“I thought I heard your mouth, Yoshibelle,” Vivian said, coming out of the bedroom. Selma’s mother was a thick woman with sharp features. She was only thirty-three and had held together well after childbirth. Motherhood had slowed her roll, but once Selma got older, she’d picked up where she had left off. It wasn’t unusual to find her at the club, or other happening events, getting her swerve on. Though this sometimes irked Selma, Vivian didn’t care. She was a woman enjoying her life.

“What’s up, Aunt Viv?” Yoshi gave her a high five.

“Trying to live. What’re you two out here arguing about?”

“Selma’s smart-ass mouth.” Yoshi shot the teen a look.

Vivian turned to her daughter. “Selma, what did I tell you about respecting your elders?”

“Please, what elder?” Selma rolled her eyes. “Yoshi is only a few years older than I am.”

“She’s still your older cousin, so respect her.”

Selma turned her scornful glare on Yoshi. “You’re always starting, Yoshi. Sometimes I can’t fucking stand you.”

“You watch that damn mouth, Selma!” Vivian snapped.

“Why do I always have to get yelled at? I hate this house!” Selma shouted and stormed into the bedroom.

Vivian flopped on the sofa, worry lines etching her brow. “That girl is gonna drive me to the crazy house.”

“Selma is off the hook,” Yoshi said, eyes still on the path of Selma’s exit. “What’s gotten into the girl lately?”

“Smelling her ass. It seems like the older she gets, the harder she becomes to deal with. I’ve tried everything from being hard on her, to trying to deal with her like a friend. She rebels against it all.”

“You need to try going upside her head,” Yoshi said seriously. “Selma is getting beside herself.”

“You’re one to talk,” Vivian said, raising her eyebrow. “Yoshi, you weren’t exactly an angel.”

“True, I wasn’t, but I waited until I was at least out of high school to start acting a fool.”

“Yeah, right, Yoshi. You waited until you were out of high school to start being blatant with it. You might have fooled your mom, but not me. I always suspected you were up to no good.” Vivian giggled. “But seriously, when are you going to get it together?”

Yoshi sighed. “Come on, Viv, don’t start this again.”

“I’m serious, Yoshibelle. There’s no future in the way you’re living.”

“I can’t tell. I got money and my own crib.”

“But look how you’re getting it. Yoshi, you think you can make a career out of stripping?”

“I’m an exotic dancer,” Yoshi corrected her.

“That’s just a fancy way to say ‘stripper.’”

“Aunt Viv, why are you so down on me for dancing? You used to do it.”