Chapter 48

Adajay's pov

I don't know which one of us was more surprised when I drove up and parked at the gate, Jamie was lounging on the verandah smoking and sat up suddenly when I came to the gate and opened it. I looked at him noting that he did not look like he had been on the road half an hour ago, infact he looked like he hadn't even taken a shower from morning.

He looked at me from head to toe then out at the car and then stared at the car key in my hand. "Hi," I greeted him since it seems he wasn't going to greet me.

"Wha a gwane?" He ask looking nervous.

"Well I'm here, where's mummy?" I said then ask.

"She inside," he said getting up.

The window creaked as I walk up the steps, they were the same old ones that had been there. The yard looked dry and barren, and I turned and looked out- it was the same as I had left it. I went to the front door and said. "Hello."

"Come Ada," Shameka said from inside and I went in.

I pushed the door further open and went in, when I decide to come I was not thinking about how the place looks, but now that I am here I was disappointed. A double bed was in the living room and the place was chucked up, Jamie came out of my mother's room and pointed for me to go in.

My mother was wrapped up in bed and my heart began to beat wildly as I look at her, she held up her head slightly and looked at me. Her room was the same I thought as I walked over to where an old asac was by her bedside, she lift her head and looked at me.

"Hello mummy," I said not knowing what else to say.

She didn't look that sick to me as she struggled to sit up. "Ada," she said with a smile.

"What is wrong with you?" I ask worriedly.

She sighed and I glance towards the doorway as my brother came there to stand. "Mi have cancer but mi ketch up flu from last week," she said.

"What type of cancer?" I ask her.

She looked lost for a moment before she said. "Bone cancer."

"Oh! That's bad!" I exclaimed.

"Yes, yuh look nice dow. A who fah car dat park out a di gate?" She said then ask looking out.

"Oh it's mines," I answer.

"Wow! It look nice," she exclaimed.

"Yes. So when do you have to do the surgery?" I ask badly wanting to know so I can see about what I can do.

"Surgery? Wha- oh," she ask sounding confused and looking towards Jamie.

"She want roughly three hundred thousand dollars more, it fi pay by next month," Jamie stated.

"Oh ok, where is it supposed to be paid?" I said and ask.

"Yuh can gi mi di money," he replied quickly.

"Or pay it into my account," he added after.

I nodded looking away from him and looked at my mother, something was not right. "Where are the medications you have been taking?" I ask her.

"Dem nuh give har nuh medication," Jamie replied.

I knitted my brows in concentration and sighed then I ask my mother. "Can you walk? Are you in pain?"

"Yes mi can walk but mi ina constant pain," she replied.

Her tone of voice was the one she normally use when she was telling my father that she was broke and had nothing to eat while standing over the stove cooking. A baby began to cry and I looked towards the room I use to share with my sister, I got up and walk to the room- seeing my sister putting her breast into a baby's mouth and a girl was sitting with a older baby quietly on my old bed.

"Hello," I said to her and she waved shyly.

I look at my sister who held her head down over the baby, the room looked even worst than I had left it and it smelled a little sour or moldy I wasn't sure which.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" I ask.

"A girl," she answered holding up her head and looking at me.

"Ok, so I'm an aunty," I forced a smile while thinking how she can even have a baby and still live here.

The next girl must be Jamie's woman, they both looked pop down and stressed, I turn and walk out going through the kitchen- the place looked awful. I walk out into the back yard and stood under the tree that I had spent my last night here under and tears pricked my eyes. Bone cancer and no medication, the money should be deposited into Jamie's account- what a sorry story. I will have to get proof and then if it was true I would pay the money to the account that is supposed to be set up for that purpose.

I walk off up to the back and looked over to where Righteous and Bartley were living, I gasp in astonishment seeing a heap of concrete rubble. I rubbed my eyes and stare at the pile of concrete, suddenly I remember seeing Quefer carrying in windows and doors one night, the store house was usually kept locked but now that I think about it- the doors and windows on Quefer's house looked like the ones that had been on this house.

I shook my head and walk away, I stood at the gate and looked in thinking how this was the worst looking house on the avenue. I had planned to add on two rooms for me and my mother, but that was one time- there was absolutely no love here. I'll make some research and help my mother if she was ill but they weren't getting a cent from me otherwise. Jamie and Shameka shood build the place up since they were both growing families of thier own in this too small house he help to throw me out of.

He walked to where I stood at the gate and ask. "So when yuh a guh send di money in mi account Ada?"

Oh wow I thought, he was surely too dumb to be my father's son. "I'm selling this car as soon as I get the money," I told him.

"Fi real, yuh a sell it?" He ask in surprise.

"Yea mi want somn newer fi drive," I told him.

"A umuch yah sell it fah?" He asks.

"Two point five," I told him.

"Wow! It nice ino, suh a how soon yah guh get it sell? Cause di people dem sey if wi nuh pay di money soon the price a guh go up," he questioned telling me.

"Mi have a buyer waiting wid di money but a just through mi nuh collect mi new jeep yet," I told him and watched the badmind stamp out some more on his face.

"Ok," he said.

I got into the car and started it, badmind surely held down people. My father would have helped my brother, but now I see how evident his ways was. I felt grieved, some people has the perfect loving and supportive family, people that they could depend upon- I was earning my own. I spun the car around, toot my horn and drive off.

Someone flagged down the car and I saw that it was Damion when I reach near, I hissed and sink my foot on the gas pedal leaving a thick cloud of dust behind me. My phone rang with him calling and I laughed, a change in phone number is coming- nothing happens before the time. I drove straight into May Pen and bought a new SIM card, then I went to Righteous's restaurant and ordered some food.

My father was at home when I got there and I told him that I had went to see my mom because Jamie had called, I told him all that transpires and he laughed saying.

"I saw your mother going home from work yesterday, she didn't see me though- I was in the office upstairs checking off Bartley's money and making deposits. Yuh one time school teacher tell mi di other day sey yuh mada maama man lef har an' gone live wid one woman a Denbigh. Jamie want a car fi run taxi fi mind di jacket wey mi hear sey him get and your mada prize daughter breed fi one coaster bus conductor wey fuck off every school gal wey careless enough fi lie dung wid him. I did not think it was relevant and worth telling you."

It was a lot to take in and I sat on the kitchen stool soaking it in, I took my baby from Donique and gave her the dishes of food I had purchase for them and told her good night. I just wanted to bathe Adalan and go to sleep, I wrote off all the numbers I wanted then switch my phone chip. I sent the same message to all the relevant contacts telling them that was my new number, then threw the old chip in the rubbish bin.

"Mek mi carry it out now before yuh change yuh mind and come back come tek it out," my dad said and took out the half filled rubbish bag.

To be continued...