Iris
1524 Words
© 2021 by Ireland Rea. All rights reserved.
It finally reached the time for me to leave, and I was ready to go. The clock read 4:31, I waited anxiously as an older lady who introduced herself as Mildred was still trying to choose between one peanut butter cookbook over the other.
Thirty minutes later she still hasn't made a decision.
Why do people buy these things? I don't know. Peanut butter flavored anything other than plain peanut butter is disgusting. These were gonna be some nasty a*s cookies.
"Oh, I don't know dear what do you think? I wanted something nice to make for my grandchildren there about your age which would you prefer? "
She glanced over at me waiting patiently for my lie.
I hummed glancing up as if I was thinking. I was about to lie to this old lady, I just was trying to come up with the best one.
"Well, my personal favorite is this one."
I pointed to a random cookbook picking up the one with the prettiest cover.
"My aunt actually bought it the other day and her muffins turned out amazing, so I can vouch this one has amazing recipes inside."
I smiled showing my white teeth.
I've been told my smile can get me whatever I want if I use it right. Hopefully, it could get this lady up out of my face. Judging by her satisfied look as she reached for the book I was holding I knew I got her.
I quickly looked around for Anthony and seen him handing a chapter book to a young teen.
"I'm so happy you chose this one, I'm sure your cookies will turn out delicious," I sweetly said guiding her over towards him.
"Anthony here can help you get checked out alright? Hey Anthony, why don't you help Ms. Mildred sign-up with a savings card? I'm sure she would appreciate that."
My tight smile made him automatically understand the situation. He looked over at the old lady already looking him up and down and gave her his best dazzling smile.
"Of course, please follow me. I hope you found everything you were looking for?" he said radiantly. Guiding her towards the register. He looked back at me and winked as she immediately replied repeating the long story she told me.
I sped walked away towards the back grabbing my bag. Off my designated hook.
"Hey Adanni, I'm glad I caught you I just wanted to thank you for coming in at such short notice."
Mr. Ross chirped brightly coming into the break room.
I quickly zipped up my bag throwing it over my
shoulder.
"Yeah of course I don't mind.. well I do. This won't be happening next week."
I waved my finger playfully, but I was serious though.
He smiled warmingly, chuckling quickly catching my humor.
"Yeah I know tell Ace I said was good. He finished that book I gave him yet?"
Mr. Ross was definitely like a stepdad to me allowing me to volunteer here for school before I was legal then offering me a job when I officially was of age he led a supportive role in my life.
He was one of the first people I told about my dream of becoming an artist. Besides Ms. Irene of course. He promised I had a job here as long as I wanted.
My mom of course is a different story. I never actually told her where my true dreams lie. She still thinks I may go back to complete my nursing degree, maybe just needing a break from school.
She feels that anything that has to do with music or arts you can't make a real living, it's just working for free.
More than likely that has something to do with my dad, who was a famous local saxophone player in their time. Antero Kingsbury but close friends and family called him Ant.
His dream was to play the blues in the biggest of places, but sadly he lived in a neighborhood that not a lot of the greats came out of. Got caught in the life gangbanging and playing the blues at local clubs.
My mom actually met him at one of his Saturday Blue's jams at a club called Lucky's that's now shut down. She said she fell in love with his sound before she actually saw his face.
Well, the life held on to him harder than his dream did I suspected because he got so caught up in the g**g life, I guess it was too hard to pull himself out of.
"You don't even care enough to try. Not even for your children, you know how sad that is?"
I heard her shouting in the room. I tried to ignore them, keeping my eyes on Bugs Bunny as he casually walked across the screen. I was only seven years old at the time. I looked over at baby Maliq holding the bottle up higher so he could drink it.
The way he looked at me I knew even he knew this argument was different. I heard him say "It's not that easy."
A few loud noises later my mom walked out with a diaper bag and three huge trash bags. She went straight out the front door. All I could hear was car doors opening and closing. My dad followed behind her begging her to stop and wait, but she clearly wasn't hearing it.
She came back in scooped up Maliq and grabbed me by the hand.
"Put your shoes on, let's go."
She tugged me guiding us towards the front door. Her tone didn't leave any room for play as I
quickly put on my light-up sketchers.
I looked back at my dad's tear-stricken face as he still tried to calm her down. The only time I ever saw my dad cry. My mom was on a mission as she dragged us out the door towards the car.
"Wait, what about-."
"He's not coming," she answered me sternly, ignoring every word he was saying. She opened the car door pushing me inside giving me no choice but to crawl in.
Slamming the car door I just sat there watching as she went around to the other side. My dad grabbed her arm saying something I couldn't make out, she shouted in return snatching her arm away clutching Maliq close in her arms.
He held his hands up in surrender as she opened the door placing Maliq in his car seat.
"Buckle him in for me okay Dani?" she smiled a painful smile at me as she closed the door speed walking into the house for more of our things.
I hurriedly scooted over snapping him in the car seat just as my mom always showed me making sure each buckle connected as I slid it in to fasten.
I cried silently as I slid back over to my seat and buckling myself in.
I watched as my dad rushed out looking distraught opening my side of the door.
"You know daddy loves you right?" he said enveloping me in a huge hug.
I whispered a yeah as he slid a bracelet on my wrist, he kissed my head and pulled away.
"Never forget that." he looked at me sternly.
I nodded in reply watching him close my door and walk over to Ace's side, kissing him goodbye. My mom got into the car arms crossed waiting patiently until he closed the door. She immediately started the car and backed away, turning the car around driving down the street.
"We are going to stay at Nana's house for a little
while okay?"
She replied with heavy emotion.
"Is Dad going to meet us there?"
She sighed.
"I don't know we'll see."
He never did, we never talked about that day again.
Once we got to Nanas as I sat up late reading in the room I would always sleep at her house, I could hear my mom sobbing quietly in the other room.
I still kept his bracelet though, in a shoebox tucked away. Away from where my mom could see it anyway, I think she thinks I lost it a long time ago.
"I'm not sure I'll ask him when I see him."
"Alright tell your mother I said hello."
"I will."
With that last thought, I bid him good. Walking towards the exit of the building. I passed Anthony, which I nodded as a goodbye chuckling as I saw him painfully smiling at Ms.Mildred, still running her mouth as he was trying to hand her bags.
When he saw me his eyes softened as he smirked at me in return.
As I pushed through the doors, I slightly started to feel bad for rejecting him, but I quickly shook that thought away. If I had agreed I would be merely stringing him along, and I don't like to practice doing that just for the company, I'd rather continue to happily be on my own.
Besides if I really wanna talk to someone I'll talk to Saniyah.
© 2021 by Ireland Rea. All rights reserved.
- Writer
