She was wiping her hands on the ragged dish towel when the knock came. Sharp - intentional .Not like the guys delivering mails or the nasty ass neighbors asking for salt. Nah ,this knock has presence.
She frowned : Nobody knocks like that around here.
opening the door halfway, her eyes met someone unfamiliar - tall, deep brown eyes, dreadlocks tied back, his brown skin that soaked up the sun. His eyes - cold, calculated, beautiful but dangerous.
But his eyes was distant : fixed on what, her damn breasts.
"Nigga who is you?" she asked, ignoring his eyes fixed on her breasts.
His eyes met hers, and a moment of recognition passed through them. He seemed really familiar but she didn't care.
" you really didn't have to walk out like that, alzira" he said, his voice hoarse and cold.
" who are you and what do u want?" she fired back, curious as ever.
"Tell mama tee Zion came by" he said handing her a black envelope.
" oh so u know my mama?" she asked collecting the envelope from him.
"Yes I do." He said as he turned to leave.
"Zion?, is that what you're called?" she asked halting him in his steps.
" you'll figure it out". He said as he went off.
She slammed the door and wondered : the audacity.
Alzira is a young black lady who is just trying to figure her life out. She lives with her mama who is called mama tee by all and her dad lives out of the country with another wife he married. You know men and their dicks hanging out, haha. He got mama tee pregnant and dumped her in the states.
Mama tee and her daughter aren't rich, but well they are survivors -though skinned and loud mouthed, just like the south raised 'em. Their little two bedroom apartment always smelled like cocoa butter and burnt bacon, and the Tv never left BET unless it was Sunday service.
Outside the neighborhood was already loud- kids screaming, a car blasting with music; and miss Loraine arguing with her man again for the third time this week. Same drama, different day.
She looked at the letter in her hands and wondered what news is embedded in it. She didn't want mama tee hurt by any mother fuckin' news. Mama tee has been a rock of encouragement for her and the inspiration for her struggles and she damn wanted to give her everything and she knew she would so right now she decided to keep whatever news the damn letter came with.
Zion! Zion! The name echoed in her ears as she wonders what kind of dude he is.
She walked into her room and slipped down her body gracefully a robe, the thoughts dancing in her head. she hummed a song and went out to go check on her mama....
Meeting him has sparked something in her and she wasn't definitely finna ignore it. Who was he?
How did her mama know him?
She walked to her mama's room to ask her about
the young man who just caught her attention.
She pushed the tall doors apart and heard a sob.
She stared at her mama sitting near the window looking out the window, her chest heaving as tears trickled down her face, her hands tightening around her phone.
"Mama" alzira called out as she walked to her and put her hands on her shoulder "what happened mama"
"" I really wanna be alone now alzira" mama tee said, her voice tiny as a whisper as she let out a deep breath
" is it him again? why do u keep calling him mama? he abandoned you. He left you. He left us. He doesn't love you mama"
" we need him alzira! I can't do this shit alone anymore. You can't keep carrying the weight of this household on your little salary girl! I'm so fucking lonely!! I work so hard alzira. I bust my ass out on this street all day and so as you and we can't keep up or else we gonna get swallowed up. Petura is fuckin asking for the damn rent right now. we can't afford to keep up and I damn well don't wanna be out there on the streets!!! Don't you get it? "" mama tee screamed as she sat up and slammed her hands on the wall.
" It's always the same damn thing with you mama!! You always let your damn emotions lead you!. I'm fuckin tired of you whining about the bills and shit! I'm not fucking complaining! You can't keep licking his ass mama. That nigga is toying with you. He abandoned you mama!!!" Alzira flared back as she backed away.
"I'm sorry alzira, I'm sorry I damn raised my voice like that. I'm just tired of this whole shitty ass lifestyle. " mama tee said as she came close to her .
Alzira took two steps back and put her hands between them.
" You're always sorry mama. I'm tired of going back and forth on this matter with you. I need you to stop and take charge of yourself. This man is never going to love you. He's just gonna keep giving you crumbs. you need to give yourself some respect and me as well!".
Mama tee held her hands as she broke down into tears . she laid her head on alzira's chest and sobbed.
" You gotta stop mama. I hate to see you so broken. We're gonna pay rent okay. we're gonna be good. we always have. I'll make sure of that ".
Alzira said as she patted her mom and consoled her.
"You gotta come eat mama. I made something good for you."
"Thank you so much alzira. you be making me feel so relaxed, What is that you holding baby?" Mama tee asked as she looked at the envelope resting in alzira's hands.
"Oh yes this! It's actually for you mama. A guy came to deliver the letter this morning ".Alzira said handing the parcel to her mother.
" Really, that's weird. I wasn't expecting shit. Did the nigga leave a name baby?" mama tee asked.
" He said his name is Zion."
" What!!" mama tee exclaimed throwing out the envelope from her hands.