Crazy In Love With A Thug: Bari and Seven Page 7

  "I know, Mama. And sorry, Bari. You do what you think is best for you," he said.

  "I will, Uncle Meestake. But I do hope you'll come see me for the two weeks that I know we'll be here. If I decide to stay, then I can see you all the time."

  He looked confused.

  "Who is we?" he asked.

  "Uncle Meestake, this is Seven. Seven, Uncle Meestake."

  "Who the hell is this?" Uncle Meestake asked. "He look like he a grown ass man." I was so embarrassed. "You know Bari only sixteen?" Seven nodded. "Well, what the hell are you doing, man?”

  "Damn you, Meestake, and that's just what the hell you are! Ain't nobody got to be answering to you!" Big Mama raved. "And Seven, don't you answer a damn thing this fool got to say! He ain't no detective! Didn't even finish school!"

  "This is just my friend, Uncle Meestake," I tried to explain.

  "This is my damn house!" Big Mama yelled. "And if Bari wanna bring her man here to stay for two weeks, then damn it, she can! He a damn stranger, and he showing more concern for PawPaw than any of you damn heathens! I ought'a put all your asses out my house! Rude son-of-abit…”

  "Big Mama!" I interrupted. "Please, it's okay." I don't know why she threatened to put everybody else out. They hadn't even said anything. "Just calm down."

  "Seven is my damn guest in my damn house," she mumbled.

  "I know, Big Mama." I said. "And you can have in your house whoever you want to have, and it ain't nobody's business."

  I looked around at everyone for them to catch on. I had to calm her down. Niecy caught my eye. I winked at her.

  "Yeah, Big Mama. Somebody always got something to say about somebody else's business," Niecy chimed in.

  Uncle Meestake glared at her. She winked at him.

  "Yeah, they do," Big Mama agreed.

  "I'm sorry, Mama," Uncle Meestake said. "And it's very nice to meet you, Seven."

  Big Mama smiled in my direction.

  "I've heard a lot about you," Seven said. "I feel like I've known you a long time."

  Uncle Meestake was all teeth as he smiled at me.

  "So Seven, how old are you?" Niecy asked.

  "I'm twenty-two."

  "Oh, and how long have you and Bari been, um ...friends?"

  "Now, here the fuck you go," Big Mama said. I was starting to think that maybe Big Mama had taken a couple of sips of the beer that Paw-Paw kept in the refrigerator. "If one of you mutha fuckas ask this boy one more question I'ma throw these hot greens on yo' ass. Try me."

  "Big Mama, do you want to lay down for a while?” I asked.

  She looked at me lovingly.

  "I am a little tired, Bari. You're the only one in this Adam's Family that act like they got some damn sense. I can't stand the rest of y’all asses. Oh, and you, too, Seven. I really like you. You's a good man."

  "Big Mama," I began, as I led her by the elbow to her room. "Did the doctor give you something for your nerves?"

  "Yeah, baby, some Valium. And I had a couple of beers to toast to your Paw-Paw passing. That's all. Big Mama just tired. You gon' watch my house? I don't want these bastards tearing up my house."

  ''I'll watch the house, Big Mama, just get some rest," I said. "I'll clean up everything for you."

  "You're such a good girl, Bari. I really wish you would think about ..." she was snoring before she finished the sentence; drunk and high.

  Big Mama probably had tolerance so low she could get high off a Tylenol. I smiled at my joke as I pulled the comforter up around her neck.

  Chapter 17

  "Your uncle is pretty cool. I like him," Seven said, coming out onto the big porch where I sat curled up in Paw-Paw's favorite chair.

  "Sorry he gave you such a hard time. Everybody is just really on edge."

  "I'd be the same way if my father was being buried tomorrow. That's got to be hard."

  "What are you doing out here anyway?" I asked. "Are they driving you crazy in there?"

  "No. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. And besides, your sister is like on my dick big time." I looked at him. "S'cuse me," he said quickly. "I mean, on my ...my ...should I say penis?” He whispered. "That's cold. You just gon' laugh in a brother's face like that?”

  "So, now that you've met the whole clan, are you ready to jump on the first available flight?"

  “It ain't as bad as you think it is. They all love you. That's for sure."

  "Big Mama does, and I know Uncle Meestake does. I can't speak for Niecy or Mama."

  "I think your mother reacted the way any mother would if she heard her daughter was living with a man. Don't you?"

  "I guess. I don't really care what she thinks."

  "Hey Bari, what's going on?" Niecy asked, coming out on the porch and standing next to Seven.

  "Nothing, Niecy," I smiled. "What's up with you?"

  "I've missed you so much, Bari," she lied.

  "Why didn't you come to Daddy's funeral?" I asked.

  "Mama was sick." She was lying.

  "Where's her husband?"

  "She ain't with him no more. It's just me and her."

  "You still live with Mama?" I asked. She nodded. "How is she?"

  "She's fine," she said quickly. I knew she was lying. "She really is."

  "Niecy, Macy and I really missed you when you left. Daddy did, too."

  "I'm going in, Bari. I'll see you when you come in," Seven said.

  "I missed y’all, too, but Mama needed me. She was on drugs, Bari," she whispered. I stared at her in disbelief. "It's the truth. Her husband didn't even know. That's why he left her, but hell, he was an alcoholic. It was a mess," she said with tears in her eyes. "I hated it, Bari. It was just like you and Macy said it would be. I was working two jobs when I was sixteen years old. I didn't finish school. Bari, Mama didn't tell me that Macy and Daddy both died. A girl I work with is from L.A., and she reads the L.A. Times every day. She was reading the paper on her break and commented on how messed up it was that this man and his daughter had been killed in a car accident. She was getting ready to throw the paper away, and I told her I wanted to see the want ads first. It was there on the second page. I went home and told Mama, but she already knew. Big Mama had called her and told her."

  "Big Mama told me that she didn't know where Mama was all those years."

  "She really didn't at first. Then Uncle Meestake saw Mama, and they talked. She gave him her phone number, and he gave it to Big Mama when Daddy and Macy died. Mama and I just started back talking. I was so mad at her."

  "Why didn't you ever call us?"

  "I did. I called a few times, but some lady named Trish, that I later found out was Daddy's new wife, told me you didn't want to talk to me," she said sadly.

  I moved to the top step of the porch and motioned for Niecy to follow suit.

  "Niecy, there was never a time when I didn't want to talk to you. I missed you so much when you left. I waited every day for you to call, or to write, something, and it seemed like you forgot about us. Trish is evil."

  "I know she is. I had to check the bitch a couple of times."

  "I went through hell with her. She's angry about Daddy's money."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Daddy left me all his money, Niecy, and she's mad about it."

  "That's messed up, Bari. He was your father. What did she expect?"

  "I don't know."

  "So how long have you been living with Seven?" She asked.

  "One day."

  "Huh?"

  I nodded.

  "It's a long, long story, Niecy. He's the only person that's even tried to help me, really.

  Everybody else has motives. I don't trust anyone."

  "Well, you must trust him. You brought him to meet Big Mama."

  "He wouldn't take no for an answer," I laughed. "Big Mama invited him, and after that, he didn't care if I didn't want him here or not."

  "Put this on, Bari," Seven said.

  He came out, handed me his big light blue hooded l
eather jacket and went back inside.

  "Bitch! I mean, girl, that's Gucci!" Niecy exclaimed.

  "So."

  "What do you mean 'so’?"

  "I don't care about that, Niecy."

  "You are straight trippin', Bari."

  "Clothes are clothes." I said.

  "He likes you a lot."

  "No, he doesn’t," I said defensively. "He feels sorry for me."

  "Whatever," she responded, with a wave of her hand. "Hey. I'm sorry for not being there all these years."

  "It's okay. We can start over right now," I said, giving her a hug.

  "He is so damn fine, Bari."

  "I guess."

  "Guess? Girl, he is so sexy. And that hair is the bomb. I want to run my fingers through it."

  "Go ahead," I said.

  "You're serious?" I nodded. "I guess you really are just friends, huh?"

  "I told you."

  I sat looking at Niecy for a long time. She was beautiful. Her once black hair was dyed platinum blond and cut into a short, jazzy style. Gold chains hung from her neck and wrist. Each finger was assigned a ring. She wore thick gold hoop earrings in her ears, three on each side.

  "What's wrong?" She asked.

  "Nothing. You grew up so pretty, Niecy."

  "You too, Bari. You make me wish I was the dark one." I couldn't believe she said that. "I think I'm jealous, and speaking of dark, I am so sorry for when we were kids. That was so fucked up of me and Macy, and Mama, too. But the way I see it now, we only did what Mama allowed us to. Do you understand?"

  "I understand, Niecy. Forget about it. I have," I lied.

  Chapter 18

  "Good morning, baby. I didn't know you were up. I was just making you some breakfast. How does biscuits, eggs, ham and potatoes sound?"

  "It sounds good, Mama," I said skeptically. "Where's Big Mama?"

  "She had some errands to run, and she wanted to get them out of the way. Your friend went with her."

  My heart started to beat faster. I was starting to panic.

  "When will they be back?"

  "I don't know. What's wrong with you, Bari?"

  "Nothing," I snapped.

  I didn't want to be alone with her. Old familiar fear of her started to return to me.

  "Well, good then, baby, 'cause Mama want you to eat. You look so thin."

  "Mama, I'm not hungry," I said, looking out the window and hoping to see Big Mama's car pulling into the driveway.

  Niecy came out and sat at the table.

  "Hey, Bari. Mama, I'm hungry."

  "You're old enough to cook, too," Mama snapped. I looked up at her. "I'm just kiddin' you, Niecy. You know that." But the look on Niecy's face told me that she knew no such thing. "Bari, why do you keep watching that window?" Mama asked, setting a huge plate in front of me and taking a seat.

  "I don't know. It's just pretty out there," I lied.

  "I'm sorry about your daddy, Bari," she said.

  "So am I," I responded.

  "And your sister, too. I know you loved Macy." I nodded. "But you'll be alright. I'm gon' take real good care of you. We'll get along real good. I got a nice apartment a few blocks from where we used to live. We'll get you in school, and ..."

  "I'm not staying with you. If I stay here, it'll be with Big Mama."

  "Or you think you'll go back to California and keep living with this boy? You can forget that right now. You comin' home with me and your sister where you belong."

  "I belong where ever I want to be, not where you tell me to go. I'm not going with you," I argued, my voice about to give way to tears. "I mean it."

  "Maybe I need to call the police then and let them know that some man is keeping my sixteen year old daughter at his house against my wishes." I couldn't believe this. "I've been struggling all my life, and yo’ sorry ass daddy didn't leave me a dime. And do you give a damn? No, you don't. You out there in California, living like a damn queen or something while me and your sister practically starve. I bet you're ready to take care of that boy though. Some fool you done known twenty-four hours, and you ready to put him before your own family. Can't even eat for watching that damn window. Act like you on crack or something."

  "You'd know," I said sarcastically.

  She looked as if I'd slapped her, then gained her composure. Niecy looked everywhere but at her mother, who looked at her knowingly.

  "Can't wait 'til he get back, can you?" I wasn't listening. I was glaring at Niecy. I should have known better than to trust her. "Well, guess what, ink spot?" I visibly winced at the insult. "Either you gon' bring your black ass home with me, or your boyfriend will be locked up tight before the sun go down. Which one is it gon' be?"

  "I'm not going anywhere with you," I said, tears running down my face.

  Niecy sat menacingly across from me at the table, staring at me like she dared me to defy her mother.

  "Fine."

  I watched her get up and walk to the phone.

  "Why are you doing this to me? You don't want me there, you want the money!"

  "Damn right I want the money. We living in a one bedroom apartment like some damn roaches in a trap, and you sitting on all that damn money."

  "My daddy left me that money. It's mine."

  "He was my husband."

  "He wasn't your husband! He hated you! And he didn't leave it to you, he left it to me, and I'll be damned if I spend the rest of my life taking care of your worthless ass the way Niecy does! I want my own life! Your grown ass laying up, living off your daughter, you ought to be ashamed to even call yourself a mother! Well, guess what? You aren't mine. You can call the police, the DEA, the CIA and the FBI! Call who the hell you want to call! I don't give a fuck! Just don't call me, bitch!"

  Niecy was standing on the other side of the table when I looked up and found myself merely a few millimeters from my mother's face.

  "You ungrateful black bitch!" Mama hollered.

  "Is that better or worse than being a crackhead?" I asked.

  She slapped me hard across my face, and before I knew it, I had slapped her back.

  "I wish your black ass would just die,” she said. "You're worthless. Nobody gives a fuck about you. Nobody in their right mind would waste their time trying to love you. And I said it then, and I'll say it now ..."

  "Mama, don't," Niecy interrupted.

  "That should have been your black ass..."

  "Mama!"

  I glanced up and saw Big Mama and Seven in the doorway, but Mama, who had her back to them, didn't have any idea that they had returned. Neither of them spoke, and Big Mama's look told me to stay quiet. A few family members had come downstairs to see what all the commotion was. Mama was too busy talking to notice anyone but herself.

  "In that car with your dumb ass daddy ..."

  "Please, Mama!" Niecy cried.

  "Instead of Macy!"

  I was shocked, stunned and felt like a ton of bricks had landed on top of my head.

  A bag of groceries fell from Big Mama's arms onto the floor. Mama's head jerked around, her eyes as big as saucers when they settled on Big Mama. A sweet potato the color of fire rolled under the table. A can of PET milk bumped against my foot and came to a stop. Seven set the bags he held on the table then looked to me for an explanation. I promptly burst into tears and ran into Big Mama's arms.

  "Boudine, I knew you hadn't changed," Big Mama said. "You're still just as evil and mean as always. That's why you will never, ever, know what it feels like to be blessed. Nothing but bad luck and curses has come your way since the day you were born. And you gon' leave the face of this earth the same way you came in, as a thorn in somebody's side.”

  And Niecy, you just like her. Y’all feed off other people's pain and sorrow, like some damn piranhas. You gon' be the same miserable bitch that ya mammy is. This is the day that I'm burying my husband. I'm supposed to be rejoicing, not chasing demons out of my house." Mama and Niecy stood there looking at Big Mama, not saying a word. "I said I want the
demons out of my house. Now go. Get the hell out. And I don't care if you living in a tuna can on the back streets of Timbuktu, you bet' not dial my number."

  "When I go, she's going, too," Mama said.

  "She ain't goin' no fuckin' where with you, Boudine!" Big Mama screamed loudly.

  "What's goin' on in here, y’all" Uncle Meestake asked, entering the kitchen. "What's wrong, Mama? You alright? You look upset." Her eyes were bulging, and she was breathing too fast. "Mama?” She grabbed at her chest, then grabbed onto me for support. "Mama!" Uncle Meestake screamed. "Call an ambulance!"

  Big Mama's face had twisted into a mask or sheer agony.

  "Help me," Big Mama moaned. "Somebody, please help me."

  "Hold on, Mama, just hold on."

  "Bari." She was holding my hand tightly as Seven and Uncle Meestake laid her on the floor. Seven rolled up his coat and put it under her head. "Bari," she whispered.

  "Yes, Big Mama. I'm here."

  "Bari, I love you like you is my own child. Always have. But I think I'm going with your Paw-Paw, baby."

  "Don't say that, Big Mama," I cried. "It's gonna be okay. An ambulance is on the way, just hold on."

  "Bari, listen to Big Mama, Baby."

  "You shouldn't try to speak, Big Mama. You're having a heart attack."

  "It don't hurt, Bari. I don't feel no more pain. Now listen, remember when your Paw-Paw wanted to talk to you before he died?" I nodded. "He wanted to tell you that ..."

  She stared up at me, unblinking, took her last breath and went to meet Paw-Paw, who was waiting for her.

  "Big Mama!"

  "Mama!" Uncle Meestake screamed. "Mama!" He pushed me to the side and grabbed her up in his arms, tears rolling down his cheeks as he rocked her back and forth, all the while kissing her round cheeks. "Oh, Mama. You knew you was goin' today. Why didn't you tell me, Mama?" He cried. “I would have understood. I love you, Mama. Tell Daddy I love him, too."

  The EMT'S came in the door, led by Seven, who ran outside to make sure they didn't pass up the house. They did everything they possibly could for Big Mama, but there was no bringing her back. They loaded her up on a stretcher and took her away. I put my arms around Uncle Meestake and held him while he cried. Suddenly, he looked up.

  "Get out of here!" Uncle Meestake screamed. "Get out! Y’all did this!" I looked up and realized that Mama and Niecy were still standing there. "I'll shoot y’all asses if you don't get the hell outta my mama's house!"