Layla POV

"What?" I said astounded by her sudden decision.

"Baby," she started ,"You're a grown woman. It's time for you to start making your own decisions. As much as I hate to admit it, you're not the little girl you were many years ago. So go to America babe. Go." She told me.

I was in tears by her heart warming speech. She knows I'm too old now! She knows!

"Oh my goodness ma, thank you so much!" I cried running into her arms.

"Karibu baby." She said embracing me.

"Well, I'm going to start packing my things okay mom?" I told her, still bewildered by her sudden change of heart.

"Yes, go ahead." She assured.

Nancy POV

I watched as Layla headed up the stairs. As soon as she shut the door I slid down the nearest wall and let my emotions flow.

I started to sob. I know what's best for my baby, and I need to start being a good parent to her. She was going to leave me anyways.

I started to get the most searing migraine. I applied pressure to my head to make it go away, but it didn't work. I stared at the clock. With each tick, I grew more and more depressed with the thought of being alone. Time was now my enemy. I knew my time with her was limited.

I mentally slapped myself. It's not like she's dying. She won't forget me. Right?

These thoughts clouded in my head. The rain exited through my eyes. What am I going to do?

Layla POV

I did the most happy dance. I'm going to the U.S!

"I'm going to America." I singsonged.

"This deserves some tunes." I said.

I grabbed my old record player. I then ventured underneath my bed searching for my box of old records. I had an obsession for them back then but I kinda forgot about them. I've been busy.

"Aha!" I said to myself.

I found my box and yanked it from under my bed. Dust decorated the box making it unrecognizable. Jeez, how long have I been away.

I blew off all the dust on the floor considering I'm not going to be here much longer anyways. I then grabbed my favorite album. Bad 25th Anniversary.

"Yes!" I cheered.

I haven't listened to some of these tracks in a long time! I grabbed the record from the stunning record holder. I wonder if I will see the Michael Jackson in America. He was my absolute favorite.

I then placed the record on my record player. I skipped to the song I wanted to hear.

"Aha!" I said.

The record player was distorting the sound in the beginning but it started to play. I then started to sing along to it.

Baby I need you. You're so satisfying. I hear you walking 'cause your body's talking to me. Just an anti septum, go in me yeah yeah. Invitation to some far away hot island, If I can show you baby, home with me.

I then started to dance around wailing my arms in the air like a lunatic.

You see I never met a girl, just like you. Come so easy don't you break my heart 'cause I love you. You say, I never met a girl just like you, come so easy don't you break my heart 'cause I love you. Streetwalkin baby. Won't you give me time, won't you give me some time. Won't you give me some time won't you give me some.

I started to kick my legs in the air; in attempt to dance however, I knocked something over. But that wasn't the only noise I heard.

I slowly turned down my record player to try to listen to what I swore I heard. It sounded like, sobbing. I then rushed downstairs to figure out what all the hubbub was.

Only to find my mother was crouched up against the wall holding her legs, crying to her self.

I began to feel helpless. Guilt started to rush through my body and I began to tremble myself. My mother looked dead. And I'm the reason. I'm leaving her.

I slowly walked up to her.

"Hey mom, are you okay. Well you're sobbing so off course not." I said trying to cover up my words.

"Oh honey, I'm just going to miss you, that's all." She spoke through her tears.

"No you aren't. Mom stop crying okay," I started to while her tears. "No matter what I do, I will always be in your heart. I'm not dying, or going away forever. I need to grow up, so let me." I told her

"Funny thing you say that, when you leave me, it feels like I'm dying. That's what I was worried about. I don't want to be alone." She confessed.

I stared at her, feeling so much sorrow for her.

Oh my god.

An idea then popped into my head quicker than the speed of light.

"Hey mom," I started taking her hands in mine. "Why don't you come with me." I asked.

Her eyes widened and were half of the size of her face.

"Layla, I couldn't. I have everything here. Family, friends, and a husband." She said

"Mom," I scoffed. "Your husband cheated on you, your only family who lives in Kenya at the moment fucked your husband who happens to be my dad. Sadly. And you have one friend. Your house is not even a house," I ranted. "Its a hut. You've had the same old furniture. Time to switch it up and start new. Come with me. Please." I begged.

"I'll think about it Layla. I ju-." I cut her off.

"It's okay. I'm going to my room to pack okay? I leave tomorrow morning, let me know before of after then so I know there's closure okay?" I told her

"Okay Layla." She said defeated

I've always had a way with words. I hope they didn't sound harsh. Then that would tarnish my chances of getting her to America.

When I finally arrived to my room, I plopped on my bed and got to thinking.

What's America like?

What's college going to be like?

Are there cute guys? Will Momma bear get her a man?

What's the style?

What do they sound like.

Question after question made my cloudy. I stood up and packed the last of my belongings.

I looked out of the window, taking a gaze of what I called home. The bright green trees, the melanin goddesses, careless people, Damien. I would miss the good in Kenya but, I need to escape the bad.

As I got lost in my thoughts I ripped my eyes away from the window to see my mom standing in my doorway.

"I'm going to America." She smiled.

I cheesed hard with her. After a short happy silence I spoke up.

"Mom," I started "This deserves some tunes.

I then put on another tune, but this time it was Michael Jackson's unreleased singles.

Cheater began to play. My mom grabbed my water bottle off my dresser, and through me a marker.

"What's this ?" I giggled.

"Pretend karaoke. Let's do this." She said smiling.

We began to sing with Michael. She told me to sing the first part.

"You know I work to hard for this kind of play! Ho! I wrote a letter for the ghetto of the C.I.A. Ho! I don't care a jack gon' bout what you do. Just put your dime on the line Baby cause I own you." I sung recklessly. "Your turn mom this is your part!"

"Somebody said, give up instead on how you feel." She said with her African accent. "One blow to the head is all you need. I ain't takin' it you cheater!" She sung fiercely.

She sung it like it was meant for someone. Duh, Charles, the cheater.

"Your turn baby girl." She said smiling.

She hasn't been this happy in a long time. She's a fan herself.

"Boy you better go and get yourself some attitude. Ho! I know your name and your game is an I.O.U. Ho! Tellin' me that you commin' to a comprise. Ho! You smiling at me while you stealin right before my eyes! Dag gommit! Somebody said give up instead on how you feel. One blow to the head is all you need. I ain't takin' it you cheater! Do it boy. Boy. Boy. Do it boy! That jack on me." I sung looking at my mamma.

She knew it was her turn to sing the riff.

She nodded at me and started to sing. I cheered her on.

"I hurt my back bone baby I start to give it up, like is and aggravator, sometimes I pile it up." She sung with her heart. She sung good

"Go momma!" I cheered. "Sing it!"

"I broke my radiator. I'm indestructible. I pray to leave my body, and don't you ever call!" She sung clutching her chest.

The chorus played, then the song faded out. Breathless we collapsed on the floor; smiles plastered on our faces.

"Hey mom?" I asked

"Yes baby?" She said

"You sung that song with you heart who was it meant for?" I quizzed.

She playfully hit my arm.

"Ow!"

"You know who it's for Layla." She laughed. "I can't wait to go with you," she stood up, "That's why it took me so long to come up here. I was packing."

"Momma! It's going to be the best! I had fun today."

"Yeah, well to a new start! Do you have enough money?" She asked concerned.

"Did you see the fat stack of shillings in my bag, I could buy everyone in the village a ticket!" I said jokingly.

"Why don't you then?" She playfully asked.

"Because, I need it to get the 2 bedroom, to go shopping, and get school supplies. Hopefully furniture."

"We don't have enough for all that." She told me

"Mom, you know when I would go outside a lot to explore my surroundings to escape the reality we live in. Not trying to be deep here but do you?" I asked

She nodded

"Well, " I started.

I got up and went in my empty closet. I stood on my tippy toes to reach my shelf. I pulled down 4 rocks. Golden rocks.

"I found these golden rocks, I took them to one of those jewelry stores in the city alway from the rural places. They told me together they are worth 896,000$. And I have 30,000$ in U.S money in my bag. We can get other benefits like EBT, a job , and welfare. Foreign people get money for coming there. It's going to be alright. They told me everything." I said out of breath. "No more struggling, but don't blow all the money. It's going to alright momma."

Her mouth went agape. I shut it for her chuckling at her reaction.

"Mom, you okay?" I asked genuinely concerned.

She ran up to be and gave me a hug. She started crying again. She cries a lot. Awe.

"Thank you so much Layla, how can I repay you?" She wailed.

"No I'm repaying you, you worked your butt off for me, it's time for me to start helping you. I insist. So please go to bed, so you can wake up. I love you." I said to her.

"Okay." She said sniffling.

She walked out of my room and turned the lights off. I later down in my bed thinking about everything America has to offer. Before she shut the door she told me something.

"Nakupenda Layla." She said smiling.

Her bright smile could knock everyone dead.

"Nakupenda pia mama." I said smiling.

I really do love her. She shut the door and I chuckled to myself. I used to strongly dislike her. I think it was the stress. Hopefully, she'll loosen up like she did today! At least I hope so.

Today was a great last day apart from my mother sobbing.

"America, show me what you got." I said to myself.

I got in bed, pulled my covers over my body and drifted to sleep.

Sorry if I'm not updating quick enough. I'm busy busy. I made this chapter long but, my thumbs feel like they are going to fall off. I hope that you enjoyed it.
Love Kenya Onkoba 💚