Read Online Fixin’ Tyrone by Keith Thomas Walker - Free Book Online Page B

on her bed and watched from behind. Shrek and Fiona were scampering through their swamp collecting snail eyeballs for some reason. Mica controlled the male ogre rather than his portly wife.
    “How’s it going?” Mia asked.
    “Fine,” Mica said without looking up.
    “How was school?”
    “It was okay.”
    “Just okay?”
    “Yeah.”
    “You know TC’s dad is coming over, right?”
    “Yeah, I know. TC keep talking about it. He won’t shut up.”
    “Is he getting on your nerves?”
    Mica pushed “Pause” and looked back at her mother.
    “A little.”
    Mia patted the bed.
    Mica sat next to her and stared down at her hands. “I’m in trouble?”
    “For what?”
    “I said TC got on my nerves.”
    Mia smiled. “TC’s daddy is coming over, and your daddy’s in heaven. So I can understand why you’re a little upset. Everything you’re feeling is fine. You’re just a little girl and you didn’t do anything wrong. Your daddy should be here too, but he’s not. It’s okay to be upset.”
    “It’s not fair,” Mica agreed.
    Mia looked up at the ceiling. “No, it’s not, but we have to get through this. Your daddy’s been gone for a long time. You knew TC’s dad was going to get out sooner or later. We’ve got to keep moving on. Me and you, we’re Clemmon s women. Clemmons women don’t cry when things don’t go our way. Even though you’re sad, you have to keep your chin up.”
    Mica lifted her head a little. “Why did my daddy have to die?” she pondered.
    Mia fought back tears, knowing she had to lead by example. “Mica, when I met your dad, I really loved him. He was tall, dark, and handsome. He had eyes just like yours. Every time I look at you, I still see him a little. He treated me good, most of the time, but he wasn’t a good person. He did bad things. I’ll have to explain it to you when you’re a little older, but no matter what he did, he didn’t deserve to die. Nobody ever deserves that.
    “But that’s where being a strong woman comes in. Even if something happens to us that’s totally unfair, we still have to keep marching on. One day Mommy will get married and you’ll have a new father. And I’ll make sure he’s a good person this time. Deal?”
    Mica smiled. “Deal. Are you going to marry TC’s daddy?”
    Mia grinned. “No, but I’ll make sure I get one you like. I won’t even marry him unless you say you like him. Okay?”
    “Okay,” Mica said. “Can I go in there when TC’s daddy gets here?”
    “Yes. This is your house, too. Come on, let’s go in the living room and we can wait for him together.”
    “Okay!”
    * * *
     
    Mia hoped she’d have time to change clothes, but Tyrone came a little earlier than expected. She was sitting on the couch with Mica when the doorbell rang. TC rushed from his aunt’s room and ran straight to the door. Crystal followed him out wearing the same pajama bottoms and tank top she had on this morning.
    “I thought you had a class today,” Mia said.
    “It got cancelled.”
    “You picked the kids up like that? You didn’t feel compelled to change clothes all day ?”
    “I was—”
    But Crystal’s explanation got cut off by the entrance of a man Mia still recognized, though there were a multitude of physical differences.
    “Hey, TC! You got big, boy!” Tyrone stepped in and scooped his son up for a full-body hug, and Mia stared, unaware that her mouth was open.
    It was the same Tyrone, but the six-year stint inside changed him in many ways. He wore a pair of jeans that were starched to crisp perfection. His K-Swiss sneakers were dazzling white, probably brand new. He wore a solid blue Polo shirt that was short-sleeved with no patterns.
    Mia stared at his arms, which had the same tattoos she remembered, but she also noticed a few new ones. He now had a length of barbed wire above his left bicep. In the same area on his right arm, Mia saw the letters TC tattooed in Old English lettering.
    Tyrone put his son down and looked