“It didn’t break y’all up, so it didn’t even work. I was telling the truth though; you did like Dolly better. I couldn’t stand that stuck-up trick.” Dallas rolled her eyes. “That didn’t hurt you because you two stayed together long after that.”
“It did hurt me when I broke up with her though, because she brought that up again. Saying I had flirted with Dolly in math class. I denied it, but her mama could really tear it up in the kitchen. I tried to come by a few weeks after we split up to see how she was doing. I guess she thought we were going to get back together. She realized I was full of shit when I asked what did Ms. Ellis fix for supper, and could I have some.”
Dallas started laughing and rocking around in her chair.
“Remember that time Mama got mad when you painted your bedroom with black spray-paint?” He grimaced, hating this story. “You took some white fingernail polish of hers, both bottles, and speckled it all over, for the twilight effect. It looked God-awful. You said it was supposed to be like Star Wars… looked more like a bunch of spit wads on a Black bear’s ass. Pigeon poop on tar. Picasso you are not.”
“Well, let me paint you a shitty, but suitable, picture then. What about that time you tore up all that damn Styrofoam in the house from the boxes Mama had set up for her cosmetics sales job? Avon or something. She asked why the hell you did it, destroyed that filler like that, and you said because you wanted it to be snowing.”
“Don’t tell this story!” She cackled.
“Naw, I can’t stop right before it gets real good. Mama beat the shit outta you, then you turned ’round and lied, and said I helped you do it. She got my ass, too!”
They were both laughing so hard now, their faces were hot and red.
“Mama said, ‘You want snow? I’ll give you two some damn snow!’ She was singing Christmas carols as she whooped us! ‘It’s the moooost, wond-er-ful time… of the yeeear!”
He could barely breathe now. When they finally calmed down, his belly no longer undulating with merriment, Dallas turned real serious.
“As much as I’d like to bash you in the face with a hot skillet and bury your big burly ass in your own backyard some days, Axel, you’re family. My family. You’re my favorite person, besides Mama and Lucas, in this whole damn world. I love you big, brother…” She picked up his glass and drank from it. “Can’t nobody do nothin’ bad to you without hearing from me. I’m protective of you, even though you’re the elder.”
“I know… I appreciate it.”
“So, I ain’t gonna apologize for worrying about you and coming around. You like to do everything on your own. I know you. In and out.”
“You want something to drink? I got more in the garage. Some beers and such.”
“Yeah, I’ll take a beer. I won’t stay long, though. Gotta pick up Lucas from his daddy’s house tonight, but stop by the grocery store first to get his cereal and such.”
He retreated to the garage, opened up the small electric cooler he kept in there, then brought in two ice-cold Budweiser beers.
When he returned, Dallas had his phone in her hand, thumbing the screen with a look of deep concentration on her face. He set the beers down and snatched it out of her fingers.
“This is why Mama should have swallowed you.”
She started laughing all over again.
“You were trying to guess my password, just to be annoying. Get me locked outta my own shit.”
“I had one more try, then you would’ve been locked out.” She laughed in some insane, high-pitched witchy tone. “That phone is new?”
“Yeah. Had it a couple of weeks.”
“I bet the camera on it is good. Take a picture of me.”
“No. I don’t want to accidentally download a virus.”
“You asshole.” She cackled.
“Drink your beer and get out.”
“I’m not leaving until I’m good and damn ready.”
“If I throw a stick across the kitchen, will you leave then?”
“You’re left-handed, awkward, and untalented. You can’t throw straight no way, Axel.”
“But I heard you were throwin’ that ass in a circle down at the club last week. Gotta call that my sister was acting like a harlot. My nephew deserves better.”
“A harlot? Who are you? Grandma Betty?” She ran her fingers through her hair and blushed with what he’d consider nothing short of pride.
“I see you’re not embarrassed. Honestly, there’s no need to be ashamed of yourself, Dallas. That’s what Mama is for.” Dallas laughed so hard, beer sprayed out of her mouth. They’d gone after each other hard since they were children. Simply for sport.
“I do need to take a nap soon, though. I gotta go in for a job tonight.” He yawned as he opened his phone mailbox and checked to see if there were any pressing emails.