Dahlberg Daisy

*Warning: This chapter may mention drug use. I do not support drug use in any way.*

The warm skies greeted me with children riding their bikes in the middle of the street. I jogged down the few stairs walking towards Ms. Irene's passing by the small group of girls playing double dutch. Thankfully her house was within walking distance, only a few streets over.

A young girl that looked about nine years old screamed for her friends to come to play tag with her. She wore an afro that framed her head, her mouth a hue of blue from whatever sweet she had indulged in.

Can't help seeing myself in her, memories of myself flashed in my mind. Standing at my front door saying yet again that I couldn't come out and play. From my mom working yet another shift I had strict instructions to do my homework eat dinner that was left in the microwave and be in bed by 8. I can still see the disappointed looks as I closed the door back locking it.

Turning the corner towards Irene's home, I walked across the street towards her house, when I looked over a group of guys that were hanging around a car. Getting closer I recognized one of them to be Darius. He smirked catching my eye nodding his head at me.

"Aye Adanni you looking fine, don't ya think?" His friends nodded in agreement now staring as well. I brushed off the uncomfortable feeling that crept up my spine not allowing these negroes to make me feel any type of way.

I rolled my eyes looking away ignoring the remarks they threw at my back, knowing if I allowed myself to listen to any of them it would be a problem. I wasn't in the mood to show my ass today.

I approached the floral house at the end of the block. I opened the gate closing it behind me and walked up to the door giving it a quick nock. A few seconds went by when the door swung up. I stiffened as I saw a flash of bright yellow fabric consume hugging me tightly. Relaxing I hugged her back.

"I'm so glad you made it, finally making time to hang with me. I know I'm a little boring, but I thought we were cool."

I giggled at her the slang she used. And allowed me to be beckoned in.

Her outfit matched her bright personality. A bright yellow spaghetti strap dress covered in beautiful blue lilies. Her hair was in a braided style with a large bun in the back of her head. I always admired her style. Her hair was always an inspiration for me. Pushed me to want to try new styles with my own, but every time I tried I gave up in the middle. I remained to ask her for tips also.

"You're not boring Irene, I've just been busy, I've had a lot on my mind recently."

It was true Irene was far from boring from always making me laugh, and someone I could not only get advice from but also talk about girl things with. She is one of my best friends. I can talk to her about things that my mom would never listen to.

Sanaya has even hung with us, I giggle at the memory. On the day of my nineteenth birthday, Irene had invited us over for tea we laughed and joked around for hours until Sanaya was questioning the smell she noticed on her way to the bathroom. Me being so naive I had no idea what she was talking about, but Sanaya being more of the outgoing one out of the both of us, has lived a lot more than I have. She finally convinced Irene to give up the goods when she finally gave in and brought out her tray.

A herb I had never seen before but soon found out what it was. The rest of that day was filled with our laughter until our stomachs hurt. From then on Sanaya always called Irene her Aunty Irene, saying she is now her family rather if she claims her or not.

I sat making myself comfortable in her living room the table already set up with the tea tray. I started myself with a nice cup of tea as she settled in across from me. There was a comfortable silence as we both piled pastries onto our plates and enjoyed. I breathed in the slight breeze that was flowing through her back door she loved to keep open. All of her flowers blowing made her home have a fresh scent that I found comforting.

"So how is your family?"

I sense she started with an easy question so she wouldn't overwhelm me. Which I much appreciated. She always was the type of person to get someone to open up to her. It's a skill I always admired.

"There fine Maliq has improved in baseball so much, he's excited about his team. I'm proud of him."

She nodded smiling brightly. She has met Maliq plenty of times even babysat us bot a few. Not as many as I would have liked. Mom never wanted anyone else in our business, and having her babysit so much would have shown how much she was gone, and she didn't want that. I knew Irene would have always understood though.

"And what about your mother?"

She questioned further.

I purposely didn't mention her knowing I would have to explain the entire situation if I did. I looked up at her seeing her warm eyes study me knowing if I lied she would be able to tell, I picked my words carefully.

"She's fine."

I casually started taking another bite of the soft buttery biscuit.

"Fine? And what else?" she pressed.

I glanced around the room at the family portraits that sat upon her walls. Some of her with her parents, one of her with her son when he was about twelve, holding a science fair trophy smiling brightly at the camera. His name is Soul. An odd name I know, she said she was inspired by a book she had read.

"Good."

I shrugged.

She sighed continuing to analyze me. I knew she didn't deserve the short answers, but I honestly didn't know what else to say. If I told her the truth she would make a big deal out of it, maybe even decide to go talk to her herself and that's the last thing I wanted.

Unlike my mom Irene always accepted my sarcasm she said it was a self-defense mechanism I did when I was uncomfortable. I strongly disagree by the way.

"Did you guys get into another argument? You know she loves you right? She just has a hard time showing it."

I sighed shrugging my shoulders. Taking a mental note to stop using that as a reply. I was starting to get tired of it myself.

"How have things been for you?"

I decided to take the approach of changing the subject, knowing that was a topic I didn't feel like commenting on. Taking the hint she started to speak about the new things in her life. A new book she had bought recently, and another species of flowers she had recently planted.

"I'm also excited about my son he's visiting me soon I can't wait for you to meet him."

Tuning back into the conversation I focused on what she just said.

"Really? Your son?"

"Yeap he called me yesterday confirming it. I can't wait to see my baby, of course, he'll always be a baby to me."

"Oh that's cool I can't wait to meet him."

Truthfully I lowkey always felt jealous of her son. Not ever meeting him, but the way she speaks of him is so loving it's the way I always yearned for my mother to speak to me. You could tell how proud of him she is by the way she speaks of him.

Despite the wrong he has done in the past she still spoke highly of him. That's the way I will speak of my children. No matter what. I will tell them every day how proud of them I am, and even when I'm angry I'll remind them how much I love them. Irene truly taught me how to be a mother.

As if sensing I was lost in thought she covered my hand with her own. Smiling that same loving smile directing it towards me.

"Don't worry you'll always be my baby too."

I smiled brightly in return my heartwarming completely.

"Thank you."

© 2021 by Ireland Rea. All rights reserved.