can't."
I didn't tell him that Trish would turn me in as soon as she found out that I was with Big Mama. I knew they'd never let me stay with Big Mama. She was now eighty-six years old and had no job. We could live on my money, but would the courts let a sixteen year old be the primary caretaker in the home? I couldn't take that chance. And I would never do anything to get Big Mama in trouble.
"Can you help me get emancipated? Darshon said he would help me, but that got all messed up. I just figured since you were emancipated, you would be able to help me."
"Emancipated? I ain't ever been emancipated, but I know a little about it. I'll help you however I can. You need to talk to a lawyer. We'll call one tomorrow."
He saw the skepticism in my eyes. Trust just didn't exist in my world anymore.
"I'll find a lawyer while I'm in Arkansas,” I said.
"Yeah, we can find one while we're there, but California law is different, Bari. You can always talk to one of both, I guess, but if you're staying in California, then it's California law that matters."
"We?" I asked, a little confused.
"Yeah, we. You don't really think I'd send you alone do you? Damn, these mutha fuckas got your head fucked up," he said, shaking his head in disgust. "Besides, Big Mama invited me," he smiled.
Seven stood about six feet, four inches tall. He was the color of a Hershey's kiss, with the smooth skin of the Cover Girl models that I'd seen in the magazines. Unlike Darshon's nearly bald haircut, Seven wore his hair in dreadlocks that hung around his shoulders. They were small, neat and well kept. His body was very muscular, his chest bulging beneath the gray wife beater he wore.
"Thank you, Seven. I know you were probably upset after I jumped on Trish, but she had said...she said..."
"I know what she said. She had it coming."
"Is this really your house?"
"Yeah. I don't know what Darkie told you, but he doesn't live here. He lives with my parents. He stays with me sometimes because they can't really handle him. He's seventeen years old and thinks he can do what he wants to do. He took my mom's credit card when he left."
I thought about the shopping spree we had went on. Everything Darshon had purchased, except the food, was paid by credit card.
"I think I owe your mother a lot of money," I said.
"Why?" I told him about the day at the mall; the Calvin Klein, the Louis Vuitton, the Gucci, etc. "That dumb bastard. You don't owe her, he does. I feel real fucked up about what's happened to you and in my own house. I didn't know he was keeping you here. I thought you were here because you wanted to be, and I didn't question it because he always brings his friends here and then the thing with your grandfather. That's fucked up. Look, do you need to go to a doctor or something?"
"I don't think so. I think I'm okay."
"I can't believe this shit. All I can say is I'm sorry."
"I don't think you have anything to be sorry for," I said sadly. "I just always seem to put my trust in the wrong people."
"Trish told me about your father and your sister. I guess you're just getting it from all directions, huh?"
"Seems that way."
"Well, I guess you should get some rest. We have to get up early."
"To be honest, I don't think I could sleep no matter how hard I tried. If you don't mind, I'll sit down here for a while."
"I don't care. I'll sit with you."
We sat in silence for a while.
"How old are you?" I asked.
"Twenty-two."
"You live here by yourself?"
"Yeah. I like it like that," he smiled. "Bari, you don't have to be afraid of me. For real. I don't get down like that. And I promised your grandmother I would look out for you. I don't lie to grandmothers."
I didn't feel any better.
"You feel guilty."
"What?"
"I said you feel guilty. Now you feel obligated to look out for me, but you don't have to. All I need is someone to help me get emancipated and then I'm gone."
"Gone where?"
“I have my own house. I just can't live in it until I'm an adult, but
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