Page 7 of Welcome to the Heart Of A Maniac
“Bye, Cassius.” I slammed the door on his foot and he yanked it out the way. Locking the door, I went back into the kitchen and fixed my breakfast with tears in my eyes. The words that Cassius said to me, played over in my mind. That alone let me know that he never really cared about me in the first place. If he did, something like that wouldn’t have ever been able to leave his lips.
Once I finished my breakfast, I went into my bedroom to take a shower and get dressed. I’d taken a shower the night before, but I’d been sweating in my sleep because I forgot to turn on my fan last night. No matter what the weather was like outside, I slept with a fan on. It was something that I’ve been doing ever since I was a teenager.
Stepping into the bathroom, I turned on the shower and removed my robe. Sticking my hand underneath the running water, I checked the temperature to make sure it was perfect before stripping out of my graphic t-shirt and panties and then stepping over into the tub.
My shower lasted a good thirty minutes. I got out and wrapped my towel around me and went over to the sink. My eye patches had dried up. I removed them and cleansed myface. After moisturizing, I went into my bedroom to find me something to put on.
The first outfit I came across is this dark green pants and vest set. I paired it with a white button down and a black stripped tie. This outfit is gon’ eat down once I have it on. I wasn’t a fashionista by far, but I tried my best to put outfits together. A lot of my clothes be having people side eyeing me, but I really don’t care.
I lotioned my body down with my Jergens and then got dressed. Removing my scarf and bonnet from my head, my hair dropped to my bra strap, and I brushed it up into a ponytail. My almond shaped nails combed through my bang, and I grabbed my lip gloss off the dresser and glided it over my lips. Even though I’d bought it from the hair store, it was some of the best lip gloss I’d ever gotten.
My phone chimed. Picking it up from the nightstand, I checked it. There were a few emails, Facebook notifications and a message.
Unknown: Are you avoiding me? We still haven’t met up yet.
So that couldn’t have been Cassius that texted me the first time.
Me: Who is this?
Nibbling on my thumbnail, I stood there for a moment, waiting for them to respond and tell me who they were. Five minutes passed, and I figured they weren’t gon’ answer.
Knowing that I have to be at work in a couple hours, I grabbed my tote and headed for the kitchen. Opening the cabinet, I pulled out my Starbucks cup and filled it with ice and water.
“See you later, girl,” I told Luna as I headed for the front door.
Stepping outside, I hit the fob on my truck that was backed up by the porch. Cassius was right, I did live in a trailer park. It’s the best that I can do right now. The trailer is mine. I don’t have to worry about anyone trying to put me out or anything. Once I got further onto my feet, I plan on moving, but I’m not really in a rush right now. The bills are affordable and I’m living below my means. There’s so many people struggling, trying to keep up with society. Not me.
Hitting the fob on my truck, I climbed inside and started it up. To my surprise, she started on the first try. I sat there for a moment before pulling off and heading to Tyree’s house that’s located out in the hood. I’ll never understand why he didn’t just move from out there. Tyree still lives in the neighborhood where we grew up at. It’s like the hood has some sort of hold on him. Granted, I didn’t stay in the best place, but I severed ties with the hood a long time ago.
Turning onto Tyree’s street, I saw his truck parked in the grass up by the front door. His grass was brown from him parking on the lawn so much. Pulling into the driveway of his bricked home, I got out and walked across the lawn to the front door. My shoe hit a glass bottle on the porch and it rolled. Michelob Ultra.
He’s back drinking again.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
I banged on the screen door. Tyree was an alcoholic. A couple years ago, he’d gotten sober. I’m not sure what could’ve triggered him to go back to drinking.
Tyree and I live different lives. My focus was on making a better life for myself, while he seems content with his. I love my brother to death, but I can’t force him to want better for himself.
“Tyree!” I yelled out his name after waiting for him to come to the door and he never did.
Boom! Boom!
“Tyree! Come on! I gotta go to work!”
The door creaked when he pulled it open. He rested his elbow against the frame as he stared at me through the screen door.
“What you doing here this time of morning?”
“The truck is acting up again.”
Sighing, he replied, “You and this damn truck. Unk told you that shit was gon’ be a problem when you begged him for it. You know Daddy ain’t take care of that shit.”
“I didn’t ask you for a lecture, Tyree. Are you gon’ take a look at it or not?”
“Give me a minute.”
I nodded, and he stepped away from the door. Deep down, I felt like Tyree was jealous that I’d gotten the truck instead of him. It wasn’t my fault. Daddy put in his will that when I turned sixteen, he wanted me to have the truck. Uncle Trayvon didn’t want to give it to me. I practically had to beg him for it just as Tyree said. If it was my daddy’s last wishes, I don’t understand why he didn’t want to honor them. It’s not like he was driving it anyway. That probably plays a part in why there was always something wrong with it. He basically let it sit for fifteen years. When I turned fifteen, I used to sneak the keys and take it for a joy ride.Ah, those were the times.
