DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Hamilton Beach
HTML https://hamiltonbeachrp.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Downtown
*****************************************************
#Post#: 800--------------------------------------------------
In It For Good
By: BigBossJay Date: June 21, 2019, 7:51 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center][img]
HTML https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/758a61d4a0b56b84c963bd5e5da4a310/5DA65CF7/t51.2885-15/e35/22427116_1554291167966057_9019931620865474560_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&ig_cache_key=MTYyMzUwMDA2ODAyNzMxNjc5NQ%3D%3D.2[/img]
MJ sat across from Keva and watched as she nervously sipped her
coffee. He watched as she tapped her fingers on the cup and
looked around the coffee shop. Finally, he sat up.
MJ. We're leaving.
Keva. What?
MJ. Baby, you're too nervous for this.
Keva. I'm fine.
MJ. You're fidgeting. You're not a fidget type of woman. If you
want to back out, we can back out.
Keva. It's fine.
MJ looked at her and reached across the table, grabbing her
hands.
MJ. I know this isn't easy. It's not every day somebody meets
their mother for the first time.
Keva. I just...what if she doesn't want to actually know me?
MJ. She wouldn't have agreed if she didn't.
Keva. What if I don't like her?
MJ. You don't know if you don't try.
Keva's eyes fell on MJ and he smiled.
Keva. When did you decide to get all comforting and happy?
MJ. When my girlfriend decided she was going to take a step in
healing herself, thus making me a much better man.
Keva smiled and rolled her eyes.
MJ. I'm gonna be right here for you, baby. No matter how this
turns out, you still got me and Aaliyah. Okay?[/center]
#Post#: 801--------------------------------------------------
Re: In It For Good
By: deHamm Date: June 21, 2019, 9:29 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]
HTML https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/02/07/13/kiki-layne.jpg
Keva smiled over at MJ and she eventually nodded.
Keva. Okay..
She took a deep breath through her nose and breathed out through
her mouth. She was extremely nervous about meeting her mother.
It was something she wanted so very badly growing up., but she
got to a point where she'd just accepted that she was a kid that
didn't have a mother. Now that she was an adult and she was
forming her own sense of a family, it seemed like a decent
enough time to reconnect with her mom. She still wasn't able to
control her nerves.
She looked over at MJ.
Keva. I'm glad you're here with me...
MJ. I'm always gon be here with you..
Keva smiled at him.. Before she could speak to him again the
door to the cafe opened, and her eyes landed on a woman, and she
immediately recognized her even though she'd only seen her in a
picture from when she was a baby.. Keva paused and MJ took
notice. He turned around as well, as the woman walked further
into the cafe speaking to the cashier.
MJ and Keva looked at each other.
MJ. That's her?
Keva nodded.
Keva. I think so...
MJ reached over and grabbed Keva's hand as her finger was
uncontrollably tapping on the table.
MJ. It's gon be alright..
Keva nodded and looked back at the woman who was looking around
the cafe. Her breath was taken when the two made eye contact.
The lady smiled at Keva and Keva returned a weaker smile still
unsure of how to feel. Once she approached the table, Keva and
MJ stood up out of respect.
??. Oh my God... Look at you..
Keva didn't know what to do, so she spoke as politely as
possible.
Keva. Hello... Um.. This is my boyfriend Marcus...
[/center]
#Post#: 802--------------------------------------------------
Re: In It For Good
By: BigBossJay Date: June 22, 2019, 12:47 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center][img]
HTML https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/c3a2cde5fdeb75196a2fae11d189d285/5D894E4C/t51.2885-15/e35/54446614_160076275017659_6606335269870492165_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&se=8&ig_cache_key=MjAwNDc1MDMzNjE2NTc5NTMwNA%3D%3D.2[/img]
Stella smiled as the young man shook her hand.
??. MJ, please.
Stella. Nice to meet you, MJ.
MJ. You, too.
Stella looked at Keva and stared at her momentarily, sighing.
Stella. I know you probably have a lot of questions for me.
Keva. I don't. I mean, I do. But, I don't know where I would
even start.
Stella. I'm surprised you agreed to meet with me.
The trio sat down.
Keva. Why?
Stella. It's not every day a girl isn't raised with her mother.
No doubt with no explanation behind it.
MJ. Keva's heard a lot of rumors, but she wanted the story from
you directly.
Stella. I understand that. Your father has never been exactly
forthcoming and open when it comes to information.
Keva. Where have you been?
Stella. Cuba. I've been there since I left this crazy country in
the 90s.
MJ. Why?
Stella sighed.
Stella. Back when Keva was around 3 years old, I was at a
protest where an officer got murdered. Of course, I'd already
had a file on me with the FBI so, as soon as they saw my name
connected to it, they gunned for me. I knew they would stop at
nothing to make sure they put it on me.
Keva. Why didn't you fight it?
Stella. Imagine how the world treats black women today...now
imagine that just over 20 years ago. I'm a loud, dark skinned
woman who isn't afraid to take on this world. I was public enemy
#1 as far as the state of California and those dicks in DC were
concerned.[/center]
#Post#: 803--------------------------------------------------
Re: In It For Good
By: deHamm Date: June 22, 2019, 1:39 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]
HTML https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/02/07/13/kiki-layne.jpg
Keva looked away from her mother as she processed the story. She
also thought of the many times her father would mention her
mother or reference them being alike, and it began to make more
sense to her.
Keva. Why didn't you take me with you?
Stella nodded and smiled weakly.
Stella. I couldn't take you with me.. I was a fugitive and life
on the run from a whole country is something no child should be
involved in.... The day I had to say goodbye to you was the
hardest day of my life.. The last thing I wanted to do was part
with you, but I couldn't risk you being placed in a foster care
if things didn't work out in my favor, so I called your father
and told him about his daughter...
Keva. You didn't tell him about me until you got in trouble?
Stella. Yes.. I thought it was best.... Back then your father
was involved in a very fast life, and I didn't want you to be
around that sort of lifestyle...
MJ. But then you got jammed up..
Stella nodded.
Stella. We met at a small airport, and you took to him
immediately.. And he you..
Keva. I just.. I don't understand... Why now? I used to want so
badly for my mom to hug me or comfort me or just hear your
voice.. I convinced myself that you wanted nothing to do with
me..
[/center]
#Post#: 804--------------------------------------------------
Re: In It For Good
By: BigBossJay Date: June 22, 2019, 2:30 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center][img]
HTML https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/c3a2cde5fdeb75196a2fae11d189d285/5D894E4C/t51.2885-15/e35/54446614_160076275017659_6606335269870492165_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&se=8&ig_cache_key=MjAwNDc1MDMzNjE2NTc5NTMwNA%3D%3D.2[/img]
Stella. My name wasn't cleared until a few weeks ago. Of course,
being off the grid in another country means that news doesn't
get to you as fast as it would being down the street. The only
person I've had contact with consistently was my sister, your
aunt Charmaine. That was only once a month for safety reasons.
So, I found all of this out late.
Stella's eyes fell on Keva as she stared at her hands.
Stella. I can't make up for all of these years we've had without
each other, Keva. I would love it if I could, but I know I
can't. I'm sorry about that.
Keva. It's not your fault. I just...there's always been this
part of me I never knew because I had no idea who you were.
Father didn't talk about you often, only to let me know how
similar we were.
Stella. How's that?
Keva. I was an activist.
MJ. Was?
Keva smirked over at MJ and he sipped his coffee with a shrug.
It made Stella smile.
Stella. If it's one thing I've learned, it's that you never
really stop being an activist. Even in Cuba, I was organizing
things locally.
Keva. What made you become an activist?
Stella. A good friend of mine was murdered by the police when I
was about 15 years old. With my parents being apart of the
Panther party, I grew up in that world so when I seen an
injustice, it seemed natural that it would happen for me.
MJ. Your parents were Panthers?
Stella nodded.
Stella. Headed the local chapter here in Carver City.
She looked back at Keva.
Stella. Hearing you're an activist makes perfect sense to me.
Keva. Did you have any other children?
Stella. I do. A son. He's 18, still in Cuba.
Keva. Will he be joining you here?
Stella. He'll be in the States. He's coming here for college,
although he hasn't let me know what his choice was.
She looked between Keva and MJ and smiled.
Stella. Does your father know about him?
Keva. He does.
Stella. My guess is he wasn't too happy to begin with.
Keva. You know Father.
Stella. I know his emotions about you. Who are your people, MJ?
MJ. Marcus and Monica Greer are my parents.
Stella paused and looked at him for a second before nodding.
Stella. I see.
Keva. What?
Stella. You definitely have the presence of a Greer. Strong,
authoritative.
MJ. You know my family?
Stella. I was more acquainted with your uncle than your father,
but for a time you didn't see Victor without seeing Marcus. And
everyone knew your mother and aunt.[/center]
#Post#: 805--------------------------------------------------
Re: In It For Good
By: deHamm Date: June 22, 2019, 6:51 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]
HTML https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/02/07/13/kiki-layne.jpg
Keva looked over at MJ as he nodded with a smirk.
MJ. It seems like everyone from the city knows my family..
Stella. It's probably hard to find someone that doesn't... The
Wells and the Greers are popular in their own rights..
Keva. How long will you be here?.. -sigh- I know we can't make
up for the last time, but I would like to get to know you..
Keva watched as Stella smiled at her. She couldn't help but
return a weak smile back to her.
Stella. I'll be here for a while... I don't have plans on
leaving anytime soon, so I would love to take the time to get to
know you as well..
Keva nodded.
Stella. What did you guys have planned after this?
Keva shrugged as she looked over at MJ and he looked at her. He
raised his eye brow and she nodded looking back at Stella.
Keva. I wanted to meet your mom too.. But Aaliyah..
MJ. Aaliyah is fine... My mama would have called if there was a
problem...
Keva looked over at MJ then she looked at Stella.
Stella. She would really love to see you..
Keva. Well.. I guess we're going to meet the other side of my
family....
Stella smiled at her and she gave a weak smile back..
MJ nodded and stood from his seat.
MJ. I'll go take care of the tab..
... Moments later Keva and MJ were in the car heading to the
North Chamberlain area of CC. She looked out of the window as
she thought about meeting her mother's side of the family. She
wasn't sure how to react to her mothers family, and she was
still unsure of how to address the woman that made her. Saying
"mom" didn't feel right, but neither did calling her by her
name.
She looked over at MJ as he slid his hand on top of hers.
MJ. You alright?
Keva nodded.
Keva. Yeah.. I suppose.
MJ. You know we can still go home...
Keva smiled lightly.
Keva. I know... But. I have to do this now... -sigh- Even if I
don't speak to them ever again... I have to meet them today...
MJ looked over at her and nodded as they pulled up to a shifty
house parking behind Stella.
MJ. All you gotta do is look at me funny and we out... You hear
me?
Keva smiled and nodded. She appreciated how supportive MJ was
especially while she was so unsure about this whole thing. His
catering to her was definitely a switch from the first day they
met, but with his evolving she also had done her own, and trying
to be open to family that she'd never known was a struggle in
itself, but she was ready with him by her side.
[/center]
#Post#: 806--------------------------------------------------
Re: In It For Good
By: BigBossJay Date: June 22, 2019, 8:22 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center][img]
HTML https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/758a61d4a0b56b84c963bd5e5da4a310/5DA65CF7/t51.2885-15/e35/22427116_1554291167966057_9019931620865474560_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&ig_cache_key=MTYyMzUwMDA2ODAyNzMxNjc5NQ%3D%3D.2[/img]
MJ stared at a white Rolls Royce in confusion as he turned over
the ignition.
Keva. What's wrong?
MJ. Stacks is here. Y'all related?
Keva. I've never met him, only heard you speak about him.
The pair got out of the car and met Stella at the end of the
driveway just as the front door opened. Stacks, along with a few
members of his crew, emerged from the house and he threw up his
hands with a smile.
Stacks. MJ! Wassup, pimp?!
MJ. Waddup, Stacks? What you doing here?
Stacks. Shit, this my grandmama house. What you doing here?
The two slapped hands and he nodded at Keva.
MJ. Guess y'all cousins.
Stacks. Oh shit, this ya girl, ain't it? I ain't know you was my
Aunt Stella's daughter. I'm glad I ran into you, I gotta talk to
you bout something.
MJ looked over at Keva.
MJ. You gon' be okay alone?
Keva. Yes. You talk.
MJ walked off with Stacks toward his car.
[img]
HTML https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/c3a2cde5fdeb75196a2fae11d189d285/5D894E4C/t51.2885-15/e35/54446614_160076275017659_6606335269870492165_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&se=8&ig_cache_key=MjAwNDc1MDMzNjE2NTc5NTMwNA%3D%3D.2[/img]
Stella shook her head as she walked into the home with Keva.
Stella. That's one character I'm glad you haven't fallen in
with.
Keva. Why?
Stella. He's just like my father.
Stella knocked on a bedroom door before hearing a faint "come
in." She steps in and smiles as the frail Delilah sits on the
side of the bed .
Stella. Hey, mama.
Delilah. Hey, baby. Don't mind that smell, that damn boy and
that funny cigarette got my room smelling a mess.
Stella. It's okay. How you feeling?
Delilah. Fairly meddlin'.
Stella. I brought somebody else to see you.
Stella and Delilah looked at the door as Keva stepped in with a
shy smile.
Delilah. Lord, if that girl ain't her granddaddy made over.
Stella. Mama, this is Keva. Keva, your grandmother
Delilah.[/center]
#Post#: 807--------------------------------------------------
Re: In It For Good
By: deHamm Date: June 23, 2019, 11:32 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]
HTML https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/02/07/13/kiki-layne.jpg
Keva looked at Stella then back at Delilah.
Keva. Nice to meet you..
Delilah. Come over here and give me some love sugar..
Keva made her way slowly over to the her bedside. She leaned
down and hugged her. They both wrapped their arms around each
other..
Delilah. Oh. Thank you God..
The two rocked from side to side as Keva could feel Delilah was
hugging her with all her strength. Once they released, Delilah
held Keva's hands.
Delilah. I'm so glad you're here.. I haven't seen you since you
was yay high to a grasshopper. Stumbling and falling tryna walk
around here..
Keva smiled sweetly.
Keva. Well... I've come a long way from that..
Delilah smiled and patted her hand.
Delilah. Here.. Have a seat..
Delilah shifted over in the bed making room for Keva to take a
seat at the edge...
Delilah. You know you're the only one of my grandbabies that I
didn't get to watch growing up... But what a beautiful young
woman you've grown into..
Keva. Thank you..
Keva glanced out of the window and she could see MJ and Stacks
still talking.
Delilah. I spoke to your daddy the other day... He said you live
here now..
Keva nodded.
Keva. I do... He got me to open a store here then he requested
that I stay here and run it.
Stella. He tricked you into moving here?
Keva nodded looking over at Stella but she eventually shrugged.
Keva. I was a bit disappointed, but now I wouldn't want to be
anywhere else..
Stella smirked as Delilah spoke up.
Delilah. Sounds like you're in love honey..
Keva looked back at Delilah and smiled with a slight nod.
Keva. I am..
Their conversation was broken by the room door opening again.
Keva watched as another woman walked into the room. She and
Stella held each other for a while, then the woman looked at
Keva with a smile creeping across her face. Keva returned a
faint smile back and looked at Stella.
??. Well I'll be damned...
Stella. Keva.. This is my sister... Your Aunt Charmaine..
Charmaine.. This is Keva...
Keva. Nice to meet you..
[/center]
#Post#: 808--------------------------------------------------
Re: In It For Good
By: BigBossJay Date: June 23, 2019, 12:06 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center][img]
HTML https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/c3a2cde5fdeb75196a2fae11d189d285/5D894E4C/t51.2885-15/e35/54446614_160076275017659_6606335269870492165_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&se=8&ig_cache_key=MjAwNDc1MDMzNjE2NTc5NTMwNA%3D%3D.2[/img]
Delilah. I'm glad the three of you are here.
Delilah used Keva's arm to pull herself from bed and she
shuffled across the floor to the closet. Delilah pulled a box
out and made her way back to the bed. Stella watched as Delilah
opened the box. She handed the three of them envelopes and they
looked at each other with confused faces.
Stella. Mama, what's this?
Delilah. You're the last 3 girls in this family, and since your
father left all of his stuff to that no good brother of yours, I
wanted to make sure you would be okay.
Keva. But--
Delilah. Hush, child. Your daddy told me enough about you, and
you're my only granddaughter.
Stella opened the envelope and glared down at a check. Slowly,
Charmaine and Keva opened their own envelopes and Charmaine
gasped.
Charmaine. Mama!
Stella. This is a check for 5 million dollars, where did you get
this money?
Delilah. Safe investments over the years.
Charmaine. You hid this from daddy?
Delilah. George was my husband, but I wasn't no fool. He spent
all his focus on Elgin, and didn't care what happened to you
two. I don't want any of you to have to depend on a man. Not
your daddy, not your loved one. Nobody. Choose what you want
with it, but the money is yours free and clear.
Keva stuffed the check into the envelope.
Keva. I can't accept this.
Delilah. You can and you will.
Stella. Mama--
Delilah. Lord, all y'all gon' be stubborn about this?
The trio looked at Delilah.
Delilah. I wanted to do this. I may be old and on my last leg,
but my mind ain't gone.
Stella and Charmaine looked at each other as Delilah spun into a
coughing fit. Keva handed her water and she sipped it slowly
before climbing back into her bed. Stella pulled the cover over
her body and kissed her head.
Stella. We'll be in the living room, mama. You rest.
Delilah nodded and curled up as the trio left the bedroom...
...Hours later, Stella stood over the stove as Keva and
Charmaine laughed at the kitchen table.
Charmaine. Your mama was just as hard headed as she wanted to
be, made it hell for her little sister to do anything.
Stella. I didn't do that, Elgin did.
Keva. Where is he? My uncle.
Charmaine. Who knows where Elgin is, child? Last time we heard
from him he was on a yacht somewhere.
Keva. What happened? Was he favored?
Stella. Big time. When daddy left, he left mama the house and
anything else he had went to Elgin. Left us completely out of
his will.
Keva. Seriously?
Stella. Big George wasn't too happy to have two daughters.
Charmaine. Especially misfits. One fleeing prosecution and the
other "living sinful."
Stella stirred the macaroni noodles as Keva looked at Charmaine
with questioning eyes.
Charmaine. I was a stripper, had my babies young. Your
grandfather put me out of the family quick.
Stella. Like he didn't have his transgressions.
Charmaine. We've got a baby brother somewhere about your age,
Keva.
Keva. Seriously?
Stella. George was a mess, through and through.[/center]
#Post#: 809--------------------------------------------------
Re: In It For Good
By: deHamm Date: June 23, 2019, 2:45 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]
HTML https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/02/07/13/kiki-layne.jpg
Keva. He doesn't sound like a very good person..
Stella. He wasn't... But he was our daddy...
Charmaine. You can't choose your family honey.. You can choose
how you deal with them though..
Keva nodded.
Charmaine. I hope you'll be choosing to deal with us though..
It's exciting to meet my pretty niece.. And I see that same fire
in your eyes like your crazy mama...
Keva looked at Charmaine and Stella as their eyes both fell on
her and she nodded again with a slight smile.
Keva. You all seem like really good people.. It's kinda sad that
I'm just now meeting you... My father doesn't have any sisters,
and he's never brought home a woman he was dating.. And my
uncles have African wives... -sigh- Since I'm technically
American, they don't care much for me nor I them..
Keva shrugged slightly.
Stella. Well.. As fate would have it we have one another again..
Keva smiled lightly and nodded.
Charmaine. Oh. I just remembered! Let me show yall something..
Charmaine stood up and disappeared into the living room, and she
returned with a book. She took her seat at the table again, and
began to flip through the pages. She stopped when she got to a
particular page.
Charmaine. Here.. Yall look..
Charmaine turned the book to Keva and she smiled looking at a
picture of the three of them sitting on the floor. Keva smiled.
She looked to be no more than Aaliyah's age now, and she was
smiling so bright with her aunt and her mom.
Charmaine. You remember this Stella.
Stella smiled and nodded.
Stella. Of course I do... We came for Christmas that year....
That was our last Christmas together..
Keva. Well.. Now we have the opportunity to spend the holidays
together again..
Keva smiled looking back at the picture, and she caught a
glimpse of her watch realizing time had flown by. She checked
her phone and MJ hadn't called or texted, so she assumed he was
still talking with Stacks. She took a picture of the photo and
sent it to him.
Keva.:. Look at Baby Keva.. Lol.
Then she went back to the photo album while Charmaine began to
explain everyone in the family and where they were at now.
[/center]
*****************************************************
DIR Next Page