Read Online Keep It Movin' by L. Divine - Free Book Online

tight and there’s only parking on one side of the street, so my dad always reserves spaces by stacking cars in his driveway and blocking as many parking spots as he can on the street. The neighbors are hip to my dad’s game, but he still gets away with it every year.
    â€œDad, do you ever consider that your neighbors might want to use some of the parking for their families?” I ask as he pulls up into his driveway, blocking the sidewalk. It looks like the entire cavalry has shown up for the festivities. The smell of turkey, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato pie, and rolls welcomes me out of the car. Whenever my stepmom gets in the kitchen there’s sure to be a crowd.
    â€œThey can park around the corner. I’ve been here longer than any of these folks around here and they all know it,” he says, taking out a cigarette to smoke before going inside. That’s one positive thing I can say about my dad: he could care less what anyone says or thinks about him. I guess I got my “no hater” genes from him, too. Too bad I have to use them to deal with his family as well as the rest of the haters in my life.
    As we walk up the driveway and toward the front door I can see inside where everyone’s eating, drinking and talking. This would be fun if I weren’t the chosen piñata for the party. I’ve got my armor on, so they can bring it. I just hope I keep a cool head and don’t swing back. Before I can get in the door good the comments start and my ears are already on fire.
    â€œThe child’s saving grace was her hair, but I see she’s let that go too,” one of my drunk aunties sitting on the couch whispers loudly to another one, who’s more drunk than she is. They’ve really got their nerve talking shit about me when I can smell the vodka on their tongues from across the room. As much liquor as there is up in this place, if the next-door neighbors light a match this whole house will go up in flames.
    â€œWell, you know she got that from her mother’s side,” they continue as if I’m not standing right here. I haven’t even got all the way in the house yet and they’re already hating. How did my mom ever deal with this shit?
    â€œToo bad she didn’t get their eyes. Between those green eyes and that chocolate brown skin Lynn Marie’s got, she had our little brother sprung off her hot ass for years.”
    â€œI wonder if she’s gained weight.”
    â€œI wonder if her mama’s still up to no good.”
    â€œI wonder if she’s found another man yet.” My aunties are enjoying a good laugh at my mother’s expense. My mom has always resented the fact that the night she and her sister met my daddy and Jay’s daddy, my daddy’s sisters didn’t bother to tell her that he had a pregnant wife and young daughter at home already. And my mom was so desperate to get out of Mama’s house and away from Esmeralda’s crazy ass that she didn’t bother with a background check on my dad and his family via the neighborhood. I bet she’ll never make that mistake again.
    â€œWould you like for me to call her and you can ask her yourself?” My question throws my aunts off guard, and they actually stop playing cards and look up at me, like I’m the one out of line. Damn, this family’s got its nerve and then some.
    â€œYoung lady, we know your mama’s number.” They look at each other and suck their teeth.
    â€œAnd we also know you don’t have to call her if you want to talk to her. Or has she lost her powers and her man, too?” What the hell do they know about my mother and her gifts?
    â€œMy mother hasn’t lost anything,” I say, defending her without telling her business. I’ll be damned if they’re going to sit up in here and talk about my mother in front of me. I know she’ll appreciate that.
    â€œYes I do, little one. But don’t waste