Moms walked out of the kitchen as we followed her out and into the den. “Have a seat, gentlemen.”
“You dying or something?” Dame asked.
“No, fool! Sit down with your ignorant self!”
He shrugged as he sat beside me on the couch. “I mean, usually when ya moms tells you she needs to talk to you, it’s life-threatening.”
“I’m not dying, Damien. Although I’m sure you wouldn't care if I was.”
“Maybe…”
My head whipped over to him. “You need to fucking chill, bro.”
“Hey! Look at me,” Moms said. “My premium on my health insurance has expired. They sent me a letter telling me that I owe thirty thousand dollars.”
“Thirty thousand? How is that even possible? You don’t even go to the doctor like that.” Dame blurted.
“You don’t remember all the broken bones I’ve endured over the years? How many times have I been in the ER due to what your father was doing to me?”
“Ma, don’t worry about it. I got you. I’ll put you on my insurance once we get that bill taken care of.”
I hated for her to remind me of that fucked up time in her life.
“Yeah, letSuper Trutake care of it. He always does.”
“If you have a problem with it, by all means, pay that bill and put her on your health insurance.”
“Nah, you got it… You always got it. I don’t even know why she called me in here when you always come through saving her.”
“You know what. I’m done. I can't keep doing this with you,” Ma said.
“Doing what?”
“Making it seem as if I don’t care about you or love you, Damien.”
Dame scoffed. “You don’t, but I don’t really give a fuck. Talk to your golden child.”
“A’ight, enough. It sounds like you have a problem with me being who I am to the people I love and care about. I’m really trying to figure out who the hell you are right now. What’s been happening since I’ve been gone?” I asked.
“You think it's easy to be singled out as if I ain't her fucking son? All while growing up, all she ever did was cater to you, while I had to be treated like a little nigga that wasn't going to amount to shit.”
Ma sneered. “I havenevertreated you like that, Damien.”
“You have! Every time Tru would leave, I didn’t fucking exist to you, and Senior would constantly tell me that I’d always be in Tru’s shadow?—”
“Listening to a hating-ass, abusive-ass nigga that's causing you to build resentment toward your family is insane, D. I have never seen Ma treat you anything less than her son.”
“It’s what she showed you! She was so busy trying to stay out of the way of his fists, she neglected to see how the fuck I felt! But when you’d come home, oh… she smothered me with affection. She’s fake as hell, bruh, and it’s the main reason I don’t come around much unless it’s food in this bitch.”
“I’m sorry if you’ve ever felt that I didn’t give you enough attention, Damien. I tried to do everything I could to be a good mom to you and your brother. I was living in hell and would check out, but each time I had my boys together, I was reminded to live.”
Dame stood, pulling up his pants as he shrugged. “Yeah, well… you sure didn’t care that you were dragging me to hell with you. I gotta go take care of some business. I’ll be back later.” He left the den, and I looked at my mother, who had tears in her eyes.
“I really did try.”
I stood and pulled her up with me for a hug. “I know, Ma. I’m going to take care of everything and talk to him, okay? Don’t stress. I got you.”
She nodded and kissed my cheek, then wiped her tears. “I love you, Tucci.”
