SOUL-SIDED

ch.2

I got in the car and left the school parking lot.
I gave Valoure his ipad and his airpods.
It made my blood boil to know that my son could be doing nothing to anybody and still getting talk about.
They need to leave my baby alone.

Later that day .. 6:16 pm.
I helped Valoure get out the car and we knocked on my moms door.
She opened the door and the smile she gave us was so bright.

"Hi my babies!" She said , hugging me then Valoure.
"Hi momma." I said.
"Cmon in hea , I miss y'all." She said.

We walked in the house.
Tayler was sitting on the couch.
The minute she seen me , she caught a attitude.

"Hey Tay .." I said.
"Hi Carson." She said , getting up and going in her room.
"What's wrong with her?" I asked my momma.
"I don't even know .. I swear that girl is getting more distant by the day. The other day , I found birth control in her bathroom." She said.
"Birth control? So she's fucking without protection?" I said.
"I guess so .. I just want her to be safe you know?" She said.
"Yea .. I'll talk to to her." I said.

I went in my room and flopped on my bed.
Valoure came in and climbed on the bed.
Tayler came in and sat on my bed.

"Carson can I talk to you .. in private?" She asked.
"Yea .. I was gon come talk to you. Um pook can you go bother grandma for like 10 minutes for me?" I asked Valoure.
"On it!" He said , jumping off the bed and running out.
"So .. what's up?" I said , closing the door.
"Carson I don't know how to say this so ima just blur it out .. i've been working at a strip club and hiding it from momma." She admitted.
"Tayler .. a strip club? Why do you feel the need to show your body? If you needed money , you could have called me." I said.
"I know .. but I got tired of asking. I wanted to get shit on my own." She said

"So what you gon tell mommy?" I asked.
"I wanna tell her but ion know how she'll react." Tayler said.
"If mommy accepted me for being gay at the age of 12 , she can accept her daughter doing something to make her own and it's not like you hoeing .. you just getting your money your way and I love that for you." I said.
"Can you be there when I tell her please?" She asked.
"Of course. I love you Tay and I just wish you would slow down but .. your growing up and now I finally see it." I said.

Later that night .. 9:25 pm.

Pook was sleep and I was getting dressed to go out with Kalone.
Milano ain't feel good so he wasn't going.
I thru on something quick and did a quick lil makeup.

I was grabbing my purse and my keys when Valoure woke up crying.
I looked back and seen him crying.

"What wrong pook? You okay?" I asked.
"I want my daddy!" He cried.
"Huh?" I said , climbing back in the bed and grabbing him.
"I want my daddy .. I had a dream about my daddy." He cried.
"I'm so sorry pook .. i'm so sorry." I said , sitting him between my legs and cradling him.

I put my head on top of his and held him.
He held onto my arms as I held onto his little body.
He just started sobbing and sobbing.
My little boy was hurt and there was no way for me to fix it.
How was it possible for a six year old boy to feel this much emotion about a person he doesn't even remember.
His father was reminding him of his existence.

"Listen Valoure .. I got you. Vade's not here but I got you. I'll always be here .. i'm not leaving you. I promise." I said.
"Okay .." He said , sniffing and wiping his tears.
"You wanna go lay with grandma till I come back?" I asked him.
"Yea .." He said.

We stood up and walked to my moms room.
In the door way , Valoure turned around and hugged me.
He hugged me so tight.
I put my hand on his back and rubbed it.
He broke from the hug and climbed in my mothers bed.
She felt him and cradled him.

"I'll be back soon ma , try to get some rest pook. When I get back i'll come get you." I said.

I closed the door and left the house.
I drove to the club and went in.
I seen Kalone .. and some girl .. hugged up.
I walked over to them and stared at them.

"Um .. excuse me?" I said.
"Oh shit , wassup CC. Ain't seen yo ass in mad long." Kalone said , jumping up and giving me a hug.
"Yea yea that's cute but who is this? And does Milano know about this? You cheating on my friend? Fr Kalone?" I snapped.
"Bro nobody's cheating on his ass , im just having a lil fun. That's all." He said.
"Kalone don't play with me .." I said sitting down next to him.

I ordered me a drink.
Before I knew it , I seen damnear everybody jump up and run to the front door.
Some tall ass boy came in.

AKAIR MAYHAM | 27

Everybody surrounded him.
Every girl wanted to take a picture with him.
I guess he was just that nigga.
I watched him walk to his booth and sit down.
Then I realized .. I know this boy from somewhere.
He's a rapper.
A rapper that slid in my dm's with condolences a few days after Vade died.
I guess they was friends of some sort.
I looked over at him and made eye contact.
When he finally realized who I was , his face of realization was hilarious.
I started laughing.