Page 74 of Butterfly 6, Phase 1

BOP! Another pillow to the head.

Eazy finally went up to Messari and said, “Shake it off, man. Come on. Let’s get her.”

“I not being your friend no more because you’re a traitor! I’m telling my daddy on you, Mommy!”

Morgan’s heart pinged, and she lowered the pillow.

“Oh, yeah? What you think your daddy gon’ do to me?” Morgan asked, smiling.

“Him is going…”

“He is going to…” Morgan corrected.

“He is going to be on my side! And we are going to pillow fight you, and you too, Eazy!” Messari yelled.

Morgan waved her white flag, and she put her pillow back on the couch, before walking over to her baby boy.

“I’m sorry, baby boy; don’t be mad. It’s just a game,” she cooed as she pulled his spoiled self into her arms. “Your daddy ain’t the boss of me, though. I’ll beat him up, too.” She kissed the side of his head. “I have to go see Yolly now. Are you going to stay here and be a big boy?”

“Why can’t I come?” Messari asked.

“They don’t let kids in the hospital, baby. You’ll see her soon, though. I promise you, okay?” Morgan bartered.

“Come on, man, we’ll go make some cookies for your La La,” Eazy bribed.

“Yay! Can I lick the spoon?” Messari brightened up instantly.

“Yeah, but only after we’re done. Don’t nobody want no baby spit in the cookies,” Eazy replied.

Just like that, Messari was distracted.

“Thank you. I love you,” Morgan mouthed to Eazy.

Eazy threw up the sign for “I love you,” and was about to lead Messari out of the room when Mara appeared in the entryway.

“How about we act like we have some manners and clean up this mess you made? And no cookies before you eat,” she said.

Morgan frowned.

“Umm, how about you mind your mu’fucking business, bitch,” Morgan said flat out.

“Oooh, Mommy, that is a bad word!” Messari said.

“Messari, hush,” Morgan said without looking his way.

“I’m sorry. Ethic just doesn’t like things out of order. I’m just helping maintain things around here. The language really isn’t necessary. I’m just doing my job.”

“Eazy, take Messari and get your cookies started. You follow rules that your daddy gives you, or that Alani gives you. This lady don’t got nothing to do with the way anything is running in here,” Morgan said.

Eazy nodded, and he hurried Messari from the room. On his way out, Morgan heard Messari say, “My mommy is going to bop her with a pillow!”

It would have been hilarious if Morgan hadn’t been so annoyed.

“Your job is to take care of Alani, ain’t it? It’s not your place to tell Eazy or my son what to do,” Morgan asserted.

“My apologies. I thought I was being helpful,” Mara conceded.

Morgan snatched up her bag as she looked Mara up and down skeptically. “Just do the job you’re being paid to do. That’s all the help Ethic and Alani needs,” Morgan said.