She Said, She Said

by Celeste Norfleet

  “And?” Laura asked hopefully.

  “She loved it, the whole concept. Girl, she raved. I think this could really be something for you.”

  “Really? Seriously, you liked it? She liked it?”

  “Loved it is more accurate. It’s warm and genuine without being preachy. Perfect for the magazine’s format. I’m thinking possibly of running a series.”

  “Whoa, I don’t know about all that.”

  “Think about it. It’s not out of the question.”

  “Man, this is crazy. I never expected anything like this to happen.”

  “It’s time to celebrate.”

  “Yeah,” Laura said, “and I know just what to do.”

  “What?” Grace asked excitedly.

  “Remember when we spent the night in the high school?”

  “You mean when we broke into the high school?”

  “Semantics.”

  “You’re not thinking about doing that again, are you?”

  “Yeah, why not?”

  “Are you crazy? Once was enough.”

  “Come on, it’ll be fun. Your kids are grown, Tamika’s a teenager. She’s almost done with the house, the summer’s almost over and I’ll be leaving soon. What about it? One last hurrah, something to remember again?”

  “Yeah, an arrest record is definitely something to remember all right. Fingerprints, photos—nah, I don’t think so. Hanging out till dawn is one thing. Getting charged and going to county is another,” Grace said.

  “We won’t get charged if we’re not caught. We did it before, we can do it again.”

  “And what makes you think we won’t get caught? The school probably has an alarm system, motion detectors and ray guns and who knows what else? What makes you think it’s gonna be as easy as last time?”

  Laura chuckled at the ray gun remark. “Same as before, the place is huge. If the police come in one door we simply go out the other or we just hide until they leave. They’ll never find us.”

  Grace paused to think about it. “I don’t know. It sounds too risky. We’re grown women now, not teenagers.”

  “That’s exactly the point. Teenagers have all the fun. I think it’s time that we have a little bit of that fun too.”

  “Sounds like you’re overdoing it.”

  “Not at all. I’m just finally enjoying myself,” Laura said, seeing Grace’s mind racing through the possibilities.

  “Tell you what. You get Francine and Judith on board and I’m there too.”

  “Great.”

  “So, when do you want to do this caper, Ms. Catwoman?”

  “No time like the present.”

  “Uh-uh, no way. At least do it at night like before.”

  “Okay, good, fine, tonight. I’ll call you later to come up with a meeting place. We’ll bring the same things as before.”

  “All right,” Grace said cautiously. “I gotta go and get this article in before we go to jail for life.”

  “Don’t be so negative. We’ll be fine,” Laura said as a tingle of excitement shivered through her. It felt incredible, as if she were finally alive after so long. She sat back in the chair considering what they should do.

  First things first, she made a couple more calls relaying the same message and having the same reluctant conversation. Then, finally getting all four of her friends on board, she planned the details.

  By that evening, dressed in jeans and dark T-shirts, with backpacks and sleeping bags, Laura, Grace, Judith and Francine walked through the front door at Fraser High School exactly as they did over twenty years ago.

  Flashlights gleamed off the walls as the four walked through the darkened hallway. “I can’t believe we’re doing this again,” Grace said excitedly as they started walking around.

  “Come on, let’s check out the gym,” Laura said. They followed. She opened the doors, walked in and stood in the center of the hardwood floor. “Wow, look at this place,” she said, shining the light in the darkness. “Doesn’t it bring back memories?” Suddenly the overhead lights came on. They all looked around as Judith continued pushing buttons.

  Francine picked up a basketball sitting on the bleachers and tossed it at the basket. They all booed when she missed. After a few minutes they were teamed up playing a makeshift game with sneakers squeaking and them giggling. Grace found a jump rope, prompting them to all join in. Laughing and exhausted, they finally left, continuing to the cafeteria down the hall.

  Laura pulled out brown sack lunches from her backpack and after a treat of bologna-and-cheese sandwiches, chocolate pudding, chips and ginger ale, they sat in the school’s cafeteria laughing and talking about their lives.

  “I never thought it would be so hard,” Judith said.

  “Seriously, my mom made it look easy. I can’t imagine raising seven kids like she did,” Francine added.

  “As babies and toddlers they’re cool. It’s when they get older, teenagers…” Laura said.

  “Girl, you ain’t lying about that,” Grace said.

  “Thank God mine are still young,” Francine added.

  “Not for long,” they all replied jokingly.

  “How on earth did you manage to raise two teenage boys alone without losing your mind?” Laura asked Grace, whose children were the oldest of all of them.

  “Who said I didn’t lose my mind? Of course I did,” Grace said. They laughed. “You get used to it. The hardest part is dealing with attitude.”

  “Hear, hear, I have a tween and a fifteen-year-old and they both drive me nuts. I threaten to walk away and never come back daily. And you know what? Sometimes I actually feel like doing just that,” Judith confessed.

  “Sure you do. We all do,” Laura said.

  “Who doesn’t?” Grace agreed. “My teenage son wanted his ear pierced and my other teenage son wanted a tattoo.”

  “Did you get it for them?” Laura asked.

  “Hell no, but damned if he didn’t get a tattoo when he went away to college. Fraternities of course.”

  “I always wanted a tattoo,” Laura said.

  “Me too.”

  “I was too chicken.”

  “I heard that.”

  “We should do it now.”

  “Do what?”

  “Get a tattoo.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  The four women looked at each other, then burst out laughing, knowing that there was no way it was going to happen. They stood and gathered the last bits of dinner, then headed off to continue their tour of the building, classrooms, library, administrative office and then finally to the main auditorium.

  They went up onstage. Grace switched on the lights. Francine turned on the CD player. Laughing, joking around and dancing, they enjoyed themselves as memories flooded back. “Remember this dance?” Francine said.

  “Oh yeah, how about this?” Laura said.

  “The running man, I could never do that.”

  The freedom continued until Laura misstepped, slipped and tumbled off the stage. She braced herself, falling face-first.

  Chapter 21

  Tamika

  Spackling, plastering and painting, as usual, had taken up most of their afternoon. Then after a quick break for a late lunch they finished up later in the evening with touch-ups and tape removal. They were cleaning up for the day while drinking sodas and talking.

  “You know, this place looks awesome,” Sean said, looking around at the walls they’d just painted.

  “You think?” Tamika said, following his lead as she pulled blue cover tape from the white baseboard trim.

  He nodded. “You did a serious job, for real.”

  “We did a serious job,” she corrected.

  “Nah, I came in at the end and besides, I just did what I was told. You did all this. Girl, you bad.”

  Tamika smiled and nodded. “It does look pretty good, doesn’t it? You know what, it actually looks like something my mom would do. I can’t believe it. Funny, I used to think that there was no way I was like
her. Looks like I was wrong.”

  “What’s so bad about being like your mom?”

  “Are you kidding? Everything,” she immediately said, then changed her mind. “Well, maybe not everything.”

  “Your mom’s cool.”

  Tamika shook her head. “Cool isn’t exactly what I’d call her. She’s so different being down here. It’s like she gave up on being what she was.”

  “What was she?” he asked.

  “She was responsible, in charge, she did things.”

  “Sounds more like you now, doesn’t it?”

  “Ugh, I’m turning into my mother. Great,” she said. Sean laughed, and Tamika smiled.

  “So, what’s your mom doing tonight?” he asked.

  “Hanging out, I guess, as usual. I don’t know what’s gotten into her. Suddenly she’s gone hangout nuts. She’s obsessed with her high school crush and she’s acting like she’s sixteen years old all over again.”

  Sean started laughing again.

  “Oh, you think that’s funny?” Tamika asked.

  “No, no,” he said, still chuckling. “I’m just saying for real you sound just like my grandmom talking or rather complaining around the house.”

  “Thanks a lot. I’m turning into my mother and sounding like your grandmother.” They chuckled. “But seriously,” she protested, “I’m just making sense. This guy she’s hanging with is nothing but trouble.”

  “So tell her.”

  “I did, I do, constantly. She’s just not listening as usual. My dad at least listens halfway. That is, when he’s not busy working. For real, please tell me your mom and dad aren’t crazy like this.”

  “My mom and dad aren’t crazy like this,” he repeated exactly, then laughed. She swatted at his arm but he moved away too quickly.

  “Ha-ha, not funny. So what about your mom and dad?”

  “What about them?” he asked, then paused a moment before elaborating. “I live with my dad and my stepmom, so as far as moms go, she all right, I guess. She’s cool.”

  “Where’s your real mom?” she asked as she picked up the massive cotton tarp covering the floor.

  “Actually, she is my real mom,” Sean said as he grabbed the other end and started helping her fold the large cloth. “She raised me since I was a baby, so that’s real enough for me. She’s the only mom I know. My birth mother gave me up and just walked away. My dad took me, got married and that was it.”

  “Wow, I didn’t know,” she said, meeting him to gather the ends together.

  “For real, no big deal, it happens.”

  “Don’t you ever wonder about her?”

  “Nah, I have a great family—my dad, my mom, my grandparents, uncles, aunts and a ton of cousins.”

  “You have any brothers or sisters?” she asked.

  “My stepmom can’t have kids so there were always foster kids around. Not so much now.”

  “Wow, that’s so cool. You’re lucky.”

  “Yeah, I think so too. But check, so are you. Your mom’s cool. She, like, handed you a credit card and just let you do all this on your own. That’s tight.”

  Tamika nodded, then stepped back to check out the room again. She turned completely around. “For real, this place looks incredible. I can’t believe it. We did this. It’s like a whole new house now. Thanks for helping.”

  “For real, I ain’t do nothing. You did most of this by yourself,” Sean said approvingly as he looked around.

  Tamika smiled, looking around. He was right; she’d done most of this all by herself. She called people, organized, hired companies and even in one case dismissed a company that wanted to overcharge her before even starting the job.

  “So what’s next?” he asked.

  “This was the last room to get painted. The guys are coming tomorrow to finish the wood floors and to paint the outside trim. The yard sale is the day after that.”

  “Are you ready for all that?”

  “Sure,” she said nonchalantly, then, noticing his expression, continued. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “You were talking about your mom being different down here. So are you.”

  “I’m not different,” she protested.

  “Yeah, I mean in school you’re hanging around your friends and Justin and—”

  “Yeah, Justin, whatever,” she said, dismissing the conversation. “So, ninth grade, huh?”

  “What about it?”

  “You for real wanted my phone number, huh?” She smirked slyly.

  Sean looked at her, and his expression softened. “Yeah, but you were all into your world so I had to let that go.”

  “I was not all into my world, but I was into my studies if that’s what you mean. I was trying to get good grades.”

  “Uh-huh, hanging with Justin.”

  “Nah, I was, for real. But I remember you were all into football and hanging with Lexea.” He laughed. “Nah, nah, don’t be playing it off. Y’all guys are all alike with that stuff.”

  “Nah, not all guys. Lexea is played out for real.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “For real,” he insisted. “I can’t deal with her drama.”

  “Whatever,” Tamika said. “So, when are you leaving?”

  “You trying to get rid of me already?”

  “No,” she said truthfully.

  “Day after tomorrow,” he said. They each went quiet.

  “It was cool having you down here,” she said.

  “Yeah,” he said, taking her hand, “thanks.”

  Tamika leaned in and kissed him sweetly. He kissed her back. Afterward he smiled as she looked away.

  “You kissed me,” he said.

  “Yeah,” she said, “I had to.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Well, since it took you two years to get my phone number I figured it would take you at least four years to kiss me, so…” she said, smiling. He laughed just as her cell phone rang. She grabbed it off the chair and answered.

  “Hi, Tamika, this is Edna Hayes. I’m calling from the—”

  “Yes, I remember, hi. Did you find anything out?”

  “Actually I did. I took the pieces over to the Historical Society at the museum and they were very impressed.”

  “That’s good, right?”

  “Actually it’s very good,” Edna said.

  “Really? So the letters and the ledger are real?”

  “Yes, they’re genuine. I think I should speak to your mother at this point. We have a few questions for her.”

  “She’s not in at the moment. I can have her call you.”

  “That would be great. Please tell her that I have been authorized to make an offer of behalf of the museum.”

  “An offer?” Tamika said, beaming, then listened as Edna went on to tell her things she mostly already knew. They ended the conversation with Edna asking for her to come into the store as soon as possible. Tamika hung up, excited, then called her mother’s cell. There was no answer.

  “What’s up?” Sean asked.

  “I need to find my mom.”

  “Do you know where she is?” he asked.

  “Kind of. I’m going over to her friend’s house. Hopefully she’s there.”

  “Want a ride?”

  “Nah, I got the car outside.”

  “You got a car?” he asked.

  “It’s a long story. Come on, let’s go.”

  As soon as they stepped outside on the porch, Sylvia was coming up the front steps. “Aunt Sylvia, hi. I didn’t know you were coming today,” Tamika said.

  “Thought I’d stop by and see how you two were getting along. And who is this young man?”

  “Aunt Sylvia, this is Sean, my friend from Boston. Sean, this is my great-aunt Sylvia.”

  “Hello, ma’am,” he said politely, reaching out to shake her hand.

  “A friend, huh?”

  “Yes,” they both said instantly.

  “One of those friends with privileges?” she asked.

>   “Aunt Sylvia!” Tamika said, stunned by her frankness.

  “No, ma’am, just friends,” Sean said quickly, blushing.

  “I’m just asking,” Sylvia said innocently. “Where are y’all off to so rushed?”

  “Looking for Mom. I took a ledger and some letters from the attic to the Elwood Antique Shop. They want to make an offer but I need Mom and she’s not answering her cell. I need to find her.”

  “Do you know where she is?”

  “No, I’m gonna go by Ms. Hunter’s house. Hopefully she’s over there. She told me that they’re supposed to be hanging out tonight. Want to come?”

  “Sure, why not?” Sylvia said. After saying goodbye to Sean they got in the car and drove off. “So, are you interested in selling the letters?”

  “I don’t know. Whatever Mom wants to do, I guess.”

  “What about you? Do you think they should be sold?”

  “No, probably not, but we can’t just leave them in the attic forever. Not if they’re valuable. That’s just crazy.”

  “Maybe you can come up with an idea for something to do with them.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe we could give them to somebody to hold for us.”

  “Like who?”

  “The museum, maybe. Do you think they do that?”

  “Sure, why not? Or maybe you can suggest it. Instead of them buying them you can give them to them on loan.”

  “That’s a good idea. That way the museum won’t have to spend the cash to buy all this and the family can still officially own them.”

  When they got to Grace’s house, no one was there. Tamika tried calling her mom’s cell phone again, but still got no answer. “I guess we should just go home now.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be in soon.”

  “I hope so,” Tamika said, knowing better.

  When they got back to the house, Sylvia was amazed by the transformation. “My goodness gracious, this place looks brand-new. When did all this happen? Did you do all this?”

  “Mom supplied the credit card and I did the rest.”

  “You did an incredible job,” Sylvia said after seeing the rest of the house. “It’s just amazing. I’m very proud of you.”

  “Thanks, Aunt Syl.”

  “Now what do we have to eat? I feel like ice cream.”

  Tamika’s cell rang. It was the hospital.