“My nigga!” he yelled in excitement.
A huge smile lifted on my face as we embraced. “Jules, my guy. It’s been a long time.”
“Man! Ain’t it? Ya ass started getting that legal money and forgot about ya people!”
“Fuck outta here.” I laughed and took Jela’s hand, who stood by nervously. “This is my special friend, Jela. J, this is my cousin, Jules.”
“Nice to meet you, Jela. Welcome to the South, baby!” he exclaimed, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her in the air. Jela yelped and laughed.
“A’ight, Cuzzo. Not too much,” I told him.
He released her and opened the back door to his truck. “My bad, Cuz. You know we huggers ’round hea!”
I shook my head, helping Jela inside the truck as I put our luggage in the trunk, then got in beside her. Once we pulled off, I asked, “Grams got the food ready?”
“You already know the ladies got the kitchen lit. I already smashed two plates before I came hea.”
I chuckled. “Cool. We’re starving.”
It took us forty-five minutes to get to my people’s compound. When we pulled through the gates, I heard Jela gasp. “Wow… This is amazing. How many houses are there?” she asked.
“Ten in total,” I replied.
“So, you have a big family on your dad’s side?”
“Yeah. This is where I spent my time during school months. I graduated from Morris University, then moved to Michigan in pursuit of my career.”
“And ain’t seen his ass but twice since he left,” Jules muttered.
“I haven’t had the time, bruh. You know how it is when you’re living that corporate life. It ain’t like we don’t talk, fool.”
“Virtual ain’t the same as physical… But we’re just glad to have you visit this year. Grams can’t stop damn talking about you.”
“I know. I miss my girl.”
He pulled up to the main house and parked in front of the door. I got out and helped Jela down from her seat, grabbed our bags, and headed inside. As soon as we entered the house, I could hear laughter and music serenading the house. My babycousins were running through the house while my other cousins sat in the living room playing video games.
“Aye, y’all! Truce is here!” Jules yelled, and everybody abandoned their places, yelling and rushing toward me.
“Tru! What’s good, cousin?”
“We missed you!”
“Where the heck have you been?”
“Why you ain’t been to see us?”
So many questions were fired my way, and all I could do was smile.
“Y’all killing me. I’m here for the holidays, so that’s all that matters, right? And I came with gifts.”
“Oh, we love gifts!” my cousin, Rihanna, exclaimed.
“Is that my baby?” I heard my gram’s voice enter the foyer.
I turned and smiled widely, pushing through my little cousins, who were surrounding me, to get to her.
“Grams, my love.”
