Cosmo and the Monster Within

Book excerpt: My name is Cosmo Baptist Rodney Lanier-Eno. I'm Jamaican American, born around noon at Doctors Hospital in Fairfield Jamaica, right outside of Montego Bay. I lived there for the first six years of my life then I moved to New Jersey where my Grandma & Pop Pop lived, along with my aunt Diann and my only cousin Thalia. My Mom, born Peggy Lee Lanier who later on changed her name to Pele after the Hawaiian volcano goddess, was a music producer and an African / Caribbean music consultant. She managed two artists, Mutaburuka and Tony Rebel. We moved to the United States so she could be closer to the music. Its hard working from an island I suppose. Pele worked through a company called Reed Midem based in New York. My grandmother lived in New Jersey an hour away from New York. The situation was perfect. I have two older brothers Baba Ch'ien Harte and Eli Alexus Harte. Ch'ien is the oldest. Fun fact I never knew Ch'ien's real name was Baba Ch'ien. His friends called him Baba; I hated that because I know him by Ch'ien. I refused to call my brother his nickname. Later to find out that's not just a nickname but that's really his name. Yea I know it's pretty sad. I didn't know my own brothers real name but hey it happens, well maybe not often but it happens. Ch'ien has classic first born syndrome, think you're the shit and important because you're first born. You think you have some type of status, yea right it's all about the youngest. Whoop whoop. Ch'ien is the rugged type, very adventurous and outgoing. He and I have had many battles. Some verbally, some physically, some in whatever game system we had at the time. Ch'ien used to torment me growing up. Not cool. But what I hear is Eli had it ten times worse than me. Ch'ien was born in England. We all have the same mother. I have a different father; Ch'ien and Eli have the same father Nigel Harte. Nigel is pretty cool I've only met him in person once. I don't know him personally too well to base any hard feelings about him. All I really know is he was married to my Mom, they argued a lot and my Mom against Nigel's wishes left him, while the times were good they made my brothers. Nigel is from England. Eli didn't follow his dad and oldest brother he was born in California. If you're not getting it by now my Mom loves to travel. Back to my middle brother Eli, or as I would like to call him the favorite child aka Mr. Pretty Boy aka ladies' man aka the lady killer. Everyone in the family loves him. He can do no wrong. It's quiet sickening to be honest with you. He doesn't like to make waves with anyone so it makes it hard to get pissed at him. For me that doesn't matter. If you do something to piss me off I'm mad at you regardless of how nice you are. I've been mad at Eli more times than I can remember. Don't tell my Grandma that Ola Mae Lanier. She wouldn't like that. Grandma would defend Eli to no end. She is his number 1 fan, as well as the president and founder of the Eli can do no wrong' fan club. Other members in that club are my aunt, cousin and even my Mom a little. Parents are not supposed to have favorites but I'm not stupid. I will say this I could give Eli a little competition for favorite son. My Grandma on the other hand loves me and spoiled me when it comes to food but Eli still is her favorite. It's like a fabolous mix-tape there is no competition. I haven't had the best relationship with my Grandma. It can be more rocky than smooth. She can be very crazy and mean. We have our moments of peace but mostly for my whole life we bumped heads. She bumps heads with everyone. I care for her because she is my Grandmother and for goodness sake she birthed my Mom who birthed me. There aren't many reasons why I love her; it's not all bad but there's not much good either, which is sad. She is a handful and has made my life very stressful and any family member that has been in steady contact with her. You wouldn't believe that by looking at her. She is