Daddy Dearest Read Free

of him, Granny!”
    “That’s your father, so you might as well get un-tired of him!”
    “Not daddy,” she said turning over to face her. “I’m talking about Ron. I hate him!”
    “Hate is a strong word. You shouldn’t use it loosely.”
    “I do. He’s always looming over me and starting stuff with my friends. He was just outside trying to fight Ching. He chilled out when he heard your voice.”
    “I don’t believe that for one second.” She was shaking her head in denial.
    “I was right there, Granny. He called Ching a faggot.”
    “No, he didn’t!”
    “I’m telling you, Granny! He…,” she paused when she saw Ron standing at the door.
    “…okay, I’m about to do it as soon as I leave here…you know that your problem is my problem…I will…Okay, later.”
    He ended the call. “Hammer told me to tell y’all that he loves y’all, and he’s going to call tomorrow.”
    Mrs. Billups faced him. “Did you call that boy a name, Ronny?”
    “No ma’am.”
    “Yes, you did!” Cataya screamed. “You’re sitting there lying in Granny’s face!”
    “Momma, that boy had a booger on is nose and I called it a ‘maggot’. No wonder he got all loud and hyper.”
    “You’re a liar!” Cataya accused.
    Mrs. Billups warned her with a finger. “Respect your elders.” She then turned back to Ron. “I don’t need no mess out of you.”
    “And I promise not to give you none either. Oh, I almost forgot.” He pulled out a small wad of money. “Happy Belated Birthday!”
    She accepted it and gave him a hug. “Why, thank you, Ronny!”
    He mouthed snitch to Cataya. “You’re welcome. It was my intentions to bring it to you yesterday, but Hammer had me ripping and running.”
    “It’s okay. Better late than never.”
    “I’ll see y’all later. Call me if y’all need anything.”
    “We will.”
    Mrs. Billups waited until he was gone before she peeled two of the hundred dollar bills off and handed them to Cataya. “Here, girl. And wipe them tears from your face. You can go get those shoes that you wanted after school tomorrow.”
    “No, Granny. He gave you that for your birthday.”
    “And it’s mine to do what I want with it. So, here.”
    She accepted it. “Thanks, Granny. I love you.”
    “I love you, too. I want you to stop taking everything so personal. Some people feed on other’s misery. That’s what it means when it says misery loves company. If you hear or see something that upsets you, grieve in the privacy of your own company. Then people won’t be able to figure out which buttons to push. Understand me?”
    “Yes ma’am.”
    “Now give me a hug.”
     
     
     
    Ching walked thought the night, still agitated about the incident at Cataya’s house. He knew that his chances of winning the fight against Ron had been slim to none, but he had been willing to go against those odds.
    It wasn’t the fact that Ron had called him a name. He could care less what people thought of him. What bothered him was the way that Ron bullied Cataya. He held her close at heart, and wasn’t going to let anyone harm her in his presence.
    He suddenly felt like hearing the soundtrack of his inner thoughts, so he pulled out his I-POD from his book bag and started to sing along.
    “They say I walk around like I got a S on my chest, nah that’s a semi auto and vest on my chest. I try to say nothing, the D.A. might want to play in court…”
    Ching sang halfway through the next two tracks when he just so happened to glance back. The same Maserati that pulled up at Cataya’s house was coasting a few yards behind him.
    He almost stopped to throw his hands up, but his good sense didn’t allow his idol to boost him up and neither 50 Cent or none of his security was around to give him assistance.
    It suddenly dawned on him how deserted the streets were, and he began to wonder what Ron’s intentions were. 50 Cent was now rapping about being in the club, but Ching pressed the power button. His current