Page 29 of Mr. Calloway

I shot up from the chair. “I’m not about to sit around and wait. If her ass doesn’t want to be with me, fine, but she’s going to have to tell a nigga to his face,” I snapped.

Scooter stood as well. “I dig it. What do you need me to do?” he asked.

I didn’t want Scooter involved in my shit. I needed him to stay on the right track since he had just been freed from the halfway house. Tapping his arm with the back of my hand, I let him know, “You straight, I’ll keep you posted. Besides, you’ve been here too long. Better get back to Morgan before she nuts the fuck up.”

Scooter gave me a corny laugh before he left the balcony and the room. The thoughts invading my mind were ones I tried to keep locked away. I pulled my phone out to see a message from Chevy telling me to come up to the hospital. I knew we were about to come up with a plan, but fuck the plans. I needed action. Something was up with my shorty, and I needed to figure it out.

That was when her momma came to mind. I saw that look in her eyes when she came to Hoodoos. I snatched my bike keys and headed out of my room to only be greeted by Zeus.

“You riding or what?” he asked.

He held Peace in his arms. “Sup, twin?” I said to Peace as if he knew what I was saying.

He looked just like Chev, and to know his other half was going through something fucked with me. I knew he was too young to understand, but I wondered if he could feel what his missing piece felt. That was what I was feeling, knowing Samara was somewhere out there and had completely disconnected herself from me.

With everything going on in Chevy’s life, I hated to add fuel to the already burning fire, but we were a family, and doing anything without him just didn’t sit right with me.

June’s Entry

Place: The Zoo

Year: 2025

Time: Too early to know

Z,

I feel good today. To know that my name means something feels good. Knowing that my legacy is Calloway makes a nigga’s heart smile. To know that my kids' names are theirs, I couldn’t ask for anything better. Knowing that YOU are, in fact, Mrs. Calloway made it all worth it. I’m almost free, Z! I’m almost there.

I got something planned. Something I know will shift the way of the Zoo. A lot of shit has happened in this past year, girl, and you and I both know what things are coming to. Every time I sit and open my orange book to write, I wonder which entry will be the last. Sometimes, I even wonder if you’ve come across it and read a few of them. However, the more you gaze into my eyes, the more I can see the unknown, and that’s how I know you haven’t read a single page.

As I wait for the crew to get here, I think about you sitting and reading each letter. Just know that with everything you read, shit will change. Your eyes and heart will be exposed to something that I’m too cowardly to say. You will be angry and sad, but know that it has all been with love.With that being said…

Shit, the crew is here. I’ll get back to it, I promise. I’m crowning Dio Prince today. I just hope I’m making the right decision.

I love you forever until the end.

Signed,

Mr. Fucking Calloway

When June toldme Dio hadn’t heard from Samara, I wanted to screamI knew it. That gut feeling was right. Even though I was worried about Samara, I was also concerned about Savior. I was starting to feel like I was spread too thin, and the bit of sanity I had left was depleting. The truth was, I wasn’t okay.

Being a mother, a wife, a friend, a sister, and a woman who was held in high regard wasn’t easy. The wordtiredmeant nothing to no one, not even myself, because despite what I was going through, I had kids who were depending on me to be strong. There was no room forI can’tbecause if June wasn’t going to think rationally, I had to.

I stood at Savior’s bedside as he slept. My baby hadn’t even had the chance to flourish before something like cancer was trying to take him away. Savior hadn’t even turned one, and God wanted him to Himself just as He wanted his daddy.

When June came back into the room, he was holding Peace in his arms. I smiled at them weakly. June was so worn down that it was all in his face. The life that was handed to him, many thought, he handled with grace, but it was tearing him apart, and now this.

He stepped closer to me. “They’re all in the lobby. I told the nurse that Peace was here so they could run tests. How are you feeling?” he asked.

I shrugged. “I’m as good as I’m going to be. I need you to find Samara, June. I know that bitch has something to do with it. What if?—”

He placed his finger to my lips, and Peace followed behind him. “She’s going to be okay. I can promise you that.”

His eyes said he hoped, but I knew he was going to do whatever he needed to make sure of it. June was a strong man, not just physically but mentally, and for that, I loved him with my soul. The only thing was that he sacrificed so much, I was afraid it would take him to his grave. I didn’t want to bring it up, but seeing that my baby was lying in this bed, it was time to have the conversation we had been avoiding.

“You need to go see your grandmother. I saw the paper, the one you tried hiding in the Caprice.”