Page 50 of 4 Corinthians

“You’ve told me,” I said, nodding. “I haven’t done anything to be proud of, though.”

“You aren’t like us,” Cross said, shrugging. “That’s something to be proud of.” I didn’t have to ask her to explain because I knew what she meant. Even though Cross wasn’t around for that summer lesson, she ended up in the same side career as everyone else. How or why she got there, I never asked, but I knew she was working.

The sound of the buzzer pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked up to see Mercy’s team come to the court. She looked over at us, waved, then turned to her best friend and teammate, Legacy Glover. They’d been friends since their first year. Legacy was the opposite of Mercy. She was quiet, shy almost, and didn’t have a malicious bone in her body. She was the best friend that Mercy needed to keep her grounded.

“Madea,” Krude called out to our grandmother, who was seated a few seats down from me. She leaned forward and lifted her brow. “I think Cross got a man.”

“Now how the hell did I get brought up when I’m just sitting here minding my business?” Cross asked him. I tried not to laugh, but I couldn’t help it. We’d had a conversation about her relationship status for years. She never brought anyone around and was secretive about her relationship status.

“Corinthians just said we could come visit you, and you shut her down. You must got a nigga you don’t want us to meet.” His mouth twisted to the side. “He ugly, ain’t he? That’s why you don’t want us to come. He funny looking? Got a limp? What is it? You know we accept everybody for who they are.” He pointed to Judge next to him. “We accept Judge.”

“I’m not-“

“The fuck I gotta do with this conversation?” Judge asked, grilling him.

“You are the example of us being accepting of all the Lord's children,” Krude answered with a shrug. “Even the ugly ones.”

“Stop playing with me,” Judge said, shaking his head.

“I may tell a joke, but I don’t tell a lie,” Krude said to him, then turned back to Cross. “Now back to your sneaky ass. What’s that nigga do for a living? He a nighttime ballerina and you ashamed?”

“What is a nighttime ballerina?” Granddaddy asked, sitting forward.

“Let it go, Granddaddy,” Psalms said. “Please let it go.”

“Nah, let me tell you what it is, OG,” Krude smiled. “It’s a nigga that’s on the pole. He out there swinging on a pole like he’s in a ’90s R&B video. Shirt open, in the middle of a desert, begging for his woman back. He is making that money”

“Who would do some shit like that?” Exodus asked, sounding confused. “And why would anyone go along with it?

“Love,” Krude answered with a shrug. “A nigga in love will do any and everything to prove it to his woman.”

“Would you?” Exodus asked him.

“Sure would, but my shit would be better. I’d do a whole production, and all you niggas would help.”

“Help with what?” Mercy said, coming over to us. Her game was about to start, but her coach always let her come over to the family before it did so that we could pray.

“Put on a show to get my woman back. Make it look like a 90’s R&B video,” Krude answered her as we stood. “You gonna be a backup dancer?”

“Give me a minute solo, and you know I got you,” she replied.

“Thirty seconds,” Krude countered.

“Deal,” Mercy quickly said, then put her hand out to shake.

“Lord, Gabriel, say the prayer before the girl starts practicing her dance moves,” Madea said, shaking her head.

“Too late, I’m already thinking of a routine. I will have Legacy help me with it later,” she said, shrugging. “Now let’s get this prayer so I can win this game.”

We joined hands and Granddaddy said the same prayer he always did before one of Mercy’s games. It was the last one her daddy said before her game. “For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; thou hast subdued under me those that rose against me. For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those rise against me sink under me,” he said. “Psalm 18:39.”

The buzzer sounded, and we sat. Mercy ran back to her bench and took her seat next to Legacy so that their starting five could be announced.

“Just for the record, no one is going to help you with your performance to get your woman back,” Exodus told Krude.

Krude laughed, shook his head, then got comfortable in his seat. “Yes, you will,” he said. “All of you will help.”

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