Chapter 19

Esined

"Do you need anything else?" I asked Uncle Don.

"No. Thank you, sweetheart," he sighed, trying to make himself comfortable.

"Did I fluff the pillow wrong?" I walked over to him.

He lifted and I fixed the pillow. He stared at me.

I gave him a smile and finished fixing it to his liking.

He leaned back. "Thank you,"

"No problem," I stepped back.

He smiled. "Awe,"

"What?"

"So helpful. You're gonna be a great wife one day,"

"I hope so,"

"You will, trust me. He better be a good man to my caterpillar or I'll have to have a talk with him,"

I just prayed that my future husband would never be like my father.

"I know you would," I giggled. "Uncle Don, why aren't you married?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Nobody wants an old, bummy man,"

"But you have an amazing personality,"

"People see more than that. They see looks and money more than anything now,"

"You aren't ugly either. You might not have a lot of money, but you have a big heart and you're the nicest man I've ever met," I sat down next to him.

"That's really nice of you to say that,"

"I mean it. We're gonna get you a wife one day,"

He laughed. "It's too late for me to get married now,"

"It's never to fall in love and get married. I know I can't wait for that stage of my life,"

"Really?"

"Yeah. I can't wait to have my own little family and everything,"

"What do you want your husband to be like?"

"Educated and intelligent. I want him to be family oriented. A guy who loves me for me and not what I bring to the table. I want a guy who is patient. I honestly want a guy who treats his mama well,"

"Now, what if he's broke? He has all you need, except money. Then what?"

"The kind of man I want is never broke,"

"I'm serious, Esined,"

"I don't care if he's broke, as long as he's trying to get on his feet and help me provide for our family,"

"See, you're the kind or woman that men need," he chuckled.

"What type of woman do you want, Uncle Don?"

"African American,"

"What else?"

"That's it,"

"Uncle Don,"

He started laughing. "I'm serious,"

"I'm serious,"

He sighed. "A beautiful black woman is what I need. Someone who'll lift me up and love me for me. I know I'm not the best guy to choose, but I'd do everything to make myself the man she wants,"

"Is there a woman you're thinking of in particular?" I grinned.

"No," he said, causing my smile to drop. "Is there a boy you were thinking of in particular that I should know about?"

"No,"

"Better not be,"

"But you said-"

"I didn't say that you could date a boy. I said that you should be allowed to be friends with them,"

I frowned. "Uncle Don,"

"Nope. What's his name?"

"I don't know," I lied.

"I am not playing with you,"

I laughed. "You can't tell dad,"

"Why would I tell that old bastard? C'mon and tell me,"

"His name is Keenon,"

"How old is he and what grade?"

"He's a senior and he's eighteen,"

"Mmm," he pursed his lips slightly. "Who does he think he is? Got my niece smiling like this," he playfully pulled at my cheeks. "You like him, huh?"

I cheesed. "I don't know," I blushed while looking down. "I get butterflies around him,"

"That's adorable. I've never seen you have a crush on someone before," he chuckled. "What is he like?"

"He's funny. He was one of the only people that were being nice to me at school. He walks me to class and holds my books for me. He's a gentleman," I smiled. "He has such a nice smile and he dresses nice,"

"I hope that he's everything you think he is. Is he smart?"

"I think so. He has less classes than he's supposed to have because he has more than enough credits for him to graduate,"

"That's impressive. Is he going to college?"

I could never lie to my uncle.

"Well,"

"He kind of is focused on his music right now. I don't think college is really his first priority,"

"Music? He sings?"

"He's a rapper,"

"Nope," he began to laugh.

"Uncle Don," I frowned.

"No,"

"Why not?"

"A rapper? All they rap about is toting guns, degrading women, sex, and money. No,"

"He's not like the rest,"

"I've heard that so many times in my life," he sighed. "That's how all first impressions are. Sweet and loving. Until you see a whole 'nother side of him,"

"He's honest with me from my knowledge. I don't think Keenon is a bad guy,"

"In my opinion, I say no to this guy. You're not about to become one of his little video vixens. You are too innocent for all of that mess. Maybe you'll find love in college or something. Get you a nice and intelligent young man that has something going for himself,"

I never thought I'd see the day when I would disagree with my uncle so much.

I was trying to say my response to him without sounding disrespectful.

"Keenon has something going for himself," I said.

"What? Rapping?" he laughed. "Most guys who say they're a rapper either can't rap or just say the same thing all the other rappers say,"

"I heard he's good,"

"His mixtape wont pay the bills,"

"How can you shut someone down like that? What if Keenon actually has talent and he's good?"

"Then I'll apologize. Until I see him on magazine covers and making millions, my opinion stays the same. I don't mean to offend you by no means, Caterpillar. I just want the best for you," he touched my cheek. "Don't be upset with me,"

"I'm not," I tried to cheer up a little. "I'll try see where you're coming from. I may not see it now, but I may see it one day,"

"I'm glad you aren't upset with me," he said. "Did you want to go outside today?"

"What about your shoulder?"

"I'll go outside if that's what you want to do,"

"I'll stay in with you today. You have to rest,"

"So sweet," he gave me a smile. "Where's your mama?"

I stared at my fingers and fiddled with them. "I don't know,"

"Maybe the store,"

"She's not there,"

"You said you didn't know where she went,"

"She left,"

"What do you mean?"

"Dad told her to leave,"

"Why?"

"They were arguing a lot,"

"How are you feeling? I know your mama is your everything,"

I put my head down, trying not to let any tears fall. "I don't know how to feel," I managed to say before breaking down. "I miss her,"

He sat up and pulled me closer to him.

I cried onto his chest and he rubbed my back. "I just want to see her. I want to hear her voice. I want to be with her. I want my mama,"

"You'll see her again, I promise,"

I shook my head and he sighed.

"You don't know where she is, do you?"

I sniffed. "She said she was going to Detroit. I was supposed to go with her,"

"Why?"

I instantly thought about Mr. Togel's story and I told Uncle Don about what his brother had been doing. I started talking as if there was no tomorrow and this was my chance to get help. I didn't want to end up like Olivia.

"Mama and I were trying to escape. Dad beats us a lot and we were tired of it. We had a whole plan to leave and Dad caught us at the door. He threatened to kill us both. He told mama that she could leave, but she couldn't take me with her. She said she was coming back for me, but I don't think she is. He threatened to kill me if I tried to run away or tell on him," I spoke quickly, but he seemed to grasp every word I said.

Uncle Don sat there, speechless. He cleared his throat before speaking. "I knew she ain't get into no damn scuffle at the mall,"

I looked at him and he shook his head.

"Esined,"

"Yes?"

"You wanna leave?"

"Yes,"

"I'm gonna get you out of here. I promise. I'm gonna do whatever I can to get you out of here. You aren't dealing with this anymore. I'm not letting anyone hurt you," his voice began to crack and I hugged him tighter. "I love you. You're getting out of here," he sniffed.

"I love you too," I said softly.

For a few more minutes, my uncle and I sat there completely vulnerable with each other. We cried and hugged. I never saw my uncle cry until now and it broke my heart. Him shedding tears with me let me know that he really cares.

-Hi...

Just to answer that one question. I'm 16, I'll be 17 in December lol. But 20? Really y'all? :[ I'm mad young.

Also, I'm really surprised that no one caught that tea. Y'all just let it spill on the floor smh. Y'all should have had y'all tea cups ready.

Just going to say this... SOME of this book is based off of some real life situations. Some things have happened to me or I witnessed it happen to people around me.

When I write, sometimes, it's not for jokes. I like to get in touch with my darker writing side sometimes, as you can see.

Trying not to seem like that overly emotional or bitchy author, but honestly. I didn't think anything that happened with Viola was funny... I understood why someone would laugh at the holy water part, but it wasn't funny, at least not to me. If you have a problem with me addressing this, if you click on my page, you can just click the same button you clicked to follow me tbh lmao. I'm not upset with any of you that laughed btw.

Anyway. This will be one of my darker books that come to the light. If you're very emotional and get depressed easily... I'm not going to tell you not to read it, but here's your warning. I've put a trigger warning in the description also.

Excuse any typos. I didn't preread.

Comments & Votes are appreciated.

Thanks.

Much love, Shia.