"MA, I'M BORED." Takashi whined as he came down the stairs.

"Then how about you clean my damn house." Laura replied from the kitchen, rubbing her temples. She'd been getting migraines a lot lately. She knew it was due to her being stressed out.

"Nah, I'm good." Takashi chuckled as he finally made it to the kitchen.

Laura smiled at the sound of her son's semi-deep baritone and turned around to meet him. She couldn't believe her baby was already a young man. Now eighteen, Takashi was in his last year of high school. After the summer break he would be going off to college. Not only was he a Senior, he also looked like one. No longer the same five foot nine stature as his mother, he stood six feet tall. His body had slimmed down some and his sharp K-nine teeth brought major attention to his smile. His waves were still on swim and his voice has deepened just a little.

With her back to the counter, Laura's smile slowly dropped when she saw a print coming through his basketball shorts. "Little boy go put some clothes on, what's wrong with you? Why can I see your little thing all through your pants like that?"

Takashi looked down but but didn't see anything. He sucked his teeth and smiled anyway, chuckling. "Ma chill, what you looking at my dick for anyway? You weird."

"I made your ass so it's not weird. What's weird is you walking around your mother's house with your ding-a-ling swinging out like that. Hell wrong with you, this ain't no Concubine club. Go put some boxers on!"

"Concubines though? We Chinese now?"

"Tee!"

"Aight, aight, damn." He said, heading toward the staircase, he turned around and bit his bottom lip as he continued to back pedal toward the stairs. "I'm working with something though huh?"

Laura just shook her head, rubbing her temples. "Working with way more than what your father got."

Takashi busted out laughing, putting a closed fist up to his mouth. "Yooo'! I'm weak, Pop's got a little dick? Imma cut his ass when I see him!"

"Great, you can do that today actually. I forgot to tell you, he said he's coming to get you this afternoon. Around three o' clock, he wants to take you somewhere."

Takashi's mouth dropped open. He was always ecstatic when he dad came through. Especially since he hardly ever saw him, plus he knew when his mom said his dad was coming for him it was set in stone. Florence was never the type to say he was coming and didn't come.

"You still have three hours to get ready, don't worry." Laura said as he flew up the stairs.

Takashi was so excited, he did everything now so all he had to do was wait. He showered and got dressed in an Under Amor tracksuit. He didn't know where he was going but he hoped he looked decent and had on the right gear for wherever it was. Once fully dressed, he made his way back downstairs and into the living room.

Laura was on the couch watching TV and he joined her, sitting on the far end so he could stretch his legs across her lap. She was watching some ratchet TV show but he didn't really mind, he just liked spending time with her. That was one thing about his mother that he loved. She wasn't perfect. Now that he was older and he looked back on the way she raised him, she didn't always make the best decisions; but she did great for someone who was raising him alone most of the time. She was also young when she had him with no guidance so he would never point out the flaws in how she brought him up.

Laura glanced at Takashi, her eyes sunken in slightly, showing she hadn't been getting any sleep lately. "You know Toryn got fired from her job this morning? The manager called and told me."

"Damn. Word?" Takashi said uninterested. He loved his little dork but ever since she started a relationship with Samir, things had been going downhill for her, so she was honestly bringing it on herself.

The house was quiet since it was only the two of them at home. Toryn was at work but now hearing that she had been fired, Takashi guessed Samir had picked her up and she was over at his house now. He knew she would get over it so he saw no sense in calling her about it.

"Yeah, the manager said complaints and issues have been going on with her for a while...he said multiple employees catch her talking to herself all the time...he says he has to constantly repeat a task to her before she does it...and that if he tells her something she doesn't do it right...she stopped talking to her coworkers...said he had to let her go this morning."

Laura shook her head knowing all of the things her manager Lenard from the bookstore mentioned was traits from her Schizophrenia. Disorganized thought, memory loss, hallucination, paranoia. Nobody knew about her mental disorder because she hadn't put that on the application. So as far as Lenard was concerned, he just assumed it was a personal problem at home that was affecting her ability to work.

"They gonna put that on her resumé and shit?"

Laura shrugged, "They gonna have to put something. She didn't quit, she got fired so they have to put a reason for why they let her go." Laura bounced one of her legs causing his legs to raise in the air. They looked at each other, "You should go over to Samir's house and see how she's doing...you know she's messed up over it. She's been working there for three years."

Takashi gave his mother a look that let her know that suggestion was dead on the spot. "Yeah, aight." He said sarcastically. Nobody knew about the comment Samir made that night because Takashi never said anything; but after that, he steered clear of Samir.

He knew he could go to Samir's house because Dupree lived there and they were friends, but just knowing Samir lived there is the exact reason Takashi stopped going over. He kept shit sweet around Dupree in school and when they hung out because he couldn't disrespect his brother, but basically in not so many words, Takashi didn't like Samir.

A horn honked from outside and Takashi and Laura looked at each other again. "He's here!" They both said in unison.

Takashi got up and kissed his mom on the forehead. "See you later."

*****

"BOY WHY YOU ALWAYS LOOKING LIKE A HOOLIGAN?" Florence questioned, taking his eyes off the road for a quick second to look at his son. He was dressed down in black sneakers, a red wine colored silk material sweatpants, a black t-shirt along with the matching red sweatsuit jacket over the shirt that had the Under Amor logo on it.

Takashi clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, looking up from his phone as he narrowed his eyes at his dad in amusement. "What? How I look like a Hooligan? It's a tracksuit."

"Mm hm." Florence had rather him put on a dress shirt and some jeans at least, but he still looked well put together and his hair was freshly cut.

"Where we going anyway?" Takashi questioned.

"To a little party your grandmother is throwing. Your family and friends will be there."

The sulk on Takashi's face instantly caught Florence's attention. He wasn't mad though, Takashi didn't really know his side of the family so he knew he wasn't really feeling to go. But Florence's mother had been asking for him. She hadn't seen him since he was nine.

"Don't worry you have cousins your age and things like that too."

Man I don't give a fuck bout' none of that. Takashi thought to himself, actually wanting to say it. But instead he smiled and gripped Florence's shoulder. "I know I know Pop's, it's cool. Chill, I don't mind." He said. He really did, but he would never sulk and make his dad feel bad. He hardly ever got to spend time with him, so when he did he wouldn't bitch about where they were going.

Although hardly there anyway, Florence was a great parental figure. He was the main one calling and emailing both Takashi and Laura on a daily basis to ask questions about his college as soon as he hit twelfth grade. Florence was planning on paying for everything. His transportation, tuition, clothes, school books and everything that he needed.

Takashi realized they were on the Belt Parkway headed somewhere and that it would obviously take a while before they got to their destination, so he took out his phone and shot Toryn a text.

Takashi: I miss you Dork.☹️ 1:23PM

Takashi hoped she would text him back right away. He really did miss her, that was another reason why he despised Samir so much. Even though Toryn lived at his house, they hardly saw each other. Most of her time was spent around Samir, only coming back home when it was curfew. Takashi was never against Toryn having a boyfriend, but her man of choice is what Takashi could do without.

"So how is school so far? No more fighting right?"

"That was like three years ago, Pop's. And nah I haven't gotten into a fight since then." He said truthfully. He definitely wouldn't start now. He wanted to keep his track record clean to have a smooth graduation.

Within thirty more minutes of talking, they had finally pulled up. Suddenly Takashi felt nervous. He could already tell which house they were going to enter since the music was thumping and a couple of guys were hanging out on the lawn. He could even smell charcoal coming through the vents of the car. They must have been barbecuing in the back.

Takashi was grateful he brought his headphones, because he was about to be sitting in the corner chilling all night until it was time to go.

Both men exited the car and Takashi wasted no time quickly finding a song on his iPhone to blast despite the reggae music already blaring from the house. It was a house that definitely stood out with baby blue paint, sitting on top of neatly cut grass with a couple plants sitting in colorful vases on the porch.

Florence and the men on the lawn had small talk. Takashi heard plain as day as one of them asked Florence if 'that was his boy' knowing the guy was asking if he was Florence's son. Takashi knew it was his cue to look up and say hello but he pretended he was buried in his iPod.

Once they entered the house Takashi regretted it immediately. The house was flooded with people. It must have been about six kids he spotted already, most of them seeming to be from the ages of six to ten at least. Almost all of them were running around like dickheads. Too damn big to be acting like that in his opinion. Overdressed females who stood in heels they knew they couldn't walk in and a pound of makeup on their face like they were at the club and not at a family gathering were all around.

Takashi trailed behind his dad like his shadow. He watched as a group of middle aged men all stood around in a circle, their voices almost carrying as loud as the music. Some of them had drinks in their hand, from the spit flying out of some of their mouths and the urgent hand movements it was easy to tell they were having a debate. And Takashi could tell none of them knew what the fuck they were even arguing about. He hadn't even taken out his headphones to know, but that was the impression he got so far.

Takashi bumped into someone and was just about to say sorry when he realized it was just his dad. He pulled one of the earphones out his ear and looked at Florence.

"Go on son, go ahead and mingle. Go talk, most of the people here are family and friends of the family."

Takashi sucked his teeth and saw how quick Florence was about to say something. It was a bad habit he had since he was a child and Laura had never corrected it. So it was something he did daily. "Talk to who? Dad I don't know these people." He said. He wasn't trying to be a cock block and stop him from having fun. But he honestly felt his dad was doing too much. He hadn't seen some of these people in years and others he never even met. Who did he expect him to just strike up a conversation with?

"Forget it." Takashi said waving his dad off, irritated as hell. He was just about to go back out to the car when he felt a small hand grip his elbow.

"Taraji baby! Oh gosh is how yuh doing man?"

Takashi was caught off guard by the hug. He saw a few people staring and smiling, some probably knowing him or others just curious by how loud the old woman was being. When she pulled away Takashi got a good look at her short stature and baggy skin. Her hair was silky gray and in a bun in the back of her head. She had to be at least in her late seventies or early eighties. She moved around above normal mobility for her age though.

"Oh gosh Tamarin, but it's how you get so big bai?" The woman's thick Guyanese accent said.

"It's Takashi..." He mumbled.

"Wha?" The old woman said screwing up her face. With the loud music she couldn't hear a thing.

"I said my name is Takashi."

Mildred flung her hands up and her eyes widened when she heard the name as if she had never heard it before. "Oh gosh, is what dis. I ya'll parents does name I you pickney one setta shupidness."

Takashi understood her clearly, and even though he knew the name was different he was offended. It was still his name. Older people were known for not having filters though so he didn't let it bother him.

"So is how old you is bai?" Mildred questioned with her hands on her hips. She was very animated.

"Eighteen."

Mildred looked at Florence with her mouth wide before she looked back at him. "Is dat how big dis bai dey already? Mi remember when yuh dey a small lil' ting so." She said putting her index finger close together, "small small and fine like a gal."

Takashi just gave her a forced smile. He was guessing this was his grandmother.

"Is how yuh mudda? She alright?"

Takashi saw how her face dropped with the question and easily knew there must have been some drama between them back in the day. What he didn't know was that Mildred had never liked Laura. She felt like she was a fast little girl looking for money. She had only been fourteen years old when she was messing with Florence who was twenty-four. Even though Florence did know her age, Mildred still felt she was old enough to know she was wrong and that was why she kept Takashi. To trap Florence and get money out of him. He had been working for the city back then so he was making money.

"She's good." Takashi replied.

"Okay," Mildred said, the salty look on her face too obvious to hide. When the air fell silent with awkwardness, she quickly plastered on a smile. "Well don't mind mi, nah. Must go and eat yuh hear? We get curry and roti, souse, pholourie, cook-up and ting. Okay?" Mildred said slapping his shoulder and laughing.

Takashi smirked. "Okay."

"Right, must go sit dung and talk and gaff nah man. I you young people in phone phone phone all day. Back in mi time, yuh think we get phone? No. Yuh play with ya brodda and sister dem. Or if not, yuh play by yuh self. We didn't know nuttin' bout' no Headbook and Clapchat and all dat shuppdy shuppdy ting."

Somebody else jumped in with a response immediately sparking an old people's conversation about 'back in their day' so Takashi found that as his cue to dip off. He ignored some people staring at him as he was lost as hell not even knowing where he was going. He figured since these people were much closer to each other they all knew one another but not a lot of people recognized him and wondered what he was doing in the house.

He was hype when he finally made it out to a backyard, though. There were plenty people out here as well but he found a secluded spot. He didn't know about eating the food Mildred recommended. Not because he found it nasty, he loved West Indian food. But he just didn't eat certain things from people he didn't know. He saw some guys grilling simple things like hot dogs and burgers. So he'd probably just stick to that.

His phone began ringing, cutting off his music and showing the caller. Takashi immediately answered when he saw Toryn's picture pop up. "Now you call back?"

"I was sleeping," She said, her voice hoarse. He couldn't tell if she was lying. She either was sleeping or was crying.

"What time you coming home?"

"Curfew." Toryn said in an almost duh tone.

He sucked his teeth, "You ugly for that."

Toryn chuckled, "Shut up...where are you?" She questioned. She could hear music in the background but it didn't sound like it was at the house.

"My dad came and picked me up. I'm chilling wit' his side of the family." Takashi remarked. Just as he said that he looked up and saw Mildred talking to a group of children as she pointed in their direction. The kids were all staring at him.

One kid Takashi noticed in particular was much bigger than the others. Probably in his age group. He held a styrofoam plate with a massive amount of food on it. Mildred said something to him and Takashi watched the boy glance in his direction and shrug violently as he walked off from everybody else to another part of the backyard.

"Yeah? And how's that going?" Toryn asked.

"Okay...I mean I don't really know anybody here so I'm just chilling." He mumbled.

Takashi watched the group of kids begin walking up to him and instantly he rolled his eyes on the inside. He smiled so he wouldn't look crazy though.

"Hi." The leader of the group said in his little pipsqueak voice. Takashi assumed he was the leader because he was the one who stood the tallest out of all of them.

"Hi," Takashi mumbled back with a smile.

Toryn huffed into the phone. "What I really called you to talk about was some prom stuff. I think I finally found my dress." She said. "I want you to see it but then again I don't."

Prom was only in two more weeks followed by graduation the following week. Toryn had been sweating bullets when prom was coming up because she had no clue who she was going to take. It was either going to be between Samir and Takashi but when Samir opted out, saying he was twenty and didn't want to be at some high school prom, Toryn knew she wouldn't have any drama with who would be her date. It was honestly better for her that her decision was narrowed down anyway because she knew Takashi would have been really hurt if she didn't choose him. They went to all of their proms together. It was almost like tradition.

"Send me a picture of the dress." Takashi said.

"My aunt Mildred said your our cousin." The same little boy blurted out.

Takashi hadn't told Toryn to hold on because he was hoping the kids seeing he was on the phone would make them fall back; but it was just like kids to be annoying like that. What he wanted to tell all of them was to fuck outta his face, but instead he just smiled. "Okay."

"Noooo, I don't want you to see it. It has to be a surprise! Trust me it's gonna be nice. You gonna like it."

"Okay Toryn, you so annoying," Takashi chuckled. See you later, Tee." Takashi said, hanging up.