hadn’t seen the rest of my family in four years and didn’t care to know what they were doing. But that never seemed to bother Mama Tee.
“Is that so?” I nonchalantly responded. “Well, look, Mama Tee, I’m kinda busy. I guess you need some money or something.”
Mama Tee took a deep breath, then let out into me. “Raedella Dionne Rollins. Have I ever asked you for one thin dime? I don’t need your money, don’t want your money, and if I wasn’t saved, I’d tell your ass what to do with your money. I been making it just fine all these years and I’m gon’ keep on making it.”
I felt her fury through the phone. “I’m sorry, Mama Tee. I wasn’t thinking. It’s just that I recently sent Shondella some money.”
“That’s between you and your sister. I don’t want your damn money.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Umm-hmmm. I just wanted you to know Justin is doing much better. And, oh, yeah, I wanted to tell you we’re having the family reunion down there next month.”
“Here? In Houston? Why would you all have it six hours away from Sweet Poke?” I nearly dropped the phone.
“Had you been coming around, you’d a known that we decided to move it to a different city each year. You know your uncle Clyde is down there. So we gon’ have it there.”
I dropped my head and closed my eyes as I inhaled deeply. I had forgotten that Uncle Clyde lived here. He had called me when I’d first moved here, but I’d never got around to calling him back.
“So, we gon’ see you there, right?”
“I don’t know—”
“Good. ’Cause I’m telling you now, you don’t show up, each and every last one of us is gonna come up to that fancy station and show out till you come out. And you know we’ll do it.”
I was silent. They would do it. And take great pride in doing it.
“Okay, Mama Tee. I’ll think about it.”
“Ain’t nothing to think about. We’ll see you in three weeks. I’m a send you the flyer on where the family picnic is. Least I do have your address.” She paused. “I’m sho’ looking forward to seeing you. And bring that handsome young man you seeing.”
I was glad she couldn’t see the flustered look on my face. “How do you know about Myles?”
“Chile, I know a whole lot more than you think I know.” Mama Tee laughed. “A whole lot more. We’ll see you in three weeks.” With that she hung up the phone.
Chapter 14
I rolled my eyes at Simone’s report on the noon news. She was at some petroleum fire doing a live report. She was the lead story. What happened to training? How did she go from being a reporter trainee to being the top story in the newscast? It probably had something to do with how chummy she was with Dina. Every time I turned around, they were giggling like schoolgirls.
I know people might think I’m jealous or something. Really, I’m not. Simone was no threat to me. I just couldn’t appreciate her being given a handout when I had had to work so hard to get where I am.
I started going through my mail. I had the usual assortment of fan mail, press releases, and so forth. There was also an oversize envelope from Shondella. I recognized her crooked handwriting immediately. Could it possibly be her paying me back some of the money she owed me?
“I seriously doubt that,” I muttered as I grabbed my letter opener and pried the envelope open. I reached in and pulled out the contents. It was the front page of the Sweet Poke Times . Why would Shondella send me the newspaper? Then I thought about it. My sister has always had an obsession with newspapers. It’s crazy. In addition to the Sweet Poke Times , she reads at least three other newspapers a day. She had been doing it since she was a teenager. Personally, I think that allowed her to escape her bland existence, but that was just my two cents.
As soon as I unfolded the paper, I saw why she’d sent it to me. Reno was on the front of the paper with the headline “Local Coach Saves Drowning Toddler.” He
“Is that so?” I nonchalantly responded. “Well, look, Mama Tee, I’m kinda busy. I guess you need some money or something.”
Mama Tee took a deep breath, then let out into me. “Raedella Dionne Rollins. Have I ever asked you for one thin dime? I don’t need your money, don’t want your money, and if I wasn’t saved, I’d tell your ass what to do with your money. I been making it just fine all these years and I’m gon’ keep on making it.”
I felt her fury through the phone. “I’m sorry, Mama Tee. I wasn’t thinking. It’s just that I recently sent Shondella some money.”
“That’s between you and your sister. I don’t want your damn money.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Umm-hmmm. I just wanted you to know Justin is doing much better. And, oh, yeah, I wanted to tell you we’re having the family reunion down there next month.”
“Here? In Houston? Why would you all have it six hours away from Sweet Poke?” I nearly dropped the phone.
“Had you been coming around, you’d a known that we decided to move it to a different city each year. You know your uncle Clyde is down there. So we gon’ have it there.”
I dropped my head and closed my eyes as I inhaled deeply. I had forgotten that Uncle Clyde lived here. He had called me when I’d first moved here, but I’d never got around to calling him back.
“So, we gon’ see you there, right?”
“I don’t know—”
“Good. ’Cause I’m telling you now, you don’t show up, each and every last one of us is gonna come up to that fancy station and show out till you come out. And you know we’ll do it.”
I was silent. They would do it. And take great pride in doing it.
“Okay, Mama Tee. I’ll think about it.”
“Ain’t nothing to think about. We’ll see you in three weeks. I’m a send you the flyer on where the family picnic is. Least I do have your address.” She paused. “I’m sho’ looking forward to seeing you. And bring that handsome young man you seeing.”
I was glad she couldn’t see the flustered look on my face. “How do you know about Myles?”
“Chile, I know a whole lot more than you think I know.” Mama Tee laughed. “A whole lot more. We’ll see you in three weeks.” With that she hung up the phone.
Chapter 14
I rolled my eyes at Simone’s report on the noon news. She was at some petroleum fire doing a live report. She was the lead story. What happened to training? How did she go from being a reporter trainee to being the top story in the newscast? It probably had something to do with how chummy she was with Dina. Every time I turned around, they were giggling like schoolgirls.
I know people might think I’m jealous or something. Really, I’m not. Simone was no threat to me. I just couldn’t appreciate her being given a handout when I had had to work so hard to get where I am.
I started going through my mail. I had the usual assortment of fan mail, press releases, and so forth. There was also an oversize envelope from Shondella. I recognized her crooked handwriting immediately. Could it possibly be her paying me back some of the money she owed me?
“I seriously doubt that,” I muttered as I grabbed my letter opener and pried the envelope open. I reached in and pulled out the contents. It was the front page of the Sweet Poke Times . Why would Shondella send me the newspaper? Then I thought about it. My sister has always had an obsession with newspapers. It’s crazy. In addition to the Sweet Poke Times , she reads at least three other newspapers a day. She had been doing it since she was a teenager. Personally, I think that allowed her to escape her bland existence, but that was just my two cents.
As soon as I unfolded the paper, I saw why she’d sent it to me. Reno was on the front of the paper with the headline “Local Coach Saves Drowning Toddler.” He
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