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“Because my goal was to become a PA and it’s a seven year process. I had Lourdes my sophomore year of college, so I still had about six years to go before I reached that goal. I put those dreams off the first few years of Lourdes’ life and I leaned on her dad for financial support. When we didn’t work out I was left in the projects wondering what happened to all the dreams I once had and I decided I needed to take my life back. A lot of the women in my family are nurses, including my mama,” she rolled her eyes in the direction of the kitchen where Granny was putting up the food and cleaning. “So she tried to convince me to go that route because it’s quicker and less time consuming. But I had to block out the noise and do what I wanted. And I’m not gon’ act like my family didn’t support me because they did. My mom and sister kept Lourdes on plenty of days during my didactic year of PA school. But I would have preferred their support without the snide comments about how I should’ve just gone to nursing school. So I’m pretty sure Rahesha just wants to go for her goals without hearing anybody’s mouth.”

“Tuah, tell me about it,” Lourdes scoffed. “Cause I definitely had to hear a lot of negativity about going to cosmetology school instead of a four year college.”

“Dang, who was negative about that, sis?” Aspen asked.

“Chile, she’s throwing shots at me,” Ms. Lucia breathed heavily. “But hindsight is 20/10, so I can acknowledge that I did to you exactly what my mom did to me. I tried to force you into following in my footsteps…but you my daughter alright because you ignored me and got the hell on.”

“I’m glad you’re admitting that you asking me to help with bills that you pay in your sleep was a way for you to force me into doing what you wanted,” Lourdes grumbled. I could tell this topic was a sore spot for her and I felt where she was coming from. Lucia lived in an upper middle class Westbank neighborhood in a spacious four bedroom house, she drove a 2024 BMW, she always had a nice, designer bag on her shoulder, she spent her off days outside, and she traveled a lot. She was living a good life and she didn’t need anybody to help her pay bills, so asking her own child to do so was fucked up. Lucia may have been a way better parent than my mama, but she’d evidently had her shortcomings, too. At least she was owning up to them, though. Some parents didn’t even do that much.

“Okay, girl, I said I was wrong. Now stop putting our business on front street,” she snapped.

“But you can tell my Granny’s business?” Lourdes laughed.

“Oh, please,” she snarled. “I was telling my own business and my mama just so happened to be involved.”

“And I was doing the same thing.”

“Alright, smart ass.”

“Takes one to know one.”

“Man, y’all chill. We’re all family, so there’s no such thing as sharing too much,” I chuckled.

“Right, this is a judgment free zone. I had no idea you were a PA, though. I was thinking about going that route,” Aneesah said to Ms. Lucia.

“You definitely should. It’s a long road, but you’ll be rewarded tremendously when you reach the end of it. Have you picked a major for undergrad?”

While they talked about school, me, Aspen, and Lourdes changed the subject to Mardi Gras.

“I’m so glad the Diamonds don’t have to march on Mardi Gras day,” Aspen said.

“You don’t wanna march in Zulu, sis?” Lourdes tittered, as she took pictures of Milan’s hair that she just finished. She had braided the front up into two ponytails while the back was hanging free in braids. I didn’t know how she did that shit in one hour, but they didn’t call her the best at what she did for no reason.

“Hell no! I don’t know anybody in their right mind who wants to march in Zulu. I’m glad the band is only doing that parade because I’m going to be outside having the time of my life.”

“I don’t blame you, sis,” I chuckled. “Zulu too damn long. As a spectator it’s nice, but I definitely wouldn’t want to march for that long.”

“Right?! It’s bad enough we’re doing Endymion and Bacchus. I try not to complain because I did sign up for this, but parade season is brutal. Give me the stands and field shows at football games and battles any day of the week.”

“Well I can’t wait to see you for all four parades you’re in and cheer you on,” I said.

“Y’all coming to all four parades I’m going to be in?”

“Duhhh! We outside for Muses, Morpheus, Endymion, and Bacchus…and we’ll have a care package basket ready for you because you gon’ need it after all those parades back to back,” Lourdes giggled, as she parted Icelyn’s hair.

“I’ma just try not to think about how tired I’ll be.”

“Yea, just think positively and try to have fun,” I advised. “It’s a lot of work, but you love dancing, so just focus on that aspect of it.”

“Yea, you’re right. And I get to be tail for Endymion,” she smiled, propelling Lourdes, Icelyn, and Milan to react in unison.

“Really?!” Milan exclaimed.

“Yayyyy!” Icelyn clapped her hands.

“Omg!” Lourdes shrieked.

“I’m lost…what’s tail?”