Page 30 of Love & Vendettas
“Thanks for calling to let me know that. I had fun today.”
“So, did I. You want to do it again next weekend?”
“I can’t. I have a swim meet next Saturday, and we’re usually there all day from the morning until late afternoon. After that, my parents usually take us out to dinner, and then we have movies and popcorn at home.”
Zaire chuckles on the other line.
“What? You think it’s corny or something?”
“Nah, I think it’s mad cool. I wouldn’t mind doing the same.”
“Why don’t you then? Maybe see if your parents would be interested in trying something new. Something different.”
“Nah, it’s not even like that over here.”
“Oh. Why? Your parents aren’t into family time or something?”
“Nah. It’s not that.”
“Then tell me, Z.”
He pauses before he replies. “Yo, I like it when you call me that.”
“Z?”
“Yeah. Sounds mad cool.”
“Nobody ever called you that before?”
“Not like you do.”
I giggle. “Now it sounds like you’re trying to get in my panties.”
“Girl, I ain’t even over there. You must want me to get in them. You’re always bringing them up.”
“You think you’re slick, though.”
“What’s up?”
“You didn’t answer my question about your parents. You don’t talk about them at all, other than to say you have to watch your siblings for your mom. Is your dad not in your life or something?”
Zaire exhales loudly, and I can tell this subject is stressing him out.
“You know, it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it. I didn’t mean to pressure you.”
“Nah, it’s all good, shorty. It’s just that…well, my pops ain’t here.”
“He walked out on y’all?”
“Nah, he’s in prison.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, somebody set him up for something, but…that was on him, you know?”
“No, I don’t know. How about you tell me?”
We spent the next couple of hours on the phone with Zaire telling me all about his family, his dad, and a lady named Essence, and what happened from there. My heart broke at hearing what his family was going through as a result of his father’s cheating and dope-dealing ways. That could never be me. I wouldn’t be that woman.
