Maddy

"No, I don't like that shirt or that shirt."

"Maddy, pick something."

"Mommy, I want to be pretty when I go to school."

"You're pretty anyways."

Nicki sat down on the bed feeling sharp pain in her feet. Maddy looked at her then grabbed a yellow shirt and put it on. She looked at herself in the mirror then sat between Nicki's legs and let her fix her hair.

"Mad lets go girl."

"Daddy, I'm getting my hair done."

"You got ten minutes."

He stated walking in her room. She smiled knowing Nic was giving him a face. She looked up to see Nic's mouth curved on the ends. Daddy always getting on her nerves.

"Come on big mama, hurry it up."

"Don't rush me."

"We're running late already."

"So what's a few more minutes?"

He walked out the room. Maddy stood up and hugged Nic. Nicki stood up and wobbled behind her. They held hands as she helped Nicki down the stairs. SB sat on the sofa watching TV when they walked in.

"Ready now?"

"Yeah, where's Macy?"

"In the bathroom."

"Then why am..."

"She had to go wipe her nose."

"Oh."

Macy came in the room and grabbed her bookbag. She kissed Nic then walked out to the car. Linda came down and did the same, Maddy followed suit and they walked out the house. SB started to go out when Nic huffed. Maddy popped her head back in the door.

"Ooohhhh, Daddy."

"Shut Up."

He walked back to Nic and pecked her lips. She rolled her eyes walking behind him to close the door. Maddy smirked flipping all the way to the car. Macy clapped and Maddy bowed.

"Getchoass in the car."

******

"Don't call my Mommy!"

"Maddy, I have to your grade in my class is below a B average and I know you can do better."

Said her math teacher, Ms. Young as she dialed Nicki's number. I'm going to be on punishment. She just don't understand her class is freaking hard. She sunk in her chair as they conversed. Gah.

"Your mother wants to talk to you."

Maddy began to cry as she grabbed the phone. She didn't say anything at first. Nicki called her name and didn't sound angry, so she spoke up.

"Mommy, I'm sorry."

"A C, Maddy?"

"It's hard. I go to tutorial, but its still hard."

"It's not too hard if you have a C, what's distracting you?"

"Nothing..."

"Um huh, we'll talk when you get home."

"No, then Daddy will be there."

"Exactly."

Maddy got quiet starting to shut down. Her teacher watched silently. Nicki spoke up then hung up in her ear. Maddy handed her the phone then grabbed her book bag and went to gym.

"Yo Maddy what happen?"

"She called my mother."

"You gone get in trouble?"

"Of course. I have a C."

"Your dad's going to be real mad."

"Gah, don't remind me. I've never had a C before and I know this will be my last one."

"Are you going to the gymnastics try outs?"

"If my Mom lets me."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, call me if you can later."

"Okay, Nasha."

They walked in different directions of the gym. Maddy walked up the side of the bleachers and sat with her class. Her coach called roll then the kids headed out to the dressing room. Maddy threw her things in the locker then pulled off all her clothes.

"Madison!"

"Shawna!"

"Hurry and put your clothes on."

"Girl, I have 10minutes."

"I know, but your body makes me jealous."

Maddy blushed as she pulled on her sweat pants. Shawndra was a big light skin girl with pretty green eyes. She was far from ugly, but she was big. Maddy loved her and never said anything about her weight because she knew she was self conscious.

"Shawn, you're beautiful, don't ever think differently."

"That doesn't make boys like me, like they like you."

"It's middle school, all boys are young minded and only look at looks."

"You think?"

"I know. I have three brothers."

They laughed as they walked out the dressing room. Darnell walked over to them and picked Maddy up carrying her over his shoulder. She reached out for Shawndra, but Darnell's friend Patrick picked her up and followed behind them.

"Darnell put me down!"

"Alright."

"Patrick, put her down."

"Iight."

They both dropped the girls on a stack of mats and laughed looking at their faces. Maddy stood up and punched Darnell in the chest. He grabbed the spot and acted hurt.

"What do yo guys want?"

"We got a question."

"What?"

"We'll you guys go to the dance with us?"

"No."

Maddy snapped walking off. Stupid boy hurt my butt then going to ask me to the dance. Get out of here. She walked around the inside track with Shawndra by her side.

"Maddy what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm not going with him. You can go with Patrick if you want to."

"I'm not going without my best friend."

"No, go."

"Maddy, I see you overreacting like always. Two of the most popular boys in eighth grade just asked us sixth graders to the dance."

"So? Does that make them special? No. Go and have fun, but I'm not going with him."

Maddy walked off leaving Shawndra by herself. Darnell and Patrick walked up to Shawndra as Maddy sat on the bench and watched them walk around. That's not how you ask someone on a date.

~~~~~~

Maddy walked into the house behind her Daddy with her spirits down. He yelled at her for the first time the whole car ride home. He blamed boys, gymnastics and trying to be hip the reason for her grade. Linda shook her head and walked to her room as their mother walked into the room.

"Faree?"

"Here is your medicine and Maddy isn't going to the gymnastics try-outs until her grades improve."

"Grades?"

"I went inside to talk to the other teachers. Two B's and Two C's. Low B's to be exact."

Maddy stood staring in her mother's eyes. She watched her eyebrow raise then fall. I hate when she does that.

"I guess so, sorry baby."

"No, Mommy, Daddy please let me try out! I promise to get my grades up."

"I'm not going back on my word, Maddy."

She let the stinging tears fall as she made her way to her room. This was the first time he had ever punished her and she didn't like it one bit. Usually, Nicki would be the one yelling and punishing her, but it was her Daddy. She threw her book bag on the floor and slammed the door shut. She picked up the house phone and dialed Nasha.

"Wassup?"

"I can't go."

"What you got in trouble for real?"

"Yeah."

"Your mom is so mean...."

"It wasn't even her, she just went along with it."

"Who then?"

"My Daddy."

"What?"

"That's what I'm saying. I guess I really pushed his button this time."

"Maddy, you need to get back on his good side and quick."

"When are try outs?"

"This Friday and next Saturday."

"My grades will not be high B's and A's by then."

"We have a major project for Ms. Evans do next Thursday, remember ?"

"I been turned it in."

"What's your grade?"

"Eighty four."

"She hasn't graded it yet, so..."

"Maddy get off the phone."

"Okay."

"Bye Maddy."

"Bye Nasha."

Nicki walked into her room and closed the door. She sat up at her desk and scribbled as she felt her baring a hole in her back.

"So you're ignoring me?"

"No, I just don't have anything to say."

"Look at me."

I turned around to face her and her eyes captured me. Her silent stares had a way of just bring you in and taking over you as if in a trance. She smiled which caused me to smile.

"If you can get a report for me from each of your teachers by next week, I'll talk daddy into letting you go try out."

"Really Mommy?"

"Yes, but only if you do that for me."

"I will! I will!"

Maddy attacked Nicki with a hug as they fell into her bed. She kissed Nicki's big stomach. She looked up at her and rubbed her stomach.

"Mommy, you're big for only three months."

"I know."

Maddy helped Nicki up then sat on the bed staring at her. I can't believe Mommy is having a baby. Daddy doesn't seem so happy and neither does Mommy.

"Are you not happy to be carrying Daddy's kid?"

"Um.... I'm happy just ready to get rid the load on my body."

"Oh."

Maddy could tell she was hiding something, but neither furthered the conversation. I don't want her to cry, so I'll just keep quiet. Nicki laid down and closed her eyes as Maddy got comfortable next to her and they both fell asleep.