Page 84
“Being done. As long as we’re fertile we should keep multiplying. That’s what the bible says.”
“Armias, go to hell. I’ve never heard you mention the bible until now.”
He laughed. “Man, I’m just saying. I think I want four kids. Two boys and two girls. We have a long time to make them.”
“You can’t control what gender you get, Armias.”
“No shit, but that’s not gon’ stop me from stating my preference.”
“So what if we keep having girls?”
“Then we just keep having girls,” his eyes bulged. “Shit, that might be better. I can be soft and just spoil them.”
“So you don’t plan on ever disciplining Alouri?”
“I’d never hit my baby.”
“You don’t have to hit to discipline,” I laughed. “I can count on one hand how many times I got whoopings growing up. My mama fussing at me used to be enough to get me right.”
“I mean, if there comes a time when Alouri is out of line then I’ll be willing to talk to her. But fussing? Raising my voice? I can’t see it.”
“That’s so easy to say now,” I sighed while stifling a smile. “Just wait until those teen years roll around and she starts giving you grey hair.”
“My baby gon’ be a good girl. Ion know what you talking bout.”
“Okay, we’ll see,” I giggled.
“No, you gon’ see. I have experience with teenage girls, so I know about the mood swings, the boys, and all that shit. The key is having open dialogue with them. You can give them freedom to have fun and hangout, but you also gotta talk to them and guide them through everything. Letting them live is how you avoid rebellious and sneaky behavior.”
“Okay,” I smirked while nodding. “I guess all those years of parenting your siblings has worked out.”
“You not funny,” he chuckled.
“I’m serious though,” I giggled. “I don’t know why I thought you’d be one of those overprotective dads.”
“I will be,” he stated seriously. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to be overbearing and have no understanding. I want my kids to not only love me, but to like me, too. I know we grew up with our elders saying you can’t be your kids' friend, but I want my children to view me as their best friend. The way they’ll be telling me all their business and I won’t be in the dark about shit.”
“You’re right about that. Because I got so much bad advice venting to my friends when I was a teenager,” I said before a long yawn escaped from my mouth, catching me by surprise. I didn’t know I was tired until that moment, but it had been a long day.
“I could tell you were getting tired,” he chuckled.
“I’m fine,” I replied evenly, only to yawn again.
“If you gon’ lie then you gotta control the yawning and shit.”
I shot him the middle finger while throwing back the rest of my drink.
“I think I want a third one,” I said while looking around for our waiter.
“That’s why your ass is tired now,” he laughed.
“No, I’m tired because you’ve kept me busy all day. But I’m not complaining.”
“Oh yea, you good?”
“I’m great.”
“I like the sound of that,” he smirked.
