Page 54 of When I Thug You Like That

“I know, son, but you’re taking over the call. And I was talkin’ first.”

“She talkin’ to me.”

Taina laughed. “I know that, Chuston. I’m saying she was talkin’ to me first, and you just interrupted to tell her about your day.”

“You wanna talk?”

“I’d appreciate it,” she replied.

He sighed. “Alright, Ma. You can talk.” He kissed her cheek and blew a kiss in the phone. “Bye, Aunty Jai.”

“Call me on your iPad tomorrow, Chus. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He got up off the couch, and I waited until I was sure he couldn’t hear me before getting on her.

“Bitch, you hurt his feelings.”

“No, I didn’t. I’ve been working with him on his manners. Just a little correction, that’s all.”

I rolled my eyes. “I still don’t like that you may have hurt his feelings, but you right.”

“Girl, please. That’s why he think he can do whatever when you around. Talkin’ ‘bout his feelings and shit.”

“No, he don’t.”

“I could break out a list of examples to support my argument, but we’d be here all night.”

“That you’re right about ‘cause you know I’ma fight my case to the death.”

Laughing, she shook her head. “Anyway, did your new student start today?”

Grabbing my phone off the counter where it had been propped up, I closed the dishwasher and started it.

“He did.”

“How’d he do?”

“He did great. Better than we expected, I’m sure, for his first day.”

“We as in you and your favorite new parent?”

“We as in myself and my new student’s parents. I met his mother at drop off.”

“Oh, how was that? Did Jay act funny?”

“Not at all. He was the same as he was during the tour and at the distillery, actually. She, on the other hand, was not feeling the fact that her son had hugged me.”

“Girlllll, now she know that her son know that you a perfect fit for the family.”

I bust out laughing. “Taina, something is really wrong witchu.”

“What?” Her face was serious. “I’m just callin’ it like I see it.”

“You ain’t see nothing though.”

“Ummm, your smile. Jay’s smile. My smile when I saw you smile. What am I missing here?”