One Less Lonely Heart.

Anything For You

     2 years later.

      For sometime now, me and my father kept our usual routine. I'd focus on school Monday through Friday, and the weekends was always ours. I was a sophomore at Norview High School, so he took my education very seriously. As I did.
I always kind of thought somebody would catch on to what we had been doing for the past 3 years. He never really been inside my house since that New Years night. He figured he wasn't welcome and even though it hurt my heart for him to feel that way, I couldn't help but to see he was right.
     It was actually the middle of March. Spring break for us was about 2 days away. I already had a list in my head of the things I wanted to do. I was excited as hell, my pops had asked me to spend the night with all my brothers that weekend of school discharge. I told him yes, but at the end of the day I knew it wasn't up to me. It was up to Ms. Jackson. I was going to shoot my shot and ask when she made it home from work.
   I was outside playing basketball with my brother when I saw that White Acura pull up into the driveway. Ms. Jackson was home.
I watched her get out of the car with a couple bags in her hand and offered to take them in the house for her. I would do just about anything to get on her good side. I really wanted to go to this sleepover.
After the bags of groceries got put up, I waited til' she got herself together before I came in for the kill.
I took a deep breath and knocked softly on her door.
"Who is it?" She sang. She's in a good mood, hopefully in a good enough mood to say yes.
"It's me, Ma."
"What can I do for you, sir?"
"Nothing. Just wanted to ask you something."
"Okay. I'm listening."
"Can I spend the night with my Dad this weekend?"
"Huh? Can you do what?"
I hated when she did that. Like she didn't just hear me clear as day.
I didn't dare repeat myself.
"I don't know, Kay. You know I don't like it over there."
"I know, I'll be careful."
"You can go, under one condition."
Of course.
I was listening.
"I'ma need an address, a telephone number, your phone needs to be charged in case I call you. I'ma need to meet with him before he takes you anywhere outta this house."
"Yes ma'am." Oh man, she said yes!
She smiled and waved me off. I backed up quietly. Her stories was on.

****** later on that night ******

   "She said yes pops!" I damn near screamed into the phone.
"That's good baby boy, I got everybody else all I had to do is get you."
"Yes, I'm so excited. But, it's just one condition."
"What's that?"
"She wants to see you first."
"See me?"
"Yeah, she wants to see you."
"Okay. That's no problem."
"Good."
I got off the phone with my pops and started dancing. I was gonna spend the night with all my brothers, it was definitely gonna be a night to remember.
    My mom walked past my door and stuck her head in.
"What you doin' in here, John Henry?"
"Just got off the phone with my Dad."
"You tell that nigga what I said?"
"Yes, he said it's no problem."
"Mhm, come on and eat baby."
"Coming."
     I put my phone on the charger and proceeded to follow my Grandma in the kitchen. The aroma of fried chicken, jambalaya, and cheddar biscuits filled the air. As I walked to my seat, I saw my plate was already made. I sat down and said my prayers.
Before I started to dig into my food my Grandma interrupted me.
"So what's this sleepover about?"
"Nothing special, just wants all his kids to spend the night and meet each other."
"Oh yeah, he does have some more children."
"Why hadn't anybody told me?"
"I figured it was your mothers place to tell you that baby. She must have never gotten around to it."
14 years and nobody 'got around to it'? Smells like some bullshit to me.
I just simply said "Oh." To hide my dissatisfaction from not knowing one of the biggest things about my life for the last few years.
"What time is he coming?"
"Tomorrow around 3."
"Sounds good."
"Don't be mean Ma."
"Who, me? I'm not mean."
"Yeah okay, Ma."
She looked so shocked when I said that, who was she trying to fool? She was as mean as they came. I loved my grandma to death but if she didn't care for you, she had no problem showing it. Whether you were in her sight or not.
"I'll try to be on my best behavior for you."
I laughed at her. She was really a trip.
   Well, the hard part was over. I just hoped this meeting tomorrow didn't ruin my chances of going. She had a way with words and questions, questions I prayed my father didn't get wrong. Lord have mercy. He'll be alright though, I'll be by his side.