Crystal took a few deep breaths staring at the little girl before her and knew that she loved her with a power that her mother had always loved them. "Sorry about that, I just want you to know how special your life is that's all. I want you to enjoy every moment of everyday of it. I love seeing you have that, even if I didn't have it myself, because well - it's the way it should be and I love seeing it. I love being a part of it. I love adding to it. Embrace it baby girl, lil'sister, because once its over, its over ... you can never come back here."
"It's a whole lot better than it used to be, Crystal. My life used to suck! I hated it. Not anymore, 'cause I have you now, Mundo, Sylvia, my dad, the baby on the way! Oh I can't wait, my very own little brother! And the rest of the family too. Long as I have you, and everyone else, I'm happy and I never want it to change. It's so cool having a big sister like you, I know I have the very best!" Her eyes were pink and moist with emotion.
"Ah, this is great isn't it? We're going to always be like this, you and I, only difference, it'll get better."
"We're perfect for each other you and I." Angela smiled.
"You bet we are. No matter what happens down the road in your life, as you grow older, and start to wonder about things, get curious, please don't take any chances and make decisions on your own. Come to me, please come to me, I'll always tell you the truth. The straight up shit girl ... you know what I'm sayin'?"
"I know what you sayin'." Angela did a head rotation again making Crystal grab her and hug her tight.
"You are so cool lil'sis, I swear you are!" She hugged her laughing.
Angela held her and hugged her as tight as she could, never wanting to let her go. "I wanna be just like you Crystal when I grow up, just like you."
"As cool as you are, I think you should be yourself. With some common sense and wisdom thrown in, you'll be the bomb!"
They heard a knock at the door, it was Mundo, "Come on Crystal! Man! Don't take all night! We waitin' in the lobby ... er'body there but yo'butt! You 'bout to get left!" He fussed through the door for them to hear.
They both looked at each other grinning, rolling their eyes at the same time. "Perfect example of more trouble than they're worth." Crystal grinned standing from the toilet.
Sylvia sat on the edge of the bathtub with her grandsons in it splashing and playing while she soaped one down and then the other. Shawn was still in bed, he'd only turned over in the king size bed and she wondered if he would sleep the night through. He'd been sleeping for almost two hours already. The boys were the most noise in their room besides the television which was turned down offering background noise.
"Now since your mama's going out, you two will be staying in my room tonight. You can watch movies if you want, but no playing and jumping around keeping up a lot of noise. It's quiet time, your grandpapah Shawn is sleeping."
"Is he really tired grandma?" Isaac asked looking up at her with red dewy skin from the steam of the bath.
"Yes baby, he's really tired."
"We'ah be quiet. You hear that Darren? Don't you be making no loud noises." Isaac instructed, demonstrating with what by grabbing his mouth and trying to squeeze it for emphasis, which of course had the adverse effect, causing Darren to scream out at the very top of his lungs, the sound so sharp and ear piercing it could easily wake the dead.
"Darren! Shush boy! All that screaming. Isaac why you have to do that? He was just fine, don't be grabbin' on him." Sylvia reprimanded, her ears ringing from his alarming vocals, of course he wasn't done, he was now leaning towards his older brother trying to bite him for grabbing his mouth.
"No Darren, no biting! Grandma?!"
"Darren! Stop it - no biting!" Sylvia whispered the reprimand.
Looking up at her, he decided to lean towards her exposed dark thigh to bite it. "Boy you bite me and grandma gone slap you right on your nekkid end. Don't let a spankin' put you to sleep tonight."
Knowing her, he must have believe her, he stopped part way there with his mouth open and little white teeth bared, then laughed, making Sylvia laugh, "Yeah, you ain't crazy, are you boy?"
Realizing this could be fun, he began faking forward, psyching her out as if he was going to bite her. Sylvia was laughing, holding his head back as he growled with his teeth out like a little animal, "Quit boy! You is crazy! Darren don't you bite me ... stop boy."
"Darren! You bein' bad, tryin' to bite my grandma." Isaac was trying to hold him back, pulling on his arm when Darren turned to go for him again. He was getting hyper.
"Hey! You! Calm down young man!"
All three stopped and turned at the deep voice in door.
Sylvia glanced up at her husband. It was obvious he'd just been roused from his sleep by their noise, or rather Darren's.
"That you keepin' up all that racket?" He asked looking at Darren. He laughed and splashed the water, no fear to be found in him. Shawn chuckled and looked at his wife, "Why didn't you wake me to bathe them? Don't slip and fall in that tub trying to keep them under control."
"Shawn, I'm pregnant, not cripple."
"Darren wake you up grandpapah Shawn?" Isaac asked. "Ooo-oooh Dar-r-ren, you wake up grandpapah Sha-a-awn. Ooo-oo-ooh, you gonna get i-i-it."
"NO!" Darren yelled out in denial, "Nah-aaah." He shook his head with wide eyes, refusing to take the blame, looking up at Shawn with wide eyes. "Go sleep."
"I can't go back to sleep, you woke me up. I'm up now, so I'll be talking over for grandma, so she can go rest."
"No! My grandma!" He slapped her thigh as if in ownership, possessive.
"Nope, she's mine, all mine!" Shawn teased back.
Darren stood up in the tub, "NO! My - grand - ma! Mine!" He had to inch over to her, lean on her thigh with one hand, to slap it with the other, making Sylvia laugh at him.
"Hands off my woman young man! She's mine." Shawn came over, took Sylvia's arm and stood her up and brought her over to him. "Mine!"
Darren looked from Shawn to Sylvia, his lip rolled out and his arms went to her, "Grandma, grandma, grandma!"
"Shawn! You made him cry now!" She laughed and went back to sit on the edge of the tub, laughing, "Baby I'm your grandma, stop crying. He just playing with you." She consoled him, wiping his eyes, kissing his rosy cheeks. "Grandma always be here for you."
Chuckling, Shawn winked at him, and made his way to the toilet, "Look the other way boys, grandpa's gotta top up the toilet."
"Top up the toi-let?" Isaac repeated.
"Yeah, piss, wee, free Willy!"
Sylvia shook her head laughing, "Shawn you crazy!"
"Free Willy?" Isaac's head turned one way then the other trying to get the meaning of that one.
"Don't worry about it baby, grandpapah Shawn just has to pee-pee."
"Well don' look grandma, I'ah tell you when he done." Isaac held Sylvia's face to him by the cheeks, making sure she didn't look.
"Tell me when you done grandpapa Shawn, I won't let'er look."
"That's my boy, look out for me."
"The kids are going out." She announced while keeping her face turned. Isaac stood in what must be an uncomfortable position, both of his hands on her face to make sure she didn't turn around. "Baby its okay, grandma promises not to look." She said to him after speaking to Shawn.
"Oka-a-ay, I'ah be watchin' you grandma." He warned her sitting in the tub.
"Who?" Shawn asked in reference to what she informed him.
"Benjamin, Crystal, Mundo and Marcus. They're going out." She further detailed.
"To what time? We have an early flight." He returned, wiping the toilet ring with toilet paper and dropping it in the bowl. He knew how his wife was about leaving behind any evidence whatsoever, he'd never hear the end of it. He flushed and lowered the seat back as well.
"They said they wouldn't be too late, long as they get up."
"What are they driving?"
"Marcus's car, Crystal is supposed to be the designated driver."
He was at the sink washing his
hands, "If she's designated driver, that means he plans to drink, how's he getting home? How old is he?"
Sylvia looked at him, shrugging her shoulders, "He's your nephew - isn't he 18?"
They heard a knock at the door, Sylvia rose and went straight to it. Opening it, Angela came in with Crystal standing there, "We're going mama." She started.
"Hey, how old is Marcus? And if you're driving, how is he getting home?"
"I think he's staying the night here with Ben & Mundo, leaving in the morning when we go."
"Oh, okay, that's fine. How old is he?"
"Marcus? I'm pretty sure 18, he and Mundo are the same age, aren't they?"
"Whatever, you all stay together and look out for each other." Sylvia cautioned her.
"We will mama, no worries."
"Get back here at a decent time, we have an early flight!" Shawn yelled from the bathroom so she could hear; he'd heard her comment about Marcus staying at the hotel for the night, that satisfied him.
"We will, thanks for keeping the boys. See you guys later." She turned and rushed down the hall heading towards the lobby. Closing the door, Sylvia turned back into the room, Angela had gone to the bed, flopped down on it flipping channels. "We're almost done with the boys Angela, then you can get in the shower."
"Okay!" She answered distracted by what was on TV.
Sylvia went back into the bathroom to find Shawn on the floor by the bath, rinsing Darren's hair. Isaac was out drying off.
"Happy now?" Sylvia asked, going to the toilet to sit down, taking over drying her grandson, as Shawn took care of the other.
"Very."
"Good, I'm sure they'll take good care of each other." Sylvia responded.
Shawn lifted Darren out of the bath, drying him next.
Together they worked to get the boys ready for the night, lotion all over both, underwear for Isaac, Huggies pull-ups for Darren and then their pj's. During the whole process, Sylvia had a satisfied smile on her face, watching her husband who was perfectly comfortable in the setting of caring for little ones. Knowing she watched him, Shawn glanced up and winked at her.
"I take it you okay now?" She asked, referring to the way he came home.
Darren was leaning on his shoulder while stepping into his pj bottoms, Shawn glanced up, gave a little smile, "Yeah, I'm okay."
"Mind telling me what happened between you two?"
He stood, done dressing Darren and picked him up holding him to his side, "No big deal sweetheart, just Derrick being Derrick." He answered walking out of the bathroom. "You're next Pum'kin."
"'kay dad." She called.
Sylvia picked up the towels and walked Isaac out so Angela could get in.
Shawn tossed the covers back and dropped Darren on the bed, who took a pillow and chose a spot in the middle of the bed to sit down and watch TV now that he had his bath and was all fresh and clean. Isaac bounded onto it next to him, giving the bed a test jump, also testing Shawn and Sylvia. Both of them halted him at the same time, "Oh no you don't!" Sylvia corrected him. "Settle down little man, grandma says its quiet time." Shawn added.
"Can we have a snack or something?" Isaac asked.
Shawn had been about to sit down with his laptop, check his emails, maybe do a bit of work. He stopped mid-way to grabbing his bag. "You hungry?" He asked him.
"I just want a little snack."
Darren turned on the pillow nodding his head, "Yeah, snack."
Shawn looked from them to Sylvia, "You want a little snack too?"
"No I'm fine."
"You didn't have much of the pizza." He noted and mentioned.
"I'm not a huge pizza fan, but I'm fine."
"Want me to go get you something? A salad maybe? I'll bring the boys back something to snack on as well."
"I wouldn't mind a chicken salad from Wendy's. Ask if Angela wants something." She returned.
Shawn walked to the bathroom door, "Going to get the boys a snack and Sylvia a salad, you want something Pum'kin?"
"No, there's left-over pizza in our room, can I go and get that and heat it up?" She asked instead.
"Yeah that's fine, bring it back here, you can't stay in there alone."
"I know daddy, I'll bring it right back."
"I'll go get it, where's the room card?" He asked.
After she told him and he made his rounds, getting the left over pizza for her, going to get yogurt and pudding cups for the boys, and a chicken salad for Sylvia and himself, he returned for everyone to snack up for the night and snuggle into bed. Sylvia brought books for the boys to read on the long flight, taking one out she struggled to read to them with yawns punctuating most of it. Shawn put his laptop away, took the book, clicked the TV off and had them all gather on the bed to listen to him as he read an extended version of "Three Billy Goats Gruff" and other fairytales and fables. All five lay in the comfort of their room, Shawn adding animation and drama to each story he read, making the kids squeal and laugh or their eyes widen in fear. The first to drop off to sleep was his wife, the second to go, Angela, next in line, Isaac and the last ... who was sitting up looking at him with wide eyes, Darren.
Shawn chuckled, looked like they were going to have to walk the hotel halls until he wore him out. With a smile, he held his hands out for him, "Come on lil'man, let's go burn up some energy."
Smiling, Darren was ready to go.
Chapter 219
When Crystal showed up in the lobby dressed in her pirate fashion ensemble, she was a head to toe walking vision. Her hair was fluffed wild, curly and free and dangling from her ears were large loop gold earrings with a strong pirate design. Wearing a long, white, pirate poet shirt, that went mid-thigh, its v-neck adorned with ruffles down the front and long bellowing sleeves with a gathered ruffle at the bottom. Riding low around her waist, a wide black sash looped at the top of her shapely hips to tie off on one side with the long ends hanging free with fine, flitting fringe. Her slacks were straight legged, dark blood red suede leather with hair thin, pin stripes of black and white spaced apart, going down into black buccaneer boots with a two inch heel.
The sight of her forced Benjamin to choke back a whimper of appreciation. She knew how to dress with distinction and style and could carry the look with ease accentuating her amber coloring.
Used to his sister, Mundo only knew one thing, "Yo'ass like t'got left! Taking all that goddamn time! You'on look no different! I know one thing, you need to cut back on the movies, they effecting your dress. What you thank, we meetin' up with Johnny Depp o'some goddamn body?"
"I think she looks hot!" Marcus wasted no time to say, his eyes wide on her.
"Thank you. Some men appreciate what a woman does to look good." She flirted harmlessly.
"Whatever you did, it works ... you're hot! In fact, I must say, we all look pretty darn good, the night should be a success, shall we get this party started?" Marcus went on. Away from home, away from father and mother, no shyness existed within.
Benjamin did everything in his power not to stare at her, to appear nonchalant and un-effected. Deciding to stay on the safe side, he focused on his cousin, whom he knew pretty well, "Dj's gone, but I'm here ... no shit out of you tonight. I don't want any trouble, we've got Crystal with us."
"I know I know, let's go already."
The four headed out, Marcus in the lead, Mundo after him, Crystal after him and Benjamin bringing up the rear, refusing to be anything less than a gentlemen. The evening would be spent with him opening every door and seeing that she was taken care of throughout the night. They started out with him driving, wishing to hit the Salsa Clubs in Madison. He knew just where to go, three of them were his favorites. Because he drove, Mundo and Marcus sat in the back seat, Crystal up front with him.
"Okay you guys, I'm telling you upfront, my dad's trippin'. He thinks I'm coming home at a decent hour, so at some point, I have to call and say why I'm staying at the hotel with you guys instead. I'm supposed to be out as the designated driver." Marcus
informed them.
"What? I thought you told him and it was okay?" Benjamin stated.
"Are you kidding me? My dad's trippin' all of a sudden now, he's like deep off into our shit! That little fuckin'-..."
"HEY! Watch your language, you see Crystal here!?" Benjamin checked him immediately.
"I am so sorry Crystal, no disrespect intended." He immediately apologized.
She smiled, looking from Benjamin to Marcus, "You're forgiven, no biggie."
"It is a biggie, its not how either of us were raised, don't let it happen again." Benjamin warned.
"All right all right dude, chill!" Besides Dj, Benjamin was the next in line that all knew not to cross, the cousins had a pecking order, Dj had been at the top, now that he was off, Benjamin picked up the chain in command. "I thought Mr. Goody-two-shoes had gone, yet - here is another." Marcus grumbled looking at Mundo. Benjamin laughed, "Behave or I will be dropping Dj a line on you. Now, what were you saying?"
Marcus remembered where he was going when he was corrected, "Shawn2! He's getting into all kinds of trouble; think he'll suffer it alone? No way, he tells on Luis, who then told on me! Because of it, dad's coming down on us like a sledge hammer."
Benjamin laughed at the picture of his uncle Derrick being any way but patient with them. "What did Shawn2 do?" Benjamin asked, curious.
"Since there's a lady present, I dare not go there."
"Shawn2? He's so sweet." Crystal purred.
"Yeah right! Sweet my ass - uh sorry ... well, trust me, he's not to be trusted. I mean, its not so much what he does, its how he does it; destined to be busted. The moron has no covert operation skills man, he's sloppy, risky, a danger to my secret missions. The minute he's busted, he gets my mom going where she's going off on all of us, at least dad would calm her down. I'm telling you some universal trauma has resulted in a tilting which has misaligned the planetarium order and alignment, thus causing the ol'man to lose his mind!"
Crystal, Mundo and Benjamin were cracking up.
"Hey! It may be funny to you guys, you don't have to live with it. Life has become hell! We don't even have Dj here to buffer'em. Dj's his favorite, always has been, he's the most like our dad."
BOMAW 7-9 Page 138
