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“They’re going to cuss me the fuck out, Dreyson,” Zari says, looking up at me.

“No, they won’t. Come on,” I say, grabbing her hand. I stand in front of her and hold her waist. I kiss her forehead. “Calm down.”

She shakes her head. “No, I can’t go in.”

I rub the middle of her back. “Baby, c’mon now. Do it for me.”

She presses her lips and rolls her eyes. “Alright, but I don’t want to stay long.”

I ring the doorbell, and my aunt Marie opens the door. “Drey!! Hey baby! Long time no see,” she says, hugging me. She goes over to Zari and gasps. “You must be Zariyanna. Come here, girl, and hug ya aunt,” my aunt Marie says, reaching over to her.

Zari hugs her and links arms with her.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“You’re the beautiful young lady that changed my nephew. You’re my answered prayer, baby.”

I walk into the house and speak to all my family. I go into the backyard to the tent area. I open it, and my mom is sitting in a chair with a wig on, and she’s smaller. But, she’s here. Somehow Shaneice was able to talk her into getting the chemo. I tried many times, but I’m just glad she listened.

They were able to do surgery and chemo. She moves slow, but she isn’t bedridden. Shaneice is right by her side.

“Hey, pretty lady,” I say, leaning down to kiss my mom.

My mom stands up and does a slow spin.

“Mama, since when can you get up on your own?”

“Shaneice’s been doing this breathing stuff with me all summer.”

Shaneice looks up from her iPad and smiles. “I took a death and dying class last semester, and a hospice social worker came in. She told us about a patient of hers that she taught breathwork to, and it helped her so well that she got taken off hospice.”

“Shit, that’s wild. Okay, my tuition money is working over time,” I joke.

“Yeah, I’m going to minor in social work.”

“Shaneice is something else, ain’t she,” my mom says, looking at her in awe.

“Yes, she is,” I say, smiling at my brilliant daughter. I turn back to my mom. “I’m so proud of you for going through the chemo, Ma. I know it was hard, but we need you around,” I say.

My mom’s eyes widen as she looks past me.

Zari comes through the tent. “Hi, everyone. I’m Zariyanna,” she says, shyly.

I grab her hand and kiss it.

Shaneice and my mom both look at each other. “This is why you left the streets, huh?” my mom says, looking at her belly.

I rub it and lean down to kiss it. “Yeah, you’re going to be a grandma again.”

“Dreyson Laquan Hall!” my mother shouts.

“What, Ma?” I ask.

She goes over to Zariyanna and stands in front of her. She places her hand on her belly. “Oh, my Lord! My grandbaby just kicked.”

Shaneice stands up and touches her belly. “Why’d you keep my little brother or sister away from me?” she asks Zari.

“I… thought you hated me.”