She didn’t say anything. I thought for sure she’d start practicing our routine before I’d finished my sentence.
Now she pushed down on the bed, leaned forward. “Georgie… what if I told you that I was sorta telling the truth about wanting to go home?”
“You mean, leave?”
“Yeah, I don’t see this ending well for us. I’m really trying to stay out of trouble for the rest of the summer. And this is all for a girl who I still think is playing you.”
I did a Mama move and searched the ceiling, my head as far back as it could go. “Stop saying that. You weren’t there today.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that. But you’re taking too many risks for her. Everything is about Markie. I’m supposed to be here to spend time with you. That’s not what’s happening.”
After all that riding, it was Nikki’s words that made my knees weak. I sat next to her on the bed. I didn’t have any Plan A or B for this. Now that Nikki was here, I just couldn’t imagine her leaving so soon.
“But I thought we’d worked this out. I wanted you to come with us, Nikki.”
“Okay, so I’d have to go on a six-mile, round-trip bikeathon to spend time with you. Is that fair? I don’t think this is the end of it. There will be something else tomorrow. I feel it. And you said that she didn’t even bother to open the box you risked getting grounded to help her get.”
There wasn’t a way I could describe that moment to Nikki, so I let it be. As she sat, she started rocking. That’s her calming mechanism when something is bothering her. The last time I remember her rocking like this was when we were both waiting on news about Peaches.
“What’s going on with you? I mean I know Markie isn’t your favorite, but I didn’t think you’d go as far as leaving. I know you haven’t spent a lot of time with Aunt Vie yet, but I told you how much putting together this show means to me. And I do need your help.”
“You don’t know everything, though. There’s something else.”
I scooted closer to her. “Spill it. Like what?”
She glanced down at the sneakers, then pursed her lips and swished them from side to side. “Know how you’re going to a new school next year?”
The thought of that made my stomach twist. I’d never attended a school without Nikki.
“Yeah? But we’ll still see each other.… Wait… is your mama making you go to Woodward?”
“Something like that. They just hit me with the news not too long after you left.”
“And you’re just now mentioning it.”
“D-e-n-i-a-l. Denial. Wasn’t ready to talk about it.”
“Got ya. This just means that we can get through the new school heebie-jeebies together.” Nothing I said connected with her. No smile. Not even a playful side-eye. Nothing. “And I know you’re probably going to hate wearing a school uniform, but you have your own style. You can make anything look fly. You’ll rock it.”
She nodded and gave me a half smile. “That’s true.” Then her expression drooped again. “It’s more like that the school is in…”
“Can’t be any farther than Snellville.”
“I wish.… It’s in California.”
It was like someone piped all the paper-mill fumes into the room and I couldn’t catch my breath. “Wait… California?”
She didn’t say a word but her tears said it all. If I were in my own room, I could grab one of my pillows or one of my stuffed animals to stop the tennis balls that seem to be smashing against my chest.
“My brother says he’s not going, but he’s almost eighteen. I don’t have a choice. I knew my dad was looking for work, but neither of my parents ever even hinted that it wouldn’t be in Atlanta.”
“We never get a say in anything. That’s how I felt about the divorce.”
“I just wanted this summer to be us. You and me. And I get here and there’s all this drama going on. I don’t want to go home, but I don’t want to be on punishment on my way to California either. I have to leave everything, everyone I love. It’s just not fair. So I came here to be with my best friend. You keep saying how much you need me for the talent show, but I just need you. This is harder than I thought.”
I leaned over and hugged her. She hugged me back and I felt that I’d let her down. I was so fixated on Markie, I didn’t even see she needed me.
“I was getting used to the fact we wouldn’t be at the same school next year and now this,” she said. “What about our Period Party? I’m not having one with my mom. Nope, not doing it,” she said and folded her arms.
I tried to laugh. We’d planned to do sleepovers and dish on all the details of when our periods came.
“We can still do that over the phone or video, Nikki. We’ll be there for each other. You’ll see. I want you to stay. I’ll do better. Promise.”
She pointed her sneakers upward and nodded.
Before I could even think to hug her again, there was a knock on the door. I figured it would fling open any second.
“Come in,” I said. The door opened and there stood Mama.
Under her breath Nikki said, “A wait-to-come-in. Nice.”
Nikki and I hugged again. “I’m staying. We talked it out,” Nikki said.
“Good. No more of this separating. Stick together or both of you stay in the house.”
“No problem, Mama,” I said.
Nikki nodded.
“You two get freshened up for dinner. I’m glad it’s going to be a celebration of you staying with us, Nikki.”
“Seafood gumbo on the menu?” she asked.
“You know it,” Mama said and laughed. Then she reached behind and tucked in the tag of my T-shirt. As she was doing that she said, “I had your aunt Essie get in touch with Markie Jean. I’d like her there this evening as well. ’Bout time we chat if you two are going to be hanging out together more often.”
“Okay,” I said and felt a chill. What was Mama going to say to her?
Soon as Mama left, Nikki gave me that sly smile of hers and said, “Question?”
“What?”
“This is not an all-girl talent show, is it?”
“Whoever has talent,” I said but still distracted.
She played around with ways to restyle her braids. “That includes this cute boy I saw at the library?”
I sighed. “Yeah, I guess. If he has talent.”
“We’ll have to find him and ask,” she said, her eyes wide and fearless.
“Is that what you’re thinking about? Didn’t you hear my mama say she wanted to chat with Markie? What if she didn’t buy anything we said today?”
“Impossible. First, I was good. Two, my mama hasn’t called.”
“Good point.” They had a mama-to-mama hotline.
“So whoever has talent is in?”
“Yeah. I just want it to be an exciting show that raises beaucoup dollars.”
“It will be, Georgie. You’re good at rallying people. Even when you get cut from the cheerleading squad, you’re the first one to encourage the other girls who didn’t make it to try again. I mean, as much as I can say about this Markie, I could see why she wants you as a friend. Who wouldn’t?”
“Is that a compliment from you?”
“Sort of, I guess.”
She put her arms around me, and I held her close. “You’re about to give them the best talent show that Bogalusa has ever seen.”
“We’re about to,” I said, holding up her printouts from the library.
The thought of all we had to do to get it off the ground was enough to make me collapse.
Then the door opened. And there stood Peaches. I could see the end of a dollar bill crumbled in her hand.
She stepped in and walked over to me, looking behind her most of the way.
“What’s up?” I said. “You should be getting ready.”
“That meanie is in the backyard. She gave me a dollar to come get you.”
“What should I do?” I said to Nikki.
“Let’s
see what she wants,” Nikki said. “Might be good news.”
“She said only Georgie. If you come I gotta give her back a whole fifty cents.”
I chuckled at the thought of Markie saying that to Peaches.
“Humph, she’s something else,” Nikki said. But after all the conversation we’d just had, I wasn’t moving unless Nikki was okay with it. If not, I’d pass. “Go see what she wants. I need to call home anyway.”
“Are you sure?” She nodded. “Okay. I’ll be right back,” I said and followed Peaches outside.
Peaches stayed in the front yard, and I went around back. Markie was dressed like Sunday school.
“Thought I should wear this. What do you think?”
“A dress? It’s just to the diner. And you… you still have on your sneakers.”
“Gotta keep it a little real. Can’t go all girly-girl. That’s just not moi.”
“I get it.”
“Think your mama wants to see me to blast me out about Peanut Man? Maybe I can’t work at the diner anymore?”
“We’ll know in a little bit. Are you going to come in and wait for us to get ready?”
“No, I’m going to go now. Hey… do you think they are bringing Aunt Vie?”
“My mama is getting her ready now. And guess what?”
She just bugged her eyes and waited. “What?”
“Nikki made lots of progress on the talent show while we were gone. Located places that might be interested in donating. Figured out what type of talent would get the town most excited.”
“Isn’t that all the stuff I’m supposed to do?”
“Doesn’t matter who does what. What’s important is making it a reality. You said you knew some kids with talent, right?”
“Yup,” she said.
“Round them up and bring them to the park tomorrow. We need to get moving.”
“Your bestie okay with me being involved?”
“She’s with it.…” I said, fibbing for what I’ve heard Grandma Sugar call “the greater good.”
“Don’t believe that but nice try.” She paused and looked down at her Chuck Taylor’s. “I haven’t opened the box yet.” She shoved her hand in her pocket. “I’ll let you know what’s next. If anything,” she said. “And no clue what your mom wants to talk to me about? Could be like a Meet and Greet like at school.”
“Yeah, could be,” I said, and she seemed to really like that idea. “Hey, I’ve gotta go. I’ll see you at the diner.”
“I’m Meet and Greet ready,” she said and I wondered if she’d ever even been to one of those snooze fests. But with Mama, Nikki, and Markie there, along with our special guest, Aunt Vie, snoozing wasn’t on the menu.
20
I’M OUTTA HERE
Before Nikki and I stepped foot in the diner, we could see everyone, including Markie, from the diner’s window.
“Wait. She’s wearing a dress? And you have on a dress. Doubt that’s a coincidence.”
“Yeah, when I realized how much she wanted to impress my mama, I didn’t want her to feel so off. I tried to get you to wear one, remember?”
“Yeah, no thanks. And how hard is she really trying, wearing those crazy-looking sneakers?” Nikki said. “Sheesh.”
“That may have been all she had,” I said, but Nikki was opening the door, purposely moving on without me.
Mama marched up to us. “Georgie, I was just talking to Markie.” My insides did about ten jumping jacks on the spot. “She’s told me what has had you two so occupied lately. What a thoughtful thing to do! I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this. Whatever I can do to help, let me know.”
She pinched my cheek. Ugh.
“So you’re not mad that I didn’t tell you what we were doing?” I said.
“Georgie.” She said my name the way you do when you pat a puppy’s head. “Why would I be mad at you for helping Markie Jean organize a fundraiser to combat Alzheimer’s? I’ve been hoping that you’d find something meaningful here and you have. More than I could have imagined.”
The wind knocked out of me. I didn’t know how much I wanted to be the one to tell Mama about my idea until that second. Markie stood there holding one of Aunt Essie’s famous root beer floats. I wanted to dunk Markie’s face in it.
“We’ve just started the planning, Ms. Katrina. Georgie is handling more of the fundraiser portion,” Markie said, throwing me a bone. “She’s a whiz on the computer, researching places likely to donate on short notice. I couldn’t plan it without her.”
“Umph,” Nikki said and folded her arms. “Isn’t that good of you, Georgie?”
“I’m going to spend most of my time with talent acquisitions, you know.”
Mama chuckled. “Can’t have a talent show without someone acquiring the talent.”
“I didn’t know we were ready to share the plans yet,” I said. “Do you think it’s doable, Mama?”
“If you three put your heads together and stay out of trouble, it’s certainly doable,” Mama said.
Markie took a sip of her float, then said, “I was scared that we’d squandered our chance when we were at Peanut Man’s. I shouldn’t have been keeping my personal belongings there, but they are better there than where I live. My foster mom’s kids have no respect for other people’s property.”
“Well, we have your belongings at Aunt Vie’s. Whenever you want to pick them up, let us know. No hurry.”
Markie stood directly in front of Mama and complimented Mama’s blue sundress with white daisies. She seldom wore it without telling someone that it was a Michelle Obama knock-off.
“And you look quite nice yourself,” Mama said. Then she wagged her index finger between the two of us. “You even got Georgie in a dress.”
“Thank you kindly,” Markie said, and tugged at her dress like she was prepping to bow. “I knew Aunt Vie would be here, so I wanted to look presentable.” (That could have been direct shade at Nikki, who had on jeans and a T-shirt.) “I mean I know she won’t know me, know me. But she’d try to get me to wear a dress sometimes,” Markie said and rubbed the fabric so hard it was like she smeared something on it.
“She’ll be here shortly. My mother took her and Peaches riding for a while. They should arrive in just a bit,” Mama said. “Aunt Vie loved riding.” Then Mama shook her head. “I mean loves. She loves riding.”
Needing to put the talent show business out of my mind for a moment, I said, “Do you think she liked riding horses?”
“I’ve never known her to. But who knows with Aunt Vie?”
Something about the thought of Aunt Vie being able to get away from the diner now and then to ride bikes, ride horses, or just sit on the porch with Ms. Hannah without a care made me happy.
Then Mama placed her hand on Markie’s shoulder. “I do apologize that it’s taken me a minute to chat with you. Do you remember me visiting Bogalusa at all?”
“Not much,” Markie said. “Aunt Vie always talked about you, though.”
My ears sprouted up. Markie had never even mentioned that she’d seen Mama before. Maybe she thought that I knew she had. I remember coming down for the family reunion one year, but no Markie. Not that I could remember. Did she see me?
Mama looked at Markie.
“How did you get that scrape?” Mama turned Markie’s face to the right.
The dress covered the gash on her knee.
“Doesn’t take much. You know… when I trip on the sidewalk. Can’t support myself as well as some.” She hunched her shorty shoulder.
Nikki scoffed and I poked her.
“Oh, I understand. Glad you’re okay,” Mama said, as I’m sure Markie expected.
When Mama went to talk to Aunt Essie, the three of us huddled in a corner.
After holding them in, I could finally let my words fly. “Why did you tell my mama the talent show was your idea?”
“That was a low move,” Nikki said. “What kind of friend are you?”
“The kind that’s trying to
get her mama to not think I’m the bad news blues. Should I have opened with the trouble I’ve caused? She could have suggested that I not work here anymore. I had to have something positive, you know.”
Nikki tapped her temple. “Nah. I’m not buying it. I can tell that you use your brain. I bet you could have thought of another way. You just wanted to steal Georgie’s thunder.”
Markie took a gulp of her float, unlike the tiny sips she took in front of Mama. Then she shrugged. “Well, what’s done is done. And Ms. Katrina is all for us spending time together making the show happen. Who’s to say that we won’t need that time for other things as well?”
Nikki poked my shoulder. “See, told you. She’s got something up her sleeves.”
“Really? Sleeves? Are you trying to be funny?”
Nikki froze for a second with her mouth slightly open. “Don’t try that with me, you know what I meant.”
Markie laughed. Nikki tried to keep a straight face, but she knew Markie had got her for a moment.
Before we got deeper into our back-and-forth, the diner door opened and in walked Grandma Sugar with Aunt Vie on her arm. Peaches was at Aunt Vie’s other side as they walked in. Peaches had been glued to Grandma Sugar and Aunt Essie, helping them any way she could. That kept me from watching her, but it also made me happy to know that she’d have lots of memories with all of them.
Then my eyes returned to Aunt Vie. She was dressed like Sunday morning with full pearls, a rose-colored dress, and a hat that dipped and swirled with flowers and starbursts orbiting around it.
“Oooh,” Markie said with such gentleness that Nikki unfolded her arms.
Grandma Sugar guided Aunt Vie over to us. I made sure not to rush to her or do anything that might frighten her. She inspected all of us, then said to Nikki, “Why aren’t you dressed for tea?”
Nikki rocked on her heels. “I… I apologize.”
“Hello, Aunt Vie?” I said. At any moment I expected her eyes to widen like they did the time she thought I was Markie, but nothing. Aunt Vie squeezed Grandma Sugar’s arm tighter, like I said something threatening to her. Then she took Markie in and walked closer to her before she spoke.
“Why don’t you have on the proper shoes with that dress? Why have it on at all? Is that the way your mama raised you?”
Forever This Summer Page 15
