“Mommy, all I did was tell her the truth. She’s always dropping her kids off with somebody so she can go out and shake her ass. She needs to find something to do with herself other than drink and smoke.”

“Fuck you, Kelly. I’m grown and I ain’t fucking nobody’s man for my habits.”

“Of course not, you’re sleeping with them for Happy Meals,” Kelly taunted.

Rhonda was so angry that she could feel the sweat beads beginning to form on her head. The next thing she knew she was lunging across the table at Kelly. Being caught totally off guard, Kelly caught the blow flush to her face when Rhonda threw it. She staggered back, almost falling, but the stove held her up. Rhonda tried to get at her again, but Kelvin grabbed her from behind.

“What the hell are you doing?” he asked, not knowing what had just gone down.

“Get off me, Kel!” Rhonda shouted, still trying to break his grip. “I’m gonna kill that bitch.”

“Y’all bugging out in here, fighting in front of Mommy,” Kelvin told them both.

“I don’t give a fuck, Kel. I’m tired of that bitch trying me.”

Rita looked from daughter to daughter and shook her head. “Lord, does the bullshit never end with you damn kids.”

“You need to tell this hood rat something,” Kelly said, holding her cheek where Rhonda had clocked her.

“Keep running your mouth and I’m gonna give you just what you’ve been asking for,” Rhonda warned her sister.

“Dammit, Rhonda, how come every time you come over here you starting something?” Rita said.

“Me?” Rhonda couldn’t believe she had been singled out. “She started it!”

“But you dragged it on. You’ve got three kids, Rhonda, when are you going to grow up?”

Tears began to spill from Rhonda’s eyes. “You know what, y’all have been doing this to me for years, so I should be used to it. Every time something goes down, I’m to blame. It doesn’t matter who started it, but your precious Kelly could never do any wrong.”

“That’s not true. I’ve always been a loving mother to all of you,” Rita defended.

Rhonda’s eyes went blank, then back to alert again. “Loving? You can’t be serious. Ever since we were little all you ever cared about was your twins, and when Kelvin came out of the closet, he went on your shit list, too.”

“Rhonda, you need to stop telling that bullshit lie. All you’re doing is trying to get attention,” Rita said.