The ride over to the church seemed long and awkwardly quiet. Having security made me feel uncomfortable about talking about real issues so I kept playing with my phone.
“I’m kind of glad right now for the security. On top of the calls and hanging up, whoever it is, is starting to send text messages talking about how they’re gonna meet me at the funeral.” “Whoever it is got me messed up, I’m down here with my daughters and grandson. Security or not your mother is strapped and ready for anything that comes our way today. This ain’t momma out here in these streets today ladies, it’s JoAnne.” “Wait Mama you brought your gun?” “I sure the hell did. After killing that bastard, weird things have been happening to me and to Edily. I feel like I have to stay ready for anything.” “That’s exactly why I called security, so we could feeI finally caught up with my mother who was talking to Lori, Izzy on her hip growing impatient. I interrupted the conversation by scooping the baby up into my arms giving Mama some relief. “I was just speaking to your mother trying to convince her to at least come to the repass. We have a southern buffet and I really would like to catch up with all of you to honestly see how things have been going.” I turned to my other awaiting a response from her, “I don’t think that’s a good idea especially with this stalker crap going on.” Mama was right we still didn’t know who the stalker was and that would have us exposed to anything seeing how we would no longer be in the house of the Lord. I don’t think Mother or any of us was in the mood for yet another shootout at a family function. “It is a bad idea. Maybe we’ll just stay in touch or something Lori.” I grabbed my mother’s hand to head to the truck. While we walked I looked and listened hard to the people around me, trying to matc
I took my sweaty clothes off, mentally reminding myself to burn them in my backyard when I got home. Hot, perplexed, and still very much off-kilter, I turned on the air conditioner and sat to check my phone for notifications worth responding to. I had a couple of missed calls and messages from Holland and Maleek, seeing how I was holding up. Ignoring them, I offered no response, not even via text; there was nothing left in me to be able to relive the details of my day all over again. Perhaps checking my phone was a false hope of having a call from my mother, newly found sibling, or father for some odd reason. I wanted answers, an explanation for my traumatic ass childhood. I felt depleted; my nerves were shot, and my blood pressure had to be sky-high. Skimming through my carry-on for something to help calm my nerves, I ran across an old prescription of Xanax that had been prescribed to me around the time Maleek and I split up. Not caring that the pills were probably expired and purpos
“Now Isa, don’t forget to soften up when you go into the bridge.” “Look, I’ve got this Edily, if anything you’re going to jinx me having me make a complete ass out of myself!” For that exact reason I was reminding my little sister to soften up at the bridge; so, she wouldn’t make a fool of herself. She has the tendency to go over-board with things, especially when she feels like she has everyone’s undivided attention. Nodding my head in response she continued to babble, “Please Edily just spare me at least once in my life, besides this isn’t a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden. Its’ just a wedding reception. It’s funny how I couldn’t perform at the wedding because my ignorant sister found a way to book Jon B. just in the nick of time. Imagine how that panned out for me.” Before allowing this conversation to get out of hand because this wasn’t the time or place, I cut her off, “Isa please cut it out, you’re still mad over that mess? Like I
Despite my believing that Isa needed to be at a party with so much money and potential in the building, Isa decided to stay back and be with Izzy for the night. She claimed to want to spend some time alone with her baby for a change. I on the other hand, believe Isa is afraid to fly. If it isn’t a party with Indie or underground rappers, smoking, drinking, and doing other random drugs; Isa isn’t interested. I decided not to push the issue for a change and let Isa be. Zion and I pulled up as if we were luxury in a pear-colored Rolls Royce owned by my boss at about a quarter after 11. Serenity Grey had to ensure that her employees made a hell of an impression for her label, and I didn’t mind it one bit. The chauffeur came around to let us out, and like always as soon as our feet touched the sidewalk all eyes were on us. I could hear people whispering amongst themselves trying to figure out who we were and betting we were some type of celebrity. Little did they know, my best fr
Since it was a Monday and I didn’t have to work, I locked in a few more meetings for later in the week, securing the meeting with T Mobile first. It was a little after 1pm, rainy out, and I was frustrated on so many levels. I decided to get up, cook, and make it a lazy day in. Parker was still here being concerned, telling me he could make a few phone calls if I needed. Since I enjoyed and needed the company, I played my role. Parker and I sat, talked, and watched a few movies while I prepared a soul food dinner. I was Creole’d out from the wedding, so I made sure there was no seafood or anything spicy on today’s menu. I had been blessed with exceptional old school cooking skills from my mother. I don’t remember much about my grandmother, other than sitting on her lap eating crab cakes at a retro themed diner and suddenly longing for her at some point of my childhood. Smitty’s mother never really talked to me so I had gotten all my wisdom and homemaking skills from my mother
I hit Lake Shore drive heading south toward the city. It was yet another beautiful day in Chicago especially with this stunning view from the outer drive. I let the top down on my white-on-white Audi RS 5 Cabriolet and did a turtle crawl in traffic until switching expressways to take me to the southern suburbs. Once I had a flow and was allowed to cruise at least 70mph I switched over from DJ Nehpets rush our mix to my Bluetooth and turned on my ‘cruise and ride’ playlist. This particular list started with a little bit of old school rap like LL Cool J’s ‘Hey Lover’ and by the end of 50 songs I was in a new era acting like I was 21 again, replicating every line of Bank Rolls ‘Pop It’. Finally making it into the suburbs a little after 6, I stopped at a liquor store to pick up a couple packs of cigarettes and wine for Mama, as well as a little celebration/relaxation bottle for Isa and me. I also grabbed some cheese puffs, a green fifty cent juice; the type you can squeeze like
The police station was a noisy and chaotic place to have to be on a Thursday afternoon. I unexpectantly got called in for a few questions while at work and was not looking forward to having hours of my already busy schedule being taken away. I hadn’t had time to join the staff at work for lunch and since this trip was unplanned, not only am I irritated and off balance, I’m starving. I’d gotten here nearly an hour ago per the request of Officer Scrawny whom still has yet to retrieve me and ask what he needs. The cold metal bench he has me waiting on has me shivering from the inside out; not to mention it happens to host a couple of street walkers, nodding off because their system is full of heroin. Handcuffed to the bench and seated right next to me with the stench of ‘all day’ that’s starting to take a stomach-churning turn; I was at my wits end. Before completely losing it, I decided to get up and approach the officer seated at the entrance desk. “Excuse me Miss, but I’ve g
I found myself feeling anxious and overwhelmed. I thanked God for my therapist because I was in desperate need of a session; I had slept with one too many this week, which had begun to play on my conscience.I pulled into his Hyde Park office and immediately felt a sense of calm; Dr. Reeder offered liberation to my strange world. I never really expressed what was truly going on with me or how I in fact felt to anyone except him; Dr. Reeder never judged me or made me feel like I was a mutant. He always gave realistic advice and did exactly what I needed him to do; listen. He was at least 50 plus years old and far from attractive. I needed Dr. Reeder because he reminded me of a father that didn’t try to sleep with, abuse, or misdirect me in any fashion. I believe he understood what I needed and as much as he charged, he had better see me at any hour of the day. I climbed on to his tiny jade sofa while he gave me a tiny pill and water as we normally would do at the s