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“Almost a whole ass week,” Man answered. “Got my ass down here getting fat and shit. The food, man!” He whistled.
“I know. I can’t put much down yet, but I do what I can from them big ass butcher boards!” Jug rubbed his stomach.
“Charcuterie board, man!” I shook my head.
Man howled.
“I ‘on’t know what that is or how to pronounce that shit,” Jug explained. “I just know I be feeling like a fuckin’ kang when they come in my room carrying that shit!”
Man slapped hands with him in agreement. It was all good. The family was special. Ultra-spiritual, but not religious by no stretch. In that respect, theNivlebtribe was my kind of people. They treated me like a king, never flinching at my past, and unimpressed with my money. The people just cared about me, even aside from their blood, Ashira.
“Anyway. I got some shit I need to get back to.”A five-foot, eight inch, D-cupper. “It’s time for us to get outta dodge, man.”
“When we leaving?” Jug asked.
“Man and I are pulling out tomorrow. Ya ass’ll be here till Rose say you can go.”
For a moment, Jug didn’t say anything. He rubbed his chest as his eyes swept low. “Damn. I guess I’ll be good. I got my crossword puzzles, but you gotta leave me some heat down here. These niggas strapped around this bitch. If they all strapped and it ain’t nothing but family on this big ass land, what you think I need in case they flip on me?”
I shook my head, knowing he was half joking. “You can have whatever you need to be comfortable. Just hang tight.”
“Yeah. I’mma be a’ight. That sexy ass, cousin, Diana, be around here with them low-hanging titties. I’mma get me some of that before I leave. Word up.” Jug smiled.
“C’mon, man.” Man wiped the sweat from his forehead. “It’s hot as shit out this muthafucka.”
I got behind the wheelchair and began pushing it toward the house.
“I ‘preciate y’all holdin’ it down for ol’ Jug, man,” Jug expressed before another soft cough. He cleared his throat. “I know ya ass ready to get back to my lil’ bossy ass Chi-Chi.”
“Which one?” I asked.
We all laughed at that one.
“Mommy, I want more bread!” Chi-Chi whined next to me at the table.
Her volume was so high, I automatically glanced around the restaurant to see if anyone was alarmed.
“Shhhhhh…” I hushed her before breaking off a piece of Italian bread. She readily dipped it into the flavored olive oil, just as she was taught to do a few weeks ago in Italy. We were dining atDiFillippo’stonight with my father and Noelle. It seemed like forever since the four of us had been together alone.
Resuming our conversation, my father finally replied to my proposal. “Noelle coming to live with you.” He tried it out for size, it seemed.
“Mmmmhmmm,” I hummed, chewing my food.
“Permanently.”
“Yup.”
Noelle wouldn’t look up from her plate, likely afraid of the topic with our father. She and I had talked about it a few days ago after a night of bowling when I broached the idea to her. I wasn’t surprised when she said yes, but was taken aback by the lackluster of her reaction. That had been my younger sister for some time with me. But what did shock me was her text to me less than twenty minutes after I’d dropped her off at home. She sent me a list of demands for the décor of her bedroom, from the paint color to the scent of the candles she “required.” I didn’t flinch; it was a mark of her excitement, something I really needed.
“Why do you feel such an arrangement is necessary, dear?” He cut into a braised lamb chop.
Noelle’s lashes batted as she kept her face toward her plate.
“That’s easy.” I sat back, wiping my mouth. “Because she’s my sister, and she needs me. Brenda’s working two jobs and trying to raise her own children. Noelle needs direct attention.”
“And you think you can do that with your work schedule?”
I wanted to remind my father how he led a life of leisure with all the time in the world on his hands, howbeit she did not live with him.
