A few weeks ambled by before we suddenly found ourselves in the month of June. Besides having to work and taking care of our own personal agendas, TJ and I were virtually inseparable. Our relationship had only managed to wax stronger, and some days I found myself terrified of the blissful cloud that I couldn't seem to descend from. I enjoyed the high, addicted even. However, I felt secure knowning that he put just as much effort into our relationship as I did. Even beyond being my significant other, he was my best friend. Reciprocity and friendship were two qualities that I valued in a relationship and I had found that with him.
A warm fuzzy feeling settled at the bottom of my stomach as my thoughts became consumed with him. However, I was snapped back to present time once Zéryah's voice invaded my mental realm. We were busy helping with taking food and other necessities to the backyard to replenish the family cookout that we were having. The blaring music that emanated from the speakers rattled the houses windows. I'm sure those neighbors who weren't present were quite tempted to call the police. However, they should've been use to it by now since my father made it his business to host this cookout yearly. Not only had he appointed himself as coordinator of the event, he had managed to convince himself that he was still young and in his prime thus making him fit to be the DJ.
As I waltzed out to the backyard, macaroni pie in one hand and baked wings in the other, I chuckled as I watched my father get into a groove behind the turntables. He had been bumping all the oldies, which I didn't mind since I was an old soul when it came to music. However, Ajénae scoffed and didn't hesitate to voice her displeasure. I laughed at her as her mouth was pursed and tooted upward but her feet had been tapping unconsciously. She knew the music was good, I had no idea why she was fronting like it wasn't.
Placing the food down on one of the many tables, I trod over to where my father was and joined in on his dancing. He smiled and spoke over the music, telling the crowd that I was his favorite daughter because I never hesitated to join in on his shenanigans. Ryah and Nae smiled at us and shook their heads. They knew there was no real reason to be upset, my daddy loved us all and never showed favoritism.
Tupac's I Get Around faded into the chorus of Biggie's Big Poppa sending the guys in attendance into a frenzy, with beer bottles and plastic cups raised in the air they belted the lyrics with zero hesitancy. I even saw my five year old nephew Ajahni stop playing to sing along. Maybe it was time Ameer stopped letting him hang out with daddy so much.
"I LOVE IT WHEN YOU CALL ME BIG POPPA! THROW YA HANDS IN THE AIR IF YOU'S A TRUE PLAYA!" The voices of the impromptu choir resounded across the neighborhood.
Stepping away from the turntables, I stood back and admired my father's laudable ability to bring people together. Growing up, he never held back telling us about his mishaps in life. With him now being a household name and seeing his amicable nature associated with so much positivity made me even more proud to be his daughter. His resilience proved to me that good things were indeed capable of blooming from unfortunate situations.
I journeyed back to the house after Ryah solicited my help in retrieving more beverages. The guests were drinking the juice and liquor at a rate that gave the impression that their lives depended on it. I was busy stacking a small cooler when I glimpsed Ryah walking to the livingroom to peek out the window.
"Sis your baby daddy is here." She waltzed back over and stood next to me. By now Nae had also joined us.
"My what?"
"Your baby daddy,TJ. Why you actin clueless?" She rolled her eyes at me and I returned the gesture. He and I hadn't even been intimate, and I made it abundantly clear I didn't want kids anytime soon so I was clueless as to what gave Ryah that idea. My thoughts must've manifested themselves on my face as she laughed at me.
YOU ARE READING
Imbalance
RomanceAt twenty nine years old Thau 'TJ' Harvey found himself teetering on the seesaw of life. With so many things vying for his attention, his seeming blissful life was thrown out of equilibrium almost unexpectedly. Love, fatherhood, and career all cons...