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“Damn. Who are you going to get if they don’t fall for the bluff?”
“I’m not bluffing. Uncle Jasper and Uncle Kenny are partnering with Uncle Kenny’s friend, Price Daniels. He already owns a trucking company. He would need more trucks, but because he’s already licensed, it would be seamless. There’s also F.A.N. Transport, owned by Ford Noel. He’s venturing into more avenues. He primarily does hazardous materials but is trying to get into transporting food grade and dry goods.”
“Well shit. Sounds like you got it all figured out.”
“Naw. Once I get numbers, I’m coming to you. After you put your expertise on it,thenit will all be figured out.”
He nodded with a slight smile. “So, Seneca from Watchful Eyes called earlier.”
My eyebrows lifted. “He had an update?”
“Yep. Tyrese is in Beaumont. A guy named Ali is on him now.”
“Ali is the owner of the company. A’ight. I’ll make a call. Matter of fact, we ought to go by there tomorrow.”
“Sounds like a plan to me. Will it be early or late?”
“Probably early, before my meeting. I’ll let you know after I contact him.”
“A’ight.”
I tuned back in to Uncle Storm’s rambling to hear him say, “I will be dropping by all businesses to make sure they are catering to the needs of Nome.”
“Nigga, shut the fuck up, and sit yo’ ass down!” Uncle Jasper said.
Even Uncle Storm had to laugh at Unc’s outburst, then he took off his hat and had a seat as Aunt Jen set a bowl of banana pudding in front of him. “Congratulations, baby boy. I’m proud of you.”
She kissed his cheek, and he turned red. It was something about Aunt Jen and my mama that made him sensitive. “Thanks, Jen. After tomorrow, the diner will be the official caterers for city meetings and gatherings. They don’t like it, they can kiss my ass.”
“You have to put it to a vote, baby. Make it fair.”
“This ain’t gon’ be a democracy, sis. This gon’ be an all-out dictatorship. They didn’t include our black asses in a thing. Well, it’s our turn now.”
Aunt Jen slowly shook her head as Jess and Nesha approached him. Since Philly and I were sitting at the table right next to him, we could hear the conversations. “Uncle Mayor, we already knew you had the seat months ago.”
“Thanks, Jess.”
“Jess don’t be putting all that helium in that nigga. His big ass head gon’ float away in a minute,” Philly said as Uncle Storm frowned.
He pointed his fork at him. “That’s yo’ ass when I finish this pudding.”
I slowly shook my head. This family was a handful, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world.
* * *
“I knowyou’re probably busy, but Ashanni and Maui had to stay after school for some project they’re doing with the librarian, and the twins left them,” Aunt Chas explained.
“I don’t know why they insist on riding with their asses. They all have cars. Ashanni and Maui should have ridden together,” I said as I grabbed my keys.
I’d just gotten back from getting the price decrease we wanted from the trucking company. They just didn’t know… As soon as the trucking contracts were cool with Price, we would be getting rid of their asses anyway. One of the deliveries was late, and they couldn’t give me a legitimate excuse. Ali with Watchful Eyes was out of pocket today, but he agreed to try to meet up with us before the week was out. In the meantime, he would keep us updated on Tyrese’s whereabouts.
That nigga had better chill if he knew what was good for his ass. His teeth would be buried right next to his uncle’s. Reggie was a bitch ass nigga that needed handling a long time ago… long before Tyrese was of age to even know what was going on. My uncles dragging their feet about that shit caused other problems.
“I’ll go get them, Aunt Chas. I’m on my way.”
“Okay. You may have to go in to get them. You know their signals are full of shit when they’re at school. They called me from the school landline.”
“A’ight.”
