*Milly rocks* Ayyee, ayyee, ayyeee! xD
Liissteennn guys! I am so touched by the love! I really need to get myself together, lmao! I really appreciate y'all! I cannot stress that enough!
LovinHueyFreeman: 4 da squaww! Awww I missed you too girl! Oh, please feel free to use the cover letter template, lol I don't mind at all. :) I definitely combined cover letter samples together and tweaked it lmaooo. Trixie, *sighs* yeah, she better go'on head. Ain't nobody thinkin' about her lmao. Huey and Jaz are cute, aren't they? :) I got you with the Juey fic, sis! Thank you so much for the love! :D
Schweetpea1870: #GangGang! Ayyeee! *C-walks* lmao! You guys got me so hype about coming back! Thanks girl! Jazmine killed that cover letter, didn't she? Sis, forget taking notes. Take the whole damn template lol. It's all good. :) Yeah, they're both hella fly. Thank you! I wish I could post pictures, but *rolls eyes* anyway lol. Aren't they adorable!? They may not think it's a date, but we know better loool. Yeah, Trixie is trippin'. Back tf up. She doesn't even know whether Huey and Jaz are a couple or not. She outta pocket lol. There will def. be more cute interactions and you already KNOW I can't leave out the other characters. ;) No problem, boo. We back, ayeeee! Thank you sooooo much! :D
RabbitMelody: Hey sis! Thanks for the review! Yeaahh, I've been MIA, but you'll be seeing a lot more of me. I saw your other review on All This Love, and don't worry. I won't permanently put the story on hold. I'm trying to revise it and keep it current. Stay tuned for that. ;). Definitely staying inside lol. You stay safe as well, and thanks again for the love! :D
ThickBlackGirl: Aw thank you so much! Huey won't be in this chapter *sad face*, but I'm currently writing the third one, and he's ALL up in that one. ;) There may even be some Juey-ness goin' on *side-eye emoji* lol. It won't be long, sis. Thank you! :D
Whew! You guys are so sweet! Thanks to everyone, and I mean everyone! The OGs and the new reviewers, the silent readers, and the ones who followed me and my story (and my other stories ;D). Y'all are dope as hell!
Okay, so I had to break this chapter up because it was getting waaaayy too long. I also wanted a Granddad moment. It won't be the only one, but I just felt compelled to write about him now. He's such an intricate character on the show, and with the passing of the GOAT John Witherspoon, :'(, I just HAD to. I'm still devastated that he's no longer with us, but boy did he leave a legacy behind. And I'm glad that he knew he was appreciated and loved. A true staple in the community. I know they still plan on having the new Boondocks show in 2021 (I think?). I hope they have some of his vocals. I'll tune in, but we all know it will never be the same. :'(
Anyway, don't be mad at me LOL, but Huey's not in this chap...
*Blocks a blow to the face*
BUT, I'm working on the third chap as we speak, and trust me, you won't be disappointed. ;)
Welp, onto the story! Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE BOONDOCKS!
Chapter 2: The 'C' Word
"Oh hell naw!" Came the unnecessarily loud outburst on the other side of the cellular device.
Jazmine turned the volume on her earbuds down to prevent an earache her friend would surely cause.
"How many fuckin' hours did you work, Jazzy?"
Jazmine sighed harshly as she picked up her laundry basket, heading to the washing machine down the hall.
"Twelve." Jazmine informed her, hearing her gasp. "Twelve fucking hours, Cindy. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?"
Cindy scoffed in annoyance for her friend.
"Girl, that's fucked up. I wish I could go down there and whoop his ass for you."
Jazmine laughed at her crazy friend as she opened the top of the washer.
"Please don't."
"Oh, I won't. They have laws against shit like that. I ain't stupid. I just said I wish I could."
Jazmine smirked and rolled her eyes.
"Well that makes two of us. We probably couldn't take him anyways."
Cindy scoffed. "Tuh! Bitch, who can't?"
Jazmine snorted while she loaded the washer.
"Bitch, you can't. He's, like, 300 pounds. And he's heavy-handed."
Cindy cackled. "Well shit, at 300 pounds, he better be."
Jazmine giggled.
"Anyway, what are you doing?"
Cindy sighed. "Working. I'm on break now, but I have a few minutes left."
Jazmine sucked her teeth while she poured in the detergent.
"Aww! Well, when are you off?" she inquired.
"Today? At 7. I'm off on Friday and Sunday though."
"SoOoOoOo, I'll only get to see my best friend once this week?"
Jazmine smiled as she heard her blonde friend's dramatic sigh.
"Looks that way, Jazzy." Cindy told her friend, feigning distress.
"Oh, shut up." Jazmine playfully retorted, giggling. Cindy laughed with her. "Well, I'll let you go."
"Okay boo. I'll call you later."
"Okay. Bye Cin."
"Bye Jazzy."
After the call ended, Jazmine pulled her earbuds out of her ears and closed the washer door. She adjusted the settings and pressed "Start".
Her sudden need to quench her thirst took over, prompting her to head over to the fridge. When she opened the door, she spotted the mango tea she forgot she'd bought the day before.
She grabbed it and went into the living room to watch something on Netflix. What could she watch now? Binge-watching was one of her guilty pleasures, and she was running out of shows.
She pressed the voice control button on her remote before bringing it in front of her mouth.
"Netflix." She requested.
She watched as the word popped up on the screen before it switched over to her Netflix account. After much deliberation, she finally settled on watching the show 'You'. She didn't really want to watch it because of how people hyped it up. She didn't want to watch something that would probably end up being mediocre.
But what the hell. Why not? She had nothing else to watch.
After an hour of watching the first episode, Jazmine was a little...confused. Why did the girl go by her last name? Okay, one of Jazmine's friends went by his last name, but it was actually a dope name. Caesar sounded better than Beck. She thought it was short for Becky, until she found out that the girl's name was Guinevere. Huh?
Also, has she ever heard of blinds? Why was she changing and masturbating with the window wide open? Did she think nobody could see her, or did she just not care? And why was Joe so compelled to her? She's an average looking girl, and so far, there's nothing spectacular about her whatsoever.
Alright, so maybe Jazmine was thinking too deep about it. She didn't know. She wasn't sure how to feel about the show yet, but she was interested enough to watch another episode. As she looked down at her phone for the time, she sighed.
Episode two was going to have to wait.
She'd planned on seeing Mr. Freeman today. She wanted to visit him for an hour or so. It was currently 2:38 PM.
She grabbed her remote, turned off the TV, and stowed her half-drunken tea away in the fridge. After she moved her clothes from the washer to the dryer, she grabbed her purse from her dresser in her room, put on her chucks and jacket, and grabbed her keys.
*Knock, knock, knock*
With one hand, Jazmine rapped on the front door of the Freeman residence. With the other hand, she held a bag of the old man's favorites: freshly squeezed orange juice from the Farmer's Market, Mike & Ike's, and Barbecue-flavored Pork Rinds. If Huey was there, he'd probably chuck the junk food in the trash bin by the garage.
"Who the hell knockin' on my door?" She heard the irritable voice behind the closed door. "If it's a Jehovah's Witness, I'm kickin' his ass."
She chuckled under her breath, knowing his mood would change when he saw her.
Robert Freeman prepared to curse the culprit on his doorstep out until he saw who it was.
"Cutie pie?" He sounded pleasantly surprised.
There he was in his usual pine-green sweater and tan khakis. The nostalgia hit Jazmine hard.
"Hi Mr. Freeman!" She exclaimed with a wide smile. She lifted up the bag. "Look what I gooottt!"
He eyed the white translucent bag and saw what looked like orange juice and some snacks. He grinned happily at the sweet girl's gesture.
"Aww baby girl. You always know how to take care of me." He praised her, motioning for a hug. Jazmine giggled as she walked into his arms. She missed his warm hugs. She couldn't imagine living without-
Nope. She wasn't going to think about that right now. She didn't want to be upset. This wasn't about her and her feelings.
"Of course. Just don't tell Huey about this." She playfully warned as the hug ended.
Robert snickered. "Don't worry little baby. This is our little secret."
He winked at her as she giggled. She walked in further to allow the door to shut behind her.
"What you doin' here this time of day?" He questioned her, his mid-western accent in full effect.
Jazmine feigned a look of hurt. "You don't want to see me?"
"Of course. But don't you work today?" He asked as he led the way to the living room.
Jazmine watched him as he seemed to be struggling to walk, and frowned.
"Nope." She said, not really wanting to get into it. "Where's your cane, Mr. Freeman?"
Without turning around to look at her, he waved a dismissive hand and scoffed.
"The hell I need a cane for?"
Jazmine shook her head at the edge in his voice.
"For walk-ing." She slowly stressed.
He scoffed again.
"I'm walkin' just fine. I don't need no cane. That's for old people."
Jazmine rolled her eyes at the stubborn old man and sighed. She said nothing else about it as she headed for the kitchen. Meanwhile, Robert made his way over to his favorite chair to resume watching one of his favorite movies: 'Friday'.
Jazmine placed the bag on the counter before opening the cabinet next to the refrigerator. She grabbed two standard glasses and sat them down on the island behind her.
"So," Jazmine began while she poured the first glass, "I haven't seen you in a while Mr. Freeman. How are you?"
The old man smiled as he looked her way.
"I'm okay, cutie pie." He informed her in a tone that needed convincing. His smile faltered shortly afterward, but he tried to recover. Jazmine's concern for him skyrocketed.
"...Are you sure?" She carefully inquired, pouring the second glass.
All he did was nod before he turned his attention back to the screen. His mood switched as he watched the scene where Craig's dad was in the room watching a mail carrier get bitten by a dog.
"That's yo' aaasss Mista Postman!" He recited the line before snickering childishly. "Pops is a damn fool!"
Jazmine smiled at his silliness, then frowned as she thought about his unwillingness to admit how he was really feeling. She tried to brush it off, though.
With two glasses full, she walked over to the living room and handed him his drink.
"For you." She offered.
"Thank ya kindly." He thanked her with a wide grin on his face before taking a sip. Jazmine's gesture seemed to make him genuinely happy. It was absolutely adorable. It made her wonder how often he was exposed to the little pleasures of life. With his old age and him being sick all the time, she imagined not often enough.
"You're welcome." She genuinely replied as she sat her drink on the coffee table. She walked back to the kitchen counter to get the snacks before taking her seat on the sofa.
"Did you take a look at the goodies I brought you?" She asked as she pulled the items out of the grocery bag.
"Not yet, I-"
A solitary cough got in the way of his response. They both paused for a beat; Robert, trying to get himself together, and Jazmine, staring at him with uncertainty.
He attempted to answer a second time before another cough hit his throat. It quickly turned into a series of coughs. Instantly, Jazmine panicked.
"Are you alright!?" She shrieked, but mentally cursed herself. Of course he wasn't.
He couldn't respond with all the coughing going on. He almost spilled his drink, so he placed it beside him on the end table between his seat and Jazmine's.
"Uh, maybe the juice will help, Mr. Freeman!" She suggested, unsure of what to do. She didn't know if Huey dropped the medicine off yet. Maybe the old man didn't need medication for a coughing fit, but it still bothered her. And she hated how helpless she felt just watching him.
He waved her off, still coughing, but Jazmine wasn't having his stubbornness.
"Drink it, Mr. Freeman! It will probably help!" She urged him, leaning forward. Worry was etched all over her beautiful face.
Robert eyed her with a raised eyebrow, and Jazmine wanted to smile as it reminded her of Huey. She chose to give him a stern, almost motherly, look though.
On his end, it was kind of funny that she thought she could tell him what to do, but he couldn't be mad. She was only looking out for his best interest.
She was like the granddaughter he never had.
As his coughing was subsiding, he finally brought the glass to his lips and downed the drink. Sure enough, it ceased.
Jazmine sighed in relief as he cleared his throat.
"See?" She teased in a playful 'I told you so' way. He chuckled.
"You worry too much, little baby. I always cough like this. It passes eventually."
Jazmine shook her head, trying to hide her sadness. "Well I don't like it, Mr. Freeman."
"Well you gon' have to deal with it, baby girl." He directly responded. "Now pass me them Mike & Ike's."
Jazmine held a neutral expression. Maybe she was too worried. She still didn't know the full extent of his health issues. She just knew he wasn't the same, and she didn't know how to deal with that.
She silently handed him the box before focusing her gaze on the television. She was more-so looking through the TV.
Robert couldn't help but notice the distant look on her face. He sighed softly and sat the candy on the end table beside him.
He felt like this was the right time.
"Jazmine." He called her, earning a mildly shocked look from her. He rarely called her by her first name.
"Yes?" She answered timidly, hating how childlike she sounded.
The old man stared at her, trying to figure out a way to tell her. He knew her worry-meter would potentially exceed his grandsons', and theirs were pretty damn high.
Still, he couldn't keep leaving her in the dark.
"...I don't have long." He mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.
But Jazmine heard it.
Her chest tightened. Each word pierced her soul. She couldn't even respond. Her face was frozen: eyes wide, mouth taut, jaw slack. What was he even saying right now?
"The doctors project that...I have as long as one year left." He slowly revealed to her.
No. No-no-no-no-NO!
Jazmine continued to stare at him as she felt moisture producing in her ducts.
After an uncomfortably long pause, her lips finally parted.
"As...as long as?" She inquired in a weak voice. She couldn't even process this.
"Yep."
"So, there's no possible way you'd make it beyond that?" She asked, her voice rising a little and cracking. She then felt a water droplet on her hand in her lap.
'Am I crying?' She questioned internally. She used said hand to wipe her eyes, confirming what she thought.
Robert sighed again and gave her a sad smile.
"It's not lookin' good, little baby." He confessed with a heavy sigh. He covered his face with one hand and dragged it down, signifying his exhaustion. He hated this.
God! Her heart was getting heavier by the second. This was too much.
She constantly wiped away her tears, sniffling in the process.
"Mr. Freeman," her voice cracked again before she cleared her throat. "...what illness do you have?"
The old man sighed once more, uncomfortably scratching behind his ear. He opened his mouth to speak, but then he shut it. He stared at Jazmine for a moment, really contemplating whether he should tell her or not.
The pleading look she gave him with her teary, green eyes gave him the answer.
He stood up out of his chair as fast as he possibly could, which wasn't fast at all. Damn his old age.
He slowly transitioned over to her, taking a seat to her right. As his frail, wrinkled hand took hold of one of her soft ones, her bottom lip quivered.
"Baby girl, I don't want you worryin' about me." He told her in a soft, grandfatherly tone. That didn't help. She closed her eyes, trying to relax.
"Mr. Freeman, please." She begged him in a hoarse whisper. She had to know. Why wasn't he telling her? This was like pulling teeth.
He sighed once more, still holding her hand.
"Cancer." He finally unveiled the truth, the word nearly pained him as it came out of his mouth. "Prostate cancer."
Wha-? Cancer? This could not be happening!
"No..." She trailed, staring at the man in horror. Her eyes were flooding at this point. No wonder Huey was reluctant to talk about it.
Robert gave her hand a light squeeze.
"I'm sorry." He apologized. For what, Jazmine had no clue. It's not like he asked to have cancer.
"I...I...I don't even know what to say."
The old man nodded, his eyes looking just as sad as she felt.
Shit. This was not the news she expected. She knew he didn't have that long to live, but one? And that was at the most!
"You ain't gotta say nothin'. I know it's hard to accept, little baby." He told her in a voice full of compassion. She didn't say anything. She couldn't. Instead, she rested her head on his shoulder. When he wrapped his left arm around her, she covered her face with both hands and bawled her eyes out. He just rubbed her arm soothingly.
"I don't want you to go." She expressed sorrowfully. She was a complete and utter mess.
"I know, baby girl. I know." Came the comforting reply. He didn't really know what else to say.
Jazmine was almost ashamed of herself for allowing her emotions to take over like that. He was the one going through it, and she couldn't contain her feelings for just a second?
But this was too damn much.
After a few minutes of consoling her, Jazmine went to the bathroom to get herself together.
Robert went back to his chair and ate some candy. At this point, 'Friday' was off, and 'Next Friday' was starting.
After she went back into the living room, she seemed to be a little better. For the remainder of her visit, the two were cracking up laughing at the movie and eating the snacks. Thankfully, there were no more coughing fits. Jazmine wasn't sure she'd be able to handle it now that she knew about his sickness.
At the end of the movie, she announced her departure.
"Okay, cutie pie," Robert smiled as he stood up along with her. "You be careful out there. Drive safe."
She smiled at his sweetness. He reminded her of Huey sometimes. As much as Huey hated to admit it, he was more like his granddad than he thought.
"Thanks. Take care of yourself, Mr. Freeman." She said, her heart still heavy. "I mean it."
He just smiled that sweet grandfatherly smile and gave her a hug.
"Don't worry 'bout me. I'ma be just fine." He stressed each word, trying to get it through to her head.
They both knew it wouldn't work. She'd worry about him forever.
She released herself from his embrace and gave him a sad smile. They let a comfortable silence take over as they walked towards the door. Jazmine was about to open it, but then she turned around.
"Cancel all your plans on Saturday night." She suddenly blurted out.
Robert scrunched his brows together, eyeing her suspiciously. He was about to say 'I don't have no damn plans!', but instead, he asked. "Why?"
Jazmine shrugged casually while a smile played upon her lips. "Well, I may come over with Cindy. We think it would be nice to cook dinner for everyone."
His eyebrow rose again.
"And when were you gon' tell me this?"
Jazmine sheepishly smiled, her cheeks reddening. "Uh, right...now?"
He snickered at her adorableness. He didn't care that she made plans to cook at his house. Hell, he welcomed it! Shoooott, he wasn't about to turn down dinner. The hell!?
"It better be good. You know I don't like no damn rabbit food." He pointed, a wide smirk plastered on his gracefully aged face.
"It would be if Huey were in the kitchen." She joked, causing him to laugh heartily.
"That boy is something else." Robert said with a head shake. "Well, I'ma let ya go. But don't forget what I said."
Jazmine nodded as she pulled her keys out of her purse and walked out the door. She waved goodbye one more time before heading to the car.
How do I feel about this chap? In the words of ten-year-old Huey Freeman, eh. Lol. But it's not about me. How do you guys feel? Drop a review for ya girl!
Like I said before, I'm currently working on the next chap, so don't worry. More Juey otw. ;D
Please stay safe y'all! :) Until next time. *throws up peace sign*