Just Wanna Help

"Hey ma, i'm back!"

"I think she's in the garden and stop yelling before you wake up my baby!"

"My bad, my bad."

I tip-toe past her and head out back, "Hey mama, how you been?"

She ignores me and continues to water her flowers

"I uh, I came by to give you this."

I pull out a small envelope but she doesn't take it, "I don't want your money."

"Ma please, you need this."

"I don't want ya damn money, Yosef! We are doing just fine over here!"

"Three outta four of ya kids are still living here, not to mention your granddaughter."

"Go. Now."

"But ma I-"

"I said go!"

"...Fine."

I go back inside and throw the money on the counter, "Aye Riyah, kiss Keiyara goodnight for me and-"

"Don't tell her about using the money. I know."

I head for the door but before I grab the handle Riyah stops me, "She misses you, Yo. She's just too damn stubborn to admit it."

"I just thought that I was helping."

"You are. All the money you've been dropping off has been keeping the bills paid and food on the table. I even started looking for me and Keke a place to stay."

"That's good to hear, what about the twins?"

"Well Malik got a new girlfriend and the two of them are working as interns for some kinda computer coding place."

"He's always been good at that. What about Markus?"

"He just got a full-ride scholarship to St John's University Queens Campus. Both of them are really excited about graduating."

"Damn, I feel like i'm missing out on so much..."

My eyes water and I cover my face. Riyah goes to lay Keke down on the couch and hugs me, "Awe, please don't cry bubba. Yes your ways aren't the best but they keep us off the streets, and this is all temporary. The boys are leaving in the fall and before ya know it, i'll be heading out too."

"Then who's gonna be here with her?"

"She needs the house to herself."

Keke starts to wake up and instantly notices me. She gets up from the couch and runs over, "Uncle Yoyo! I missed you!"

I pick her up and spin her around, "Hey my lil ladybug, I missed you too."

She grabs my face with her soft little hands and examines my eyes, "Uncle Yo been crying mommy?"

"Uh no, he just had something in his eyes."

"Oh, well does that mean that it's out now?"

"Yes ladybug, it's out now. How about tomorrow we go out for ice cream?"

"Icecream, yay!"

I kiss her forehead and put her back down on the ground, "I'll pick you up from daycare tomorrow but you have to go sleep, okay?"

"Okay! Night uncle, night mommy!"

She hugs me one last time then hurries off to her room. "She's a good kid Riyah...please keep her safe."

"I will bubba. Any word on Kazmaria?"

"Nothing yet but i'll call you if anything changes. Love you kid."

"Love you too bubba, be safe out there."

"I will."

***

"C'mon...pick up the damn phone..."

"HT, you've got Fernando."

"Aye, it's me, put Carlos on the phone. I need to speak with him."

"Uh Yoyo? That you?"

"Yes it's me, now where's he at?"

"He's in a meeting right now but I can go get him if it's important."

"Nah it's fine, just tell him to call me as soon as he can...we need to talk."

"Are you sure? This meeting might take a while."

"Shit, how long we talking man?"

"I have no idea but I've been waiting on them to finish up for about an hour now."

"Fuck...just tell him that i'll meet him at his place later."

"Will do."

I hang up my phone and put it back into my pocket.

"Aye girl! You got the car running outside?"

"Yeah, you ready to go?"

"Yup, lets head out."

***

"You remember the plan?"

"No, run it by me one more time."

She lets out an annoyed sigh, "Okay listen, we go in arguing and ask for Ray. If they ask what for you tell them-"

"That I wanna fight him."

"Right, and when we go the back of the building he gives us the drive and we switch cars."

"...What car?"

"Damnit Yo, we've been over this so many times! We park in the back because the camera back there is broken and the tag on his car is a fake."

"Right right...but he does know what time we're showing up right?"

"No, I just told him that we'll be there before his shift is over."

"Alright, you ready to go?"

"Lets fucking get it."

[Police department]

"Uh-huh, my baby daddy is finna beat yo ass! Bae, bae, get out here and handle this little ass boy for me!"

All eyes are on me as heads pop up to see the sudden out burst.

"Gon head and call em'! I'll beat his ass right here, right now!"

"Um, excuse me but I'm gonna have to ask you both to calm down or leave..."

"Listen here miss thang, you go back there and tell Rayquan Jackson to bring his ass out here right now, or I swear i'll set shit off in dis bitch."

The secretary takes a step back and hurries off the back of the office. A few seconds go by and a skinny man comes running from the back room and puts his hand on the shoulder of the woman who tried to interfere, "I'll handle this Kathy." She nervously nods and speed walks away. He stares at Dee and nods for us to head outside.

When we arrive to the back of the building, our little act crumbles.

"Really Dee? That was the best you could come up with?"

"Well you outside, ain't ya?"

"Huh," He shoves a small USB in her hand, "Just take the car and leave. I swear, you love making me look like a fucking idiot."

She places a quick peck his lips, "I do. Bye baby, i'll see you at home."

"Bye girl, aye whaddup Yo."

"Sup."

We exchange keys and Dee and I load up into his car.

"Whew, where to next?"

I rev up the car, "We're gotta make a stop at a friends house real quick."

"Wow, you have friends? Do I know him?"

"Yes I have friends and god I hope not."