“Carlito”

shocked, coming back in the spot…

there he is. my little Carlito from 20 years ago, loud and gregarious with a whole bunch of new

Kids

added to the fam of hundreds.

They weren’t even born when we met over a blunt,

In the projects…long ago.

“Girrrl, I just up and married a man!”

“Word? How’s that going? Lol”

“It’s hard sometimes. But we ride for each other, so you know, we good.”

“True. Marriage is difficult, but worth it when you got love and loyalty. Commitment means everything.”

We catch up on ALL the fam. It’s a lot of heads…

So and so has 4 kids, all by black women. he was always on that “jungle fever” ish. And the

Lupus didn’t kill his aunt yet. How smart she is. Did I know after all that pumpin her head she listened and went to college?

Got a Bachelor’s in counseling.

His cousin’s got a son that’s autistic. And that his mom stopped doing heroin? She’s fat now. And loving every inch of her

Health.

Herself.

When are we going to get up?! What happened to my man with the dreads?! And am I still blasting all my rap music clean across some complex?!

You and your “consciousness”.

Do I remember how his fam was like “Badu! What it do!”

And the time Pidi got arrested for cussing out the landlord trying to evict his moms for a hike in rent? That made “no damn sense!” (With the zig zag finger snap to complete his sentence.)

He’s so funny. With his flamboyant self, while people give us

Nasty looks.

Like it matters what they think.

Like he has been, since I met him. The time he camped at my house after his family found out

He likes men.

“Girl, they just had to accept that shit.”

And proud that he finally got a wedding band on it.

We just laugh and laugh. Make plans to meet. And the youngest one grabs me, hugs me, as they’re about to leave.

Another artist. Pen on napkin.

“I heard about you…”

“You did, huh?”

“Yes. Thank you for helping my family.”

“No. Tell your family, especially your great aunt? Thank you for the rice and beans…When I had nothing.”

They leave,

but don’t you know his wild ass just texted me about this gay party. And am I coming out the house, for ONCE

just to have some fun?

Smh. Lol

Maybe. I’m a lot more low key than that. But I might roll through. Just cuz it’s

Carlito. And I miss his energy

and love for everybody.