11/07/2007

Alexia had been driving for 5 minutes when her phone rung. She clicked the button on her Bluetooth, "Hello." It was one of her sisters. "Alexia, what are you doing?" Alexia blew a breath, anytime one of her sisters asked her what she was doing on her day off; she knew that they expected her to do something for them. She had no intention of doing anything for her family today. She was spending all of her time doing things for herself for this whole weekend. Alexia usually ended up doing stuff for her family on her days off. They were like that. They would use her whenever possible. Mostly, they had her go buy stuff for them. They never gave her any money, they typically said, "Can you get it for me? I will pay you back later." No one had ever paid her back. So many of her siblings owed her money and they had the nerve to act funny when she asked them for the money. Precious usually fussed at her for letting people use her. It was a vicious cycle and Alexia was trying her best to break that cycle.

Alexia had too many vicious cycles in her life. She had been trying to break them. She and Precious had made a pact to break all of the vicious cycles in their lives. To date, neither of them had broken any of their cycles.

Alexia's sister yelled, "Alexia, you did not answer me!" Alexia was knocked from her daydream, "What do you want? I am busy. I am running late, so make it quick." The bothersome woman on the phone bleated, "I really need you to do me a favor." Alexia had no intention of caving under pressure, "I cannot do anything for you." Alexia's sister sighed, "Why not?" Alexia wanted to hand up on her sister, but she knew that would case a bigger fight than she wanted at the moment, "I just cannot. I gotta go." The vexing voice of the phone whimpered, "I really need you to help me out." Alexia made a face. She was determined not to get wrapped up into any family mess this weekend, "I cannot help you. Bye. I am hanging up the phone. Do not call me back. I am not going to answer the phone." Alexia hung the phone up before her sister could say anything.

Alexia smiled. She felt good that she had not let her sister talk her into doing anything. Her happiness was short lived when her phone rang again. Alexia huffed. She did not have her phone in reach so that she could see who was calling her. She refused to answer the phone. She could not be sure who was on the phone and she did not want to talk to her sister. The phone rung a couple more times before it went to voice mail. Alexia hoped it was not someone important. If it was, she could call them back.

Precious paced the floor. She was dressed and ready to go. It was not like Alexia to be late. Precious looked at the clock on her wall, it was 1:12 PM. Precious should have been there at 1:00. Precious was tempted to call Alexia, but she figured that Alexia was on her way and did not want to bother her.

Precious made a face. She had a sudden jolt, "Alexia better not be helping one of her crazy sisters. I am going to kill her if she is.!" Precious knew that Alexia had been talked into helping her sisters on more than one occasion when they were supposed to be hanging together.

Precious pounded her fist on the table. She winced from the pain of hitting her hand too hard. She walked over to kitchen counter. She picked up her cell phone and dialed Alexia's number.

"If she is with one of her sisters, I swear I am going to hunt her down and hurt her!" Precious thought to herself. The phone rung several times before it went to voice mail. Precious click the end button on her cell phone. She slammed it down on the counter. She scolded herself for doing that before she stormed back into the living room.

"I am going to kill her. I ain't even playing. I cannot believe that she would do this to me on today." Precious continued fussing until she heard a knock on her door.

Precious walked over to the door and looked through the peep hole. It was Alexia. Precious silently repented for all the mean things she had said about Alexia as she opened the door.

Precious greeted her aunt with a hug and a kiss. Alexia smiled. Precious made a face, "I called you a few minutes ago. Why did not you answer?"

Alexia laughed, "Oh, that was you. I thought it was Shirley Mae. She called me earlier talking about a favor. I did not want to take a chance and answer it, just in case it was her."

Precious cackled, "That's my girl. You know I was mad, though. I thought you had got caught up with your family. I was gonna come hunt you down."

They both laughed for a few more seconds before they left the house to go to the mall.