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“What’s crazy is she would have a fridge full of food, a pocket full of money, and would flat out tell me you had the means to get money as if you wasn’t a child.”

“You mean-…” The words got stuck in my throat. “She thought I should sell myself to get money?”

“That’s exactly what the fuck I meant. So, yeah, I robbed her ass too for my child.” I knew I was about to ask a heavy question, but I had to know.

“Did she make you do that?”

“This not about me, and it wasn’t the point I was making. I’m trying to get you to understand I would have done anything for you, and I didn’t care who I had to cross to do it.”

“I wish you had told me all of this.”

“Now you know. Me becoming a scammer and shit was for you. When you got grown and started scamming for yourself, I started scamming for me. Every scammer for themselves now.” I laughed even though my eyes were burning. The tears were flowing, and it wasn’t until Juanita attempted to smile that I realized she was crying too. Angrily, she wiped them away. I’ve never in my life seen her cry, so that opened the floodgates again. Scooting over to her, I wrapped my arms around her. At first, she only patted my back, and then she fully held me. Out of nowhere, I felt her shaking. Juanita was breaking down, and that broke my heart. I never knew how much she had been carrying. I could only imagine how many times she’d been scared and had to figure something out without anybody helping her. I was just thinking most of my life she hadn’t given me shit when she had given me everything she could.

“I’m sorry, mama, and I love you.” I had been calling her Juanita for as long as I could remember. This was the first time I wanted to call her mama. I felt she needed to hear it.

“I know, Bubbles.”

“I’m going to make Anton give you your money back.” She pulled back and looked at me.

“Oh, you done gave that nigga some common sense pussy. Got that nigga making better decisions and shit.”

“Juanita!” We both burst out laughing.

“What? I’m just saying. You got that wind beneath my wings cat.” Just like that, she was back. We laughed for a minute before I decided to try my luck at one more real conversation.

“I’m so confused. I don’t know what to do. He’s good to me and makes me feel things I’ve never felt before.”

“I thought you said this wasn’t about Anton.” She threw my words from earlier back at me.

“Can you just help me?”

“Sometimes when the truth got too many people standing in the doorway, you gotta send it around the back of the house.”

“Huh?” I had no idea what her ass was trying to say.

“Girl, lie!”

“Anton already knows about Peanut.”

“Well, lie better or run! Cus that nigga ain’t right in the head.”

“Why you keep saying that?”

“Because he not. That nigga don’t have no brakes. Most people got a lil voice in they head that tells them when they’re going too far. He done flew over the ledge and crashed.” I wanted to tell her she was the same way, but I wasn’t about to get her started. I stayed with her a little while longer before deciding to leave. We hugged and said our ‘I love you’s and goodbyes’. I was still smiling when I got in my car. Once I was inside, I thought about everything and headed to my house. Running upstairs, I grabbed fifteen of the money I had and ran back out the door. I know I had given Taffy some of the last money, but that was out of loyalty from us always doing licks together. This was different. I ran to the mall and grabbed her and Juanita a gift. Splitting the money between the two of them, I put their portion in the bags with their gifts. I wanted to give Juanita’s hers first since I had just left her house, but if I did, she might steal Taffy’s money. I laughed hard at that because it was the truth. Parking, I got out and rang Taf’s doorbell.

“What you doing here?”

“I came to give you this.” I handed her the bag, and she looked inside. Her face lit up, but I could also tell she was shocked.

“What is this? You just gave me some money.” Her voice was shaking, and I was happy I did this.

“I know. Last time, it’s what you were owed. This is a gift.” Taffy ran to me and hugged me hard while crying.

“I love you so much, friend.”

“I love you, too. I can’t stay and cry with you, though. I have to go take Juanita hers.”

“Bitch, I know that’s your mama, but why you giving her something? That woman don’t need nothing but a court date and a probation officer.” I fell out laughing, but I headed toward the door.