“I told you Anjean Jameson, you’re not welcomed in this house,” his mother said. “I told you not to come back’til you repent upon your evil ways. I told you.” Sweat was on Cass Jameson’s face.

Anjean let go of the gun. Starrell pulled it away and jumped up. Anjean stayed on the ground.

“Momma, put that gun down,” Willie said.

“Not’til that sinner is gone,” she said.

“C’mon Mrs. Jameson,” Timmons said. She walked slowly toward the woman. “C’mon.” Anjean looked at his mother. He began laughing. He held his stomach. He rolled over on his back and laughed.

“Man, a real motherfucker,” he said between guffaws. “Get it Willie?” He looked at his brother. “Our momma’s a real motherfucker.”

Cass Jameson had the gun aimed at her son. Her glasses were crooked. Timmons drew closer to her.

“Where’d you get the popgun?” Anjean asked. “Inside some Cracker Jacks shit?”

“When Mrs. Ellis in 4B was robbed and raped, I said none of you sinners is going to do that to me. I’d shoot you in Jesus’s holy name first. And send you on to his glory.”

Anjean got to his knees. “Yeah, like someone would want to rape your old black ass.”

“Anjean!” Timmons yelled at him.

“That’s alright, Tamika,” Mrs. Jameson said. “He’s just black trash. Just so happened he came out of me. Just like someone’s gonna come out of you. But just ‘cause someone comes out of you don’t make them a part of you forever. Otherwise we’d all be dead from grieving.”

Anjean got up off the floor. He saw Starrell draw tense.

“Don’t worry,” Anjean said to him. “I ain’t that stupid.” He straightened the bandana on his head and pulled down his shirt. “Got my own business to get to.” He nodded toward his mother. “You keep practicin’. Maybe you’ll get me next time.”

“Momma,” Willie said. “Let him stay. He’s helping Twayne and me.”

“He knows the rules,” Mrs. Jameson said. She kept the gun on Anjean.

“There ain’t no room in that church for me,” Anjean said. “So, see you bro’. Twayne, we’ll be running together real soon. Keep the piece. Ain’t the only one I got.” His gaze shifted to Timmons. “Girl, tell him to talk to his brains.”

Anjean left the apartment. Timmons put her arm around Mrs. Jameson and led her to the bedroom. Starrell felt himself shaking.

When Timmons returned to the front room, Willie and Starrell were at the table. “She won’t let go of that damn gun,” she said. “But I got her to bed.”

“Man, I ain’t never going to forget that,” Willie said.

Timmons placed a hand on Starrell’s shoulder.

“So what you gonna do, baby?” she asked.

“I dunno. Take all this down to the White House and say, ‘Let me see that white boy’?”