Show Me You Care (3 page)

“Hello Jay! How are you?” I asked sarcastically.

“I’m fine. Have you used what was in the envelope?”

“Actually, I haven’t even opened it; I was actually going to return it to you.”

“Don’t. When you read the letter we will talk. Enjoy your day at school!” I nodded my head and walked away.

“It was nice seeing you again, Jordyn.” I just shook my head at them. Trey followed behind me. I finally got a good look at him. He had on a white Burberry shirt with some white True Religion jeans and the “Red October” Yeezys on. I leaned on the door, waiting for him to unlock it.

                            Trey:

It felt like no matter what I did it was still wrong. I was given strict instructions to bring Jordyn to the house before we went to school. Once we pulled up to the school everything went back to normal as if we never met. Little did she know, she was the reason I even went to school. I mean I had noticed Jordyn on her first day of school. She was real cute but seemed stuck up. At the time Jayden was still in high school. I was too busy making money to even talk to her half the time. Now here I was dropping her off to school and I still couldn’t form the right words. I walked inside the school building trying to catch up to her.

“Aye Jor—” I was cut off by my ratchet ass baby mother.

“Hey Trey!” I attempted to keep my attitude in check. I could feel someone staring at me. I looked up only for my gaze to be meet by Jordyn and Shyla shaking their heads, laughing at something. “Trey, did you even hear what I just said to you.”

“Nah, what you said?”

“I said my mom is out of town so you can come over later on and see your son.”

“Alright, TaKiera, I’ll see what I can do.” I looked back down the hall to see that Jordyn and Shyla had left. I guess I’d have to wait ‘til next period to talk to her.

I arrived to calculus a little bit earlier than usual to see that we were sitting in groups of four. I looked around to see Jordyn sitting by herself, so I walked over and sat with her. The late bell rang and the teacher finally started teaching.

“Jordyn, let’s go get something to eat after school.”

“I have to work so I can’t. Sorry. Ask TaKiera if she wants to.” As if on cue, TaKiera walked in. She never came to class so I knew she was coming just for drama, especially since the bell rang in five minutes.

“Nice of you to join us, TaKiera. Have a seat right there.” By the time the teacher got back to teaching the period was over. Just like I thought, TaKiera only came for some drama. She grabbed Jordyn by her hair and attempt to drag her. She didn’t expect Jordyn to know how to fight, but Jordyn turned around and started to throw punches, all of which were connecting with her face. After the fifth punch TaKiera lost her balance and fell. Jordyn got on top of her and continued to punch her. I went over and attempted to pull them apart with the help of one of the homies, Bibby. When I was pulling them apart, Jordyn kicked TaKiera in the face, and you could hear her nose crack on impact.

        Jayden:

I was on my way to my trap house in Decatur when Trey called me telling me that my little sister had just got into a fight. I turned around and headed to the school to see if I could sign her out before they called her mother. I sped all the there. Once I arrived, I saw Trey standing outside looking stressed as an EMT rolled TaKiera into an ambulance. I looked at her face.
Damn
, I thought to myself,
let me find out my sister a young savage
. I nodded my head at Trey as he climbed in the back of the ambulance with TaKiera. I walked into my old stomping grounds like I owned it. I had my fair share of fights in these hallways. I walked into the office to be met by my high school sweetheart, Treasure. I looked at her and nothing had changed. She still had the same flawless face with a bob cut. I smiled up at her.

“Hello, beautiful. You missed me?” I thought back to the last time I’d seen he. It was the last official school day and, as seniors, we decided to skip. She told me she had something to tell me but I never got the chance to find out what it was since I spent that summer in prison. She looked up at me as if she had seen a ghost. I knew it’ had been two years since the last time we’d seen each other, but damn.

“Hi, Jayden. Who are you here for?”

“Umm, my little sister was involved in a fight I’m here to get her.”

“Okay, hold on. I have to call her mother first.”

“Aye, can you just keep it between us for now? Please, I don’t need her to get in trouble.”

“Cool, and Jayden, we need to talk about something.”

“Alright, talk. I got time now.”

“It’s about two years ago. Jayden, we have a daughter together. I named her Ivy Jayde Thomas.” Before I could respond my sister walked out of the principal’s office with a scratch on her face. Shit, you would have thought she got into it with a cat. I wrote my number on a piece of paper and handed it to Treasure. I didn’t know how to take the news of being a father. I drove a little over the speed limit on the way to my father’s estate. I needed to talk to him and I knew that he wanted to speak with Jordyn.

“I’m not going in here again.” I just looked at her and thought about what to say since she was a ticking time bomb.

“Listen, Mayweather, I know you feel like the step child or whatever but all Dad is trying to do is build a relationship with you. Yes, he made mistakes when you were a kid. Shit, he made those same mistakes with us. At one point the streets was his life and that’s all he cared about. Yes, our father smoked crack but he always tried to keep that shit away from our mothers. Now just because your mother decided to smoke with him one night doesn’t mean anything. Yes, he would have been in your life but how do you explain to your daughter that her…you know what, why don’t you go talk to him and attempt to understand instead of judging him like you are now? Yeah, he has money now but Kayden and I grew up in the same projects as you. Now get out of the car.” She gave me a look that broke my heart; a look that said there was more to the story as to why she didn’t want to see him. I looked at Jordyn and let out a sigh. “What’s really the problem, Jordyn?”

“I just want to know why he didn’t love me. Why was I put on the back burner when he knew I existed? Why wasn’t I a priority in his life? Why is that he waited 16 years and 11 months to meet me, to see my face? Answer that for me. Or maybe you could tell me where he was when creepy old men were sneaking into his 7-year-old’s room trying to feel up on her and rip her of her innocence. Can you give me those answers? No, you can’t. Neither can the stupid letter he wrote me, either. So what, your mother was ashamed to walk around with the side bitch’s daughter around. So what, he got caught up and needed to lay low. So fucking what. The whole time he was doing those things, who was put on the fucking back burner? Me, not you, not Kayden. Shit, he’s done more for your best friend Trey than he has for his daughter. So yeah, I’m a tad bit salty but so fucking what,” she said as she wiped her face, got out of the car, and started walking down the driveway. Shit, I fucked up.
That’s what you get, Jayden. Always opening your mouth.
I slammed my fist into the steering wheel and got out of the car. I walked down the driveway to find that Jordyn had already disappeared.              

Chapter 5:

I walked until I was able to get in contact with my best friend, who arrived just as quickly as I called her. Even through our rough patches she was always there for me, no matter the situation. The whole ride to my house was silent. I didn’t say anything about what happened. We pulled up in front of my apartment and I thanked her for the ride before getting out the car. I walked into the house to find it empty. It wasn’t unusual to me but the note taped to the refrigerator door was.

Dear Jordyn,

I know I haven’t been much of a mother to you but I’ve decided to work on myself. I know you probably hate me but Jordyn, I’m sorry. I found your stash in your pillowcase and took the money. I’ll pay you back. Jordyn, there are some things that I would love to tell you that I know you won’t understand. I’m sorry that I never gave you the chance to meet your father and form your own opinion but I couldn’t bear seeing him. For the first three years of your life he was a part of it. Once he decided that he didn’t want to be with me anymore I couldn’t stand to look at you. I mean you’re his twin, his mini. Jordyn, he loves you. He really does. But at one point in life we both chose crack and the streets over you. I can’t write how many things I want to say sorry for but one thing I’m sorry for is not letting you know that your mother loves you. I’m sorry for all the men that I let touch you, Jordyn. I pray you forgive me and understand that I made a lot of mistakes when raising you. Shit, I had just gotten out of college when I had you, but that’s not an excuse for my mistakes.

Sincerely, Your Mother, Tinker

I read the letter one more time, trying to understand what was really going on. I couldn’t believe my mother had just up and left with the little bit of college money I’d managed to save up. I looked inside the fridge to find it empty. I walked out of the kitchen towards my room. She had broken the door damn in half. I walked in to find only my mattress lying in the middle of the floor. I broke down. Same old Tinker, only worrying about her damn self. I couldn’t stay there. She took all my money and my furniture. I walked over to my closet and shook my head; all I had left was the clothes on my back and my uniform for work, nothing else. She robbed me blind; my own mother stole everything from me. I looked around the apartment that never was a happy home but was somewhere I could actually call home. I opened the door and walked out. I usually entertained the people who chilled in front of the building but I couldn’t stand to be around anyone right now. I called into work and told them I was sick and couldn’t come in. Although my boss knew my living situation I never told him everything that was going on. I was still a minor and I knew the law would require him to report everything he thought he knew. As I walked deeper down the block the less people I saw. It was as if something was about to happen and nobody informed me. I decided to stop at the park since I didn’t have anywhere else to go. That’s when I saw one of the dudes that was with the man who tried to rape me. I didn’t know whether I should stay or walk away. I decided to go have a seat on the bench and watch the local boys play basketball.

“Aye, you Jordyn, right?” I looked up and seen the dude I was trying to avoid. “Look, I don’t want no problems with ya’.” I nodded my head. He stuck his hand out for a handshake. “My name is Carter, but you probably already know that.” I sat in silence and examined him. He was a little too short for my liking, standing at 5’10” and he had teeth that were the same shade as a yellow crayon.  "I know I'm probably the last dude you want to talk to but I saved your life. I went inside the Waffle House and told your brother what was going on after I had shot him. Shit, I don't even know you but I shot my homie for you. All I want is a thank you." I flipped my hair and rolled my eyes. I was not in the mood for bullshit and all he was spitting was bullshit.
"Thank you. You can leave now." He looked at me, threw his hands up, and backed away before fully leaving me alone. I sat on the bleachers for almost an hour before walking back to my empty apartment. I went to my room and sat on my mattress. It was all I had left. I grabbed my book bag out of the corner and opened the envelope my father gave me. It had a hundred thousand dollars in it. Although I needed it, my pride was telling me to go out and work for mine, and that's what I planned on doing. I went to sleep thinking of a plan, only to wake up with a goal.

Trey:
It had been a week since the fight and no one had seen or heard from Jordyn. Rumor had it that her mom went to rehab, leaving her to fend for herself. I’d even been by her job but they always said she called out or was on vacation. When I asked Shyla what was going on, she said that they hadn't talked since she dropped her off last week. I was worried. Although that wasn’t my girl I still had feelings for her. I had made up my mind that I was going to go check up on her.

When I pulled up to her apartment it looked abandoned. I knocked on the door and waited for an answer. After two minutes with no reply I broke in. Shit, a couple of visits to county jail helped me gain a few skills.
"Jordyn?" I called out. "Jordyn?" I walked into the kitchen; there was no sign of her. I went upstairs and opened her door to find her lying in the middle of her floor on a mattress crying. I took my time to look around to see that her furniture was gone and her closet was empty. I looked in the corner to see that all she had was the clothes on her back and the underwear in the corner. I lifted her up and embraced her.
"Jordyn, what happened?"
"She took everything, Trey, everything. She stole my money, and she stole my clothes and furniture. What am I supposed to do now? Shit, I’m tired of trying to stay strong. I have feelings too but nobody seems to care about them." I wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I care about them, Jordyn, alright? I care about you. I just wish you’d open your eyes and see that not all of us are against you. Shit, Jordyn, trust me. I'm going to take care of you." I picked her up and took her to the car. She cried all the way to my house. She had gained her composure enough to be able to walk into the house. I unlocked the door and let her walk in first, forgetting that my son and my mom were in the house.
"Daddy! I missed you. School fun?" I picked my mini me up and tickled him.
"I missed you too and yeah, school was fun. Where is Nana?" He pointed to the kitchen. I walked over to the kitchen, grabbing Jordyn's hand. Although I lived here alone my mother was always here and so was my grandmother.
"Mama, what are you in here cooking?"
"Pork chops, mac and cheese, collard greens, and some cornbread. I see you brought home company. Hi, dear. My name is Lisa."
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Lisa. I'm Jordyn." They shook hands, and started talking as if they’d known each other forever. I took my mini me with me to the living room. His birthday was coming up and I knew that his mother was trying to go above and beyond like always. TaKiera was supposed to be coming to get him in a little while. Although I wished I could keep him forever she still had custody of him until court next year.
"Trey, what you want for your birthday this year?"
"I want an iPad and a dirt bike." I nodded my head. My son’s wish was my command. I looked over to see Jordyn walking out with a smile on her face.