Chapter 6

Esined.

When school had ended, I was outside on the stairs. I was talking to Viola and Riccardo.

"You alright, Esined?" Riccardo asked.

"I'm fine. Why'd you ask?"

"You keep on looking around,"

"Just looking for my dad. Can we stand inside?"

"Sure," we all went back inside and I listened as they spoke.

"Shh shh. There she goes," Viola shushed Riccardo.

"Hey Porscha!" Riccardo yelled and waved at a girl with a big smile on his face.

"Hey Riccardo," she laughed and he waved her over.

They hugged and he elbowed Viola.

"Hey Viola," Porscha smiled.

"Hi," Viola said shyly.

"Viola thinks you're beautiful," Riccardo told Porscha.

Viola elbowed him. "Shut up," she mumbled.

"Thank you," Porscha said to Viola.

"Can she have your number?" Riccardo asked Porscha.

"Of course," she smiled. She held Viola's hand and wrote her number on it. "There you go,"

"I'll- um... I'll text you later," Viola stuttered.

"Okay- No. Better yet, call me," she bit her lip.

"I will,"

Porscha smirked before walking off.

"Oh lord. Did I look cool?" Viola asked.

"Barely," Riccardo said.

"Viola being shy? Now that's weird," I said.

"Right. Loud mouth was quiet for once,"

"Shut up," Viola laughed before looking at her hand. "I sweated her number off," she frowned.

Riccardo and I began to laugh.

"I have it. I'll give it to you," he said.

"Okay,"

"Our ride is here,"

"See you later, Es," Viola smiled.

"Bye country girl," Riccardo smiled.

"See y'all later," I said.

They left out of the school building and I stood there for a few minutes in quiet. I felt lonely. I didn't want them to see my dad when he pulled up, so I was relieved in a way when they left.

"Hey," I heard a familiar voice.

I turned around to see August.

"Is your ride a no show?" He asked.

"No. He'll be here,"

"Boyfriend?"

"No. My dad,"

"Want me ta wait witchu?"

"I'll be fine. Thank you,"

"Alright. See you tomorrow, Esined," he smiled.

"See ya,"

He pushed the door and stepped out.

I looked up and saw my dad pull up with my Uncle Don in the passenger seat. I opened the door and walked down the steps. I walked over to the truck and got in. I sat in the backseat quietly, hoping that my dad didn't see me talking to August.

"How was school, Esined?" Uncle Don asked.

I was staring out the window at August and Chantelle. August had looked at me and I looked down.

"It was okay. How was your flight, Uncle Don? We missed you," I finally spoke to him.

"It was fine. I'm tired,"

Dad drove off and the car ride was awkward and silent. All you could hear was the old trucks' screeching brakes.

When we made it home, Dad said he wanted to talk to me.

Uncle Don went in and I stayed out with Dad.

He looked back, waiting for Uncle Don to go inside.

Once the door was closed, he turned back to me. He raised his backhand and slapped me to the ground.

I was in the grass, holding my cheek. Tears fell down my cheeks and onto the grass.

He walked back and forth with his hands on his hips. "You're trying it, Ned. You're really pushing it, damnit!"

"I didn't do anything," I sobbed.

"I saw you! You think I'm blind? You think I'm stupid?"

"No, sir," I shook my head side-to-side quickly.

"I done told you I'on want you around no goddamn boys!"

"I'm sorry,"

"I refuse to have you with some hoodlum. You are not allowed to date or speak to boys as long as you live under my roof. Do you hear me?"

I nodded and he snatched me up from the grass by my arm. I could feel his spit hitting my face while he held me closely as he spoke. I could feel his nails digging into my skin.

"What'd I tell you about that noddin' shit? You tryna stay in the garage tonight?"

"No, sir," I cried. "I'm sorry,"

"Fix your face," he let me go and stared at me.

I wiped my face with my shirt and looked down.

"Get out of my sight before I slap you again,"

I picked up my backpack and rushed inside.

"Essy?" I heard my mama's sweet voice.

I went and hugged her.

"What happened?"

My dad came inside just as I was about to tell her that he slapped me.

"Where will I be sleeping?" Uncle Don asked.

"Ned's bed," Dad said.

"Where's she gonna sleep?"

"Couch,"

"No, she'll be sleeping in her bed," Uncle Don shook his head.

"She doesn't have a problem with the couch,"

"And I don't either. Let her keep her privacy. I'll be fine on the couch,"

Uncle Don was always quick to put Dad in his place. After all, he was the older brother. That's part of why I love when Uncle Don is around. He checks his brother and he always sides with Mama and I. It gets to the point where Dad really doesn't have much of a say in anything because Uncle Don decides for him. It has always been that way.

"Dad," I said.

He looked at me.

"Can I go outside? I don't have any homework,"

"Show me your papers,"

I opened my backpack and handed him my papers from work that I completed in class.

He checked them over. "You didn't answer question number ten,"

"He told us to skip that one,"

"Why?"

"There was too many typos and students were confused,"

He looked at me before checking the rest of my papers. He handed them back to me. "Go ahead,"

I gathered my things. "Are you coming outside, Mama?" I looked back at her.

"I have to finish supper, baby. Maybe next time," she gave me a smile.

"Okay," I felt a little saddened.

I wanted to talk to her about August and my new friends, Viola and Riccardo.

"I'll come outside with you," Uncle Don said.

"Okay," I smiled.

We went outside together and sat in the grass.

"What do you usually do out here with your Mama?"

"We talk, write poetry, and I draw her. Sometimes we go over to the farm and chase pigs. Don't tell Dad that tho," I whispered.

He chuckled. "I won't. You can draw, huh?"

"Look for yourself," I handed him my drawing book.

He looked at the drawings and flipped through them. "These are amazing. Who's this?" He showed me it.

"That's a girl, her name is Viola,"

"You know her?"

"I go to school with her,"

"Does she know you draw her?"

"Yeah. I only drew her twice. I gave her one of the drawings,"

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

I got quiet. "I-I don't know,"

Truthfully, I knew exactly what I wanted to be, but I didn't want to say it. I didn't want to say it because I told my dad what I wanted to be once and he told me it'd never happen. Ever since he said that, I've been trying to think of something else to be or at least keeping my dreams away from him.

"Come on, all this talent and you don't know what you want to be? I know you're an amazing writer and artist,"

"I don't think so,"

"Why not?"

"I'm not that good to be famous or anything for it. That's all,"

"You're amazing. You just have to believe in yourself,"

"How can I believe in myself when everyone brings me down?"

"Like who?"

I gave him a look.

"You know your dad is a grumpy bastard. Listen kiddo, you got talent. You can do whatever you put your mind to,"

"I want to be a model," I admitted.

"Do it,"

"I can't,"

"Why not?"

"Uncle Don, I'm ugly,"

"Esined, you are a beautiful young woman. You are nowhere near ugly. If you were, I probably wouldn't claim you as my niece," he joked.

I laughed a little.

"You should be happy you got your mama looks,"

"I look like my dad," I frowned.

"A little bit. You look more like your mama. You just have lighter skin than her,"

"I hate it,"

"Why?"

"No offense to you, Uncle Don... But I don't like being mixed. I hate my skin reminding me that I'll always only be half as black as the other girls at school,"

"Don't hate your skin. You have a beautiful skin tone. There's nothing wrong with your skin,"

"I feel like I'll never fit in. I'm too black for the white kids and I'm too white for the black kids,"

"Shit, you don't think I feel too white for these gorgeous black women? They don't pay my white ass no mind," he chuckled. "Don't fit in. You were meant to stand out, my little caterpillar," he poked my nose.

I smiled. "Why do you call me a caterpillar?" I laughed.

"Because I'm seeing you grow and mature. Soon you'll enter your cocoon and you'll come out a beautiful butterfly," he smiled.

I put my head down. "Do you think I could be a model?"

"Yes,"

"Maybe I'll try to do that one day," I shrugged, flipping a page in my drawing book. I began to draw my uncle as he spoke.

"I kinda missed it out here in Atlanta," he said.

"I wanna leave,"

"Why?"

"I don't like it. Nothing to do here unless you're rich or really cool. I'm a nobody here, but I'd rather continue being a nobody back in Texas,"

"Make yourself a somebody. You're not a nobody to me,"

"Of course not. We're family,"

He started laughing.

"What's funny?" I glanced up from drawing.

"I'm starting to think you're crazy, Esined,"

"Why?"

"You don't love yourself and it's crazy. You're so pretty and talented, yet you don't see any of that. What's bringing you down?"

"I can't tell you, but I'll just say this..." I trailed off.

"Say what?"

"I-I wish-" I cleared my throat. Not allowing myself to cry, I quickly wiped my tears and got myself together. "I wish you were my dad,"

He frowned. "Esined,"

"I don't like him. I don't, Uncle Don," I shook my head. "He doesn't love and care about me like you do. He doesn't even claim me as his daughter," I sniffed.

"Don't cry," he wiped my tears.

"I just want him to love me and care about me like he used to,"

"He does. He loves you, Esined,"

Of course, anyone who doesn't see what actually goes on in the place would think my dad loves me and my mama.

I sighed and wiped my tears. "I'm sorry for getting emotional,"

"It's okay. It's best to let things out so they won't build up and make you feel worse,"

I looked down and noticed I had tears on my drawing of him. When they dried up, I finished drawing him. I handed it to him and he smiled.

"See. My little talented caterpillar," he hugged me and kissed my forehead.

I smiled as we hugged.

"Supper is done," Dad said, looking down at us.

I stood with Uncle Don and we went inside.

We washed our hands and went to the table. We all held hands and prayed.

There wasn't much to say at the table.

"Ned," Dad said.

"Yes, sir?" I looked up.

"You never invite me outside with you,"

I took a sip of my drink. "You're usually at work when I go out,"

"Maybe we can go outside together tomorrow?" He smiled.

"Okay," I said.

I was going to make sure to have a lot of homework tomorrow so I couldn't go outside with him. I wasn't going to do my class work so it would carry over as homework.

"You okay, baby girl?"

"Y-Yes, sir. I'm just a little tired," I said. "Mama, can you pass me the salt, please?"

She reached over and grabbed it. She passed it to me.

"Eiram," Uncle Don said as he chewed on his food. "What happened to your eye?"

"She got into a scuffle at the mall," Dad said.

"Yeah. It was over a scarf, believe it or not," she laughed nervously.

"I'm guessing the woman took that scarf home with her," Uncle Don said.

Mom stared down at her plate. "Anyone want seconds?"

"No thank you," I said.

Uncle Don shook his head and rubbed his flat stomach. "It was delicious. Thank you,"

"You're welcome," Mama smiled at him.

"I think I'm gonna take a shower and go on to bed," he stood up.

"Goodnight, Uncle Don," I said.

"Goodnight," he leaned down and kissed my forehead.

I smiled as he left. I finished my food and helped Mama wash the dishes.

Dad watched us and he decided to help.

First, Mama and I were having fun, but our fun seized when Dad decided to help. We couldn't flick water at each other or bump each other's hips playfully anymore.

"Esined, I can't take you to school tomorrow," Dad said.

"That's okay," I said.

"I have to go into work early," he began to cough.

"You okay?" I got him some water.

"Thank you," he drank it. "I'm fine. I better get to bed. I have to wake up earlier and so do you,"

"Can you wake me up when you get up?" I asked.

He nodded. "Night,"

"Goodnight," Mama and I said as he walked to their room.

"Should have let him choke," Mama mumbled.

I giggled and bumped her hip. "Night Mama. I love you,"

"I love you too, Essy," she hugged me and kissed my cheek. "Goodnight,"

I went to my room and prepared myself for sleep. I made sure I had my outfit picked out and everything ready. I turned off the light and slowly drifted off to sleep.

-

Hi hi hi y'all.

What do y'all think of Uncle Don?

Are y'all still enjoying the story?

Btw, they kinda live in the middle of nowhere and they barely have neighbors. So no, no one saw her dad slap her.

Isn't August a little sweetheart?

Why is he with Chantelle tho? Ew. Lol.

Anyway. That's all from me.

Excuse typos please.

Comments & Votes are greatly appreciated. -Will Ferrell voice- It keeps the writer going lmao.

Much love, Shia. Xoxo.