Page 32 of 4 Corinthians

“No,” I answered her. “We were playing.”

“Now y'all liars, too,” Madea laughed and shook her head. “I can't believe this.” She rolled her eyes. “Cross, why were y’all about to fight?”

“Psalms has a bruise on her wrist,” Cross answered, looking at Madea. “I asked her how she got it, and she said she fell.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“It doesn’t look like a bruise you get from falling. I should know I fall all the time,” she pushed her round glasses up her nose. “Look at her wrist, Madea.”

“Psalms, let me see your wrist,” Madea requested. She put her hand out for Psalms to show her. Slowly, Psalms did what she asked, and Madea examined her wrist. Her face was devoid of emotion, but I could see the anger in her eyes.

“See!” Cross said, coming to stand next to Madea. “That’s not a bruise from falling.”

“Cross, go in the living room,” Madea said, still looking at Psalms wrist.

“But Madea-“

“Cross Joy DeCorte, take your ass in the living room!” Madea snapped. “Now!” Cross quickly left the room, making sure to close the door behind her. Once she was gone, Madea sat on the floor in front of Psalms and me. “Tell me what happened to your wrist, Psalms.”

“I grabbed her before she could fall,” I quickly said.

Madea sighed, then shook her head. “I want the truth,” she said, looking between the two of us. “You can tell me. I won't be mad at you.”

“That’s the truth,” I told her. “She was falling, and I grabbed her wrist to keep her from hitting the ground.”

“Corinthians-“

“It’s the truth, Madea,” Psalms spoke up. “I was falling, and Cori grabbed me.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, and we nodded. Her eyes went to the bruise and then back up to us. “There’s nothing else you need to tell me?”

“No ma’am,” I replied, even though it was the furthest thing from the truth. I wanted to tell her everything. I wanted her to save us because I couldn’t.

“Mary!” Granddaddy’s loud voice echoed through the house. Madea looked up at the door, then stood. Granddaddy rushed into the room, pushing the door so hard that it slammed against the wall. Psalms jumped and hid behind me. “Mary!” The door opened, and Granddaddy looked between the three of us. “Baby, we need to talk.”

“You're getting water on the floor, Gabriel.” He was soaking wet.

“I know, baby, and I swear I’m going to clean it up, but I need your help right now,” Granddaddy said. He put his hand out and motioned for her to come to him.

“What’s wrong?” she asked as she approached him. Granddaddy was normally calm and never yelled, so for him to be doing it now was out of character.

“Me and JD found something,” he said, then looked over at us. John David, also known as JD, was Madea’s older brother. He and Granddaddy were best friends. They were complete opposites. Granddaddy was calm and quiet, while Uncle JD was always cracking jokes and making people laugh. “Come outside.”

“It’s raining out there, Gabriel,” she said, shaking her head. “We can talk in the room.”

“Mary, I need you to come outside,” he insisted. “I can’t just tell you, baby; I need you to see it, too.” Madea sighed, then looked back at us. “Mary, please.”

“Fine,” she said, nodding. “Girls, I’ll be back.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said.

Madea gave me one final look, then followed Granddaddy outside.

“Cori?” Psalms said my name softly.

“Yeah, Bug?” I answered. I wiped my hands over my face and let out a sigh of relief.

“I had an accident,” she said. I turned around to see that her clothes were wet. “I didn’t mean to. Granddaddy scared me when he ran into the room, and the door hit the wall.” Tears fell from her eyes. “I thought it was Jonathan coming to get me.”