"Go...faster!" Diana yelled as she curled her toes against the sheets. "That's it..oh, yes!"
I got up from the floor, breathing heavily.
"I can't do anymore push-ups."
She laughed loudly.
"I knew you wouldn't be able to after 20!"
A smile came across my face as she began laughing again. It was one of my favorite things to hear. I jumped on the bed and put her into a loving choke hold.
"I love you, you know that?" I asked kissing her cheek.
"I've known it for years now." She replied smiling.
"DAD!!!!!" Zonnique's voice thundered through the hall.
"Yes sweetheart? I'm in here."
Seconds later, her head popped in the doorway.
"Have you seen my black fedora?" She asked walking over and sitting next to me and Diana on the bed.
"Don't you mean my fedora?" I asked.
She smiled widely.
"I mean our fedora."
I laughed and ruffled up her hair.
"No, I haven't seen it." I said.
Zonnique turned to Diana. "Have you mom?"
Diana shook her head. "Nope. Did you ask Bahja?"
"Yes, but she said she hasn't seen it either."
"What about Blanket?" I chimed in, knowing how mischievous that boy was.
"He said he hasn't seen it either."
Diana raised her eyebrow.
"And you believed him?"
Zonnique shrugged.
"Yeah, he sounded serious."
I shook my head.
"Tell that boy I said come here."
"Okay." Zonnique jumped off the bed and ran out of the room, disappearing into the hallway. Seconds later, she returned with our 7 year old son.
"Yeah dad?" He asked.
I sat up and looked at him.
"Did you take your sister's hat?"
He shook his head. "No.."
Zonnique stared at him. "Declare."
Blanket tried hard not to laugh. "I..declare.." He bursted out laughing.
Zonnique hit his arm. "You did! Where is it?"
While laughing, he pointed out the window.
"It's on the balcony."
She walked past Blanket and onto the balcony, returning seconds later with the hat.
"You little nasty!" She mumbled as she left the room.
Diana folded her arms.
"You are somethin else little boy. You know that?"
Blanket ran over and kissed her forehead.
"I love you mommy."
I laughed loudly.
"That's my boy!"
"OH MY GOD!!!!" Bahja screamed as she ran into the room.
"What girl?" Diana asked.
"I have like 500 notifications on instagram, twitter, and keek combined!" She replied as she showed us her phone.
"Is that bad?" I asked.
Bahja looked at me and laughed.
"No daddy, it's not bad. I just have all these comments and likes I have to deal with."
"Come on pops, get with the times." Zonnique said walking back in.
I shrugged.
"I'm not into all that technology. Well, maybe twitter."
Diana laughed.
"Twitter? Really?"
My eyebrows furrowed.
"What? It's cool."
Bahja and Zonnique laughed.
"It must be with those 2 billion followers, huh?" Zonnique asked.
I grinned with pride.
"It sure is."
Bahja's viewpoint
I smiled as I posted the picture of Zonnique and I in the car on our family road trip on instagram. Just as I hit share, my best friend walked in.
"Bahja Bee!" Zonnique screamed while wrapping her arms around me.
"ZonniPooh!" I replied smiling.
"Whatcha doin?" She asked sitting beside me at the counter.
"None.. Just posting this picture of us on instagram for throwback Thursday."
Zonnique took out her iPhone and went onto instagram. I looked up in anticipation as I waited for her to see the picture.
Her wide smile gave it all away.
"Zonnique...my best friend..my wifey...the best big sister in the world..Aawww Bahja!!" Zonnique said smiling.
"I love you sis!" I said giving her a hug.
"I love you too Bee..."
"Michael, I told you that it was 4:30 and not 5:30!" I recognized Aunt Tionne's voice.
"I didn't know! I thought it was 5:30!" Dad said as they walked into the kitchen.
"It's over with you guys..he didn't know." Mom said placing her jacket on the counter.
"I missed out on a good show!" Aunt Rozonda said folding her arms against her chest.
"What happened?" Zonnique asked laughing.
"Your father made us hella late to our show!" Aunt Tionne said looking at Dad.
"I'm not gonna apologize anymore! I said I thought it was 5:30!" Dad replied with a smirk.
"Didn't ask ya too!" Aunt Tionne replied.
Mom and Aunt Rozonda laughed.
"Enough you two..settle down." Mom said smiling.
We were used to seeing them arguing like this...they didn't mean it like they hated each other..it was because they were like family.
Aunt Tionne and Aunt Rozonda, along with mom, were apart of TLC, the hottest girl group ever. Their schedule was just as hectic as dad's, but they always found time to be with us.
"What were you girls up to?" Dad asked.
"Instagram." Zonnique and I said together.
"Where's your brother?" Mom asked.
"He's upstairs taking a nap." Bahja said pointing.
"Good..the quieter the better." Dad said sitting in the chair next to Bahja.
Aunt Tionne laughed.
"Blanket is just adventurous...leave him alone."
Aunt Rozonda smiled.
"Adventurous he is."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later That Night
"Zonnique you cheated!" Michael said as Zonnique and Bahja celebrated the victory.
"I didn't cheat..you didn't get the ball fast enough dad!" Zonnique said laughing.
"I had the ball until you tripped me!"
Bahja laughed.
"Dad..you tripped over your shoelace."
Michael looked down at his shoe, seeing the untied lace.
"Bahja used the force to untie it! Diana, they cheated!" He said looking at me.
I held in my laughter.
"They won fair and square babe.."
Michael shook his head.
"I swear they cheated!"
Zonnique and Bahja continued to laugh as they gave him a hug.
"Sorry pops...you just aren't as good at basketball as you used to be!" Zonnique said smiling.
He grabbed the both of them and pulled them close to him.
"I love you two knuckleheads..don't forget it...even though you cheated!"
Blanket and I laughed as Zonnique and Bahja began to playfully hit Michael.
"Wanna join in kid?" I asked as I ruffled his hair.
Blanket nodded. "Alright, lets go then!"
We ran into the group and joined Bahja and Zonnique in hitting Michael.
"Ahh!!" Michael yelled while laughing.
Bahja jumped on his back, causing the both of them to fall onto the mesh bottom of the court. Zonnique, Blanket, and I laughed and fell onto the ground next to them.
"You guys are the best family members I'm the universe...I love y'all." Bahja said smiling.
"We love you too Babygirl..we love you too." Michael replied.
