“Please, them niggaz ain’t nothing but some alcoholics,” Rhonda said, as if she didn’t run at least a pint a day through her liver.

“That isn’t the point, Rhonda. Those are still grown men and Pooh should learn to respect his elders. And we’re not even gonna speak on Alisha. Did you know that I found her ass around the corner all up in some boy’s face? When I checked her on it, she had the nerve to suck her teeth and act like I was intruding on her time.”

“I’m gonna knock the hell out of that little bitch when I catch her,” Rhonda assured her.

“For what, emulating what she sees?” Kelly asked. “Rhonda, your problem is that you think whipping those kids’ asses is the answer to everything. Granted, they could use a good ass kicking, but that isn’t gonna solve your problem.”

“So what would you suggest, Ms. Know-It-All?” Rhonda asked sarcastically.

“For starters, you could watch what you expose them to. When you’re constantly doing and saying ignorant things around children, they’re eventually going to pick up on it.”

“So now you’re calling me ignorant?”

“I don’t have to call you anything, your actions speak for you,” Kelly said venomously.

Rhonda closed the refrigerator and glared at Kelly. “I’m ’bout sick of your shit. All you ever do is look down your nose at people like your shit don’t stink. You act like your life is so perfect, but I could point out a thing or two with you and your bullshit.”

“Such as?” Kelly challenged.

“How ’bout the fact that the nigga you’ve been fucking for the last six months has a wife you have to share him with,” Rhonda spat out, stunning Kelly. “Don’t look so surprised. Just because I don’t run in your little snooty-ass circles doesn’t mean that my ear ain’t to the streets. Acting like you’re the queen bitch, but you ain’t nothing but another man’s mistress.”

“How dare you, you little black bitch!” Kelly jumped up.

“Bitch?” Rhonda began, removing her earrings. “I got your bitch, you saditty ho!”

Rita came into the kitchen wearing a flowered bathrobe and a purple scarf over her hair. A cigarette dangled from her mouth, bouncing on her bottom lips as she spoke. “Hey, hey, what’s all this noise about?”

“Mommy, you need to tell your ghetto-ass daughter to calm herself,” Kelly said, cutting her eyes at Rhonda.

“You got one more name to call me and I’m gonna bust you right in your fucking mouth, bitch!” Rhonda told her.

“Jesus, Rhonda, why is your mouth so nasty?” Rita asked.

“Because she got me tight, Ma. Every time you turn around she’s got something to say.”