us and three baby daddies. Mama was a hoe." I replied. I took a slight left pulling onto the busy highway.

"Damn!"

"Trick is like Talia. He's reckless and he thinks he's so hard and he might be in a gang. He likes guns and tries too hard to be a basic black man. I think it's because he grew up without a dad. He held onto his money and rarely helped out with our grandma."

"Past tense does that mean-"

"Yeah, she's gone."  I mumbled. "Trick is funny and passionate. He doesn't involve himself in anybody business more than he has to. Then there's Bryant who has a temper and he's just as selfish with money. He stayed with our grandma and rarely helped out. He would use her car and not help with the car insurance. He's a great dad and cook. We both like anime and we're really close growing up. You followed? Any questions?"

"Yeah. Do you hate them for not helping out with your grandma? It sounds like you forgive them but-"

"My grandma died in August. It's now February and I'm not as mad anymore. She worked so hard to help everyone but it sometimes felt like I was the only one there for her. I resented her for not asking for help more from them and I shouldn't have wasted so much energy on things I couldn't change. The past is the past and I moved on." I'm trying to anyway, I thought to myself.

"Wow, I'm really sorry about your grandma. We're y'all close?"

"Yeah, a little bit. Mind changing the subject?" I asked as I turned my left signal on.

"Sure what's your parents like?"

"Dad is cool. He lives in New York though. My mom is a horny, lazy and immature woman. She's also a great cook and taught me what not to do growing up. Now let's move on from talking about my family."

"Okay, how'd you get into babysitting?"

Geez, what's with this kid and tough topics. "We're almost there. Now I don't live anywhere fancy like you. I didn't grow up with married parents and money. I went to public school and ate Great Value brand food. So just keep your expectations low. That's a part of black culture. We take kool-aid packets and make kool-aid."

"I understand." Lillian said looking out the window. We drove by a man making barbecue in the Quiktrip parking lot.

"My mom loves his ribs." I said. Lillian smiled at that. We passed by a small and underfunded public school. "That's where I went to elementary school. I met some of the best teachers in the world there. They taught with passion and gave everything. The principal would help my family personally and give us turkey and sides during the holidays."

"Wow, that's so nice. She sounds amazing." Lillian said with awe.

"She was. She was beautiful, dark-skinned and the best principal ever." I drove by Aldi, Wal-Mart and Kroger. We were close to my neighborhood.

"Mi'a?"

"Yes?"

"What's Great Value food?"

"Hahahaha!" I laughed the rest of the way home and then told my sister to explain to Lillian what Great Value food was.

Talia and I laughed as she explained to Lillian what it was. I then showed Lillian around and a few pictures of my family. It was just Talia and Amarah at the house. Talia was cooking dinner and babysitting for Bryant. Amarah was doing Lillian's hair in the living room with bands and beads. "Your hair is like Belle's." Amarah said in awe referencing The Beauty and the Beast.

"Thanks cutie. I wish it was different." Lillian said, "I love your braids."

Talia looked up from frying her chicken, "I can braid your hair. I need more practice."

The green beans sizzle in the frying pan. My stomach grumbled in response. "More practice?" Lillian said hesitating.