Please excuse ANY errors.

November 26, 1998

~Daryl's P.O.V~

"This is Tia." DeVanté introduced my daughter.

"Hello," Tia spoke nervously and shook her hand. "Happy Thanksgiving."

She meets new people almost daily and still acts like this. She's also not in a professional setting, so maybe that's why.

"These are her parents, LaZardia and Daryl Toussaint." DeVanté introduced and we shook her hand.

DeVanté pointed to Yasir. "Here's the human Pillsbury Doughboy-"

"Yasir, Her brother." Yasir introduced himself, cutting DeVanté's joke off while shaking DeVanté mother's hand.

I chuckled under my breath because this man is looking like Pillsbury Doughboy. He was like this when I first met him, but he got in shape by going to the gym and that's when he met Ashari. Now, I'm sure that's he's been eating fast food and let himself go because he's probably going through the depression stage of the breakup situation... It happens sometimes, but DAMN!

"And his kids, Masir and Asiri." DeVanté introduced.

"HI!" Masir said from below with a jump.

"Hello." The lady replied.

"And I'm Donald. Donald DeGrate Junior." DeVanté said shaking the elderly lady's hand. His mother? Possibly an aunt?

"Boy if you don't get over here, you better!" She said pulling into a hug. "I know you haven't seen me in a while, but you don't greet your grandmama like that." She said laughing.

Ahh, his grandmother! She doesn't look that old, but I could tell that she's older than myself and my wife. Why DeVanté ain't tell us who she is when he told her who we were? I'm guessing DeVanté don't know how to introduce people

"I'm just playing, grandma." He said once they pulled away. "Y'all this is my grandmama."

"I got that NOW," I told him.

"Yeah, my bad for that." DeVanté apologized.

"Come on in, don't let all my air out." His grandmother laughed, ushering us inside.

We walked inside and the HEAT hit us like a ton of bricks. I don't feel no damn air! It's hot as hell in this motherfucker! What air? Does she REALLY call this air!? I feel like I'm about to pass the fuck out!

"Junior!" A lady said, walking fast in our direction.

"Hey mama and pops," DeVanté said meeting them halfway and hugging the both of them.

"Hi, sweetie." His mother said hugging Tia.

"Hello." My daughter replied, hugging her back.

After Tia and DeVanté pulled away from the hugs of his parents, his parents acknowledged us with a welcoming look. They did greet us when they opened the door. His mother then cleared her throat.

"Well... Aren't you gonna introduce us?" His mother asked, looking at her son.

DeVanté nodded, "Oh, yeah... Ma and pops-"

Tia spoke up. "This is my mother-"

"Hello, I'm LaZardia Toussaint."

"And father-"

"Hello, I'm Daryl, Daryl Toussaint."

"Donald DeGrate Sr."

"Mary DeGrate. It's nice to finally meet you both."

"Hello, I'm LaZardia Toussaint."

We all introduced ourselves and exchanged handshakes. "I didn't know you were a Junior?" I said looking at DeVanté.

"It never came up." DeVanté shrugged his shoulders.

"Come in." Senior ushered us further I side of their home.

We wiped our feet before walking inside further. It's a nice and comfortable-looking home, minus all the people here. Damn, it's a lot of people! A gang of folks! I mean, I've been around plenty of people at once considering how large my wife's family is. The thing is how HOT it is in this house. There's NO type of air circulating here. It's already got outside, but it feels like it's even hotter in here.

I smell food, so that's more than likely the reason for the heat. The heat is EXACTLY why my wife, daughter and the rest of the family cooks most of the food the day before. I know that I'm not the only hot one because my wife took off her jacket and she's ALWAYS cold. It wasn't long before we were introduced to the rest of the DeVanté's family. They remind me so much of my wife's family; LOUD! They're also watching the game that I'm interested in.

"I'm sorry. I'm Yasir, Tia's brother and these are my kids Masir and Asiri." Yasir hook hands with them both.

"I met Masir last year. He and my son are around the same age." Mrs. DeGrate spoke.

"Son!? You got a kid MY son's age?" Yasir said taken by surprise.

He and his sister definitely need to talk more! I eyed him for being so rude, even though that shit is amusing. His grown-ass know better than to say some shit like that out loud.

"He didn't mean it like that, Mrs. DeGrate," I told her.

"It's fine, I was surprised myself." Mrs DeGrate chuckled.

"We all was!" Dalvin said entering the conversation. "He was born ON my birthday."

"Ouch," Yasir muttered.

"You grown! Why does it matter?" I asked him.

"It's the same thing as having your birthday near Christmas. You don't get as many presents." Dalvin told us.

"It's hot in here," DeVanté said aloud, moving his shirt up and down, attempting to cool himself off. "I don't see how y'all can sit in here like this."

"We have other family members outside." Mrs. DeGrate.

"There's more family outside. I'm Dalvin by the way, Dalvin DeGrate." Dalvin held his hand out.

I looked at him then his hand like he was stupid. Well, he is, but... "Dalvin, shut up," DeVanté told him.

Dalvin chuckled, "Wassup, Mr. Toussaint, and hello Mrs. Toussaint."

I dapped him up, my wife greeted him as well.

"Is the food done?" Dalvin asked out loud to nobody in particular.

"Dalvin, it's only one. You KNOW the food ain't done." DeVanté said to his idiot brother.

No, they're actually both idiots. It's just that one treats my daughter how she should be treated and I've known DeVanté, the first idiot, longer than Dalvin, the idiot. I didn't even know DeVanté was a Junior, what else don't I know about him?

"Daddy!" A little boy came running our way and DeVanté picked him up.

"You got kids?" I asked DeVanté, shocked.

"No. This my baby brother." DeVanté chuckled.

I nodded. "Oh, okay. Good. I forgot you said you got a little brother that young. My bad. On the other hand, let's find the dragon that's blowing it's breath-

"Dalvin, close your mouth," DeVanté said to his brother.

I wanted to laugh, I really did, but I think it's too damn hot for that! "What I mean is I'm an old man and it's hot in this house and I think I just might have a heat stroke in here," I said aloud.

"I'm sorry about that. Follow me." Senior (Mr. DeGrate/ DeVanté and Dalvin's father) lead us outside to the seating area. "So what do you do for a living?"

"I'm a drug lord. We in popular demand." I nodded. "Making big bucks."

"Really?" Senior said taken aback.

"Yes, sir!" I gladly told him.

My wife hit my arm, laughing. "No, he's no drug lord."

"No, I'm a consulter at a steel company, but that's not important," I replied to him. "What's REALLY important is whether y'all eat pumpkin or sweet potato pie?"

"I swear you and my son have the same humor. Said something similar when I met your daughter." Senior shook his head.

"Oh, no! Your son WISH he was THIS funny."

"ACTUALLY, neither of you are funny," Senior told me with a big grin on his face.

"Well, my wife loves my jokes," I told him.

"I'm forced to." My wife butted in.

"Ooh, I can relate." Mrs. DeGrate chuckled.

We just gave our wives a blank stare and they both walked away. Senior then turned to me. "Sweet potato ALL the way." He replied laughing.

"My brotha!" I dapped him up, laughing.

"But I'll eat pumpkin if it's made right. That's rare though. They do sometimes tastes the same." Senior told me.

"Aye man, imma need my handshake back." I threw my hand up at him.

He chuckled. "So you tellin' me that you can always tell the difference?"

"YES." I put emphasis on every letter.

"I can't." Senior replied.

"Tell your taste buds to get it together," I told him with a chuckle. "But nahhh, you like what you like," I said to him.

"I got one. Apple or peach cobbler?" Some unknown dude asked me.

"I'm sorry..." I trailed off with a tilted head. "Who might you be?" I asked.

"I'm Freeman. This here is my big brother-in-law." Freeman said referring to Senior.

"Big brother in law? I ain't ever heard that before." I chuckled.

"Yeah? You see his glasses BIG. His head? Well, his head is too. His feet-"

"The better to kick you with." Senior replied to Freeman. "My fist big too. Just enough to match that even fatter fat lip you will soon have, son." Senior held up his fist.

I busted out in laughter. "That's a good one." I nodded. "So... Is that your mother or?"

"That's my wife," Senior said offended.

"I mean, the one DeVanté hugged when I first walked in?" I told him.

"Oh, that's my mother-in-law. My wife's mother. Her father is in there to." Senior replied.

"Damn, your wife's family lives very long. Her grandfather in there. I'll have to meet him to get the secrets of living longer." I joked.

"No, my wife's father is in there. Her grandfather is long gone. Her grandmother is still here though." He told me.

"That's a blessing," I replied.

"Definitely." Freeman agreed.

"When did you meet my son?" Senior asked me.

"Some years back when my daughter was in the hospital, he was there. In early '93." I replied with a nod.

"That was early and I JUST met your daughter this year," Senior revealed.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah, man."

"You raised a respectful man though. He treats my daughter right and I love that. AND I MUST add, he ain't lazy. Too many boys out here sitting and waiting for opportunities instead of chasing them like they should." I spoke to him.

"That's Junior for you. All my kids weren't like that. Dalvin wasn't, he was just following his big brother. Dalvin was the spoiled one." Senior chuckled. "Even though I don't exactly support what they're doing, I am proud of them all though. I'm proud of their relentlessness."

"Parenting is a whole bunch of trial and error. We made it though." Freeman said to us. "Well, you had to start all over again!" He guffawed.

"You're correct, BUT at least I went through all my trial and error and won't mess up as bad with this one. There won't be no complaints with this one." Senior told us.

"That's where you're wrong. There will be the same amount of complaints, if not, more complaining. Times change and so does social norms. Can't be the perfect parent, there is no such thing." I told him.

"My parents were perfect." Senior said to me. "I still go by what they taught me."

"Everything?" I asked him.

"Hell, naw." Freeman answered for him. I looked to Senior for his answer.

"No, but almost." Senior chuckled.

"I know Brandy ain't say it first, but almost doesn't count." I chuckled.

"Who?" Senior asked me.

"Brandy. My youngest daughter listened to her." Freeman told him.

"I'm sorry. I forgot that you don't listen to stuff like that." I apologized.

DeVanté did tell me that. I didn't expect to get as personal as we are on the first meeting, but what can I say? I'm too down the earth for my own good. I haven't always been like that. DeVanté came over to where his father, uncle, and myself were sitting with his baby brother in his arms and Dalvin near. Yasir came too with the kids. I guess those two are getting along better. Those two are DeVanté and Yasir.

"It's like I got cast out and they like Tia more than me or something. Shooed me out and EVERYTHING." DeVanté joked.

"Nahh, I just think it's your ears taking up all their space," Yasir replied to him with a chuckle.

"Either that or your gut that's fixin' to slip out that shirt of yours." DeVanté patted Yasir's belly twice with the back of his hand.

I busted out laughing. Everyone else, except Dalvin and DeVanté. I could tell they wanted to but held back. Probably didn't want to offend guests. Me? I don't give a fuck! If something is funny to me, even if people do deem it as offensive, I'm GOING to laugh and I just MIGHT be the loudest. Take now for example. That's if I know you...

"I ain't even notice that until now, but he right! That shirt a lil TOO small." I said through my laughter, grabbing my granddaughter who's been tugging on my arm.

"It shrunk in the dryer," Yasir complained.

"Nahh, through is your gut got bigger!" Dalvin said seemingly sympathetic with his hand on Yasir's shoulder, then began cackling. "What happened!?" Dalvin asked through his laughter.

"All that fast food he keep eating," DeVanté said not even laughing. Senior chuckled under his breath, then cleared his throat to speak. "Or maybe it's all the stress of trying to control other's lives instead of fixing yours."

I stopped my laughter. "Well, damn."

I think that was personal. I've never witnessed DeVanté and Yasir argue or anything. At least nothing I could remember, but I could always feel the energy when they were around each other.

I turned to Senior. "I'm sorry Reverend or is it Pastor?" I asked him

"It's Reverend and people do it all the time. I also do the duties of both." Senior chuckled. "It's fine."

Dalvin turned to his father then looked my way with a shrug. "Then I must repeat because I was thinking it too. Well DAMN!"

Senior stood up from his seat and Dalvin did the same very quickly. "Ooooh..." DeVanté shook his head. "You messed up now." DeVanté had his eyebrows raised. Dalvin took off running. "RUN FORREST, RUN!" DeVanté shouted while laughing.

Senior stood there as Dalvin stood there in distance just watching his father. "Do that disrespectful shit again and I will slap the piss out of you!" Senior yelled then sat back down. "That's okay, he'll be back soon."

"As you can see, he curses himself," Freeman spoke to me. "He doesn't do it often, but he still does it."

"A hot mess." I heard the voice of my daughter. "Daddy-" I hadn't noticed her before due to all the chaos around me.

"Huh?" DeVanté answered her I stead of me, her father. "What's up?"

"Excuse me?" I frowned at him.

"Huh?" DeVanté repeated, but this time to me. "Oh... Umm, Daryl, she's calling YOU." He said trying to convince me, but it seems like he had just come to a realization.

"He tryna play it off," Dalvin said already back from his run.

DeVanté scowled at Dalvin and stood up. DeVanté held Dalvin in place. "Here he go pops! Get him. He won't be going anywhere no time soon."

"Son, I think YOU might be the one not going anywhere." Senior side to DeVanté.

I looked at my daughter. "You call this man daddy? You know that's what prostitutes call their pimps, right?" I asked her.

"No- Of course not. Never." She said standing there just as shocked and embarrassed as myself.

"So you never-"

Tia cut me off. "NO. Actually- I mean-" She paused then looked off to the side, then her eyes met mines. "No, of course not." She chuckled.

"It was a joke," DeVanté said laughing. "I'm joking."

"You don't joke like that to no man about his daughter," Freeman spoke up. "I was scared for YOU, Lil D."

"He bothers me often." DeVanté chuckled sitting down and grabbing my granddaughter off my lap. He's referring to me by the way.

"You not pimpin' my daughter out, are you?" I asked him.

"What?" Pimpin' your daughter out?" De just repeated what I said.

"You heard what I said." I pointed at him.

"No, what? Why would you even-" Tia stood there looking stupid.

"Yeah! Back in my day pimps and hoes only did that." Senior told them.

"Well, now it's for a while 'nother reason," Freeman mumbled.

"Please, do tell," I told Freeman.

"Yeah, what are you talking about Freeman? You always seem to keep up with the kids these days." Senior told him.

"Mines are still young and the music these days tell EVERYTHING." Freeman laughed.

Tia and De shook their heads at Freeman. "You can't do anything to me BECAUSE I have a baby in my arms." De paused. "Your granddaughter!" He emphasized.

"You snatched her off." I looked back to my daughter. "You're not just saying this to save ass, are you?"

"Daddy- Not you!" She eyed DeVanté and he laughed harder. "My real father! I'm being honest." Tia gave an embarrassed laugh, leaning on one leg. "Why would you do that?" She asked DeVanté.

"It was a joke," DeVanté replied laughing. "I'm sorry, baby." DeVanté apologized.

"In front of EVERYBODY too. Your father of ALL people." She told him.

"I'm sorry." He repeated. "It was all in the name of joking. Her saying that would be weird."

"Daddy is something a woman calls her man," Yasir told me and Senior.

"Oh, so it's no big deal right? They are together." Senior asked everyone.

"I guess not." I shrugged in agreement.

"Not only that but-"

"Yasir, cut it out." Tia gritted with her hand cutting across her neck.

"Please don't ever do that again when I'm around, De. That's disgusting." Yasir's face scrunched up.

Tia placed her hand on her forehead. "Anywho, your wives want to know whether y'all wanted some pie? You too Donald and Yasir. That is ALL that is ready at the moment."

"Yeah!" Dalvin yelled over to where we are. No, he hasn't come back over yet.

"What kind of pie is in there?" I asked her.

"I dunno. Pies." She shrugged. "It's going quick. The people in the house are in there right as we speak."

"See y'all!" Dalvin ran into the house.

"It doesn't matter. Whatever's left is fine for me." Senior replied.

"Whatever your mother decides is fine. As long as it's good. I don't know how these folks' food tastes." I told her then looked at Senior. "No offense."

"Everybody can't cook. I'm treading lightly because I'm not sure who made what." DeVanté said to everyone. "Here's your granddaughter." DeVanté sat Asiri in my lap. "Ain't you gon' get up?" He asked Yasir. "You ain't no elder or child, come get your own stuff."

As they all walked away, Yasir responded with, "I been nice because we at yo people's house, but you REALLY pissin' me off."

"You know what Yasir? I'm A-OKAY with doing that." DeVanté nodded.

"Well... Is this not one of the most awkward ways of meeting in-laws?" I chuckled.

"It's- yeah..." Senior nodded.

"It's the kids. These grown-ass kids." Freeman chuckled.

"Hey pops!" I'm assuming it's DeVanté's other brother with his children.

"Hey, son." Senior stood up. "This is my son, Derek. Those his kids over there." He pointed in the direction of the kids.

"Wassup, man?" I dapped him up, still holding onto Asiri. "I'm Daryl."

"Tia's pops, right?" He asked me.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Another D name, huh?" Derek asked.

"Yup." I chuckled.

"Fit right in," Derek told me.

"Where's Maria?" Senior asked his son.

"She's in there with the others. She'll be out in a minute. It's so hot in there, ESPECIALLY in the living room. They in there eating pie and yelling at the TV about the game." Derek shook his head. "I ain't wanna say anything, but it's a lil musty in there too."

"You already know who that is!" Freeman laughed.

"Why don't talk just tell him?" Senior asked him. That's exactly what I want to know. "That's what I'd do. Pull his grown ass to the side and tell him. That's your cousin."

"You don't think we didn't do that before?" Derek asked his father. "Everyone has tried. Even in front of EVERYBODY. That don't phase him at all. He just claims that it ain't him."

"I do see him do that. He just blames it on somebody else." Freeman agreed.

"Welp! At least y'all know what to give him for Christmas." Senior said laughing then heading to the grill.

I burst out laughing. He ain't shit for that! Asiri just looked up at me lost with her mouth slightly agape.

"What you lookin' at me like that for? Huh?" I asked her in a baby voice.

She laughed showing her teeth. I stood her up on my leg. I'm surprised she doesn't want to get down. Many children have a short attention span, so when my baby talk got old, she shifted her attention to my chained bracelet and tried putting it into her mouth.

"Nope. Not gonna happen!" I chuckled.

Boy am I happy I didn't starve me for a Thanksgiving meal. I usually do, but not this time since I'm spending it at someone's house. I don't know how well they can cook, nor do I know how late they finish with their cooking.

"Dada," Asiri called out. My grandbaby will soon be one years old 

"Yeah, there go your fat head ass dada." I said tickling her and joking with Yasir.

"I would say somethin' to you old 

"It was all gone, but Maria here came in clutch with some sweet potato pie." DeVanté a slice of pie in front of his uncle. "Here you go, unc."

"Appreciate it Lil D," Freeman replied.

Oooh, I would be livid if my nickname was Lil D!

"Pops, I brought you some too!" Dalvin said to Senior, sitting a slice of pie in front of his father's empty chair.

"He just tryna save his ass, so his pops don't get him." Freeman chuckled.

"You're Maria, Derek's wife?" I asked the Latina woman. At least that I believe she is.

"Yes, I'm Maria, but Derek and I aren't married. We are together though." She chuckled.

"Oh, I'm sorry." I apologized.

"They shacking up, Daryl!" DeVanté said laughing and taking a seat.

"Not funny." Daryl gave him a blank stare.

"To me it is." DeVanté shrugged.

"You act like you ain't ever shack up." Derek shot back.

"I never said I ain't. I just don't do it anymore." DeVanté told Derek, clicking his tongue.

"This a big slice. I ain't need all this but thanks." I told Tia.

"Mama did that. She was going to bring it out, but got distracted and told me to." Tia told me.

"You ain't want none?" I asked her.

"Nope, I got some peach cobbler hidden somewhere. Thanks to Mrs. Mary." She cheesed.

I turned to Maria. "Can you cook, Maria? That's the REAL question."

"Of course." Maria laughed.

"I hope so because if you can't imma tell you." I pointed at her jokingly.

I wouldn't tell her that. I don't know her enough and don't know how she'd take it.

"I ain't ever taste your baking, but you can cook. Hopefully, this tastes good." DeVanté eyed her.

"She put her foot in it," Derek told me, laughing.

"A'ight now." I chuckled.

"You sure you don't want none?" Maria asked Tia.

Tia gave a hesitant look. "Umm, sure. I'll try some."

Tia gave Derek a knowing look. Derek, Tia, DeVanté, and Dalvin all exchanged looks. I don't like that! They KNOW something I don't. I have a feeling that it's about Maria's cooking and/or this pie. I waited for somebody else to eat it first. That person was DeVanté. I didn't see him make a face or anything. Yasir was the second and he was tearing it up. The way he's eating looks like he isn't even tasting it.

DeVanté cleared his throat. "Here babe, you can have some of mine." DeVanté offered to Tia.

"Thanks..." Tia grabbed his fork.

I took a bite around the same time Tia did and let me tell you something! Foot!? It tastes like she put her WHILE ass in this shit! This shit don't tastes like no damn sweet potato pie! Then my wife decides to give me a big ass slice. Tia began a coughing fit with watering eyes. Then the words to come out of DeVanté's mouth just put the icing on the cake.

"You good?" DeVanté patted her back. "You want some more?" DeVanté asked her.

"No, I'm full." Tia stood up while leaning over, retching.

"Is it good?" Maria asked us.

If someone is retching, doesn't that automatically tell you how the food taste? I would laugh, but I'm too busy forcing myself to swallow it then looked at Yasir. This nigga eat any-fucking-thing! I need to wash my fucking mouth out.

"Delicious!" Tia let out.

"What she said." DeVanté smiled at Maria.

"Where are the drinks?" I choked out.

"The cooler over there." Freeman pushed his plate away without even trying it. I guess he learned from us.

"I'll go get us all a drink." DeVanté stood up.

"Nahh, I got it!" I told him standing up.

Tia lifted her head up. "I'm sorry. I think I ate too much this morning and it went down the wrong pipe. Where's the bathroom?" Tia asked with her face beet red from the lack of oxygen.

"Imma show you, baby." DeVanté said and they walked away.

DeVanté KNEW it was nasty! All of them probably knew she couldn't bake which is why they all exchanged looks. Tia knows she ain't eat that much either. Lying ass! I held Asiri as we walked to the cooler. I'll keep her! I KNOW she gon' eat it! Kids eat anything. I went to the cooler and as soon as I bent down, that shit came up. I spit it out a little further from the cooler. I was quiet with it though, so nobody will know. Plus, I didn't take a big bite or anything, so what came up was very little.

"Shit..." I mumbled then went back to the cooler and grabbed a few water bottles.

"Are you okay?" Senior asked me.

"I'm fine." I nodded. "That turkey smell nice."

"Thanks, trying to make sure it doesn't get dry." He chuckled. "Almost done though."

"Y'all doing the deep-fried and grilled, huh?" I asked him.

"Yep, that's what it looks like." He chuckled.

"Dalvin got your pie over there waiting for you." I chuckled, trying to be funny. He doesn't know or maybe he does.

"I know. I'll get to it in a bit." He told me while closing the grill. He headed to the deep fryer and I followed not too far behind.

"Pops you need some help?" Dalvin asked coming up to him.

"Yeah." Senior nodded. I stood back with Asiri.

I don't want to go back over to the tables just yet with the others. I should've known. Everybody thinks they can cook because they're used to their own food, but whether others like it or not is the question that should've been asked. I now don't believe shit when DeVanté say some people can cook from this day on. Shit, if she can cook, then Yasir is Gordon Ramsey! Yasir ain't even that good at cooking. The only thing is I'll eat of his is his breakfast food and some if that shit doesn't be made right. Dalvin and Senior stood up.

"Pops, I'm sorry for cussin' earlier." Dalvin apologized then raised his eyebrows that for some reason always seem to constantly risen. "BUT you DID say-"

"I know what the hell I said, but you know better. I would never do what you just did in front of me in front of Big Mama. If I had, my bottom jaw would've been in my ass." Senior told him.

"Well, thanks for not putting my jaw in my-"

"I'd tread lightly if I were you," I told him already knowing that he was about to repeat it.

Dalvin chuckled. "He can't do much. I'm grown and don't live at home."

"I beg to differ." Senior raised his fist with a chuckle.

Just as we were making our way back, DeVanté, Tia, and my wife began walking to the table. I walked slower because I have words for him.

"You could've warned me," I whispered loud enough for him to hear me.

"What?" DeVanté asked.

"You heard me. You could've warned me about that shit is nasty. Talking about she put her damn foot in it. More like her ass because it tastes like shit." I squinted at him.

"No, you did not," Tia said laughing right along with De.

"He said her-" DeVanté couldn't even finish the sentence before laughing again.

"You damn right. You could've given me a blink, a nod, or even a hand gesture!" I whisper-yelled.

"Then had the GULL to ask me if I wanted more. You saw me choking!" Tia told him. "You KNOW my stomach is weak. I should've kept my answer NO."

DeVanté laughed. "Hey, but the starving kids in these third world countries would-"

"Throw that shit to the fucking dogs. I ain't EVER had no damn sweet potato pie like THAT. I don't taste NO potato or any of the other shit that goes in it." I told them.

"It was that nasty?" My wife asked me with laughing.

"HELL YEAH." I put emphasis on my words. "Talking about Maria can cook. Maria cooks, but she doesn't know what the hell she doin'!" I told them.

"I'm happy as hell that I didn't get none." LaZardia laughed harder.

"That's what imagine ass to taste like." I shook my head. "I saw those looks all y'all exchanged. Shit, even Derek, her man knew."

"She can cook, she just can't bake," DeVanté revealed to me. "Well, the few things I did taste which is Spanish and Mexican food."

"That's why I got full before coming here. I don't know who made what, who can cook, and whether or not everybody is clean." LaZardia told us.

"You can't say much because you eat fast food a lot and WE KNOW what goes in those kitchens. They be doing all the things you just listed. Yuck." Tia shuttered.

"My family know who ain't clean and who is. They don't let the nasty ones bring food or into the kitchen." De told us.

"I need some more water," Tia said about to walk away.

"Here." I handed Tia and DeVanté a water bottle. "You want something to drink too?" I asked my wife.

"Not now, but later. All imma be doing is drinking. I don't want to make nobody feel bad." My wife told us. "No shade to your family." She told De.

"I'm with you." I agreed with my wife.

"If I'm desperate, I'll eat what I saw being prepared, but other than that... No." LaZardia shook her head.

"At least I got Asiri to help me finish the plate." I chuckled.

"No, you not feeding my grandbaby that." My wife frowned.

"Mama, I don't know what it is she did with THIS, BUT they ain't dirty," Tia told her.

"Nahh, my brother wouldn't deal with no nasty woman. She the one that keeps the house straight majority of the times." De told us.

We all walked back to the tables and took a seat. Everyone was talking amongst each other. I looked at Seniors' plate and saw he hadn't touched it yet. Dalvin fed his baby brother his. He picked up his spoon and everybody, not just me, watched in anticipation.

"Yeah, I worked hard on that sermon. Y'all should've been here." Reverend told us. "Especially you two, Junior and Dalvin with what y'all be singing." He told them.

"Pops, you haven't even heard our music. You only heard about others listening to it." De chuckled. Senior lifted his fork to his mouth, then Dalvin spoke.

"Right. We haven't even performed or anything in a while now." Dalvin added.

"Yeah, but y'all still making music- the same type of music for others. Am I right?" Senior asked.

"You are," Derek answered for them.

"Exactly." Senior put the spoon up to his mouth and took his bite.

We all waited in anticipation as he chewed. His face scrunched up and spat it on the ground.

"This tastes like shit!" He coughed. "Who made this? I know my wife or her mother ain't make this. That for DAMN sure. Somebody gotta be playing with me. What y'all put in my food?" He asked everybody. "Tastes like BAD pumpkin pie."

Maria looked embarrassed. "Pops, Maria made that," Derek told him. "I think it's pretty good." He winked at his dad with the eye that Maria couldn't see.

"Son, what's wrong with your eye. I don't care who made it. This shit is nasty!" Senior shouted. "I'm sorry, but it's true. No wonder everybody's is still here." He gestured to the table. "Don't nobody like it."

"I did," Yasir spoke up.

"Except him." Senior corrected himself. "Did you at least taste it while preparing it or did you use us as guinea pigs?" He asked Maria.

"Senior, she said-" I held back my laughter. "She said she put her foot in it. Give her some credit."

"It tastes like it too. She must've dipped her foot in something before putting her foot in this shit." Senior said wiping his tongue with some napkins.

"Aye, pops! She walked a mile in her Louis Vuitton's!" Dalvin said laughing.

"In some damn dookie and dirt!" Freeman said laughing.

I looked down and played with my granddaughter then started laughing at what they said. "You saw what Asiri did?" I asked Tia and my wife.

"I did!" De said laughing.

Asiri ain't did shit. It's just an excuse to laugh and that's what we did. We include my wife, Tia, De, Yasir, and myself.

"Pops..." Derek trailed off.

"It's pumpkin pie. I was trying to see did everyone know the difference." Maria replied with a look of embarrassment.

"Don't you EVER do that again!" Senior told her. "You do it on the holiday AND we got company?"

"Yeah, that's messed up." De shook his head.

"What got me is him telling y'all that y'all need to go to church then him cursing," I said laughing.

"Sorry about that, but HERE that's sitting on this plate in front of me don't make no sense." Senior shook his head. "I need this taste out my mouth RIGHT NOW."

"I'm sorry." Maria apologized.

"Thanks for the apology, but ALL we need to not to do is NEVER make this again," Senior said getting out of his chair. "And YOU, Derek. Why you let her bring it over? You had to know how it tasted."

"I didn't taste it this time," Derek told him and Senior walked away to the cooler while shaking his head. "I told you everybody would be able to tell," Derek told Maria.

"Maria, that pie was just delicious!" Mrs. Mary exaggerated coming to the table.

"It definitely was."

"Mary... Madea... She knows it ain't good." Senior told them.

"No, I liked it." Mrs. DeGrate told her.

"Mama, can I check the trashcans then?" Dalvin asked her.

Now I know what to call the grandmother, Madea.

"Quiet Dalvin!" Madea shouted. "It was good, sweetie."

"Thank you. I'm glad that some of you actually like it." Maria smiled.

Lying through their motherfucking teeth! That's why they don't want the garbage to be checked.

"The others are still watching the game, so can one of you go to the store for some cheese?" Madea asked.

"Madea, ain't no stores open on Thanksgiving," De told her.

"Walmart." Mrs. DeGrate said to him.

"I'll go, grandma." Dalvin smiled.

"Aww, my sweet Dalvin. He's always been a sweetheart." Madea smiled. "Thank you, but you don't know what to get."

"Cheese," Dalvin told her.

"There are different cheeses for the mac and cheese." Mrs. DeGrate told him.

Dalvin shook his head at his grandmother. "Cheese is cheese. Grandma, that's discrimination. We like all cheesed over here. Black, white, yellow, even freckled."

"Dalvin..." Mrs. DeGrate said his name in that tone that parents do when they're tired.

"Right, shut up.

"I'll go with him. I left a few things back home and need to go to the store anyway." Tia told them.

"Like ALWAYS." Yasir chuckled and Tia pushed his head.

"I'm coming too." De stood up.

"Dalvin said he got it. Him and Tia. Let them go." Mrs. DeGrate told him.

"You sure you don't need me to come?" De asked my daughter.

"I got this, but that's up to you if you do wanna come," Tia replied.

"Right, sit yo popsicle stick-built behind on down. We got this toothpick." Dalvin said laughing and agreeing with his mother. Madea listed off what she needed to Tia, while the other continued their conversation.

"He ain't toothpick like he used to be. Lil D looking like Big D now. You been in the gym?" Freeman asked De.

De started flexing. "I mean... Not that much. The name Big D always seemed to fit me better anyway."

"Big D? And quit lying." Dalvin told him. "He been in the gym a lot these days."

"And eating too," De added. "Work

"She don't want that," Yasir whispered to me as I tried to feed the pie to Asiri. "Here." He gave her a bottle that she happily accepted.

"Masir?" I called out. "Want some pie?"

Word Count: 6,355
Please don't forget to like the chapter and the ones to come if you enjoy this book. Also, feel free to leave a comment.

❤️Thanks for the support that you've been giving me. I'm very appreciative.❤️