Page 46 of Don Caselli

“Don’t look away from me, either. Can’t fuck up that good fucking you got, right?” I was wild for even saying that shit to her in her grandparents’ kitchen, but I was feeling nice.

Actually, it was her grandparents’ fault for giving me more on top of the already strong ass drink. “I guess we can’t, right?”

We cheered and took the shot back without breaking eye contact. “Give me those noodles.”

“Chow mein?”

“Yeah… I always get it from the Chinese spot near my house.”

“Oh, you ain’t never had this chow mein,” she smirked, and loaded the plate up with different food. “Once you have Guyanese food… you don’t go back.”

“And you know how to cook all this?”

“Yep… me and Greene. My grandmother taught us everything like she taught our mothers and uncles.”

I stood behind her as she fixed my plate. “You gonna cook it for me?”

“If you act right.”

I slapped her ass, watching it jiggle in those shorts. “You know I don’t ever act right.”

“Another shot?”

We took another one before I returned out there with her family. I sat dogging my food while her grandfather poured me more rum. “That nigga feeling it… he feeling that shit.” Her uncle Joseph laughed and squeezed my shoulder.

“Chill, I’m good,” even my speech was slurred.

I lost a good four hundred dollars talking shit and thinking I could beat her grandfather. Old man whooped my ass and sent me on my way. Me and Navy sat on the stoop across the street, and she finished her drink and leaned her head on me.

“You alright?”

“Shit feels nice.”

“The drinks?”

“Nah, your family… welcoming.” I took another sip of another drink I was handed. Greene and her mother were across the street dancing with her grandmother.

“Yeah, I think this is the reason I never take social media seriously. They are what keep me grounded and remind me that this is what I have once I turn my camera off or come back from a brand trip… I’m going to retire my family. My uncles and father own a small contracting business they do on the side because it doesn’t pay the bills, they never have time to pour intoit. My grandparents won’t have to worry about their kids paying their bills because I’ll be paying it all.”

“You too good.”

“Yeah, so I’ve heard.” She smiled at me.

Her eyes were so low that I could tell she was fucked up. “Navy, you got a dollar… please?” Two kids ran over toward us.

“Didn’t hear excuse me?”

They smiled. “Excuse me, Navy… can we have a dollar… a piece?”

I dug into my wallet and peeled off what I had left after losing most of my money. Their eyes grew wide. “A hundred dollars?” the second one said.

“And bring his change back.”

“Nah… split it and share with everyone else.”

“Thanks!” they were so excited they ran off and all the kids took off toward the corner store at the end of the block.

“You’re too good.”

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