CheckMate (Play At Your Own Risk) by Tiece Mickens

she be half washing just like you do. You know what dey say, birds of a feather, flock together .”
    “Whatever!” Candy said as she slapped Monty on his arm, and then sat down beside him. “I’ll just wait for her to come out.”
    “Candy, all jokes aside. What have your pops been up to? Mona was just telling me about him. I didn’t know he was messing around with Mrs. Temple, the black widow,” Monty said.
    “I don’t know what he’s thinking about. That lady lives in the same neighborhood we live in. He’s just on one of his sprees again. My mama ain’t happy about that. You know Mrs. Temple, or shall I say Ebony, is too young for him. She’s gonna kill my daddy if he don’t leave her alone. I hope he ain’t taking those Viagras, either. She better be glad my mama ain’t the woman she used to be or she’d been done took her down through there. She was real mad at me, though, because I lied for him, but she’s getting over it. She knows that I was just trying to keep the peace between the two of them.”
    “So, have you missed me?” Monty grinned as Candy playfully rolled her eyes as if to say, yeah right. She then looked down by her shoe where Catherine’s keys were located. She picked them up and handed them to Monty.
    “I see Mrs. Cat lost her keys again, huh? I figured that when you came to the door but your car was gone.”
    “Yeah, you know her just as well as we do,” Monty said. He happily took the keys and stood up. “I have to go get dressed because I have a very important place to be in an hour. Thanks for finding my mama’s keys for me,” Monty stated just as Mona came out of the bathroom.
    “Is that Candy’s voice I hear in there?”
    “Yep, that’s her stank ass,” Monty said just as he passed Mona in the hall before she walked in the living room and gave Candy a hug.
    “What’s up, gurl?” Mona asked as she sat down beside her.
    “Nothing much, ya know. I was missing your company, so I got my dad’s car and came over. My mom will let up eventually,” said Candy as she smiled.
    “Yeah, well, I’m glad to see you. I wanted to drop by your crib, but I know it’s a lot of tension going on over there right about now.” Mona said.
    “Glad you didn’t stop by because my mom has been real upset with daddy lately. He’s been acting like he’s sprung and shit. He stays out most of the night and comes in with a weird looking smile on his face. I don’t believe we’ve ever seen him like this before. He acts like a kid in a candy store. My mom is feeling threatened for her marriage for the first time in her life, and it’s starting to show. She thinks that daddy might just leave her this time, but I know better. He’s just going through the motions and he’ll snap back soon enough. Dey say young pussy will do that to an old coon.” Candy said, and laughed as if she was unfazed by her father’s actions.
    “He’ll be alright. You’re right. He’ll come around soon enough.” Mona changed the subject. “I need some fresh air. Come on, let’s step outside. Somebody got a birthday coming up,” Mona sang as she played in Candy’s face.
    “Yep! It’s me and we’re definitely going out,” said Candy. She gave Mona high five, then they walked out the door and continued to gossip. Candy playfully hit Mona just as Monty stepped out on the front porch with Sean John gear on from head to toe.
    “Alright ladies, I’m out.” He gave Mona dap and stepped over by Candy, smoothly tapping her on the ass while Mona was not looking.
    “Damn, Monty, you smelling good and shit. What’s that cologne you’re wearing?” Mona asked just as he got to Catherine’s car.
    “It’s that Unforgivable by none other than my man Diddy. What did you think?” Monty responded as if he was appalled she didn’t know that, considering he was her brother and she should be familiar with those things about him.
    “Oh shut up, Monty. What? Are you supposed to be the only one that wears Sean