Hopefully this isn't confusing....

I'm going to write about the gap between Andre going home to Amarah going to the hospital

Y'all know how in the tv shows it start off with the biggest event and then says something like "15 hours before" or something

Hopefully y'all understand and if not then

(54)
-2Q

***************************************

ANDRE

"I don't want you to leave baby,"Lillian whined as I slid my shirt over my head.

"Ya kna tha deal. Don't ya gotta get back ta work?" I mumbled.

She rolled her eyes, "Work can wait. All I do is file papers and arrange meetings. It's way worse than working at Chick-Fil-A."

I didn't even respond. Some people are so ungrateful. She pissed me off with that attitude.

"Are we still on for tonight or not? I'm dying to meet this infamous PJ,"She said.

She turned around and I snapped her bra. I leaned over and tied my shoes. I had to go pick up Amarah before her school close.

"We gon have ta take a rain check. I can't find anybody ta watch Amarah."

"Andre! Why can't I meet Amarah? We've been dating for almost a month! I think it's time for me to meet at least somebody you're close too."

I glared at her. She slipped on her dress and held her hair up so I can zip it up. I zipped it and grabbed her necklace off the dresser.

"We not datin Lillian. Us havin sex e'ry time ya gon on a lunch break is not datin. I'm not comfortable wit' lettin ya meet somebody so important ta me yet. Marah is ma life, I can't bring women in and outta ha life,"I put the necklace around her neck.

She turned around and looked at me. She began to laugh like I was funny, "You act like I'm some prostitute you picked up off the street Andre."

"I'm not sayin that baybeh. Ya kna I wouldn't compa ya ta one of 'em," I pecked her lips. "Ya gotta stop actin like ya tha side piec-"

"Stop? Andre your so fucking funny!" She laughed, "You sure I'm not the side piece because the way you treat me is like I am."

"I don't got time fa this mama. I'll see ya tomorrow,"I let the necklace fall in between her legs.

I grabbed my jacket. She stood there eyeing the shit outa me. I didn't say anything I just continued to grab my stuff hoping, she wouldn't call me out for anything.

"Call me when you get home Andre,"She whispered.

I nodded my head and continued my way out of the door. My Uber should've been here any minute by now but it just wasn't pulling up. I knew I should've gotten a lyft.

A black Honda pulled up. I saw the older white man who usually drove me around. Now I couldn't blame the Uber for being late.

"Mr. Avery! Where ya been lately man? I haven't seen ya in almost a week," I said as I got in the car.

"Andre! I'm sorry my wife was getting a new type of chemo so I had to be there for her."

"How is she?"

"Getting on a old man's nerves as always,"He joked.

"Ah Mr. Avery ya far from old. Ya know 53 is tha new 21."

Mr. Avery was really cool. The first day I rode in his Uber he told me all his problems. The next day I prayed he wasn't my Uber drive, and just to my luck he was, but I came to not mind it.

As he spoke, I realized we we're alike in ways. We both we're single parents at a young age. We both we're jobless at a young age, and we both lost our way a few times.

He never gave up though and that's what I admire about him. When he found out his daughter had sickle cell anemia and didn't have long to live he didn't give up on her. Now she's 34, happily engaged, and has two kids herself.

He also found the love of his life, which I hope to have. She was one of his daughter's teachers, and even though he waited many years to tell his daughter, he eventually did and got her unconditional love. They had another child together, who's very young, but hey I ain't knocking Mr. Avery's game.

He found out his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer 3 years ago. It broke his heart to know that she would be leaving him soon, but she assured him with God she would meet him again.

"We going to pick up Amarah today?"He asked.

I pulled out my phone and sure enough there was a text from Phrey.

Phrey 🤡: Picked up Marah. Head ta da house cuzzo, we gotta pro'lem

"Na' sir. Humphrey picked ha up."

"How is Amarah doing? She understanding that math yet?"

"I tried ta help ha but I don't know what it is ma'self. They teaching how ta add and subtract all wrong na'."

Mr. Avery chuckled, "Back in my day it was only one way to do math. I don't know what the hell happened but all this other stuff ain't math son."

"Ya right Mr. Avery. I can't e'en do kindergarten math, but how can I do calculus easily?"

"Gift from God Andre. You're one of the only kids in college who isn't complaining about any math course they're taking. You ever considered teaching?"He asked.

I scoffed loudly. I wanted to teach, but I'm not too great with kids. No school would hire me with my accent and look.

"Mr. Avery ya know I couldn't get hi'ed with this accent and my skin."

"Boy what I tell you?" He shouted. "You can do anything. Stop doubting yourself! I raised a black daughter at the age of 19 all by myself. She's a journalist for the biggest news site in the world. If as can do that, you can do anything."

I nodded my head in slight agreement. His daughter was brilliant and it was all Mr. Avery's work. His girlfriend left him with a child who wasn't even his. He didn't abandon her or put her in foster care. He took her in and raided her like his own. He got questioned a lot for having a black child, but it's never slowed him down.

"Mr. Avery, ya kna I'm right. As soon as I get a lil education I get job offa's. How was I supposed ta pay fa school with no job? Tha system is set up against me Mr. Avery. Ya know that."

He pulled into the driveway and turned the car off. He stared at me with intense eyes.

"Your skin Andre is just a obstacle. It's not a blockade. It doesn't stop you from doing everything. It only makes you work harder."

I nodded softly. He cut his eyes at me once again.

"Andre listen, my daughter is having a cookout next weekend. I want you and Amarah there. Bring PJ and Phrey if you want. I want you to meet my daughter."

"Yes sir. I'll see you tomor-"

"You better back the fuck up bitch. I will bust you upside your head!"Pj shouted.

I looked forward and saw PJ arguing with a girl. Phrey stood in the back holding Amarah.

"You better go check that out son."

I got out of the car and jogged over to them. Marah ran over to me and hugged my legs.

"Daddy!"She shouted.

"Marah! How ya doing?"I asked.

Phrey looked up at me and motioned towards the girl in our front yard. She was about 5'7. Her height didn't conflict with her figure. She was beautifully shaped. Her long hair flowed to her back. She had on a PINK sweatsuit with a pair of uggs.

PJ held a knife in his hand. His accent was beginning to flow. When PJ spoke in Spanish and his accent came out, you were in much trouble.

"Andre! How are you?"She shouted.

I noticed that voice from anywhere. I immediately filled with rage. How? Why? What? Every year I spent with Marah began to run through my head as I thought of who wasn't there. I raced towards her, but Phrey caught me and pulled me back.

"Fuck is wrong with ya? We don't hit girls!"Phrey shouted.

"¡Golpeamos a las perras! Yo soy abofetear a esta perra!"PJ shouted.

"Get the fuck out!" I shouted.

She stood there with a bright smile on her face. She didn't budge. She just waited for me to attack her.

"Eres puta sorda por favor dame una razón para no usar este cuchillo en ti?" PJ shouted. "Say something slick bitch! I dare you!"

"Ebony please leave befo' we call tha police,"Phrey said.

Ebony laughed, "We both know that's not an option Humphrey. We'll both end up in jail." She looked over at me.

She walked over to her car and grabbed a stack of files. She dropped them by my feet. I could see already see the government stamp on them.

"Ya not taking ma daughta!"I shouted.

She didn't say anything. She just got in her car and drove off. Marah sat on the porch, oblivious to everything going on. She was doodling on the window. She blew her breath against the glass and smiled as it fogged up.

"Amarah! What tha hell ya think ya doing? Ya gon wash them windas na! I ain't playin wit ya!"Phrey shouted as he released me.

He picked her up and walked into the house. I could immediately hear her crying, "I'm not cleaning that 'winda' Uncle Phrey."

PJ placed his hand on my shoulder making me jump.

"She came to the school to pick up Amarah. Luckily I know her teacher because she text me and asked why was she leaving. Phrey and I went straight to the school and the puta was there. She was trying to kidnap her. So of course I had a few words to say, now I'm not allowed back on school premises. She followed us home and banged on the door. She wants your daughter Dre,"He told me.

I nodded and walked into the house. Amarah was crying as she wiped down the window. Phrey was dying from laughter like it was funny. I went to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water.

Amarah's book bag lay in my chair. I picked it up and began to go through her homework folder. She had more math problems to do, which pissed me off cause I didn't know how to explain it to her like the teachers did.

Marah stumbled in wiping her tears. Phrey continued to tell her he loved her, even though she drew on his windows. I chuckled, only those two.

"Marah get in hea and do this homework."

She climbed into the chair beside me and grabbed a pencil. She began to write in big letters the answers to her homework.

"Where ya learn how ta do that?"

"PJ taught me a shortcut. He said it's wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy-"

Amarah's new thing was holding out her words, not repeating them several times.

"Just do ya homework lil girl."

"Can I have this piece of candy?"

A loud crash interrupted the conversation. I sprang to my feet to go see what it was. I walked into the family room and saw the glass table was shattered underneath the TV.

"What tha hell?"I asked.

"I didn't mean ta I was tryna t-"

"This nigga was humping the TV and it fell backwards onto my table! What the hell wrong with you Humphrey?"PJ shouted.

I busted out laughing. PJ continued to cuss Phrey out as he cleaned up the shards of glass. We didn't have a tv anymore. I have no clue what Amarah would do without it.

I walked back into the kitchen and saw Amarah on the floor shaking. I ran to her and held her head.

"Amarah!"I shouted.

She didn't say anything. She just continued to shake. PJ rushed into the kitchen and immediately knelt down to help me hold her body.

"Fuck is go-Shit!"Phrey shouted.

"Call 911!"PJ said.

I held her small head. She was so small. Tears made my eyes swell. I couldn't lose her. You're child is supposed to bury you, not the other way around.

"Amarah! Please baybeh!"I cried.

"The ambulance on they way. They said hold ha head and make su'e she don't hit nothin."

"I can't lose you..."