A Hood Fairytale: Ayce & Ava Read Free Page B

couple of weeks until he could find somewhere that would rent to a 16 year old. Since then, he might have had 99 problems, but money sure wasn't one. He gets hella racks grinding and honestly I would definitely need to be looking into his line of work because with mama gone, I was going to have to take care of me and Kalie, and working at the corner store just wasn't going to work.
    “You know I hate asking for a hand out,” I said.
    “Wait nigga, a handout? Is that what you think this is? This ain't no handout, this is me taking care of my family. You my nigga almost like a brotha, so swallow your pride nigga.”
    “I hear you, but I just wish I could handle this on my own, but the way my pockets are set up, I'm not going to be able to bury my mother without your help.  I might even need you to holla at Duce and set up a meeting for me, because I need to be able to provide for us.”
    “Whateva you need baby boy, you know I got you. I'll set up a meeting for you to talk to Duce, but don't get wrapped up in this life. You almost finish with school, don't fuck up now. You got what, three more years and you'll be a big time lawyer. Now let's get everything ready so we can lay your mother to rest in style.”
    “I hear you,” I said, “but yo, I want to find that nigga Joe too. When my momma went down all I could think about is tending to her. By the time I thought about the nigga, he was ghost,” I said thinking back to that night.
    “Already got my ear to the streets about that nigga. He won’t be able to hide long.”
     
    ***
     
    May 16, 2015
     
    It was the day of my mother’s funeral and I knew I had to be strong for my sister. My nigga Ric came through and the sky was the limit. From the flowers, to the Donna Karan dress, and the cream plush casket my mother was laid to rest in. Everything that I wanted to lay my mother to rest i n hedi d no questions, no limit. We didn't really belong to a church so instead of having the funeral at a church, I decided to have it at the cemetery. Besides the fact that I had to bury my mother, it turned out to be a nice day, almost like she was shining down on us. When it was time for me to give the eulogy, I almost broke down, but all I could think of is my baby sister. Her and my mother was very close. They used to do each other’s hair, paint each other’s nails, cook together and a whole bunch of other things women do together. Kalie was only 16 years old and I could see she was trying to hold it together for me, while I was trying to hold it together for her. It was just her and I now, and I had to make sure we were good. We were all we had left. After I gave the eulogy, my sister read a poem she wrote and that was the end. I opted not to stay and watch my mother being lowered into the ground, because that would for sure be my breaking point. 
    “You did good bae,” Remy said walking over to me, as I walked toward my rental car to wait for my sister. The closer I got to my car, I saw Ava standing there looking fine as hell in an all-black dress that gripped her curves in a tasteful way. I had to say I was surprised to see her at my mother’s funeral, but then again, everyone that knew my mother loved her. When I got closer to her, she put her arms around me and gave me a hug. It felt so good having her this close to me again. When she released me I could tell she had been crying.
    “The service was beautiful,” she said before we were interrupted by Remy.
    “Umm, why do you always have to be up in somebody else’s man’s face?” Remy asked trying to hold my hand.
    “I was just paying my respects, nothing more,” Ava said.
    “Well, you don't have to be all over him to pay your respects. So you ca n ”
    I stopped Remy right in the middle of her sentence. I couldn't believe she was trying to start drama at my mother’s funeral.
    “Remy, are you serious right now?” I asked pulling my hand away from her and turning toward her.
    “What you mean am