Roy Glenn - MOB

“When him and the slut stop coming every Sunday, that’s when she’ll start going to that church again,” Miranda answered and Me’shelle smiled.

“For the life of me, I don’t understand why she has to show her cleavage for all the world to see,” Juanita said, shaking her head. She got a knife out of the drawer and began to slice the ham.

“Because she’s a slut, that’s why.” Miranda stated the obvious answer.

“It is a shame to see half the men in church falling all over themselves trying to find a reason to stand in front of her. And the older men are worst. Can’t even look her in the eyes ’cause they’re all down in that cleavage,” Juanita said.

Me’shelle hugged both of her aunts. “You two are something else, but I love you both,” she said and let out a deep yawn.

“What are you yawning for, Me’shelle? Did you have a date last night?” Juanita asked excitedly.

“No, her brother came by at four in the morning,” Miranda said.

“You need to stop giving Bruce all of your money for him to smoke up,” Juanita said.

“I know, Aunt Juanita, but he’s my brother,” Me’shelle said while she put the vegetables into bowls.

“He’s my nephew, but I don’t give him any money, and I don’t allow him or Natalie to come in my house. I had to learn that the hard way, ’cause they will steal everything they think they can take to the pawn shop,” Juanita preached while she carried a plate with the ham she had sliced, along with a plate of chicken, and put them on the dining room table. She came back in the kitchen still preaching. “I don’t know why Miranda still lets him in here.”

“I just don’t let him out of my sight,” Miranda said as she pulled the baked macaroni and cheese from the oven. “He’s still family, but I ain’t stupid. But hold up, wait a minute. Ain’t you the one who always says that people like that need our prayers?”

“Yes, I am,” Juanita said. “And I pray for Bruce and Natalie, and I especially pray for poor Brandy. She’s the one that needs all of our help and prayers and understanding. Having two junkies for parents has to be hard on her. I only wish I could have gotten custody of her, but that Natalie’s a smart one. She knew how to clean herself up and get her a job just long enough to have the judge let her stay with them.”

“I wish you had too,” Me’shelle said. “I try to spend as much time with her as I can, but I know it’s not enough. She’s fifteen now, going on twenty-two, and looking like it too. I think she’s a little young to be hangin’ out all night, but they let her do what she wants to. And did you know she started smoking cigarettes?”

“No, but I’m not surprised,” Miranda said. “Next thing she’ll be smokin that stuff with them and they’ll have her out selling herself so they can get high just like her mother.”

“You know, Aunt Miranda, it’s just the three of us. Why do you cook enough food to feed an army? I have to go on a diet, starve myself and exercise so I won’t get fat.”

The doorbell rang and Juanita went to answer it. “Are you expecting somebody, Miranda?”

“No, not that I know of. Maybe Me’shelle talked up some guests for dinner,” Miranda replied.

Juanita opened the door and there stood Bruce, Natalie, and Brandy. “What are you doing here?” Juanita asked, blocking the door.

“What? I ain’t invited to Sunday dinner no more?” Bruce asked.

Miranda rushed to the door. “Of course you are. He is family, Juanita. Get out of the way and let them in.”

“That’s right, Aunt Juanita. We still a part of this family whether you like it or not,” Bruce said as he walked by Juanita. Natalie followed him. Brandy just stood there looking at Juanita.

“Hi, Aunt Juanita. Can I come in?”

“Of course you can, child. Come give your aunt a hug. You look more and more like your grandmother, rest her soul, every day.”

Miranda and Me’shelle came to welcome Brandy with hugs and kisses. “Yes, she does,” Miranda said. “How are you doing, Brandy?”

“I’m doin’ great, Aunt Miranda. What’s up, Me’shelle?” Brandy hugged her aunt.

Bruce and Natalie didn’t get the same reception. Their presence in the house was met with cold stares and a general feeling of tension. Juanita watched them closely while the rest of the food was set out on the table. She never took her eyes off of them while Me’shelle and Brandy brought out the silverware and set the table. Now that dinner was ready, they all gathered around the table and bowed their heads in prayer.

After dinner, Bruce stepped up to Me’shelle. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure, Bruce. What do you want to talk about?”

“Let’s talk outside.” Once they were outside, Bruce said, “Me’shelle, I need two thousand dollars by Friday.”

“No, Bruce. I told you last night I’m not gonna give you any more money. I can’t keep doing this. And besides, where would I get two thousand dollars?”

“From them,” Bruce said, pointing at the house. “Get it from your aunts. They’ll give it to you with no questions asked. Tell them you need to get your car fixed or you’re behind on your rent. It doesn’t matter what you tell them. Please, Me’shelle, just get me the money.”

“No, Bruce, I’m not gonna do that. I’ll take you and Natalie to a treatment program to get yourselves together. Brandy can stay with me until you two got it together, but I won’t ask them for any money so you can get high.”

“You don’t understand me, Me’shelle. They’re gonna kill me if I don’t have it by Friday. Please, Me’shelle, you’re the only one I can come to.”

“Bruce, if somebody’s gonna kill you, the best thing for you to do is leave Brandy with me, and you and Natalie get out of town. I’ll buy you two bus tickets to anywhere you want to go.”

“Thanks for nothing, sis,” Bruce said as he turned to go back in the house. Then he stopped and faced Me’shelle. “But how you gonna live with yourself when I’m dead?”

Travis lay in bed and concentrated all of his mental energy on the situation that he found himself in. There were things happening all around him that told Travis it was time to get out of this robbery game and focus his energy on more positive things. Foremost on his mind was the fact that Freeze had every intention of killing Ronnie if he fucked up one more time. Although Ronnie had promised to tighten up and stick to the plan, Travis knew Ronnie all too well. If some little thing happened that he hadn’t planned for and it caused them to get caught, Freeze might take matters into his own hands.

No, getting out now before anything else happened was the only option that Travis saw available. However, there was still the issue of money. When he started out, he had set out very specific financial goals that he wanted to accomplish. The plan was to have a half-million dollars in his numbered account in the Cayman Islands, his house in Connecticut and the timeshare in Freeport paid for, as well as his mother’s house in Fort Myers.

He had never intended for this to become a way of life, but here he was two years later, still caught up in the game. He had been sidetracked from achieving his financial goals by giving into his passions. Travis liked to travel, so he’d been to Los Angeles, Vegas, Atlantic City, Miami, and the islands. He would fly to the islands at the drop of a dime. He also knew that hanging out with Ronnie and Jackie at Cynt’s and places like that took a chunk of his money.

Travis glanced over at Mystique as he tried to focus on a solution. She was out like a light. The solution was simple: Make as much money as he could, as quickly as he could, with minimal risk. He had to become more disciplined about the way he spent his money. The words Jackie had spoken to Ronnie now had resonance for him. You need to stop your bullshit and stick to the plan. No deviation, just do what the plan calls for.