Page 15 of U + Me

ROCHELLE “KK’S MOM”

My head felt like it was going to spin off my shoulders. My life was spiraling out of control right before my eyes, but this was small shit to a giant. This wasn’t the first time my world had fallen apart.

When Kimmie asked if she could ride with me, I almost started to let her but then I remembered I had to stop by Scrap’s to get a pack. Thanks to Todd, he had gotten me hooked on smoking weed something real bad. Todd smoked weed and tooted powder occasionally but that was because he was going through a rough time. He was recently laid off from his job and I could tell that mentally it was beginning to take a toll on him. I was the breadwinner for the house at the moment and his constant excuse for flying off the handle was because his manhood was affected by him not working.

When Kimmie said that Todd was making her feel uncomfortable I understood where she was coming from. That confirmed that she had noticed the recent change in his behavior. Him being in between jobs at the moment wasn’t her concern. He was rapidly depleting his savings but yet and still contributing, even if it wasn’t very much. All Kimmie needed to focus on was doing good in school so that she could graduate and not get pregnant…simple shit.

As for Todd though, I truly felt the cocaine took away from who he used to be. He was changing into a more dramatic, erratic version of himself. He already had a low tolerance and was quick to snap but now it was on a whole other level.

I needed to figure out a way to explain to Kimmie what was going on with Todd without telling her too much. She was still a child to me so certain things that pertained to me and Todd needed to stay off limits to her.

“My daughter’s lil boyfriend is jumping on my husband in our home and I’ma shoot him dead if y’all don’t hurry up!” I shouted as loud as I could.

I wanted the police and the entire neighborhood to hear what was going on. When I walked into the house I never in a million years would’ve ever thought this shit would be going on. Why was Darius here and why was he fighting my husband? I had heard rumors about Todd and Darius’s mom, but I was never shown any proof or seen any.

Darius was beating the shit out of Todd and Kimmie was just standing there crying looking like she was a deer caught in headlights in shock and terrified at the same time. I couldn’t wrap my mind around any of this. All I know was all I saw was red.

“I just asked if y’all was messing around, lil girl, and what did you tell me, damn it?!” I bellowed as I walked up to Kimmie.

“Darius, please stop!” Kimmie cried as she tried to pry her friend and Todd apart, ignoring my question.

“Don’t even worry about it. I got his ass. If I kill him, it’ll be all your fault!” I jeered as I stormed out of her bedroom and into mine.

Heading straight for my nightstand I grabbed my loaded .22 Ruger then rushed back to Kimmie’s room.

“Darius, she has a gun!” Kimmie pleaded.

Todd was lying on the ground a bloody mess and Kimmie was holding Darius in a bear hug. He and I were having a stare-down until the police arrived.

“Yeah, I called the law! Who the hell do you think you are coming up in here putting hands on people. Kimmie, this all your fault. We told you this boy was trouble and now look!” I snapped, grilling Darius as he grilled me back.

“Ma, what are you doing?! Put the gun down, you don’t even know the whole story.” Kimmie cried as our doorbell started ringing.

“Why is he here then? What beef you got with my husband?” I jeered at Darius, but he didn’t say anything.

“Police!”

Todd scrambled to get off the floor, “I’ll get it.”

“Bitch ass nigga.” Darius mumbled.

“What was that?” I asked, gun still pointed.

“Ma, please, put the gun down.” Kimmie cried. “He was only trying to help me.”

“How was he helping you in my house? Who told you he could come over?” I fussed but Kimmie never got the chance to respond.

Seconds later two officers walked into the bedroom. Long story short, when Todd told his version and said that he caught Darius sneaking in Kimmie’s bedroom and they got to fighting I was furious. But, when Kimmie told her story, I fell to my knees in despair and was at a crossroads on who to believe. Too much was happening at the same time, and I couldn’t think straight.

“I was on the phone and this nigga was attacking Kimmie!” Darius shouted, still staring me down with venom in his eyes.

“Attack how?” I asked but Darius ignored me.

“I came and stood on business. Something her mommy who lives right under the same roof with this pedophile shoulda been doing. Mrs. Rochelle, no disrespect but you had every opportunity to make sure KK was safe yet right under your coked out nose, your daughter was prey to yo nigga. The women around the neighborhood just wasn’t enough for him, nigga want yo daughter too.”

“Darius please,” Kimmie interrupted, but he wasn’t backing down.

“Nah, KK, fuck them bozos! She left you in a house with a fuckin’ pedophile on some selfish shit! Then gon’ stand down on me like I’m the problem.”

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