After Nothing by Rachel Mackie Page B

kiss to his shoulder.
    ‘It’ll be okay,’ I whispered.
    ‘I fucking hate all this shit,’ replied Kane.
     
    That night Wayne went at him about not doing any training that week. Kane was still pretty emotional from seeing Danesh, and Wayne could tell. Rather than give him some space though, Wayne started saying things like, he had to let it go, and he’d be stronger in his next fight because of it.
    It was then Kane told him he was giving it up. Wayne lost it. Told him not to say that, to even think that. Kane stuck to it though, saying again that he was through.
    Wayne called him so many names. Swore at him; said that he hadn’t got Kane that far to have Kane get weak just when they were at the start of his fighting career.
    ‘You ain’t backing out,’ yelled Wayne at him. ‘You fucking listen to me. This is it. No more working, and you don’t need no more school. We doing it. You train full-time from now on.’
    ‘It ain’t gonna happen, Wayne.’
    ‘This ain’t a discussion.’
    ‘Wayne, Danesh is brain damaged.’
    ‘Yeah, that’s how strong you are. You got this, Kane. Ain’t no one gonna stand up to you. The guys at the gym, everyone who sees you, they all say it. Every fucking day I see it too. You a fighter, and now everybody gonna know.’
    ‘I’m done.’
    Wayne grabbed Kane by his sweatshirt and yelled right in his face, ‘You ain’t done. You ain’t ever done.’
    ‘It ain’t up to you.’
    Something in Kane’s voice must have thrown Wayne, because he was silent a moment. Then he said, ‘You think you’re done? You know what being done is? Nigga, you got no idea. You don’t fight, you got nothing. You just a bitch. Get your sorry ass out my house. You don’t live here no more.’
    Wayne released his hold on him, pushing Kane back against the wall with a hard shove. Kane said nothing, did nothing. Seemed like all of a sudden he couldn’t even meet Wayne’s eye.
    I was furious, shaking with anger, as it registered that Wayne was kicking Kane out. And maybe Kane didn’t have anything more to say, but I sure did.
    I didn’t get very far. Barely opened my mouth before Wayne yelled at Kane over the top of me.
    ‘Take this crazy bitch and go. This ain’t your place. Men live here. You a man? You ain’t no fucking man.’
    ‘You can’t take Kane’s home from him.’ I said.
    Wayne didn’t answer me, but continued to yell at Kane. ‘Move your bitch before I kill her. What you waiting for? You done? Fuck you, motherfucker, we’re done.’
    Kane raised his gaze and looked at his uncle for a long time. Wayne didn’t say anything; just looked like he’d never hated anyone more than he hated Kane.
    ‘Nat, let’s go,’ said Kane in a quiet voice.
    He took my hand, but I resisted following him.
    ‘Thought you were his uncle,’ I said to Wayne. ‘Supposed to be more like his dad – but you won’t be that, will you? Supposed to be looking after him all this time. Only a baby, and you had him fighting. You don’t decide who he is. Kane decides who he is.’
    ‘Nat, come on,’ said Kane, pulling me away. He opened the front door and didn’t look back. Wayne slammed the door behind us.
     
    Kane said he’d rough it for the night, but there was no way I was letting him.
    He wasn’t in much of a way to argue, but he really didn’t want to come back to mine. It was only when I said that I was staying out with him if he didn’t that he gave in.
    Mom said he couldn’t stay. Luckily Kane had insisted on waiting outside while I asked, and didn’t hear her.
    ‘He doesn’t have anywhere else to stay tonight,’ I said. ‘You can’t make him sleep on the street. Can’t he just sleep on the couch?’
    ‘No.’
    It was a stupid suggestion. Mom was sitting on the couch watching television, and probably would be for hours yet.
    ‘Fine, I’ll sleep in Lisa’s room and he can have mine.’
    ‘No.’
    Just that one word again.
    ‘Now, I’m not asking,’ I snapped. ‘Kane