Chapter 7 — Deja
Malik FaceTimes his parents, DeShawn, and Jasmine every chance he gets while he's away. His mother even starts making small videos of Jasmine scribbling on colored paper with crayons. The pictures are nothing but lines and Malik's proud. He sets the one; his mom told him was 'Cat' as his screensaver.
Malik also finds out that Jasmine's learning how to feed herself and is trying to walk on her own. He tells his parents, a German club contacted his agent and wants him to play in their league for two months. The G-League will grant him permission. Malik asks and his parents and DeShawn gave him their blessings.
* * *
In the locker room after one of his games, Malik sits and counts the days till he returns to America. He's having a good time, but he'd much rather with Jasmine; seeing his baby girl walk and talk. Little Jazzy's closing in on twenty months. When Malik FaceTimes her, she's sitting in front of the laptop, in Grandpa's lap, pointing at her nose and saying 'nose' and pointing at Grandpa saying 'Papa.' Malik's ready to cry.
* * *
The basketball season ends in Europe and Malik and Jasmine goes on another trip to her grandparents' home. Little Jazzy's going through the 'No to everything' phase. Everything Malik asks Jasmine to do, ends in 'no' and her having a temper tantrum. Those tears spilling from her huge eyes are enough to get anyone to pick her up.
"Jasmine, it's bath time."
"No!"
"Jasmine, you have to take a bath." Malik reaches for her and she slips out of his grip, running to hide behind DeShawn. Her fists cling to the hem of his shorts.
"No!"
Malik comes towards Jasmine and she releases her grip on DeShawn and runs, but DeShawn's quicker scooping her up as Jasmine squeals and kicks. "Jazzy… be good for Daddy and go take a bath, ok?"
Jasmine reaches for DeShawn's neck and clings to him, burying her face. "Don't want to—"
"Jazzy said what?" Malik says at the same time as DeShawn.
"C'mon, Jazzy. I'll read you a bedtime story if you go take your bath," DeShawn whispers in her ear as he brushes her hair back. "Your favorite one."
Jasmine looks up, her tears are drying. "Really, Uncle D?"
"Of course, sweetheart." DeShawn hands Jasmine to Malik who says 'thanks' and Jasmine is still pouting a bit.
"We'll be quick, Jazzy, then you can get tucked in. Uncle DeShawn will read the whole story to you with the voices like you like." "Right, Uncle DeShawn."
DeShawn rolls his eyes at his brother.
Malik looks at the bedroom—the room that was his when he was growing up. Now it's been turned into Jasmine's room at Grandma and Grandpa's house. They bought her a small bed replacing the crib months ago.
Jazzy finishes bathing and Malik leans outside the door to listen to DeShawn read little Jazzy her favorite book in a high-pitched voice in animation of its characters.