"…FAMILY"

Early Monday morning, Tika's grandmother was sitting at the kitchen table, waiting patiently. She heard Tika fumbling around, getting ready for school. "Dot, you up?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Come in here in the kitchen and sit with me." Tika walked slowly through the hallway and into the kitchen. She cautiously sat down. "What's wrong, Grandma?"

"It's time for you to go out into the world, Dot," Tika's grandmother said, referring to her granddaughter's real name. "I want you to enjoy yourself. You're too old to be cooped up in the house with me all the time."

"I don't mind," Tika said, eager to end the conversation.

"But I do. All you do is go to school and come home. Now and then, you'll go out with your friend—I want you to get out and get a life of your own."

Tika shook her head and took her grandmother's hands inside of her own. "I have to take care of you, Grandma. Aunt Linda hardly ever comes around, and Ms. Dillard only stays until six in the evening. With your heart, you can't be here alone." Her grandmother rolled her eyes. "Dot, I'm not dead! I'm not a vegetable—I can get around just fine!"

"Grandma, you heard what the doctor said. Besides, you took care of me after Mom and Dad died. Now, I'm old enough to take care of you."

Tika's grandmother stroked her granddaughter's hands lovingly. "You don't even have a man in your life. I haven't seen any boys calling on you since you were in high school. Now here you are—a beautiful, young, college girl—and you still turn them away." At the mention of the opposite sex, Tika rolled her eyes and turned away. "These dudes around here are stupid. All they want to do is hang out and do nothing. None of them have any kind of decent job, and none of them are trying to get one."

"What about that one boy you went with last year?"

"He ended up being just like the rest of them," Tika lamented. "No ambition at all. I told him I was going off to junior college and he got mad and said he'd quit me if I didn't stay here with him. I'm not gonna stop my life just to stroke a man's ego."
"You're going to be an old, lonely woman if you don't learn to live life, Dot," her grandmother said. Tika shrugged, then left for her classes. Her grandmother remained at the kitchen table, wringing her hands. "What's gonna come of that girl?" she asked herself. "What's gonna come of her after I'm gone?"

That Monday evening, Jimmy returned to his mother's house—the first time in five years. He did not like this house. To be candid, Jimmy hated this house, for he did not have one happy moment here for as far as his memory could reach. Nothing here brightened his mood, not even the sight of his two brothers sitting at the dining room table and waiting for dinner to be served. Jimmy knew that this dinner—just as all dinners here—would be silent and tense. However, Jey and Airilyn had begged Jimmy to come, so here he was. Just then, his mother, Airilyn, Veronica, and youngest sister Lynette brought in the food. "Grubbin's a comin'!" Lynette announced. As they all sat down, their mother stopped them. "Not yet," she said. From over his head, Jimmy could hear heavy footsteps clomping on the wooden floor. His youngest brother Tommy was laughing loudly at Airilyn's teasing, but the laughter was abruptly cut short as he saw his father take his place at the head of the table. Jimmy noticed as his mother rose quickly and served her husband. She then motioned for everyone to start eating, only sitting to eat after she knew that her husband had been satisfied. "Baby," she addressed him, "Jimmy's home."

The only audible sound was a low, disinterested grunt. "Marvin, I said Jimmy's home," she tried again, only to be rudely waved away. "I heard you the first time, woman," Marvin responded rudely. Jimmy's youngest siblings stirred nervously in their seats. Veronica nudged Jey sharply under the table, indicating her discomfort and readiness to go home. Jimmy glanced at his mother and her husband in disgust. Marvin was not his father, nor was he Jey's and Airilyn's father, and Marvin found every reason to remind them of it. Jimmy's stomach pulled violently, but he made an attempt to hide his loathing of this man. Marvin finally faced him and sneered. "Well, the Prodigal Son has returned," he said sarcastically, then laughed. "I mean, the Nobody's Son."

At that name, Jimmy's skin bristled. Underneath the table, he clenched his fists in silent anger. Another thing that made Marvin relish was by tormenting Jimmy with taunts about his real father—of whom Jimmy did not know. It was a constant mental and emotional torture for him as a boy. Now as a man, his shame had transformed into hatred. He despised Marvin—not just for mistreating him, but also for turning his anger onto Jey, too. He and Jey were often the targets of Marvin's emotional and physical abuse. More than a few times have he and Jey dreamed and planned of doing away with him as boys.

Jimmy's mother soothed Marvin's forehead. "Now, come on, babe—relax and calm down. I got everything you want here—go on and eat, now." Now the revulsion that Jimmy felt had switched to his mother. He didn't have to look around to sense that Jey, Veronica, and Airilyn felt the same way. He also didn't have to look at his youngest siblings to know that they were getting nervous. Marvin was their father, but Tommy and Lynette also knew that his rages were quick, long, and violent. Even though he had never turned his anger onto them, they had seen it directed at their mother—and yet, she still doted on him. That was the reason that her sister Gladys had petitioned the court and won custody of them. Right then, Tommy was wishing that his aunt would come and pick them up.

Jey rose from the table. "We need to go, Mama," he said. "We got work tomorrow."

"Well, why don't you let Isaiah stay here…" his mother began, but Jey cut her off. "You know better than that," he said, his loathing glance cemented on her husband. "Besides, Ronnie's folks can look after him." His mother said nothing. Jey motioned for the others. "Come on, y'all—let's go. I'll drop y'all off with Aunt Gladys."

"We ain't through eatin' yet," Marvin snapped. He turned to Tommy and Lynette. "Sit back down—we're still having dinner." The two teens immediately obeyed. Jey turned to his wife. "Go upstairs and get the boy—we leavin' now." Veronica silently gestured to Airilyn to help her. For once, Airilyn didn't dispute her. Jey returned his attention to Tommy and Lynette. "C'mon."

Jey's mother attempted to go upstairs to stop Veronica and Airilyn, but Marvin grabbed her hand—causing Jimmy to spring up from his seat. "You just stay here, Lisa," Marvin said through clenched teeth. "Let them muthafuckas go. But they ain't going nowhere—these my kids!" he yelled, pointing to Tommy and Lynette. The two of them looked between their father and their older brother, confused. That was when they heard Jimmy. "Get up, y'all—let's go." He then stalked toward them and, pulling Tommy to his feet, led them to the door. Marvin jumped up, knocking over his chair. "Nigga, where you going with my kids?" he snapped.

Jimmy slung Tommy toward Jey, who pushed him and Lynette to the door. Marvin stood face-to-face with Danny. "I will kick your ass, you little bastard!"

"Oh, I wish you would, old man," Jimmy said, not backing down. "But you best know that I ain't thirteen no more." Marvin glared at Jimmy, rage filling him. He then reached over to pull Lynette to him, only for Jimmy and Jey to block him. "You won't touch them," Jey said quietly, ready to defend his younger siblings. In perfect timing, Veronica and Airilyn raced downstairs with Veronica's and Jey's two-year-old son Isaiah, who glanced sleepily around the room. Jey, never taking his eyes off of Marvin, opened the door and led everyone out of the house. Jimmy grabbed his mother's hand to pull her away, but she pulled away—choosing to stand behind her husband. Jimmy stared at his mother pitifully—wanting so badly for her to come with them, but knowing that she wouldn't. However, he shook his head, repulsed at her weakness, and left.

When they pulled up in front of their aunt's house, Jimmy got out with Tommy and Lynette. He hugged his brother, apologizing for what had happened at their mother's house. Unfortunately, when he reached to hug Lynette, she snatched away from him. "Why you come home?" she screamed. "Now we ain't gon' see them! Aunt Gladys'll find out what happened, and she won't let us see them!" Whirling around, Lynette ran inside the house and slammed the door. Tommy stood there, upset and torn. Jey then got out and limped toward his two brothers. "Jimmy, we better get you home," he said. "You gotta see your parole officer, then get to your job."

Jimmy hugged Tommy tightly. "I ain't never meant to hurt y'all. You know that, don't you? You know I'd never hurt any of y'all."

"I know that, Jimmy." Tommy then turned and walked slowly into the house. Jimmy watched his brother enter the house. Jey stood beside him. "She hates me, Jey," Jimmy lamented. "They turned my baby sister against me. Mama let him turn her against me!"

"She's a kid, man. She'll be alright—she just needs time," Jey said, trying to comfort his older brother. The two of them then got back inside of Jey's car and left.