Up Late | Kofi Siriboe

Chapter 1: Welcome Back Home

Kofi POV

8:00 am

Standing while holding a medium package box I look up to the place I've been calling "home" for the past five years. Sighing as my way of saying goodbye I head to the U-haul truck to put the last box away as the driver was getting ready to get in the truck, closing and locking the back door I tap the truck twice to let the driver know to start the truck. Heading towards my jeep I hope in and start the car. Pulling off I looked in the rear view mirror and slowly watched the house fade away in the back. So long ATL you were good to me, getting on the freeway I followed the gps instructions, it says I will be at my next destination in a day and six hours good thing I stopped to get snacks this is going to be a long road trip.

2:00 pm
With traffic being so good I managed to make it halfway through Oklahoma, just a few more states to go and then I'm really back home. I checked my rear view mirror occasionally making sure that the U-haul driver was still behind me, can't afford to be losing my shit right now. Reaching over to the passenger seat I grab one of the various snacks I brought from 7/11 along with a water. Smacking on the snacks I tune into the music "Almeda" by Solange was blasting through the speakers. Bobbing my head to the beat I start drumming my fingers of the beat on my steering wheel hoping to past time as traffic is starting to slow down.

7:30pm
Traffic has become completely backed up heading into New Mexico, with how slow it is moving its looking like we gone have to crash in Arizona and pick back up the next day. Covering my mouth to stifle a yawn I fail miserably and let it out. Great now I'm about to be yawning for the rest of the time. Drumming my fingers on the steering wheel again as a distraction from me waiting in this traffic another yawn snuck up on me

After my continuous fits of yawning I decided to just find us a motel to crash at and then head back on the road later. Waking up early we head back on the road continuing to our destination. 8 hours later we finally made it to Los Angeles, California aka home. Pulling up to my new home I parked the car in the driveway and hopped out the car closing the door I waited against the car for the U-haul to finish parking. Going straight to the back of the truck once he was done parking I open the door and grabbed a box while heading to the door of the house. Opening it I put the box down in the middle of the door and told the driver to do the same while going back to grab some more boxes. Feeling the heat from the sun beam down on us I decided to take my sweater off as the sweat build on my forehead. Finally putting the last box in the house I thank the movers for their help and locked the door, going towards the box that was labeled bathroom stuff I grabbed a towel, soap, and washcloth for my shower. Just as I was about to open the door to my room my phone started ringing in my pocket, pulling it out I saw Pops😎💯 calling. Answering and putting it on speaker I heard his rough but soothing voice coming through.

"Hey Koko did you make it out here yet?" He asked. "Yeah pops I'm out here I was just about to head in the shower and then make it over there to y'all." I replied while laughing at the nickname he called me. "Good, you know your mama is going to be so happy to see you." "Yeah I know I can't wait to see the both of y'all." We both fell into a silence before I asked I my question, "Speaking of mama, how is she doing?" I heard him sigh before he began talking, "She's doing okay right now, I think it's better if we talked more about it when you get here." He said. "Okay well I'll be over there in 20 minutes once I'm all cleaned up." We both said our goodbyes as we got off the phone I then headed towards the shower.

Finally dressed I hopped back in my jeep and headed towards my parents house. Stuck in a little LA traffic I stared out the window drifting off in my thoughts, I start thinking about the reason I really came back home. My mom's health hasn't been good lately, so I decided to come home and be closer to them. Turning down the block that's been my forever home I start getting memories of me and my boys running around the neighborhood being fools having fun, man you couldn't tell us nothing. Killing the engine as I pulled into the driveway I sat in my seat for a little bit to just get my mind right before I go in. Staring at the flowers I brought before heading over I grab them and got out the Jeep. Walking through the front door l was hit with that same familiar lavender and marshmallow smell my mama always liked. A small smile placed my lips as I immediately walked to the location I know my parents would always be. In their garden I found my dad planting what looked like to be tomatoes, while moms was laying down in her beige wooden lawn chair sipping on her homemade lemonade watching her husband plant the vegetable. I got my dad attention first since he was facing my way, I covered my mouth with one hand signaling a shush as I wanted to surprise my momma. I walked slowly behind her chair seeing as she wasn't paying attention to busy talking to pops I wrapped my arms around her shoulder and kissed the side of her face. "Ahh Kofi, my baby's back home!" She screamed as she hurriedly got out her chair to hug me "Hey pretty lady." I said laughing at her reaction while squeezing her realizing how much I missed my mom. She pulled away slightly to get a good look at my face and started tearing up. "Aww mama what's wrong, why you crying?" I asked while pulling her back in a hug while noticing my dad moving to stand beside her. "It's nothing I'm just glad my baby is back home." She replied while pulling away again and wiping her tears. "I miss you too mama" Hugging her again, we released and I turned to my dad to give him a hug as well "Hey Koko!" He said happily. "Hey pops." I replied muffled by his hug. From the corner of my eye I can see my mom starting to tear up again, but clapping her hands together, "I'm go in the kitchen and start cooking since my baby home!" She said happily while distracting herself from crying again.

Then she began to head toward the back door that leads into the kitchen, making sure that she was completely inside I turned to my pops to say something, "Koko come help me plant these guava seeds will you?" He asked cutting me off. "Yeah pops." I replied back moving towards the area where he plants his fruit. I grabbed the other pair of gardener gloves that he had in his gardening tool box and head back to where he was standing, once there I squatted down to where he had designated the guava seeds and started turning the soil and digging a whole for the seeds. Pops got on his knees next to me to start putting the seeds in, sitting in silence for a little bit. After we finished planting the guava seeds we headed inside the house to wash our hands and eat. Sitting down at the table we grabbed each other hands bowed our heads and said silent prayers we then began putting food on our plate she made my favorite. The night consisted of us talking and laughing it made me feel really good to be back home.

A/N
Whew finally posted!!