Moving On

Brianna met another guy from southwest Philadelphia. He was short but extremely nice looking. They began to see each other. He was fresh out of jail. He did ten years at the age of seventeen. So he was twenty-seven when he came home. His nickname was Gravy. They hadn't been dating each other for more than six months when she became pregnant with her first child. She found out while she was pregnant he had a wife and another girlfriend. She couldn’t believe that she was betrayed again. He begged her to get an abortion but she refused. She decided that she was going to raise her child on her own. And she did just that without his help. Her son never met his father's side of the family, but her side was always there. At the age of one a letter came in the mail from a prison. To Brianna's surprise it was from her son’s father. The letter read:

Dear Sexy Brianna

I have had some time to think and I would like to meet my child. I know you may not believe me but I am so sorry. I hope you forgive me. I put your information on my list but I will need my child’s information. I don’t know if I have a boy or girl. Can you write back to me please. Oh and can I have a phone number to check on my child.

Your husband,

Gravy

Brianna was annoyed by his letter. She went over to Keisha's house right away with the letter in one hand and her son’s hand in the other. Keisha opened the door and said are you okay cousin. Brianna began to cry saying no. She handed Keisha the letter. After reading the letter Keisha said listen you don’t have to write back if you don’t want to. It's okay to take a moment to think. It's not fair for him to write to you like everything's okay. Brianna interrupted Keisha saying I never told you when I was nine months pregnant, He came to my house and held me down having his way with me. Afterwards he said I hope you're having my first son. I'm confused because I want my son to have a father but I don't want to have to deal with this man. This is a tough decision. Keisha said I'm in your corner no matter what you choose. Brianna picked her son up and went home. Three months later after thinking she decided to write Gravy back. Her letter read:

Gravy,

To be honest I don't want anything to do with you but I don't want our son Brandon to be without his father. I will bring him to see you once a month. No more than that. I will give you my number to call about him only. Please do not think there is a chance of us ever getting back together in this lifetime. I am far from interested. Also one of my exes has been filling your role as a father. His name is Sisco. He buys everything for Brandon and keeps him every weekend. None of this will change but Brandon will know you are his father. Once my number is on your list, call me and we can set up the first visit.

Never your friend,

Brianna

Another month went by. The phone rang, it was Gravy trying to set up a visit. Brianna decided to take Brandon on one Saturday visit each month. That Saturday she woke up extra early to get Brandon ready for his first visit. The prison was two hours away. She also packed a bag because he would be going to Sisco house after the visit. Once at the prison they were searched top to bottom. Brandon's diaper even had to be checked. Everything but Id’s, birth certificates, and quarters had to be locked inside of a locker. They were cleared to walk through the sliding bars. They walked down the longest hallway ever. Brandon stopped walking and reached for Brianna to pick him up. At the end of the hall there was another door to go through. Once she slipped a small piece of paper into a tiny opening. The other door opened and they had to wait for the correctional officer to tell them where to sit. As Brianna was walking over to sit, Gravy came out of another door. He reached out to hug Brianna but she sat down instead. He asked if he could hold his son. Brianna gave Brandon to Gravy. She didn’t talk much, only giving one word answer. As time went on Gravy asked if Brianna could buy him some wings, snacks, and a drink out of the vending machine. Brianna agreed. After the visit was over they said their goodbyes. This went on for another year until Gravy was released. When Gravy came home he would get Brandon every other week for the next three years until he was again incarcerated. By then Brandon knew his father and missed him very much. Gravy was sent ten hours away and Brianna was unable to take Brandon often but she wrote letters once a week. Brandon was five years old and would color pages for his father. The next time Brandon was able to spend time with Gravy he was thirteen years old. His father was once again released. Gravy did not spend much time with Brandon when he was released. Gravy’s new wife would not allow him to go to Brianna’s house alone or spend time alone with Brandon. At the age of fifteen Brandon decided he no longer wanted to see his dad or his wife because he felt like they treated him differently than the other children in the house. Sisco's role continued in Brandon’s life.