Page 21 of Honey's Special Roux

“Would you like another bowl?” Mrs. Hix asked with a humorous glint in her eye.

“Yes, ma’am. If it’s not too much trouble. I can make the bowl myself?—”

“Aht. Don’t even finish that sentence.” Mrs. Hix stood up and took my bowl with her to the kitchen.

“I just think it’s crazy Honey has a boyfriend, but I can’t get a bearded dragon,” Chamille complained.

“There is no correlation between my man and a bearded dragon, dummy,” Honey replied.

“Marquise looks like a leopard gecko with his freckles. It’s basically the same thing.” Chamille crossed her arms.

“Marquise also gets to go home at the end of dinner while we’d be stuck with your reptile forever,” Mr. Hix added.

It was weird to see parents and kids have healthy relationships. No one had yelled in the time I’d been here. No one had said a cuss word or threatened to call the police. The parallels between my norm and Honey’s were damn near night and day.

“Here you go, Marquise.” Mrs. Hix held the second bowl of gumbo out for me to take. The steam coming off the top had my stomach growling again.

“Thank you.” I took the bowl and started eating again.

“My two girls don’t have nearly as big an appetite as you. One bowl and they’re good to go,” Mrs. Hix commented as she watched me eat.

“Big meals like this are new for me,” I admitted.

“Why’s that?” Miss Janie quizzed.

“My mom would spend our grocery money on drugs. It wasn’t until I was making money on my own that I could afford to go to fast food restaurants for my meals,” I replied nonchalantly.

The room grew quiet as the adults struggled to find the words to say. I ignored their solemn faces until my bowl was empty. I wiped my mouth and hands with one napkin and yawned.

“I think I’ve caught the itis,” I confessed.

“Me too.” Honey giggled.

“Well, if you’re ready to head home, I can put you some gumbo in a Tupperware container,” Mrs. Hix offered.

“Fa shit sho! I’d appreciate some to take home for later.”

“Give me a couple of minutes to get that for you.” Mrs. Hix rose to her feet.

“I’ll help clear the table.” Mr. Hix stood from his seat and began stacking bowls.

Soon as the cleanup began, Chamille had slid out of her chair and headed out of the dining room. Miss Janie remained seated as she looked at me. Her inward pointed eyebrows made me feel self-conscious.

“I will admit I have skepticisms about you dating my grandbaby. I don’t know how involved in gang life you’re in, but please keep that stuff away from her. I can’t sit around and say I like the idea of you two dating, especially so young, but I trust her to leave if things don’t work out.” Miss Janie’s voice was sad, like it pained her to have the conversation with me.

“I’m a better person around Honey. She doesn’t judge me or my past and is actively trying to help me in ways I never even considered for myself. I would never intentionally hurt her, and I’m trying to keep my past troubles out of the future I want with her.”

“Two teenagers adamant about being grown. Please be safe and use protection if y’all have sex.”

“Granny!” Honey exclaimed in horror.

“I’m not dumb or naïve to think y’all won’t be sexually active. Just be smart about it, and don’t make any grandbabies while you’re still a baby yourself, Honey.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Honey mumbled as she covered her face.

I chuckled and draped an arm over her. There was a healthy silence in the room until Mr. and Mrs. Hix walked back into the dining area. Honey’s mom held my to-go bag in her hands.

“Thank you for joining us for dinner. We are glad we got to talk with you,” Mrs. Hix said in a soft tone.

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