Raunchy 2 (14 page)

box of Johnny Appleseed’s. He would only eat a few at a time with his brother in case he got hungry. Tisa always brought him gifts and he wished he could do the same for her.

“Thanks.”
Tisa frowned and said, “How come it always smells stinky in there?” Madjesty was overcome with embarrassment. “I don’t know. Guess

‘cause its kind of dirty.”
“Humph.” Tisa said. “Well, I be glad when you grow up so you can
be real cute. I know you cute right now but people can’t tell, cause your
clothes be dirty and stuff. But I think you cute anyway. Just not real
cute.”
“Tisa! Get over here!” Crissa said. “We gotta go.”
Madjesty didn’t know if Crissa liked him but it definitely didn’t seem
like it.
“Well…you heard my mama. I gotta go. I’ll see you later okay?” “Okay.” Madjesty said. “Thanks for the candy too.”
“It’s cool. I got plenty more where that came from.”
Madjesty knew that he needed to marry her but first he had to find a
way out of the house and into a new life.

MEETING MR. NICE GUY
TWO WEEKS LATER

After another tough day at school Madjesty and Jayden came home preparing to hate their lives and everything about it. But when they opened the front door, they smelled the scent of McDonalds in the air. The twins looked at one another in disbelief, neither expecting to get such a treat. Was the food for them? If not would who ever looks at them, take pity and share?

When they reached the living room, they were surprised to see the trash pushed against the walls as opposed to being scattered throughout the house. It was somewhat neater than it normally was and it shocked and confused the twins.

Through it all, nothing stunned them more than when they saw their mother. Harmony was at the dining room table humming and preparing the food for the boys on paper plates. She was dressed neatly and didn’t seem as drunk. Was Ramsey home? He couldn’t be, they thought. The summer hadn’t passed and Ramsey normally would have to cuss Harmony out after he came home to get her to clean up the mess she’d made over the months. So what caused the sudden change?

“Boys, come over here and sit down.” Harmony said in her fakest voice. “I want you to meet someone.”
The boys walked slowly into the dining room, waiting on her to curse them out for God knows what. In that moment the most handsome man that either of the boys ever seen walked out of the kitchen. They knew then that if God could bless them with the same attractiveness that they’d want to look just like him when they grew up. It wasn’t just the way his hair was neatly shaped, or the way his clothes hung effortless on his fit body, it was in the way love poured from his eyes. This man was kind. This man was confident. This man exuded love.
“Hello, fellas!” He said running his hand through their bushy heads. His voice was country but bellowed like the sound of the ocean. “We gotta get these cotton balls taken down for you now don’t we?” he laughed. “My hand gonna get stuck.”
Madjesty laughed so hard at his humor that you would’ve thought he was Eddie Murphy in ‘Delirious’. He didn’t know if the joke was really funny or if it was the fact that someone had bothered to take the time to make him laugh.
“How are you fellas doing?” He asked.
“Fine.” Madjesty said looking at him briefly before looking back at his worn out shoes.
Jayden just waved. He didn’t want to get too excited about another person, only for him to leave their lives within days.
“What’s your name?” he asked, Madjesty first.
“M…Madjesty.”
“Whoa!” He said. “Madjesty, huh? Well that means you’re destined for greatness. That whether you know it or not, you will have the power to lead.” Then he looked at him seriously. “You just make sure that you lead people in the right direction.”
Madjesty smiled. “I will, sir.”
“And your name?”
“Jayden.” His eyes roamed to the dirty hardwood floor. He didn’t want to do anything to make the man not like him so that Harmony would blame him for his quick exit.
“Ahhh…Jayden.” He smiled. “Your mother sure did pick some great names.
“Thank you.” He blushed.
Harmony winked at him and Mr. Nice Guy smiled.
“Let’s see…well Jayden means to be ‘thankful’. And that only God will be your judge.”
“Sir,” Jayden cleared his throat, still looking at the floor, “How do you know so much? You like really smart and stuff.”
He laughed. “Smarter than some but not smarter than most.” He paused. “But I know a lot about names because I study them. I was a writer for an old paper in Mississippi.” The boys were amazed. “And I guess I just love names so much because of the people I’ve come across in my life, that I learned all there was to know about them. That reminds me!” He paused. “Always get education boys. Always. It’s the difference between truly living and dying.” Then he clapped his hands together and said, “Well I’ve ran my mouth enough tonight,” he laughed, “so let’s eat, boys!”
That moment…that night…was the best time they’d ever spent in that home together. It was the best time they’d ever spent with their mother and it was the best time they’d ever had in life. Unfortunately when Harmony Phillips is your mother, best times don’t last always.