Page 89 of Certified to Handle You
To be honest, this was really my vibe—just sittin’ with my people, talkin’ shit, and enjoyin’ the moment while the day moved how it was supposed to.
After a while, we split off to get ready for my mama’s birthday dinner. By the time we came back out, the whole setup had changed into some real smooth shit.
The table was set up crazy, with candles already lit even though the sun had just started goin’ down and more chefs lined up behind us like we was at some five-star restaurant. Plates came out one after another, from Chilean sea bass to butter-poached king crab, grilled octopus, seared scallops over risotto, oysters on ice and shrimp so big it ain’t even make no damn sense.
Drinks kept comin’, and nobody had to ask for nothin’ ’cause the glasses never stayed empty for long.
The whole time, everybody was laughin’, talkin’, leanin’ into each other and just enjoyin’ the moment without thinkin’ too much about nothin’ outside the table.
I was talkin’ shit like usual, sayin’ whatever came to my damn mind, and every time I did, somebody had somethin’ to say back.
When dinner started windin’ down, the older ones, and y’all know who I’m talkin’ ‘bout, started shiftin’ first.
“We’re going to step away for a bit,” my mama said, standin’.
“Yeah, go do y’all thing,” I said, grinnin’.
She looked at me like she was about to say somethin’, then didn’t.
Instead, she pulled me to the side real smooth with it too, like she wasn’t about to ask me for nothin’, but I already knew.
She looked up at me with a smile and reached up, brushin’ her hand across my chest like she was fixin’ somethin’ that ain’t even need to be fixed.
“My son,” she said soft, tiltin’ her head just a lil’. “My wonderful son…”
I let out a breath and looked down at her. “Ma…”
She smiled like that was exactly what she wanted, then held her hand out just enough for me to see it. “Give your mother some of that.”
I shook my head and looked at her for a second, then reached down in my bag, already knowin’ what she wanted.
“You don’t even smoke like that,” I said, unzippin’ it.
“It is my birthday.”
I pulled out two blunts I already had rolled, ’cause I had a feelin’ she was gon’ beg, and placed them in her hand. “Here, and don’t y’all smoke it all up too fast.”
Her smile widened as she looked down at ’em, then back up at me like she got exactly what she came for.
“I knew you weren’t going to deny your mother today,” she said.
“You been plannin’ this,” I muttered, shakin’ my head.
I laughed under my breath and leaned down, wrapin’ my arms around her.
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you too, mama. Go finish enjoyin’ your day.”
Me, Pressure and Kay’Lo ended up back on the dock later that night with our women. The music was louder now, we was still drinkin’ with smoke in the air.
Everybody was relaxed, laughin’ and vibin’.
That’s when Pluto pulled out them boards.
“Aww, hell,” Pressure said, already shakin’ his head.
“It’s just a game,” she said.
