Free RedBone by T. Styles Page B

can’t participate, she should at least be here.”
    “She still not participating. After that stunt she pulled by coming in the house late again the other night, she’s lucky I don’t kill her.” She slid back into her shoes. “I told Mia to keep an eye on her right now. I don’t feel like dealing with her.”
    Every year at the celebration, the grandkids would get together and compete in a competition with their cousins. Mia and Shadow hated it because they were damn near adults, but Chloe always got a kick out of throwing her hips from side to side and popping her ass just to see everybody’s reaction. Usually they danced to music from The Jackson Five, The Supremes, the Temptations, and the like, since the show was clearly for the amusement of the elders, and not the children.
    “Well, set them some plates to the side.” Elise looked into her daughter’s eyes, which seemed to be getting colder. “Are you and Ashur having problems still?”
    Grateful she was asking about her instead of the kids, she said, “I’m sick of his shit. He’s driving me insane. We don’t have sex and he’s barely home. He don’t love me no more.” She looked as if she wanted to cry. When it came to Ashur, she was vulnerable. “If I can’t have him, I don’t want nobody else to. I’d rather see him dead or in jail!”
    “Stop talking like that!” Elise warned. “God grants wishes when you think He’s not listening. Now you gotta be present for your kids.” Brownie rolled her eyes. “All men act up, but the good ones come back around. Only you know which one you got. You gotta be careful, though, because Farah is watching you and you’re giving her the wrong impression.”
    When Elise heard the noise rise in the room she knew the family competition was underway. The kids of Elise’s oldest sister, Irma, were first up. Irma’s grandsons chose to sing the Temptations classic “My Girl” a cappella, as Irma stood proudly on the sidelines with her hands clasped over her chest. She was always amazed at how talented they were. It was just a matter of time before one of her four grandchildren got discovered, the family was sure of it.
    “Go find your kids. My babies are going to kill it! I just know it,” Elise said.
    Unenthused, Brownie said, “You do know they just lip syncing, right?”
    “As long as they perform from their hearts, I don’t care what they doing.”
    When everyone clapped, the first performance was over. “You’re up, Elise,” Irma said with a sly grin on her face. “Where your grandkids?” The moment she asked, Mia, Shadow, and Chloe glided into the room dancing to “Never Can Say Goodbye.” Shadow held a boom box on his shoulder and a black Kangol was tilted on his head. Although both Mia and Shadow thought the events were lame, whenever they saw the looks on their great auntsfaces they felt better. Shadow set the box down on the floor behind them.
    They lined up and pretended to be The Jackson Five with only three members. But because the routine was so well put together, everyone enjoyed the show. The only awkward part about the evening was that both Shadow and Mia kept looking at the door, as if they were waiting for someone else. “What are they looking for?” Elise whispered to Brownie.
    “I don’t know, Ma. Maybe that’s part of the performance.” She shrugged her shoulders. The only thing on her mind was Ashur Cotton and his whereabouts. “Just enjoy what they doing.” She looked at her kids. “Whatever it is.” The family was cheering and singing with the threesome, until Farah came through the door doing signature Michael Jackson moves. The applause simmered down and everyone leaned in to see her clearly.
    Elise, not believing her eyes, took a closer look at her granddaughter. “Oh, my dear God,” she said to herself. “What did you do to your face, baby?”
    Seeing her face, Brownie was overwhelmed with Farah. She was a fucking curse ... a way for God to get her back.