PRETTY BRIGHT (22 page)

Larry climbed in his car. He was absolutely pissed; he couldn't believe that Bright would jeopardize their children's lives by drinking and smoking weed. Seeing that made him think of the kind of wife and mother she would really be. It was all fun partying before she got pregnant, but now he needed her to grow up for the sake of their children and put them and their best interest first
- just as his parents did for him and his siblings growing up. He wasn't going to bend and accept anything less from her, and no matter how much he loved her, he would leave her and take his children away if she did otherwise.

fter the Christmas holiday Bright was happy that the new year was approaching. November and December had been the roughest two months of

her and Larry's relationship, but yet they were able to move forward and overcome their obstacles. Bright knew 2006 would be the year that all her hard work would finally pay off, and that she would soon be living the fabulous life.

Though Bright never made New Year's resolutions, she had made a few for 2006; starting with being a better friend to Treasure. All the dirt that she had done to her had finally caught up to her conscience and for once she felt bad for it all. But since she couldn't take it back Bright planned on being the best friend that she could possibly be to Treasure moving forward.

On New Year's Eve, Bright and her sisters helped their mother clean shrimp and slice sausage in preparation for her savory, spicy gumbo. It was a customary meal that they had every New Year's, and it was also Bright's favorite.

“Count down time, family, where's Cordell and Larry?” Rosette asked seeing that they were within minutes of the count down.

“Him and Larry went to get sodas from the store, Ma.” Bright said, “They should be back any second now.”

Rosette looked worried. She didn't want them to miss the count down.
“Here they come!” Ryonna yelled as she opened the door for them.
“Right on time,” Rosette said excitedly, then she grabbed the bag of sodas from Larry's hand and told them all to gather in the living room. It was tradition that Rosette and her family bring the New Years in together, while they watched the ball drop in Time Square on T.V. Gathered in the living room holding hands they all counted in unison: “Five, Four, Three, Two, One...HAPPY NEW YEAR'S!” they all yelled happily, blowing their party confetti horns.
Larry kissed Bright on the cheek, “This is our year Pretty Bright; happy New Year's and I love you, baby.”
“I know it's our year, Daddy Lane,” Bright smiled. “I love you too, boo and happy New Year's, baby.” She held his hand tight, then planted a soft kiss on his lips.
For the remainder of the night the family celebrated together, laughing, talking and dancing. Watching, Rosette smiled, then thanked the Lord for pulling her through another year.

After the holidays Larry and his mother decided it would be best for him to complete his college education before going into the NBA. He only had a few more months left to get his degrees, and felt he had worked too hard to just let it all go. When he told Bright his decision, she was displeased and she encouraged him to go straight into the NBA and accept his collective bargaining agreement.
Larry wasn't having it, though...his mind was set.

Unlike Bright, he believed in a good education and wanted to be there for the birth of their twins. He told Bright that his position was secured and he didn't understand her take on his decision.

But at seven and a half months pregnant Bright was sick and tired of lying, making fake wedding plans and sleeping with Terrence in order to keep the money flowing in. He was falling too deeply in love with her and she no longer wanted to play the game. The situation was getting to heavy for her to juggle, and all she wanted to do was hurry up and get out of dodge, before her skeletons started falling out of her closet.

Bright lay in the hotel room where she spent most of her school days, sleeping, smoking Kush and masterminding her escape from the city, without getting caught. She received a call from an unknown number in the middle of a good rest.
Who the hell is this?
Bright thought, rolling over in bed.

“Yeah,” she answered.
“Baby, I just got hit with a gun case,” Terrence yelled through the phone. “I don't have a bond, so I’ma need you to get a prepaid account established on your phone so that I can call you on your cell phone.” Then he read a number out loud to her.
“Jail!” Bright said, sitting up on the bed. She was more
concerned about him giving her money than him actually being in jail.
“I know, baby, don't trip,” he said, hearing the disappointment in her voice. “I'll be out of here as soon as I get a bond, but for now, call that number I gave you and get that prepaid account set up so I can call you and keep you posted.” After a few more moments of speaking, Terrence had to get off the phone. Bright was expected to pay her mother three hundred dollars tomorrow, and she wanted to get her mother’s bedroom set out of layaway as a surprise for her.
What the fuck am I gonna do now?
Bright thought.
“The ring!” she said out loud, snapping her fingers. She knew she could get at least nine or ten grand for the engagement ring that Terrence had given her, and if he got out before she got ghost, she would just tell him that she lost it...That simple.

“My goodness Suge, what’s been up with you?” Treasure asked her when she finally returned her call. “I've been calling you for weeks and no response,” Treasure said irritated on her way home from school. She was dying with anticipation to find out what she had to tell her about Bright. Suge had lost the courage to tell Treasure what she had wanted to tell her for months, because she didn't want to come in between Bright and Treasure's friendship, so she temporarily decided to keep quiet and ignore Treasure’s calls. But when she could no longer endure the guilt that was eating her up inside, she made her mind up to call and tell Treasure everything.

“I'm sorry, Treasure,” Suge said, then she told her everything, on down to the conversation they had at Bright’s house before she had arrived.

“She did what!” Treasure yelled, stopping in her tracks. Thinking on it, she did remember asking Bright to grab the mail for her awhile back.

“Calm down, Treasure, that's the reason I didn't want to mention it to you. But after hearing the whole thing about Nicole and Lil Boo, I thought something was very suspicious about the whole situation, and that Bright wasn't right,” she said honestly.

Tears fell down Treasure's face. She felt betrayed in the worst way and by one of the people that she trusted the most, Bright. “So you’re telling me that she wrote Chrome back, saying that even if he didn't rape my homegirl, he was still wrong for putting his hands on her and he deserve all the time that was given to him for messing with her in the first place?” Treasure said making sure she was properly hearing the words coming out of Suge's mouth.

“Yup, that’s my word, Treasure, and I gain nothing for telling you this. If anything, I'm gonna lose Bright as a friend,” she sighed. “I just thought telling you was the right thing to do,” she admitted sadly.

Treasure knew that Suge wouldn't lie to her about something like this, so she thanked her. “Thanks for not keeping me in the dark...I love you,” she said to Suge.

After going to the pawn shop, Bright sold the ring for eighty-six hundred dollars. Then she took a cab to the city of Paramount to search for apartments, that she was later going to suggest her mother move into. She had no plans of speaking to or seeing Terrence ever again, and since she had enough money for a security deposit and the first couple of months’ rent she decided that now would the perfect time to make her move and get out of Long Beach.

After finding three decent apartments that accepted Section Eight in low traffic areas. Bright took a cab to the liquor store by her house, grabbed some snacks, then made her way home to tell her mom the good news. Her mother had been talking about moving, since the area was getting worse, so she was sure she'd be ecstatic about the location.

Walking down her street, Bright felt as if she had peed on herself. Looking down at the urine-like fluids twinkling down her legs, she panicked. “My water just broke!” she yelled, looking for help. Seeing Rat climb in his hoopty, she called out for his help. “Rat, help me, I'm going into labor!”

Rat quickly drove in her direction. Meeting her at the curb, he laughed in her face. “I guess yo stuck up ass got a problem then, huh? Because you ain't getting yo gold diggin’, think you all that, fake ass in my car you trifling, BITCHHHHH!” then he sped off laughing. He didn't forget easily, and figured this would be a great opportunity to get back at her for treating him like a scrub that day he dropped her off over at her homegirl Treasure's house.

“Fuck you!” Bright screamed at the top of her lungs. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, she began to experience back-to-back pains in her stomach. Falling to the ground, holding her stomach, she cried out for help. The doctor had told her to expect an early labor carrying twins, but she was only seven and a half months pregnant. She had at least expected to make it to her eighth month.

Being noticed by an elderly couple that was driving down the street, they immediately pulled over to help her. Bright told them that she was going into labor, and then asked if one of them could go to her house to get her mother. The man walked over to her building as quickly as he could while the elderly woman tried to help coach Bright's breathing. Confused as to how the proper breathing technique went, she told Bright, “Oh baby, just make sure you breathe,” she was agitated that she was of no use to the young girl in need. She hadn't birthed a child in over 40 plus years and had honestly forgotten the whole routine.

Moments later, Deja and Cordell ran out the courtyard with the elderly man trailing them. “You having the baby?” Deja asked, nervously but was excited at the same time. Cordell picked up Bright's cell phone that was lying on the curb.

“Yes,” Bright managed to say in between pains. “It seems like I'm contracting every two to three minutes. Get Mama down here to take me to the hospital,” she whined.

“Mama went to lunch and Bible study with Gale,” Deja replied.
Looking around to find his sister a ride to the hospital, Cordell asked the neighbor across the street if he could take Bright to the hospital. “Aye homie, can I throw you a hot dub to take my sister to Long Beach Memorial?” he asked, grabbing a wad of dope money out of his pocket.
“I can't, lil man, my tags are bad,” he explained regretfully, then he stepped across the street to see if he could be of any other use.
“We can take her to the hospital,” the elderly woman said, looking to her husband, who nodded his head in agreement.
“Cool,” Cordell said happily, then he asked the guy from across the street to help him put Bright in the back seat of the car. Before they drove off, he gave the man a twenty dollar bill and thanked him. Deja rode in the backseat with Bright while trying to get in contact with Larry for Bright.
“I called him five times, Bright, he's not answering,” Deja told her.
In agonizing pain, Bright said, “Keep calling until he answers.”
Finally at the hospital, Bright thanked the elderly couple for all of their help before being put in a wheelchair and rushed inside. Still with no luck of getting in touch with Larry, Bright became frustrated and cried even more. “He is supposed to be here with me!” She vented, then she told Deja to call his mother's house. Since Bright had dilated over three centimeters, they promptly, admitted her into the hospital.
Moments later, her mother and Gale rushed inside the room. “We having them early, Queen Bee,” she said with a comforting smile on her face. She had recovered from her stroke well and was back to her old self minus the drinking and smoking.
Inside the restroom, Gale grabbed cold towels to wipe Bright’s face when she heard her continue to complain about being hot. “Ma, where is Larry?” Bright cried.
“I don't know, sweetheart, Deja is still trying to contact him for you,” she said, coaching Bright to breathe properly.
After getting the news, Mrs. Lane rushed inside the hospital room, excited to be there in enough time to help. “I couldn't get in touch with Larry, Bright, but I did leave a message for him at the university, and I'm sure he'll be here soon. He left his phone on his bed this morning,” she said, showing her his phone. Then she kissed her on the forehead and asked her how she was feeling.
“I'm feeling awful because I'ma have these babies without Larry being here,” Bright cried.
“Let's just be grateful for all the love that you have in this room at this very moment,” Mrs. Lane said with a pleasant smile on her face.
“Praise God!” Rosette shouted, reminding Bright to remain calm and to breathe.
Once they sent Bright off to the delivery room, the nurse told her that she could only choose two people to come inside the room with her. She chose both her mother and Larry's mother to come in. “But if the father comes, please let him in,” Bright instructed in tears of pain and unhappiness. She was really heartbroken that Larry wasn't there.
“I'll be sure to send him right in,” the nurse assured her.
Bright had a speedy delivery. Within twenty minutes of pushing inside of the delivery room, she had birthed two premature baby girls that she and Larry agreed to name Lari and Lori Lane. Both weighing four pounds and six ounces, they were almost small enough to fit in each palm of her hand. Unhappy with the way they looked she cried, “Are they okay? Why are they so small?” she asked.
“Twin babies ninety percent of time come out earlier and smaller than normal pregnancies,” the doctor told her.
Giving the babies back to the nurse, Bright turned her nose up at the sight of them. They didn't look normal to her, they had wrinkly skin, cone shaped heads, and on top of that, they looked nothing like she had expected them to.
“So precious,” she heard Gale say as the nurse made her way out of the room with the twins and to the nursery.
People only call ugly babies precious,
Bright thought. Hearing Gale's comment made tears form in her eyes. It confirmed that Gale thought her babies were ugly too. Mad at how everything was going, Bright closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Moments later Larry arrived. He was furious that he had accidentally left his cell phone at home, and that it caused him to miss the birth of their babies. More importantly he was disappointed for not being there for Bright.