Free The Streets Keep Calling by Chunichi Page B

that my father was a type of war hero who died for his country. When I turned sixteen, she sat me down and told me the truth,” he explained.
    â€œWhat was the truth?” I inquired.
    â€œHe skipped out on her when she was five months pregnant. My mom hasn’t seen or heard from him since.”
    â€œWow. How did it make you feel not having a father around?” I asked. I couldn’t imagine being without my dad. I grew up with both my parents and, I must admit, I was a daddy’s girl all the way.
    â€œMost of the boys in my neighborhood didn’t have a father. Sad to say, but it was the norm in my neighborhood. Still is, matter of fact. That’s life, I guess. As I got older, I started to hustle on the streets and became really good at it, until I got arrested and sentenced to five years. I just came home from my bid.”
    â€œDid you go to jail for drugs?”
    â€œYeah, but I’m done with that part of my life now. I’m on to better things. You feel me?” Breeze vowed.
    â€œThat’s good to hear. Do you have any children?” I asked.
    â€œMatter of fact, I do. I have twins, a boy and a girl named Jaden and Kaylyn. They are seven years old. I love those kids so much. Their mother, Maria, puts me on a very limited schedule to see them. A while after I got locked up, she sold my house, and since then, she has my kids looking up to another man to play daddy.”
    As Breeze spoke a realization hit me. Maria, Jaden, Kaylyn …this had to be Mr. Biggs’s family. I wasn’t sure how to ask such a personal question. I approached it with much caution.
    â€œBreeze, do you mind if I ask you a question?”
    â€œYou just did, sugar,” he replied with a grin.
    â€œOkay, do you mind if ask you something very personal?” I chuckled.
    â€œNah, we’re talking. Go ahead.”
    â€œDo you know someone by the name of Mr. Biggs?” I searched his face for some sort of reaction.
    â€œI don’t know him but I’ve heard the name. Why?”
    â€œWell, it’s just that the family you described kind of sounds like Mr. Biggs’s family. He has seven-year-old twins named Jaden and Kaylyn, and is engaged to a woman named Maria. It’s too much of a coincidence that they wouldn’t be the people you’re speaking about.”
    â€œNah, I assure you that’s my family. Maria ran to him when I was locked up,” Breeze said with little emotion.
    â€œYou know, it’s a small world. Mr. Biggs, Maria, and the kids come in the bank every week. Let me tell you, that wife of yours is a handful,” I expressed in the most politically correct way I could.
    â€œYou don’t have to say no more; I was married to the woman. I know all about her. It’s either her way or the highway. When Maria was pregnant with Jaden, my mother bought us a crib from Big Lots. It wasn’t good enough for her, and she threw it away and had the nerve to let my mother know how she felt. Of course, my mother was hurt behind that. Being with Maria, I had to put up with a lot of shit from her and from her family. At times, I wanted to leave, but I was in that phase where I wanted to stay for the kids. Besides all that though, she was good to me. She loved me and she always made sure I was taken care of. She would make sure I ate, kept up with my gear, and spoiled me with gifts. She stuck by the whole time I was on trial and she visited me regularly. Then a little while after I got locked up, she disappeared along with my kids. In a prison cell, you have a lot of time to reflect on things, you know? I thought I knew Maria. Never once did I think she would take my kids away from me. Then I noticed that all the things she did for me was with my money, so really I was taking care of myself that entire time. All the stuff she got for me was with my own money. Now I wonder if she ever loved me at all,” Breeze explained, shrugging his shoulders.