When It Rains... by Angie Daniels

With Rashad, Mercedes, half of their clients, and the cashiers at Church’s Chicken, she could no longer argue the statistic.“You look straight-up ghetto,” she said.
    He waved a dismissive hand at his sister’s disapproval. “Damn, sis. I thought you’d be happy to see a nigga.” Pulling a stick of chewing gum from his pocket, Rashad quickly stuffed it into his mouth. When she chose to roll her eyes instead of commenting, he decided to change the subject. “How’d it go at the bank?”
    Lowering into her chair, Honey nodded, amazed that he had remembered, but she found herself often surprisedby her unpredictable brother. “It’s on like popcorn.I got the loan.”
    Even though her face was unchanged, he heard the excitement in her voice. “All right, lil’ sis!” Rashad gave her a high five, then slapped his palms together roughly as if they were on fire. “Shit, I knew my hands were burnin’ for some reason. So when do we get down to business?”
    â€œI’ll get the check on Tuesday.” Honey leaned forwardin her chair and pointed a stern finger at him. “But let me tell you something, Rashad Dante Love ...” She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not putting up with any of your shit.”
    Rashad sucked his teeth. “Girl, puhleeze.”
    â€œDon’t ‘girl, puhleeze’ me!” She planted both hands on the desk and rose out of her chair. “If you’re gonna do this job for me, you’re gonna have to forget I’m your sister and think of me as one of your clients.”
    â€œYeah, what-the-fuck-ever.” His lips twisted. “I know how to handle my business.”
    â€œGood, then we shouldn’t have any problems,” she said. She knew the saying “never mix family with business,”but she was proud of Rashad. Even though she was giving him shit, Honey knew he was the best man for the job. He was a skilled laborer who learned the job while working as an apprentice for an older gentlemanwho’d taken him under his wing many years ago. There wasn’t much Rashad couldn’t do. He was an all-aroundjourneyman, and because of it, Honey knew she’d get top-quality work at half the price.
    The only problem was making sure his ass came to work. Rashad had a tendency to get a little lazy, and from time to time, he seemed to drop off the face of the earth. “I’ll have the plans for the addition drawn up on Friday,” she said. “Then you can get me an estimate on the cost of materials.”
    â€œNot a problem.” He smiled in the old, familiar way that used to make her relinquish the last cookie in the jar, but was all business when he said, “I’m lookin’ forward to workin’ with you.” Extending his hand, they shook.
    â€œDon’t make me regret this.” Honey rolled her eyes and returned to her seat. “Mom advised me not to even fuck with your sorry ass.” She remembered all of the projects Rashad had started at their mother’s house that he had yet to complete. Rashad’s excuse was “Freebies are done when I have free time.”
    Rashad scowled at being scolded like a child. “Good ole’ Mom, what would we do without her?” He’d moved around her desk and now stood across from her. Having enough of his sister’s nagging, he shifted to something of mutual interest. “Whadda you want to do for her birthday?”
    Honey shrugged. Helen Love’s sixtieth birthday was in three weeks. “I don’t know. Dinner maybe?” Last year, they each chipped in and bought her a new stove. This year Honey wanted to do something extra special.
    Rashad lowered his eyes and sighed. “Maybe a day to relax. I wish she’d stop working for those mothafuckin’white folks.”
    Honey could detect the anger in her brother’s voice. “You know that’s a losing battle.”