Where's Mama
It was
I said, "She went to Linda's,
honey."
"I can't sleep Daddy, will you go get
her?"
Cookie adopted me, she was a year and a half,
when I started seeing her mama. She was very insistent that I was her dad. If
anyone said different she would fight. At this time she was 5.
I woke of
His father denied fatherhood and his step
father was a crack addict. I was his first father figure. He said, "It
about time, Dad. Be tough with her."
I went to the nearby projects. Since I was a
big man (6' 1" tall, 275 lbs) and I looked like I had no fear people would
not mess with me. I would say, "Hi, how are you?" to anyone I would
see. I went to Linda's house and knocked on the door. Linda let me in and said
Brenda was in the kitchen playing cards.
As I went through the living room there were
a few people smoking crack and playing cards.
Brenda was coming off her high and I said,
"Come on baby it's time to go. Cookie's can't sleep and needs you."
After some arguing a guy came out of the
living room and asked her if everything was all right. I looked at him with a
look that could kill. I said, "Unless you want your ass kicked, I would
recommend that you keep your mouth shut and get your ass out of here."
He went back into the living room and another guy asked him if there was a
problem. He said, "Leave that crazy old white man alone. I think he is
packing." I wasn't but they were.
I said to Brenda, "I am going out to the
car. If you don't get your ass out there in 10 minutes I am going home and get
my things and leave your butt. This time I am not coming back and there is no
way in hell you can pay the rent." She was out in 5 minutes.
I took her home and said, "The next time
you are out smoking crack I am out of here." I kept that promise. I moved
out the next week.
© Copyright 2001 Lee W. Gaylord