Rahsheed McKenstry (RaM) and Rhonetta McKenstry (RhM)
RaM: Hi. My name is Rahsheed McKenstry and my age is 10-years-old and my relationship with my interview partner is my mom.
RhM: My name is Rhonetta McKenstry and I am being interviewed by my son.
RaM: Ok. Mrs. Rhonetta McKenstry, what are some of the biggest lessons that you’ve learned during your childhood?
RhM: I feel like I’m at a job interview. I had a very good mother, which is why I think I’m a very good mother. She used to fix me breakfast in the morning whenever she could. She gave me kisses, like I do you and your brother. And she yelled at me. It means she cares.
RaM: (Laughs) Mmk so. Why are you not still married?
RhM: Mmm. Because my ex-husband was horrible.
RaM: Was he violent towards you?
RhM: Yes.
RaM: Was he violent towards anybody else?
RhM: You and your brother, which is why I won’t let him see you. How does that effect you?
RaM: It effects me because I’m inquisitive. I want to know everything and he’s my father and I should know more. It kind of makes me feel depressed and mad, not depressed but kind of mad that those things happened to my mother.
RhM: What kind of man do you think you’re gonna be?
RaM: A very great man. Better than my father, for sure.
RhM: Ok.
RaM: How do you feel about Chris and I?
RhM: See now you’re trying to make me cry. You have to understand I’m proud of the two of you. Ya’ll have different personalities. Christopher’s is happy-go-lucky. But you — I’m just in awe of you sometimes. Ya’ll keep me going. Everything I do is really for the two of you.
RaM: Why is your nose turning red?
RhM: ’Cause I’m about to cry. How many times have you ever seen me cry?
RaM: Three times. This is my third.
RhM: I love you, Rahsheed.
RaM: (Laughs) I love you too, Ma. Thank you for answering all my questions.