Page 70 of Senior

I went into the sunroom where I knew Pops kept his stash. I needed to smoke. Logi would have told me to get the fuck out of here, but we were going to talk about this shit today. I rolled up the blunt and lit it, taking it to the head. It didn’t matter how many pulled I took, I couldn’t escape the sounds coming from upstairs.

My mama was loud and I knew Senior was doing that shit on purpose. I tried to turn on music and the TV the drown them out, but it was no use.

“That’s e-fucking-nought!” I yelled.

It grew quiet, only for a moment before the noise continued. My head was telling me to leave, but my anger kept me rooted in this house. Maybe it was best if they stayed upstairs because there was no telling what was gonna happen when I laid eyes on my father.

I couldn’t believe my son walked in on me having sex with his father. More than that, I couldn’t believe his father kept going like we hadn’t just been caught. I couldn’t do shit but take it once we were alone again. That man made it his mission to make me be as loud as possible, probably to spite Deuce. It wasn’t long before my son was yelling at us from downstairs.

“That’s e-fucking-nough!”

Senior found the whole thing comical. He took his sweet time taking a shower and getting dressed before we headed downstairs together. I could hear Deuce on the phone, ranting.

“What do you mean it’s not that big of a deal, Grams?”

Senior laughed. “Boy, if you don’t get off my mama’s phone with your bullshit. Hang up and let us talk to you.”

“I’ll call you back, Grams.” He disconnected the call and glared at his father. “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from my mama?”

Senior chuckled as he took a seat on the couch. “Son, I’m your father. You don’t tell me what the fuck to do.” He pulled me down onto his lap and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Sit down.”

“Nah, I think Ima stand.” His eyes trained on me. “This what we doing, Ma? You really went back to him again?”

I sighed. “Deuce, I love you, and I don’t owe you an explanation, but I’ll give one because it’s my choice. I love your father. Always have, always will. Things just⁠—”

“You loved him enough to be his side chick when he was with Maddie? Yeah, I clocked that years ago, even though you both denied it. Y’all don’t hide shit very well. You forgot how long I’ve been around for this break up to make up shit. I know the signs and y’all ain’t as slick as you think you are.”

Senior shook his head. “Son, I love you, but frankly, I don’t give a shit what you know. I don’t owe you a fuck ass thing and I don’t need to hide shit from a nigga that used to swim in my balls.”

I elbowed him. “Stanley.”

“What? Deuce might run his household, and that’s a big might because we know Salima has him by the nuts, but he ain’t running shit over here. Not where you and I are concerned.”

“Watch out, Ma,” Deuce said, pulling at the waist of his sweats.

“Absolutely the fuck not!”

Senior slid me to the couch and stood to his feet.

“Nah, my love. Your son seems like he’s got some shit to get up off his chest.” He pulled at his own sweats as he stood toe to toe his firstborn. “Whatchu’ got to say, Junior? Better yet, whatchu’ wanna do?”

Deuce chuckled. “I’m really trying not to put my hands on you, old man.”

Senior shoved him hard, and I could tell my son was practicing restraint.

“The day you jump stupid and put your hands on me is the day I beat you like a nigga on the fucking street. I promise you, the safest thing for you to do is keep them hands to yourself. I’d hate to beat your ass in front of your mama, my boy.”

“Will you two stop it?” I pleaded. “This is exactly what I was trying to avoid. This is why I didn’t tell you.”

Deuce’s head snapped in my direction. “You knew how I felt about this shit, Ma. You really think he’s gonna commit this time? After all these years, you think he’s finally ready to sit his ass down and be the man you deserve? Cause I don’t.”

“Good thing it’s not up to you,” Senior said.

Deuce’s head snapped in his direction. “Pop, respectfully, don’t say shit else to me, bruh. You know my issue with you when it comes to my mama. You ain’t finna keep putting everything over her. If that’s the woman you claim to love so fucking much, you’d act like it.”

Senior grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and yanked him into his space.

“Senior!” I yelled.