Free RedBone by T. Styles Page A

her hands between her legs. “Can I?”
    “Yeah ... it’s around the corner.” He pointed. “Hurry up back, because I’ma feed you anyway before I drop you off.”
    Farah rushed toward the bathroom, trying her best not to make any jerky motions, which would cause her to piss in her clothes. A fear of hers. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see Helen standing in the shower, naked from the waist down. She was squatting and holding a pink douche bag between her legs. The bathroom was heavy with the scent of the cigarette resting on the edge of the sink and the vinegar in the bag. “What you looking at, girl?” Helen said. “You never saw a woman douche before?” Farah shook her head. “Well, what you want then? I’m busy.”
    “I gotta pee.”
    “Well, come on in.” She squeezed the bag a few times. “I’m not gonna be much longer anyway.”
    Farah walked to the toilet, lifted the lid, and sat sideways on the cold seat to prevent facing Helen. When the urine poured out of her body, she exhaled. For the moment it was the best feeling in the world.
    “I don’t know why,” Helen said, removing the tube connected to the bag from the inside of her pussy, “but I got a feeling you gonna be my son’s wife.” Farah remained silent, and focused on the lit cigarette on the sink. “Make sure you take care of your body when you do get him,” she said, screwing off the tube and rinsing them under the tub’s faucet. “Men love a woman with a clean pussy and a pretty face.” She stepped out of the tub and eased into her silk pajama pants and slippers. “I don’t know why your skin so bad, but if you don’t do nothing ... You better take care of your looks. It’s all you got in life.”
    Helen opened the medicine cabinet, pulled out a pack of razors, and removed one. Without washing her hands, and while Farah was still on the toilet, she said, “Open your mouth.” She did. “Keep this in your mouth”—she stuffed it on the inside of her cheek—“but whenever you’re about to fight, or you think you may be in trouble, put this between your teeth and your cheek like I just did. Now close your mouth.” Farah was nervous as hell that she would get cut. “Whenever somebody fuck with you, slice them fifty times across the neck or the temple and your problems will be over.”

Chapter 7
     
“Dear God, please be with that child. I’m begging you .”
—Elise
     
     
     
    Brownie was helping Elise prepare the project’s rec for her annual family celebration. Before bringing in the food, Elise had her friends check for roaches and bugs in case they needed to use any sprays. She wanted to prevent her family from having an outbreak. The theme was black and red and Elise saw to it that everything coordinated, including the plastic plates, forks, spoons, and napkins. With four sisters, their children, and their grandkids, the family celebration would be huge. When the hall was beautifully decorated, the food was brought in and laid upon the table. The moment Elise opened the doors for everyone they crowded into the hall. When all of her sister’s children started hovering around the food table Elise looked for Brownie. Spotting her sitting in a chair in the corner, rubbing her feet, she walked over to her.
    “Where are my grandbabies?” She scanned the room. “My sisterskids are about to punish the food if they don’t grab something to eat.”
    “You know they getting ready for the show, Mamma. She’d been up all day and it was taking its toll on her body. She hated the celebration with a passion. “Relax, they coming.”
    “Don’t tell me to relax,” Elise rebutted. “Now I know Mia can skip a few meals, but the rest of your kids are almost skin and bones.”
    “Mamma, they’re coming,” Brownie said, growing tired of her mother’s over-protectiveness. “You wanted them to perform, so all they thinking about is the show right now.”
    “Well, where is Farah? Since you told her she