Birthday Party

Summer

The birthday party is everything I thought it would be. The moment I walked into my mother's house, Raina and all her friends turned up their noses at me. I wasn't surprised nor hurt by their actions.

My mother has been very cheery and accommodating. She even complimented me on my outfit. The most interesting reaction was when I introduced Gabriel to everyone. It seemed to take a lot of people by surprise. I even heard one of my sister's friends say she thought I didn't know who my child's father was.

We've spent most of the party in the small backyard. MJ and his friends were running around and screaming. Gabe was playing by himself at the kinetic sand table I bought him and my nephew to share at my mother's when she used to babysit him.

"He's alright," I say to Gabriel. "He prefers to be by himself."

He hasn't taken his eyes off our son this entire time. There are only a handful of men here. Yet, I can't see Gabriel talking to any of them. They are mostly friends of Mitch.

"I know," he says glancing at me. "I was the same way."

"Until you met your brothers?" I ask.

Lately he and I have been talking more about his childhood. Nothing about his time with his mother though. He only talks about his time at the Church.

"Yes. They found a way to bring me out of my shell."

Looking over to my baby, I get this feeling of hopefulness. My desire is that Gabe will be able to find his people as well. I want him to be able to form a connection like his father did with his brothers. I had no doubt that Gabe would be able to live an independent life without me. However, I've always worried that he wouldn't find his tribe. Being with Gabriel has proven there is hope for that as well.

"Hey, Summer," my mother calls out drawing my attention. "I was hoping you could help me get this cake together in the kitchen."

I frown, slightly. "Where's Raina?"

Not that I didn't want to help, but this isn't my child's birthday party.

Mother waves her hand through the air as she chuckles. "Too busy entertaining her guests."

"Oh, okay. Sure." I turn to Gabriel. "I'll be right back."

He nods his head before turning back to our son. I follow my mother into the house. The kitchen is empty when we walk in. Mother goes to the counter and pulls out a huge sheet cake.

"So, that's your new friend?" She asks.

I go to the sink and wash my hands. "Not really. As I said, it's Gabe's father. We're not really new."

After drying my hands with a paper towel, I join her at the counter.

"Was he on drugs too?" She whispers even though we are in the kitchen alone.

I don't take offense to her question, it's a valid one.

"No. He wasn't."

She nods, before taking the top off the Fortnite inspired cake.

"He seems like a nice guy. Very protective over you two."

I smile. "He is." I answered both her questions. "Gabriel is the best."

"A bit big though," She chuckles. "You sure you can handle all that man?"

I don't know how to feel right now. For so long I have craved this side of my mother. Having playful and joking conversations like this. However, I can't help but think this is all lies. She's only pretending to get what she wants.

I guess my silence may have tipped her off to my mood.

"Sorry," she says. "I overstepped."

Before I could reply, my sister walks in with two of her friends. They get quiet as soon as they enter and see me.

"Dang, Summer. Your baby daddy fine as hell, girl," Lanique says.

Raina and Lanique have been friends just as long as Trina and I.

I laugh. "Thanks. I have to agree."

Raina leans against the counter, propping up on her elbows. "I mean, I guess if that's your thing. I prefer my men black."

I roll my eyes at my sister's attempt to bait me. I won't fall for it.

"Love is love, Raina. It doesn't matter the color of anyone's skin," mother says smiling over at me.

I'm starting to question if she's on something. I mean, she's being a bit too nice.

"Girl, if my baby daddy looked like that and was taking care of me the way he is with Summer, I wouldn't care if he was black, brown, white or green," Tempest, Raina's other childhood friend adds.

Just then a few more of my sister's friends walk into the kitchen.

"What are y'all talking about?" One woman I didn't know asks. She has a pretty pixie hair cut with brown highlights.

"Summer's baby daddy," Tempest provides.

The woman with the wig turns to look at me with her nose turned up. "He's alright."

I chuckle to myself. Even though she says it with a snobby tone, I can tell she's lying. Her eyes were glued to Gabriel when we walked in. I have no problem with a woman checking out my man. They can look as long as they don't touch. I may not be as crazy as Gabriel, but I'll show my ass.

"My question is, how did a crackhead get a man like that? I mean didn't you say she was on dope really bad before she got pregnant?" Another one of Raina's friends says. This one has green contacts and braids similar to mine.

I turn to Raina waiting for her to answer. I'd love to hear her response too. This was all very comical to me.

Raina pushes her hair behind her ears, her face flushing red.

"You know how those Johns be getting turned out by them tricks." Pixie cut says and a few of the woman laugh.

"Ladies," my mother warns.

"Oh no, mom. They're good. This is actually entertaining. It's very rare you get to see a hating ass bitch in her natural habitat."

The silence in the kitchen is priceless. After all the shit Raina talked about me to her friends, she failed to mention that I don't have a problem dragging a bitch across a floor.

"Nobody's hating on you," pixie cut snarls.

I plant a smile on my face and tilt my head. "Of course you're not. You don't even fucking know me. You're just puppets following behind your hating ass friend."

Pixie cut gives me a look as if she just sucked on a lemon. I can't wait to tell Trina all about how my sister and her friends tried to antagonize me. Thankfully, my best friend couldn't make this party. If she were here, the cops would've already been called.

"Who are you calling a puppet?" Green contacts ask rolling her neck.

I could bring up the point that a hit dog will holler, but I don't even care that much.

"You know what," I say, turning to my mother. "I don't have the compacity to pretend like I want to be here much longer. I know you invited me here for a reason, so what is it?" I glance at Raina. "I know your friends are wondering the same thing too. Why invite the sister you talk so much shit about to your son's birthday party?"

"She has a point, Rai?" Lanique says turning to my red-faced sister.

Raina looks at my mother. "You might as well tell her."

"Maybe we should have cake first," Mom says trying to stall.

"What do you want?" I cross my arms over my chest.

Mother sighs before placing the knife down on the counter and turning to face me.

"This isn't the only reason I asked you to this party. I do think we need to form a better relationship with you and Gabe. But, I won't lie as if we don't need your help.

"Raina lost her job a month ago and has been struggling to find a new one. And well, they've cut my hours quite a bit at the post office. Then there is the issue with Mitchell's court fees. We're behind on the mortgage and could use some help getting back on our feet."

"How much do you need?"

My mother's eyes widen. She glances at Raina with a smile on her face. "Nothing too outrageous. Ten grand will definitely set us back on course."

"Ten grand? That's not bad. I have that in one of my savings accounts."

The smile on my mother's face is priceless. The entire room is looking at me now like I'm Beyonce. All the attitudes from earlier are gone along with the tension.

"That's great, Summer." Mom sings.

"I wish I had that type of money in a savings," Lanique adds.

"So, you're going to give us the money?" Raina asks the most important question.

I chuckle, "Hell no. Are you crazy?"

Immediately the smile on my mother's face fades.

"I can't even get you people to show up for my graduation, and you want me to give you ten thousand dollars? I don't care if I have it just to wipe my ass with, I won't give it to you. I told you the day your son put his hands on mine, I was done. And I meant it. Now you want me to pay for a house I'm not even welcomed in, you guys are insane."

"I can't believe she would be that selfish," Pixie cut says.

I shrug. "You better start believing."

"I told you not to invite her mama. Nobody is going to kiss her ass for…"

Her words are cut off when MJ storms into the kitchen with tears in his eyes. "Mommy! Mommy! Come quick, Aunt Summer's crazy boyfriend is beating up daddy!"

My heart sinks to my feet. Gabriel doesn't beat up anyone. If he's fighting Mitchell, he's trying to kill him. Everyone in the kitchen including myself makes a mad dash to the backyard. I hope I can get there before it's too late.

Beast

The moment Summer walked away, I went over to the sand table with Gabe. Squatting down near my son, I scanned the yard.

"Are you okay?"

He looks up at me. "Yes."

"What are you doing?"

"Building Stark Tower."

I'm pretty sure that's something from that superhero movie he's made me watch a hundred times. The structure he's built is about a foot long. It's rectangular in shape with some type of rounded structure sticking out from the side. Gabe has been working on it since we got here.

"It looks good," I say.

I've noticed that it's no longer hard for me to conversate with my son. I'm not searching my head for the right things to say or being mindful of if I'm standing too close or could possibly hurt him. All those concerns are still there, but much quieter now, more natural. It seems I am capable of being a good father.

"Hell yeah you are. You learned from the best, Kid,"Priest says in my head.

"I'm almost finished with it," Gabe says proudly grabbing my attention.

Suddenly, the little boy Summer pointed out as her nephew comes over to the table with two of his friends.

"Aye MJ, what's wrong with your cousin?" One of the boys asks.

I notice Gabe tenses a little but doesn't look up from his project.

"I told you he's slow," the cousin says and the boys with him laugh.

"Kill the little shits."Mother growls in my head. "You must protect the boy."

I close my eyes and take a deep breath trying to keep my mother at bay. I don't kill kids.

"So he's retarded?" One of the friends ask.

"That's not a nice word," Gabe says speaking for the first time to the boys.

The young boys laugh again. I have to shut my eyes again and breathe. Mother is pressing hard to come out and teach the boys a lesson.

"He's a retard," the nephew sings.

"Leave me alone," my son pleads breaking the small restraint I had against my mother.

"You know what to do, Boy," Mother grits out.

I open my eyes, my hands at my side in tight fists. I stand to my feet towering over all the kids.

"Get the fuck away from this table before I forget that you're only children."

Despite mother telling me to crack their heads together like eggs, I refrain. The little boys' eyes widen before all three of them scurry away to the men on the other side of the yard.

I squat back down to my son. "Look at me kid." He turns and gives me his eyes.

The sadness in them has my mother roaring back up in my head. The same way I would leave a trail of bodies for Summer, I would do for Gabe.

"Are you having fun at this party?"

Gabe shakes his head no.

"Good," I say glancing up at the men that are heading our way. "Because we're about to get kicked out."

Gabe's smile lifts his cheeks. "Hulk Smash?"

"Yeah kid. Hulk's about to fucking smash. Stay back, okay?" he nods, taking my hand.

I stand just as the five men approach me.

"Aye, muthafucker, did you curse my son out?" one of MJ's father's friends asks.

"Yes, I did."

The men look to each other confused.

"And why the fuck did you think it would be okay to curse out little kids?" MJ's father asks. I think Summer said his name was Mitch. The three little boys were all standing behind the men with smirks on their faces.

"Why don't you ask your son."

"I'm asking you?" Mitch snarls.

The way the other men are surrounding Mitch and allowing him to do all the talking leads me to believe he's the ringleader. Which means, he will throw the first punch just to maintain his dominant role amongst his friends. The one to his right wearing the red shirt will be the next to jump in. He was also the first one to say something to me.

Striped shirt to Mitch's left probably thinks he's the biggest threat. He's not as tall as me, but he's muscular. He believes he's my match. It's why he's trying to come off calm and relaxed with his hands across his chest.

The guy in the back with the shades seems to be the smartest. He's keeping his distance. He doesn't know for sure what I'm capable of, but he's smart enough to know something isn't right in this situation. The guy standing directly behind Mitch in the white tank is on the fence. He will probably jump in if they are winning but if not, he will run.

"Your kid called my son an ugly name."

"All I said was that he's a retard."

The men laugh as if the kid told a joke.

Mitch grins at me. "You can't blame the kid for telling the truth. I mean, what did you expect having a baby by a crackhead." Once again, the men's laughter ring out in the back yard.

"Actually," I say. "I don't fault your kid at all. He did exactly what I wanted him to do."

Mitch's brow's pinch in confusion. "And what is that?"

"Well, I can't beat your kid's ass. So, I wanted him to bring me his bitch ass father."

My last statement changed the dynamics. All the laughter is swiped off their faces. Red shirt widens his stance. For a minute I think I might've been wrong, and he might throw the first punch. However, that's short lived when Mitch cocks his hand all the way back and swings it at me.

I saw the hit coming from yesterday, yet I allowed him to throw the first punch. It lands on my chin and had I not been looking at it, I wouldn't have known he'd hit me.

A slow grin lifts my lips into a smile.

"Whip his ass, Kid."

For this lesson, I allow Priest in my head instead of mother. When my fist connects with Mitch's face, he crumbles to the ground. Just as I thought, red shirt swings second. However, I easily dodged that blow. I only needed one person to start the fight to prove self-defense. Stepping back, I grab the arm he swung at me, lifting it up over his head, I send a powerful blow to his ribcage. The cracking sound echoes over the backyard. The following ooh's from his friends adds to the atmosphere.

Striped shirt steps up next. I don't even let him swing before chopping him in the throat. He bends forward. I grab the back of his head and shove his face into my knee. He screams out. When I lift his head back up blood is pouring out of his misshaped nose. White tank takes off running leaving shades guy alone.

Shades guy tosses up his hands in surrender. "I don't want any problems, big guy."

I dip my chin at him. Gabe runs in front of me and wraps his arms around my knees. "That was awesome, Hulk."

Pride feels me, but it is soon replaced by rage when I see Mitch toss a chair across the yard at me. I have only seconds to grab it out of the air before it hits my son.

Immediately, Priest disappears in my head and mother appears. "Time to play. And make it hurt."

Tossing the chair to the side, I step out of Gabe's embrace as I charge at Mitch. He tries to run, but I'm on him before he can get away.

I slam into him, knocking him to the ground. I stand over him, grab the front of his shirt, rear my arm back and then punch him in the face, repeatedly. Even when he goes limp in my hands, I continue to pound my fist into his mangled face. All I see is that chair flying through the air and if I had been a second too late it would have hit Gabe. Anger and rage cloud my thoughts as my fist flies through the air.

"Don't stop. You are the Lord's wrath. He is the serpent," Mother whispers in my head.

"Yes, Mother."

I was in the thick of the haze. This was dangerous around so many people. Even though I knew this, I couldn't drag myself out of it. The voice of Priest in my head was so faint I could barely hear him.

A soft touch on my arm, had me pausing my fist in mid strike.

"What are you doing? Finish him,"Mother demands.

Before I could attempt to swing again, an angel speaks.

"Gabriel, baby, that's enough. It's done."

I turn my head to the sound of the angel, but I've yet to see her face.

"Ignore the call of the wicked. Do your job,"Mother shouts.

I turn back to the bloody and bruised body beneath me.

"No, Gabriel. I'm here. Come back to me," the angel speaks again.

I shake my head, wanting to clear my thoughts so that I could be with the angel. Mother screams in my mind as I force her away.

Finally, the fog clears. I'm in Summer's mother's back yard. Terrified faces surround me. But I search for the only two that matter. I find the first staring back at me. Big hazel eyes with no fear in them. He smiles at me when he notices me looking at him. I dip my chin before turning to find my peace.

Her smile is contagious.

"Hey," I say, dropping Mitch to the ground and standing up straight to face Summer.

"Are you okay?" She scans my body up and down as if she's checking for injuries.

"He hit me first," I don't tell her that I purposely allowed him to and that I was banking on it.

"Bet he won't make that mistake again," her grin is everything.

We are pulled out the moment by the sound of a female wailing. Lying over Mitch's prone body is Summer's sister.

"What the hell happened," Her mother asks.

"Apparently, Mitch doesn't know how to keep his hands to himself," Summer replies. "Which doesn't shock me."

"That doesn't make sense, Mitch would never," Summer's mother argues.

Shades guy steps forward. I glare at him, watching him visibly swallow.

"She's right, Ms. Jones. Mitch started it. But it didn't escalate to this level until he threw the chair." Shades grimaces as he glances down at his unconscious friend.

I was right, Shades is the smartest out of the group. Had he lied in any way, I would have found him later and gutted him in his sleep.

"I don't care, I'm pressing charges," Raina cries still clutching Mitch to her chest.

"Try it," Summer says.

"Enough," her mother shouts. "You know you can't call the cops, Raina. Mitch is not supposed to be around kids."

Her mother turns back to Summer. "Look, just go. I'm sorry about this entire thing. We shouldn't have invited you here just to beg anyway."

Summer nods her head before turning and holding out her hand toward Gabe. He rushes over to her and grabs her outstretched hand.

"I can't believe you're letting her off that easy," Raina shouts.

"Come on," Summer whispers to me.

I follow behind my family making sure no one tries anything. The other two men are still rolling around on the ground groaning in pain.

"That's right leave, take your psycho boyfriend with you," Raina shouts.

Summer spins around on her heels. "Who the fuck are you calling psycho," She takes a step toward her sister, but I place a hand in front of her, blocking her path.

There will never be a time I'll let Summer fight, even for me. Although seeing her stand up for me did fill me with pride.

Raina stands, her fist at her side. "I don't care what you change about yourself. You will always be the fuck up. The family disgrace. No wonder he's the only man you can get, he's fucked up just like you."

This time, I turn back to face the sister. I have no problem with her calling me names, but I'll never let anyone get a pass at calling out Summer.

"You know what's so funny," Summer says without laughing. "You've lied to yourself so long that you really believe you're the perfect daughter."

"Fuck you, I am perfect. I wasn't the dead-beat drug addict that stole out of my mother's purse just to get her next high."

Summer tilts her head to the side. "You're right Raina. I used to be on drugs. Coke, pills, and weed. I used them as an escape because when I was a little girl my mother left me with my bipolar father in the midst of one of his episodes. And I was not only shot by my father, but I watched him blow his brains out in front of me."

A few of the women around Raina and her mother gasp. Her mother looks away. It takes me a moment to run through my rolodex of emotions to pinpoint what I see on her face. Guilt.

"I have no issue claiming my past." Summer goes on to say. "It made me who I am. But what I'm no longer going to do is sit back and let you pretend you're some perfect angel. Because although I have no problem admitting I used drugs, maybe you should tell mama who I was buying them from? That little CNA job came in handy when you were friends with the med tech."

Raina's mouth falls open.

"Raina," her mother shouts. "Tell me she's lying?"

Raina stands in her spot. Her eyes glued to Summer with so much hatred in them I'm shocked they aren't shooting lasers.

"No, mother dearest, I'm not lying. You had one daughter using drugs and one daughter dealing. And you might want to run some blood work on her now, I know the signs. Looks like the dealer is now the user." With those final words, Summer turns her back on her family and starts to walk away.

"I hate you," Raina screams so loud Gabe startles.

Summer tosses the middle finger over her head. "The feeling's fucking mutual, bitch."

Once again, I follow my family out. We climb into the car, me on the driver's side, and head back home where we spend the rest of the day watching movies and hanging out.