"You know, we could have been here a lot earlier if you weren't so damn slow." Henry spits at me. I clench my jaw and squeeze my fist.
"Just shut up and watch the kids. You realize it was your fault we were late. You underestimated how long it would take to get the boys ready." I shoot back at him. He grunts and then scowls at me.
"You took forever with your damn hair !" He retorts.
"I'm sorry that I straightened my hair and have to make sure it stays straight. I'm sorry I don't have naturally straight hair. Sue me for fucking being black." I spit at him and I walk away with Aaron in my arms. He has no idea that I only straightened my hair so everyone would leave me alone about it. It wouldn't even be that big of a deal and he and his stupid ex didn't harass me nonstop.
I find a tree a little ways away from the playground but close enough to where I can keep an eye on all my kids. I check out the grass around the tree and when I'm sure it's clear I put down my towel that I'd had in case the kids needed to wipe their faces. I sit on the towel and rest Aaron on my lap, facing me. He smiles at me and I smile back.
"Hey bubs, you like Mommy's hair right ?" I say and he just keeps smiling.
"Yeah, I know. Mommy's hair isn't naturally straight but it's prettier this way." I say and Aaron's face drops.
"Trust me, it's less harassment and less pain with it straight." I say and Aaron's frown decreases.
"Hey lighten up bud." I say and he just makes a noise.
"I'm gonna take that as you asking me why I straightened my hair. Lets talk about. Daddy used to have this girlfriend and they terrorized me once high school started. I was going natural and I was so excited about having been natural for 2 years already."
I looked down at Aaron to see him looking at me.
"Good, you're paying attention. This is really painful for Mommy," I stare at Aaron and he seems to smile as if encouraging me to continue. I look up at the kids to give myself something to focus on so I don't cry, " Okay well first I had no idea what was going on, everyone was trying to stick gum and wrappers and little things in my afro puff. Then everyone was talking about how if I was going to wear my hair like that I should go back to where I came from which I won't tell your sensitive ears. But oh bubs it was so disrespectful to hear everyone saying those things."
I close my eyes and put my head against the tree.
she doesnt even realize that her hair is distracting, it's so annoying, how can anyone want that mess on their head ?
she probably couldn't afford a perm, let's help the poor thing out so she can finally fit in for once in her life
she's not a black panther and she's lucky she isn't enslaved walking around like that, I'm so telling my mom this
ya know maybe Charlotte, if you would straighten your hair, you'd be pretty and you wouldn't be picked on
for your skin color, you're pretty but that wretched, god - awful, untamed and unkempt hair just looks so fake, take it off
I open my eyes and look at Aaron who has his little fingers by my lips. I kiss his fingertips and hug him.
"Bubs, I don't know how I put up with it but I did. My hair was gorgeous, I think I'm going to go back to wearing it natural. I'm done listening to everyone else." I say and Aaron smiles then claps his hands together.
"Thanks baby," I kiss his forehead "you're a great listener." I tell him and I start to play peek a boo with him.
"Mommy ! Mommy !" I hear 3 familiar voices all calling me. The boys all run up to me and plop down next to me.
"Where's Daddy ?" Avan asks me.
"I'm hungry, did we bring food ?" Aiden asks and Ashton just points at his brothers.
"Yeah what they said." He says and I just smile.
"Okay I have no idea where Daddy is and yes we brought food. You boys ready to eat or you want to play a little more ?" I ask them.
"Play but I want to eat soon, ok ?" Avan says and I nod.
"Go 'head. I'll call Daddy over here. Meet me back here to eat, alright ?" I ask them.
"Awright!" Ashton says and they run off. I pull out my phone to call Henry.
"What do you want ?" He answers harshly.
"Nothing, nevermind." I say and hang up. I strap Aaron in the carrier that is on my chest and back. I get up from my spot and walk back over to the benches. I spot our picnic basket and of course Henry is holding it. I walk up to the baby stroller and grab the blanket bag out of the bottom.
"What are you doing ? Where did you go ?" Henry asks me.
"Follow me, the kids want to eat." I say monotonously. I walk off with the blanket bag and when I hear steps behind me and the stroller wheels I know he's followed me. I make it back to my little spot under the tree.
Henry and I take all of 5 minutes to set the blankets up. I sit down with Aaron in my lap again and Henry takes the liberty of sitting right next to me. I scoot over a little so our arms aren't touching.
"What, now you don't want to be near me ?" Henry asks sarcastically, I think.
"Quite frankly, no I do not." I say and his face drops.
"Wait, why not ? If it's what I said earlier I'm sorry. I really didn't mean it, I was just mad at me I shouldn't have blamed you like that." He says and I just shake my head.
"Henry just forget it, there are a lot of things you can apologize for and I'll probably never forgive you. You won't make it past acquaintanceship with me." I tell him curtly. I look at him to see his eyes seem to be empty. He just nods his head. He takes a deep breath.
" I struck a nerve. What was it ? It has to be something I said before, right ?" He asks me.
"Henry, just -"
" No, I want to know. I'm going to prove how serious I am. I'm not going to be the same idiot I was before. So what did I say ?" He asks, cutting me off. I just sigh and hug Aaron.
"It wasn't exactly what you said but what you started. All it took was for you to make one stupid joke about how I needed to get my hair done in 9th grade and then everyone ragged on me for it. That's why I straightened my hair this year, so I can fit in despite my skin tone. People have pretty much left me alone so I'll probably -"
"Charlotte, why ? I'm so sorry. I actually didn't mean that comment that way. I remember that moment. I was with my friends and I was saying that you should get your hair done like that more often. It made you look like a goddess and yeah that was beautiful. Your hair still is pretty striaght but I loved those puffs you always had." Henry admits and I laugh.
"Wow, apparently no one else heard you say that because people have given me nonstop crap for my hair." I say dryly.
"I don't see why, you've got volume and length. It's healthy and you can do so much with it, I love it. I hope our kids get hair like that." He says and I choke on my spit. He erupts in laughter.
"Our kids ?" I ask.
"Yup, you and me. I've got long - term goals with you, that is if you'll have me." He says and smirks at me.
"We'll see." I say and roll my eyes making him laugh again.
"Daddy !" Avan yells out and soon the kids are all on the blankets.
"Hey! Shoes off on the blanket !" I tell them and they get off to take their shoes off.
"Get the wipes." I tell Henry and he does. He gives them to the kids as they step back on the blanket. He passes one to me and I wipe my hands.
"Alright, we have apples and watermelon for our fruit, potato chips and doritos for sandwiches and a snack. I have turkey and cheese sandwiches for everyone." I say and the boys nod.
"Let's see if Daddy remembers who likes what." I say and the boys laugh. Henry looks at me shocked.
"Oh no." Henry says.
"Oh yes." Aiden says. Henry digs in the basket and pulls out 3 sandwiches and 2 doritos.
"Okay Avan, you like nacho cheese doritos and Ashton you like cool ranch." Henry says and hands them their snacks. He picks up the sandwiches and reads the writing on the bags.
"Ah, this one has tomatoes, lettuce and mayo on it. This is Ashton's." He says and gives Ashton, who is already reaching for it, his sandwich.
"Thank you." Ashton says.
"No prob bud. Hm this one has no mayo but it has exactly 1 tomato and a half with a dot of mustard, this sounds like Avan." Henry says. Avan claps and gets the sandwich himself. Henry picks up the last one.
"And no tomatoes sounds like my boy Aiden." Henry says and hands Aiden his sandwich along with potato chips he pulled out.
"Thanks Dad." The boys say together and start eating.
"You did good Hart, you did good." I say and he smiles. He scoots close to me and kisses my cheek.
"I have a great partner." He says and picks up Aaron.