Layshun

"Layshun stop throwing that damn ball in the house!"

"Ma, that wasn't me, that was Aiydan!"

He shouted snickering at little Aiydan rolling around on the floor. She smacked her teeth as she entered into his room. He grabbed Aiydan and held him up as his Mommy playfully tried to smack him.

"Alright Alright Ma, it was me!"

"I know you goofy doof."

"Mom, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Are you going to the airport?"

"Yes, I want to meet your Grandmother."

"She isn't anything special."

"Lay... Don't be disrespectful."

"She isn't anybody..."

"She's your elder and you will respect her while she's here."

He looked at Aiydan in his arms and smiled. He didn't like his grandmother just as much as he hated his real mother. She was just as guilty to him than his real mother. He looked up at his mom then sighed loudly.

"Okay, Ma."

"Good, now bathe my baby and get ready for bed."

"But spring break..."

"I know, but you have a doctors appointment tomorrow to go to."

"I do? I thought I was up to date."

"Yeah you are, but my baby boy isn't and you said you wanted to help."

"Maaa!"

"Alright, Lil Daddy, zanggg! I got it, but bathe him!"

"Will do!"

He watched as she left the room and threw Aiydan into the air then caught him. Still no emotions. He held him in his arms and walked to the bathroom . He pulled out Aiydan's tub and ran some warm water in it as he put some Johnson & Johnson bubble bath in it.

"Lay, why you always got Aiydy?"

"Cause he's my favorite sibling."

"Really? I thought I was."

Maddy pouted watching him put the baby in the tub. She grabbed the bath towel from his hand and began rubbing over his pale little body. He splashed around in the water as he stared up at her.

"You could just say you want to bathe him instead of taking it."

"You would just say no."

"Got that right, ugly."

"I'm telling Mommy you called me ugly and now my self esteem is low."

"LIAR!"

He yelled out after her as she raced out the room. He looked down at him and poked at his long face. He picked him up and carried him over to his bed. He carefully put on his diaper and lotioned his body. Nicki came in and sat on his bed as he dressed the baby.

"Lay..."

"Yes, Ma?"

"Where is Licour?"

"Um... I don't know."

He lied not looking her way. He knew she knew that he was lying, but he was taking a chance at it anyways. She burned a hole in the side of his face. She shook her head as he lied to her face.

"You don't have to lie for him."

"I'm..."

"Layshun."

"Alright, I just can't tell you."

He said looking up at her. She looked down at Aiydan moving around, watching his own finger as he popped it in and out of his mouth. He looked up to meet Nicki's eyes. He smiled then frown then smiled again as she did the same. She looked at Lay then walked out pointing to him.

"I will find out!"

He grabbed Aiydan and went into his room. Nicki had put a bed in his room, instead of putting a crib in everyone's room like Maddy suggested. He laughed thinking about one baby having nine beds. He placed him in the crib and walked out on the balcony to call Licour.

"Waddup?"

"Ma just asked about you. You know I can't lie."

"I knew.."

"I didn't tell her, but I did say I couldn't tell her."

"That's good... I got her and found out where she been staying."

"Can't believe she been watching us this whole time."

"She saw Macy at church and she saw Ma pregnant."

"What is she going to do to them?"

"I don't know, but it's freaking me out and I need to be answered before next week."

"But Macy isn't part of our blood line or Aiydan."

"I don't think she knows about Aiydan since he hasn't left the house since he's been born."

"I'm nervous."

"Man, me too... I'm bout to come in the house. We'll talk later."

They hung up and Lay looked over the balcony to see his car pull in. He stepped back in the house and shut the doors. He looked to see the baby sleep and got in the bed and laid down.

******

Lay stood against the rail as Tiffanee came up to him with muffins in her hands. She smiled as he rolled his eyes then continued talking to his friends. They were talking until she stepped up asked him did he want one.

"No, I don't want nothing from you."

"Why not? It's good."

"Get the muffin Shun!"

Timothy said nudging him. He looked at him and snatch the muffin from her hand and gave it to him. She smiled still pleased with him taking it from her. He adjusted against the rail then pushed off walking away from the group.

"Where you going Shun?"

"Home, you guys are boring me. I have more fun with my baby brother."

"Let me come, I want to speak to your mom again."

"NO, you only like talking to her cause she thinking I like you, ew."

"You will like me LayLay!"

He pushed her away and ran down the street to his house with her running behind him. He looked back to see she had stopped. He stopped then walked the rest of the way to catch his breath. Dumb girl, I don't even know why she like me still.

"Mama looking for, Lay."

"Why what I do?"

"Nothing, but you better hurry up."

"If I didn't do nothing then why I need to hurry?"

"Cause she been calling you for the last twenty minutes, DUH."

He pushed open the door to his mom yelling his name. He followed her voice to the kitchen and stepped inside.

"Where you been boy?"

"Outside with my friends."

"Wash your hands, remember it's your night to cook and you're thirty minutes late."

"Oh, sorry!"

~~~~~~

SB came in the house and made his way up to the bedroom and looked over at Aiydan and Layshun on the bed watching videos. Nicki came out the bathroom in her robe and slippers.

"Lay..."

"He good, I'm bout to go to the office."

"Are you sleeping in there?"

"I might, I might not."

Layshun looked at his Pop giving his mom the cold shoulder for the third night. He knew about their argument about his dad wanting to go to Florida with his boys, but his mom wasn't having that. He watched from the corner of his eye as SB left the room and Nic come sit next to him on the bed. She sighed.

"Shun."

"Yes, Ma."

"Don't be like your father... Asshole."

"Don't tell him no shit like that."

SB stated walking into the room. He eyed her as he went into the closet. Layshun watched as she got up and followed him into the walk in closet. He stayed quiet as he heard them talking.

"Aiydan, our parents are nuts."

"Ahhhhh.."

He sat up to play with him as Nicki came out the closet with an angry look on her face. She looked back then stormed over to Aiydan and picked him up.

"Don't take it out on my son!"

"Shut up.."

"Ma.."

"She alright, she'll be fine as soon as she calm down."

SB walked to a dresser to get a shirt as he walked around in his sweat pants and running shoes. He always went for a jog when he was in some sorta mood. Layshun put on his shoes and ran behind him and out the door.

"Pop, why don't Ma want you to go to Florida?"

"It's a woman thing, but no I seriously don't know why, but I'm going anyways."

"That just makes her mad."

He stopped and stood tall looking over Layshun. Did I say something wrong? Hmmm, now he's mad. He sighed loudly then put his hand on his shoulder.

"I know, but some times we need a break from each other and it's only two days, your Mom is tripping."

"So it's okay to make her mad?"

"For the right reasons, cheating isn't one of them."

"Got it."

They raced up and down the block. SB was kicking his ass in the little relay they had going on. Layshun looked over at SB as they made their way to the end of the their driveway to catch their breath. My Dad's the coolest.

******

[Monday)

Two days before Grandma was in town and Ma was panicking about everything being neat. Grandma wasn't anything special just cause she's a queen. She's just as slimy as my mother and I can't wait until she leaves. Annoying woman.

"Lay, hand me my phone."

"Pop, has called."

"Really? He said the weekend!"

She pouted looking down at Aiydan's small face. He looked so emotionless and clueless. I don't like keeping secrets from Ma, but Daddy asked me not to say anything. He watched as she grabbed the house phone and dialed his dad again and still got no answer. She threw the phone across the floor.

"Ma, you should calm down... He..."

"Not right now, go get your sisters."

He walked across the hall to Maddy's room and saw her stretched across her bed staring into the ceiling. He touched her and stared down at her. A tear raced down her cheek then she sat up and looked at him with her legs to her chest and her arms around them.

"What you want?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"Two days, I'll be leaving for Ghana. Mommy hasn't even looked at me since March came around."

"She doesn't want you to go..."

"She could..."

"Maybe this is her way of "acting" like it. I don't want you to leave, but I already know you have to, but Ma didn't grow up like us."

"Yeah, but I just want one more day with her alone."

"I'll help you."

"Layshun!"

"Yes, Ma?"

"What's taking so long?"

"Talking to Maddy."

"Oh, well hurry up."

Maddy's frown deepened as she followed behind him as they searched for Linda. They found her sitting on the sofa on the phone. By the curve in her lips, it was Alex. She put her finger up then looked over at them.

"Ma, wants you guys."

"Okay, I'm on the phone.."

"Um, you tell her that."

"Shut up.. I'm coming."

~~~~~~

"Linda, have you spoke to Pop?"

"No, I thought he was suppose to be home today?"

"No... He.... Never mind."

"What? You have a secret? Oh my gosh, Layyy!"

"Shhh, don't tell Ma..."

"Hold on."

She went to the door and looked out of it. She looked side to side. He sat on the bean bag in her room and waited for her to come back. She act like she won't hear mom coming.

"What happen?"

"Well Dad told me that he had business to take care of in Florida, but he wouldn't be back until Wednesday morning."

"What business, I know you know?"

"DON'T tell Ma!"

"Alright."

"Some girl name Monique from his past life and that's all I know.."

"Lay! You have to tell Mommy!

"No! Dad said he would tell her when he got back!"

"If he doesn't, then you are."

She stated getting in his face. He looked away then back at her. I'm not telling Ma anything. I'm not getting in grown people's business and Linda can't make me. He eyed her then pushed her out of his way.

"You don't tell me what to do and I'm not telling Ma nothing."

He stated walking out her room and making his way out the house to get in contact with his Dad before shit hit the fan. He knew a lot, but said little, but he would soon have to speak up.