Free Her Sweetest Revenge (Delphine Publications Presents) by Author Saundra

cripple.” Monica made fun of me.
     
    “ Shut up,” I laughed at her. “I just want to see you half decent is all.”
     
    “ Yeah, half decent. You remember when we was little, you would practice braiding my hair and you always ended up giving me pigtails instead? Dad would say, ‘Mya, take them snakes out of that girl’s head. She look just like beetle juice.’” Monica tried to mimic my dad’s voice.
     
    “ I remember that,” I thought back while laughing.
     
    “ I miss those days. I miss Dad. I miss our old family, period. But even still, I feel lucky to have you and Li’l Bo. Now we just got to work on getting our momma back.” Monica started to get emotional.
     
    I stopped braiding her hair for a minute. “Look at me,” I said. “Even though times have been rough, we gon’ make it. As for Momma, we just got to give her time, but everything is going to work out. I just need you to trust me.”
     
    “ Mya, how did you get to be so strong?” Monica started wiping her running tears with the back of her hand.
     
    “ I kinda of had a little training from my dad, Lester. You do know him, right?” I joked. I reached out and hugged Monica. “Now, turn around. I’m almost finished with yo’ big watermelon-shaped head.” We both started laughing.
     
    KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK .
     
    “ Get the door, Monica.” I stopped braiding her hair again.
     
    Monica rushed to open the door. “Oh, it ain’t nobody but Rochelle.” Monica tried to be sarcastic. “Girl, why you knocking like you the police? We busy; we ain’t got time to be answering doors.” Monica gave Rochelle her latest unfriendly attitude, but we know it’s all love.
     
    “ Hi to you too, li’l mama. I see you woke up on the floor this morning instead of the bed.” Rochelle stepped in the apartment past Monica as Monica closed the door.
     
    “ What’s up, girl?” I greeted Rochelle.
     
    “ Nothin’. Just thought I would get outta the house for a minute today. I think I’m starting to miss Mike. I need to find me a man,” Rochelle informed me as she bounced down on our already brutally battered couch.
     
    “ Girl, I know you trippin’. Have a seat!” I laughed. “I’m almost finished braiding Monica’s hair.”
     
    “ That’s right, so don’t be talkin’ to her too much. I don’t need her messing up my head. And where is Tiny? How you goin’ come over and don’t bring her?” Monica asked.
     
    “ She’s with Wynita. They out shopping,” Rochelle confirmed.
     
    “ Umm,” was Monica’s reply. Everyone knows how much Monica loves Tiny. Every time Rochelle brings her over she takes her over without Rochelle even asking.
     
    One hour later I was finished braiding Monica’s hair. Monica had started to nod off as we both sat there listening to Rochelle babble on and on about how she misses Mike. I chalked that whole conversation up to the fact that she’s just lonely. The Rochelle I know can’t stand Mike, and if he wasn’t locked up, they still wouldn’t be together. They would be broke up from a previous fight. So all that this Rochelle on my couch needs is some fun. One thing I know for sure, she doesn’t miss Mike.
     
    Yawning, Monica rose up off the pillow she had been sitting on. “I think I’m going to take a nap. I’m getting sleepy.” She stretched all the way to her room.
     
    “ Mya, I thought Monica would never leave,” Rochelle sighed with relief. “The streets have been crazy since Luscious got robbed a couple of weeks ago. People have been gettin’ shot. The streets just ain’t been safe. That’s why I been telling you just go where you have to. Last night someone in my building got blasted in the face. Supposedly about that Luscious incident. I’m telling you, it’s a war zone out there.”
     
    “ Word? I had heard about some of that on the late-night news, but they don’t even mention the robbery. Maybe they don’t think the two are connected,” I tried to sound