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Iris’ eyes watered—not with sadness, but pure unadulterated anger.
“I know he bought you that car parked outside, too,” Lily grinned like a demon, waving her finger towards the front door. “He pay all yo’ bills and you ain’t offered Mama or me, or even Aunt Blue, your faaaaavorite, a mothafuckin’ dime! You—”
“I’m raising your daughter, and you haven’t even slid me ten dollars. You only call to complain or berate this girl! Then you have the nerve to sit there and talk about what I’m not doin’ foryou?! BAY-BEEE! I’m glad I’m saved and I love our mama, or I would take this here taser in my purse, and send a thousand shockwaves through your skeletal body! Over there lookin’ like an extra from the Dawn of the Dead! Then I’d beat the brakes off yo’ monkey ass for good measure!”
Lily sunk back in her seat a bit, seemingly surprised by her outburst.
“Auntie…” Iris quickly regained her composure when Ayanna grabbed her arm and rested her head against her shoulder.
“It ain’t my fault you can’t handle the truth, Iris.”
“Lily, I can see you couldn’t stay civil for more than one minute. For the record, you don’t know WHAT I’ve done wit’ my money, honey, but since you into countin’ other people’s coins, I gave Mama plenty of money over the years and Aunt Blue refused anything I offered. I’ve also helped loads of folks, even when I didn’t have two damn dimes to rub together, unlike YOU, with your selfish ass. Who have you given anything to besides yourself?! Instead of you being grateful, you want to be dirty and act a damn fool! You over here living in squalor, smellin’ like you ain’t washed your behind in days, hair all over your head, and you knew we were coming two days ago! You might be crazy, heffa, but you know right from wrong!”
“Oh, here you go! Ms. Goody mothafuckin’ Two-Shoes! Like you ain’t never sell no pussy or suck no dick! You got—”
“Ayanna, get up and go to the car.”
“Ayanna, you keep yo’ ass right there on that couch! You need to see who your Aunt Iris really is, and I’m just the woman to show you!”
“Let me tell you somethin’, Lily. I ain’t never sold my ass, and if I did, I sure as hell would try to make sure I never had to do it again! You had a million and one chances but you decided to—”
“STOP IT!” Ayanna screamed, shaking her head as tears streamed down her face. “I told you I ain’t want to come here, Mama!”
“Mama? Why are you looking at her, calling her mama?” Lily’s face turned ashen, she looked downright appalled. Shocked, even. “You turned my child against me. I hope you drop dead, Iris!”
Iris jerked Ayanna’s arm, forcing her onto her feet. They said nothing more as she led her towards the door. She regretted giving into Mama’s request now. She regretted forcing Ayanna to come. She regretted so many things as she reached for the knob, angry tears stinging her eyes.
“You ain’t nevah had no troubles!” Lily railed as Iris opened the door. “It was me that had the burdens!”
Ayanna moved from around her.
“Iris had plenty of troubles! I hate you, Lily! Leave us alone!” Ayanna tearfully screamed, so loud, Iris barely resisted covering her ears.
Just as they were leaving, Iris turned around to close the door and saw Lily on the floor, clutching her shirt, crying and rocking, looking up at the ceiling as if waiting for God to come down Himself and save her. Iris got ready to slam it behind her and turn away, never to look back, but she was frozen. All she could do was stare at her sister as her heart beat painfully within her, and sadness merged with pure rage. Ayanna pulled at her shirt sleeve, but she turned towards the girl and kissed her cheek, leaving her outside the open door as she re-entered the apartment. Stepping over the debris once more, she looked down at her sister, who kept rocking back and forth, cradling her knees, sobbing.
“I miss Daddy too, Lily…”
Lily kept on rocking, quieter now, but crying her eyes out. She kept her eyes on the ceiling, maybe offering a silent plea.
Iris blinked back tears, then sat down on the floor next to her.
“I love you, Lily. God, help her! Lily, you’ve got a problem. You don’t act right! Something is wrong. There are people who can help you, just like Mama said. Please leave with me tonight. Please let me take you to the hospital!” She wrapped her arms around her sister and squeezed. Lily slowed her rocking, but then started mumbling, things Iris couldn’t understand.
Until she said…
“I’m the reason Daddy’s dead!”
She kept repeating it, getting it louder… and louder… and louder…
“Lily, no you’re not.” Iris released her and looked at her sister who was still staring at the ceiling. “He had a trucking accident. Someone crossed the median and he swerved and ended up turning over. You weren’t even there.”
“…I killed Daddy.” Lily sobbed, crying all the louder.
“Tell me why you think that?”
Lily trained bloodshot eyes on her.
“I asked Daddy for some money to go on that school trip to Atlanta.”
