project was compared to her need for a new outfit for the upcoming Spring Fling Day that her class was spending at the local amusement park. There must be some boy she’s trying to impress, Tai thought, almost amused that Princess could not fathom the notion that Tai had herself been fifteen once upon a time. Not so long ago that she’d forgotten what that age felt like.
“So what’s his name?” she asked casually while scooping out a small helping of lasagna. Tai was determined not to regain the ten pounds she’d lost since she and Mama Max began exercising two months ago.
“Mom! Why do you always think boys are involved when I ask you for stuff?”
“Because you’re fifteen. Boys are always involved when you’re fifteen.”
“I don’t got time for none of these boys around here. They’re stupid.”
“ Have time, not got time. How did you get a ‘B’ in English with that grammar?”
“Mom! We were right in the middle of telling you about our project,” Tabitha whined with the practiced skill of the most seasoned actress.
“Yeah,” Timothy piped in. “And that’s way more important than Princess’s boyfriends!”
The beginnings of World War III began to rumble at this last comment, and Tai was in the process of calming the soldiers on both sides when King walked in.
“Hey, hey, what’s going on here?”
Immediately everything was quiet and in order, something that happened frequently when King entered a room.
“Hey, Daddy!” Princess sang, jumping up from her chair and hugging him tightly. No matter who may come afterward, King Wesley Brook was definitely her first love.
“Hey! How’s my Princess?” No doubt, the love was mutual.
“You’re home early,” Tai stated, rising automatically to put another place setting at the table. She went into the kitchen, grabbed a glass from the cabinet, opened the refrigerator and poured a tall glass of tea, setting it down beside his plate. She also grabbed the ranch dressing, his favorite, and placed it on the table beside the low-cal Italian, not her favorite but her fate, and Russian, the children’s choice.
“Yeah, we finished up early, so thankfully I am getting to spend the evening with some of my favorite people.”
Princess sat back down at the table. King leaned down to rub and kiss the top of Timothy and Tabitha’s heads respectively before he took his place at the head of the table. He didn’t hug, kiss or rub Tai’s head.
“So how’s everything for the conference coming?” Tai asked, taking a small bite of lasagna.
“So smooth it’s almost scary,” King replied, heaping a huge helping of his favorite Italian cuisine onto his plate. “Especially Youth Night, it’s gonna be awesome.”
Tai’s fork stopped midair. Suddenly the lasagna noodles became thick in her mouth, and the cheese seemed to lodge itself in her throat. She took a huge gulp of tea and swallowed quickly and then a couple more sips before putting her glass down.
King noticed Tai’s reaction and mentally kicked himself. How could he have slipped like that and brought up anything to do with Hope? Too late, though, the kids took the topic and ran with it.
“Ooh, Daddy, is Righteous Rebel gonna do the concert?” the twins implored.
“Is he going to sing ‘Holy Ghost High’ or ‘Number One Lover’?” Princess turned to her mother, thinking of her own performance. “Mom, you’re going to love the Heaven’s Hip-hoppers. Our steps are tight!” Tai just smiled.
King smiled, too, proud of the way his children embraced God and how enthusiastic they were in their service to Him. He glanced at Tai before answering their question.
“Well, don’t tell anybody,” he started conspiratorially, buttering his third piece of Italian bread. “But…yes! Righteous Rebel is going to do the concert!”
The twins high-fived each other, and Princess grabbed her father’s hand. “Oh, Daddy, I’m so excited, that’s gonna be great!”
“I’m gonna be
“So what’s his name?” she asked casually while scooping out a small helping of lasagna. Tai was determined not to regain the ten pounds she’d lost since she and Mama Max began exercising two months ago.
“Mom! Why do you always think boys are involved when I ask you for stuff?”
“Because you’re fifteen. Boys are always involved when you’re fifteen.”
“I don’t got time for none of these boys around here. They’re stupid.”
“ Have time, not got time. How did you get a ‘B’ in English with that grammar?”
“Mom! We were right in the middle of telling you about our project,” Tabitha whined with the practiced skill of the most seasoned actress.
“Yeah,” Timothy piped in. “And that’s way more important than Princess’s boyfriends!”
The beginnings of World War III began to rumble at this last comment, and Tai was in the process of calming the soldiers on both sides when King walked in.
“Hey, hey, what’s going on here?”
Immediately everything was quiet and in order, something that happened frequently when King entered a room.
“Hey, Daddy!” Princess sang, jumping up from her chair and hugging him tightly. No matter who may come afterward, King Wesley Brook was definitely her first love.
“Hey! How’s my Princess?” No doubt, the love was mutual.
“You’re home early,” Tai stated, rising automatically to put another place setting at the table. She went into the kitchen, grabbed a glass from the cabinet, opened the refrigerator and poured a tall glass of tea, setting it down beside his plate. She also grabbed the ranch dressing, his favorite, and placed it on the table beside the low-cal Italian, not her favorite but her fate, and Russian, the children’s choice.
“Yeah, we finished up early, so thankfully I am getting to spend the evening with some of my favorite people.”
Princess sat back down at the table. King leaned down to rub and kiss the top of Timothy and Tabitha’s heads respectively before he took his place at the head of the table. He didn’t hug, kiss or rub Tai’s head.
“So how’s everything for the conference coming?” Tai asked, taking a small bite of lasagna.
“So smooth it’s almost scary,” King replied, heaping a huge helping of his favorite Italian cuisine onto his plate. “Especially Youth Night, it’s gonna be awesome.”
Tai’s fork stopped midair. Suddenly the lasagna noodles became thick in her mouth, and the cheese seemed to lodge itself in her throat. She took a huge gulp of tea and swallowed quickly and then a couple more sips before putting her glass down.
King noticed Tai’s reaction and mentally kicked himself. How could he have slipped like that and brought up anything to do with Hope? Too late, though, the kids took the topic and ran with it.
“Ooh, Daddy, is Righteous Rebel gonna do the concert?” the twins implored.
“Is he going to sing ‘Holy Ghost High’ or ‘Number One Lover’?” Princess turned to her mother, thinking of her own performance. “Mom, you’re going to love the Heaven’s Hip-hoppers. Our steps are tight!” Tai just smiled.
King smiled, too, proud of the way his children embraced God and how enthusiastic they were in their service to Him. He glanced at Tai before answering their question.
“Well, don’t tell anybody,” he started conspiratorially, buttering his third piece of Italian bread. “But…yes! Righteous Rebel is going to do the concert!”
The twins high-fived each other, and Princess grabbed her father’s hand. “Oh, Daddy, I’m so excited, that’s gonna be great!”
“I’m gonna be
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