Page 21 of Love & Streetball

“With Vani?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Mama was in an old graphic shirt with more holes than I can count. If she didn’t have a bra on, her nipple would be poking out of one. She paired it with black tights with bleach stains. This was her cleaning the damn apartment from wall-to-wall fit.

“No. Kane.”

“The boy who bought you that new basketball? Yeah, Ernestine mentioned it to me the other day. Why he buying you gifts, Scottie?”

I snickered because Mama thought she got some tea from Ernestine and got piss.

“Kane was one of the guys I was playing ball with and ended up at the county with me, remember? I lost my ball that night, and just like basketball is important to me, it’s the same with him, so he understood how I felt when I lost my ball,” I said in one breath. “It’s nothing how you’re thinking.”

“Where is he from again?”

I rolled my eyes. “Heart Heights.”

“Heart— What is he doing over here in Love Heights?”

Mama’s jaw was hanging, and I could tell she was genuinely concerned for Kane’s life.

“Are you sure he wasn’t here to buy drugs, or looking for something he has no business looking for, because why would he come to Love Heights to play ball?” she pressed on, and all I wanted to do was get out of these clothes.

I cackled. “I’m sure, Mom. He’s a good guy.”

Her face changed, and I couldn’t explain it.

“What!” I squealed out in a high-pitched voice that even surprised me. “No! Nothing like that!”

“Okay, calm down,” she giggled, holding her chest. “Thought we were about to have girl talk for a moment. Whew, shit. I don’t know if I’m ready for that talk.”

I held a hand out. “Please, you don’t have to.”

Mama dramatically wiped her forehead and released a slow breath. “Ok, cool. Yes, you can go out for a while, but I want this Kane guy to come inside so I can meet him.

I gave her a Really, Mom? look.

“Is that even necessary?” I groaned.

“Yeah, it is, Scottie. I need to know who you’ll be hanging with because if I have to come get you from jail again, I’m mopping the floor with your ass, and then they’ll be putting me behind bars. I’ll ask them to keep me for a few days to calm down.”

We laughed in unison, but Mama was serious. It took her several days to get over picking me up that night.

“I’m about to shower and then tell Kane to come over,” I called out over my shoulder.

“Mhmm, I’m ready to meet this Kane who dropped my baby off a damn basketball,” I heard her say before I shut my room door behind me.

After my quick shower, I was standing in front of my full-length mirror, giving myself a final once-over. My hair was slicked into a high, makeshift bun. I never wore it like this. It made me look too girly. I’d traded my sweaty gym clothes for a pair of fitted black joggers and a Kobe graphic shirt. I sat down on my bed to put on white socks, and then I slid my feet into my Walmart slides.

My phone chimed on my dresser.

Unknown: I’m outside.

I left my room and walked down the hallway to the front. Mama was sitting on the couch now. She was no longer in her holey shirt and bleached tights. She’d changed into a Heartville Hawks t-shirt and grey sweats.

“He here?” she quizzed, eyes stretching. It was actually humorous.

“Yes,” I answered. “Don’t embarrass me.”

Mama placed a hand on her chest and reared her head back. “Me? Embarrass you?” she squealed, then waved a dismissive hand. “Girl, go get that boy. He drove over here?” She jumped up and looked out the blind. “Ohhh, Ernestine wasn’t lying at all. When she told me he came over here in a Maybach, I thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. He ain’t scared to be over here in that type of luxury? He must haven’t have crossed paths with Bolo and them.”