Two Worlds Apart

46

Chrysta

"READY? AIM? FIRE!"

Laughing with my children, we all threw balloons filled with paint against paper that was placed on a wall. Hearing the excitement and seeing all the fun we were having, they continued while I got my phone. Going again, this time recording them, I took pictures in between.

"Alright, alright. Two lines. Boys in ones girls in the other."

Today I had an all day session with them. Watching as they all rushed to try to be in front, I shook my head and laughed. Once they were settled, I designated an older boy and girl per line.

"Bathroom. Wash up then come back out for y'all snack and water."

As they walked off, I looked at the splatter on the wall and smiled. Picking up the buckets that had the balloons, I placed them to the side. One by one they started coming out with their lunch bags. Once they were all out and seated, they ate and conversed amongst themselves.

"So auntie, when are we going to see your son?" Daniel smirked.

Shaking my head, I pulled a picture on my phone and showed them. Cooing and awing, I took back my phone and chased them off as they laughed.

"He is cute though." Jenecia smiled.

"Thanks love."

In the midst of me staring at my phone a message came through from my mother. Opening WhatsApp, I smiled at the video of my son laughing while she played peekaboo with him. Saving it, I sent it to Aug.

"Auntie Chrysta, Joshua throw Micah headphones in the paint."

Face palming myself, I placed down my phone and got up. Going over to where the boys where, Micah was in tears while Joshua stood there.

"You doh get tired?" I asked him. "You not tired of me having to call your mother all the time? Go and sit down till I say you can move."

Walking off, I picked up the headphones and took Micah by the hand. Telling him to go wash his face, I sat with the roll of paper towels, attempting to clean the headphones and to see if it's still working.

"Why would you throw the boy headphones in the paint? You always doing some kind of nonsense."

"But Auntie, he didn't want to let me get my turn on the game." He fussed.

"So you throw his headphones in the paint? That making sense?" I stared at him.

Huffing, he didn't say anything. Doing the best that I could with the headphones, when Micah came back, I told him to check it to see if it still works. Doing so, he informed me that only one side was now working. Glaring at Joshua, I was annoyed.

"Okay. I'll deal with it."

Finished with their snack, I told them to pack up and we went back inside. While they played and watched tv, I sat at my desk and sent his mother an email, blind copying my supervisor, because I was tired at this point.

"Auntie Chrysta, can we use the board games outside?" One of my older ones asked.

Allowing them to, they went out and played while I did my usual duties with the younger children. As I sat chatting with one of my girls, the sound of heels was heard, causing me to look out the door. Entering, Joshua's mother came in. Showing her the headphones, she nodded and took him outside. Not to long after, he came back in clearly upset.

"I'll talk to Micah's dad."

"No problem." I nodded.

Going back to what I was doing, I didn't bother to ask him if he was okay. Whatever his mother did or told him, he deserved it. There wasn't a day that went by where I didn't get one complaint on him and at this point I was over it.