“Who do you think you are talking to?” her mom yelled. “I’m the parent here!”
“But she hit me first!” Cheryl yelled again.
Her mother hit her with a closed fist this time and yelled at her, “You better not let me find out that you were fighting over some boy! Get out of my face!”
“You don’t care that she hit me?” Cheryl asked.
“No, I don’t! You embarrassed me acting like some stupid bitch in the street who doesn’t know the first thing about being a young lady.”
“I am a young lady but everybody keeps on picking on me! Always pushing me and teasing me and y’all don’t even care!” she yelled at her mother.
Her mother advanced towards her again but this time she stopped.
“Go to your room!” she yelled while walking into the kitchen.
Cheryl was hurt from so many things that had happened in the past few days that when she started to cry it all came rushing back. From Shaun disappearing on her after she didn’t sleep with him to her sister hitting her while her parents were gone to now her mother acting like she was the worst person in the world. She didn’t think she could take anymore. Maybe it was just better to not fight back. To let people treat you any kind of way because she felt that she was always on the losing end of everything anyway. She lay across her bed and cried until there were no more tears. Her heart was hurting and she didn’t know what to do about it.
“Heard you got in a fight today,” her dad asked as he walked into her room.
“Yes sir.”
“Well, Mr. Dayes called and we have to see him in the morning.”
“Yes sir.”
“Are you hungry?” her mother asked from just outside her bedroom door.
“No ma’am,” she said, not looking up.
“Are you feeling ok?” she asked while walking in and sitting next to her dad on her small bed.
“I feel ok. Just tired,” she answered.
“Well, if you don’t want to eat you can go back to bed. I will check on you later.” Cheryl burst into tears again and her dad rubbed her back and told her it would be ok. He told her that he would check on her later and to stay in bed and be ready to go by seven the next morning for their meeting with the principal.
The phone started ringing and she heard her mother telling Shaun that she wasn’t feeling well.
“Oh, really? Oh, ok. I will tell her.” Cheryl closed her eyes when she heard her mother coming down the hallway towards her room.
“Cheryl, Shaun just called because he heard about the police coming over. I guess Deidre must have told him. Anyway, he called to tell me what happened. I’m sorry for not letting you tell me.”
“It’s ok.”
Her mother put her hand on Cheryl’s head and smoothed her hair away from her face.
“You feel a little warm. Let me check your temperature.” Her mom rushed out of the room and Cheryl heard her telling her father that it felt as if she had a fever. When she came back and put the thermometer in her mouth, a minute later it confirmed what Cheryl already knew.
“Yeah, you are very warm. Do you want some water? Is your stomach hurting?”
Whenever Cheryl got upset, her body shut down. This time was no different. Her mother tucked the blankets around her and rubbed her back.
“Just sleep and I’ll come back in to check on you in a little while.”
As her mother left her room, she heard her father asking about her and her mother told him that Cheryl was just a little worked up about the incident and that she would be ok in the morning.
She woke up and the clock read five in the morning. She had slept all night, so she decided to get a jump on the day and get in the shower. She could hear her mom already in the kitchen listening to her gospel songs on the radio.
“Good morning. Are you feeling better?”
“Yes ma’am” She answered.
“Well, we have to be at school at seven o’clock. Ok,” she said.
“Ok,” She said as she walked out of the kitchen and into the bathroom.
Chapter 12
Consequences
She walked into the club and needed to sit down to clear her head. She walked to the bar and hoped she could just sit there without trying to get picked up or hit on.
“What can I get you? You look like you are having a rough night,” the bartender said.
“I’m sorry. Do I need to order something in order to sit here?” she asked her.
“Yes, but why don’t I give you one on the house? What you drinking?”
“Rum and coke please.” Cheryl really needed something stronger than that, but that would have to do. “I don’t have my wallet, but I promise to come back and give you a tip,” She said.
“No need. Just calm down and everything will be ok. Sistas gotta look out for each other,” she said.
She seemed nice enough. She was kind of tall, and all the men in the place were clamoring to get to a spot where she could serve them. If Cheryl had to guess, the low-cut top that she wore was the draw. However, she had the widest hips you ever could imagine. Looked like she must have pushed out twins or at the very least, a ten-pounder. She turned around and saw Kevin walking in with a woman on his arm. The woman stood eye to eye with Kevin. She had very round hips but not disproportionate. Her dark hair hung in loose curls around her face and the height of her heel would intimidate most people. She had that air of confidence that a woman who never took no for an answer had. She was also the only woman in the place that had on a skirt long enough to make a man guess what she had underneath of it.
Cheryl turned around but Kevin had already made eye contact with her and started toward her.
“Hey sexy,” the bartender said, “Ain’t seen you in a minute. Where have you been? Making all that paper I assume.”
“Hey yourself,” Kevin said, while leaning over and planting a kiss on her cheek.
He turned toward Cheryl, “Hey, I have been looking for you,” he said while putting his arm around her shoulders.
Cheryl tried to move away from him but he put pressure on her shoulders with his arm.
“Kevin, please; what do you want?” She asked.
Totally ignoring what she was saying, he continued speaking to her like they were out for an enjoyable evening. “You want something to drink?” he asked her
“No, already got something,” She said while holding up her watered down drink.
“Oh.”
“Look, just leave me alone,” she whispered.
As he leaned down, he angrily whispered, “And who the fuck bought you that?”
“No one did.” She answered.
“Why are you lying?” He turned from the bar.” Who the fuck in here is buying my wife drinks?” he yelled over the music.
A few men turned around and looked at him and her and then continued with their separate conversations.
“Chill, dude,” the bartender said. “I gave it to her on the house. She looked a little upset when she walked in here.”
Cheryl got up and started walking towards the bathrooms, near the rear of the club. He tried following, but some chick caught his attention, so he stopped and had to talk to her. Cheryl knew she would go home and then he could meet up with her. She sat at a table in the back and finished her drink. She soon heard him calling her again.
“Cheryl,” he said as he sat down at her table. “Look, we have some talking to do, and this ain’t the place to do it.”
“You said everything you needed to say to me.” As she stood to walk away, he grabbed her by the arm. “Get your damn hands off of me.”
“You better lower your damn voice and sit down like you have some sense,” he said as he tried to pull her back down into the booth.
“I said get your hands off of me!”
He jumped up from the table and was in her face instantly.
“Hey, aren’t you Mr. Goldman?” said the tall man standing nearby. “I read the last article on you in Black Enter
prise magazine. Man, you got real skills when it comes to marketing. I read that you were expanding. It’s good to see a black man like yourself doing things the right way.”
“Yeah,” Kevin said as he still held firm to her arm. “I do what I do,” he said.
“Well, let me give you my card and if you ever need anything, let me know. I have a car service that would probably meet the needs of your company,” he said as he pulled out a black leather business card holder and handed him a purple embossed card with bold script writing.
Kevin’s grip never loosened so she was still held in his vise grip.
He leaned into her and whispered, “Look, let’s just go home. You have caused enough of a scene, don’t you think?”
She tried yanking her arm away but he held his grip. “Hey, Kevin. Is that you?” another man asked.
“Man, long time no see,” they said as they slapped hands. That was her chance.
She walked off before Kevin could introduce her. She walked outside and was met by a slight mist. Just her luck that she didn’t have her purse or her umbrella. She tried her best not to be too emotional but it was becoming harder to do. She walked to the corner and found a phone booth. She dialed Dee’s number and started talking before she realized that it was Dee’s answering machine.
“Dee, I’m stranded downtown can you come and get me please. I don’t have my purse and I need a ride home. I am at The Bottom. Thanks”
She hung up and walked back towards the club. The mist was beginning to chill her but she didn’t want to risk going back into the club.
“Excuse me, Miss?” said the gentleman who had spoken to Kevin earlier in the evening.
“Yes?”
“You really shouldn’t be standing out here alone. Some of these jokers will get the wrong idea.”
“And what idea would that be.”
“That a young, attractive woman, is available, if you know what I mean.”
“No, I’m sorry. I don’t know what you mean. I am not available and I am not looking for anything from anyone. Look, Kevin is still inside if you are looking for him.”
“No ma’am. I was heading home, since my buddies think that a good time means hitting on any and everything in a skirt.”
“Well, isn’t that what you guys do?”
“No ma’am. Well, not me anyway. I like to come out, dance a little, have some nice conversation and something to drink, then head home.”
“Well, aren’t you special? Look, have a good night,” she said as she continued past him and looked down the street. She started shuffling back and forth and wrapped her arms around herself in an effort to keep warm.
“Well, this isn’t the best place to stand outside. Can I offer you a ride somewhere?”
“I don’t even know you.” She said with attitude.
“I’m sorry. My name is Matthew.”
“Nice name,” she said sarcastically
“Do you have a name?” he asked
“Yes.”
“Mind telling me?”
“Why?”
“Cause I introduced myself. Now it is only common courtesy to introduce yourself.”
“I didn’t ask you to tell me your name. So, consider this as me being rude.”
“Wow. Didn’t know a woman as fine as you could be so cruel.”
“Whatever.” She said as she turned her head while rolling her eyes at him.
“Well, the offer stands, Ms. No-name, if I can drop you somewhere, I will.”
“No thank you. I called my girlfriend; she should be here in a little while.”
“Ok. Well, have a good night,” he said as he walked away.
He pulled out his cell and she noticed a limo stop in front of him and he got in.
She started walking back towards the carry out. She went in and asked the person at the counter if she could wait for her ride. The woman behind the counter shrugged her shoulders so Cheryl sat down by the window.
She went back out to the payphone, still kicking herself for leaving her purse in the car but after an hour and trying one more time to ring her friend. Just then a limo stopped, and the back window came down.
“Excuse me. Would you like a ride somewhere?” asked the familiar face.
“No thank you. I thought I said that a little while ago.”
“Well, it looks like you still don’t have a ride and I don’t feel comfortable leaving a pretty young woman out here by herself. You never know who could be lurking in the dark.”
I guess you would know because you the one lurking, she thought to herself but her options had run out and she couldn’t see any other way of getting home. She started to walk towards the car.
As she got closer, the driver got out and opened the door and Matthew got out.
“Carl, take her wherever she needs to go. I’ll get a ride,” he said.
“You don’t have to do that. I don’t want to put you out.” She said as she stepped down from the curb.
“It’s no bother. I’ll have another drink while I wait.” He said as he guided her into the back seat.
“Ms…? What’s the address?” Carl asked.
“14400 Albrook Drive, please.” she said as she climbed into the back and leaned against the back of the seat.
“If you give me your address, I’ll cover whatever extra this is going to cost you.” She said.
“No need to do that.”
“Are you sure? I don’t like owing anyone anything.” She said as he stepped away from the car.
“Yes, I’m sure. I got this. Just have a good night.” He said.
“Thank you.”
“Here, in case you are ever in a jam. You can call them; they are very reliable and prompt.”
M & T Car Service. Call us when you want to feel like a star.
MPerry/TWayne/owners
Chapter 13
Cheryl and her parents arrived at the school about twenty minutes early. They had to wait for the principal to finish up with some things before they could see him. They walked in and the principal asked her to tell her version of the story. After telling her side of the story, they asked her to wait in the hall. After about twenty minutes they called her back in.
“The decision has been made that you will be off of the bus for one week,” Mr. Dayes said. “You will also need to stay away from Brenda.”
“I didn’t start it,” Cheryl whined.
“Well as far as we can tell you are telling the truth, but we don’t know how she sustained such serious injuries. Her mother was ready to press charges because of the endangerment of her daughter and grandchild, but she has since changed her mind. We are asking that you stay as far away from her as possible. Is that too much to ask?”
“As long as she doesn’t bother me,” Cheryl said with more attitude than she really should have had.
“Well, even if she does, you need to walk away.”
“I’m not going to let her hit me.”
Mr. Daye’s eyes frowned. “It seems like you do not understand me…”
Cheryl interrupted him. “Yes I do. But if she hits me, like she did this time, I am not walking away.”
Her dad spoke up. “Surely you don’t expect my daughter to let someone hit her and she not defend herself.”
“No, I am not. I am asking that she is not the aggressor.” Mr. Dayes responded.
“My daughter was not the aggressor this time. This other girl, who doesn’t ride my daughter’s bus, rode her bus home and hit my daughter before my daughter had a chance to get off of the bus.”
“I understand that, and we have spoken to her about that and she won’t be allowed on any bus for at least a month.”
After another few minutes of talking, they were free to go. Upon leaving the office, Brenda’s mother came walking up to them.
“I just want to apologize for the stupid actions of my daughter. Ever since she found about, well anyway, she has been acting out and I am just glad my grandchild is ok.”
“W
ell, I am sorry it became physical,” Cheryl’s mother said. “It’s just sad that two young ladies were acting like they didn’t have home training and settling it with violence.”
Cheryl rolled her eyes at her mother for making an assumption, just as she had the day before.
“Are you staying or do you want to go home?” her dad asked her.
“No sir. I already missed three classes today. I would rather stay.”
“Ok, see you later then,” he said and her parents started towards the parking lot.
“Girl, what in the world is going on?” Dee started the questions as soon as she saw Cheryl.
“Nothing, I just can’t go around Brenda and vice versa, and I can’t ride the bus for a week. Have you seen Shaun today?”
“Naw, why?”
“I need to talk to him.”
“If I see him, I’ll tell him,” Dee said and they walked their separate ways. As she got her books from her lockers she heard people in the hallway talking about yet another girl being pregnant.
“Can you believe it…her of all people?” said the girl with the braids and pink shirt.
“Ew, no. And who in the hell would want a baby with her. She sleeps with any and everybody.” Said the girl with the jeans so tight Cheryl could see her panty line.
“Well, whoever it is; I bet he wished he would have worn a rubber.”
She sat in class for a while and kept replaying the conversation in the principal’s office over and over in her head. She decided that the one person that knew all there was to know at this high school would be Dee. She knew everyone’s business and what she didn’t know, she found out.
Cheryl didn’t see Shaun for almost a week but then he bounced up to her and wanted to take her to their favorite spot. She was a simple girl, and by her own admission, simple minded at times. She loved walking in the park with him and just holding hands and listening to birds sing their songs. She decided it was now or never.
She steered him over to the park bench and sat on top of it.
“Shaun, have you heard what people are saying about you?”
“Yeah, so what, It’s just talk.”
“It doesn’t bother you?” she said as he sat down in front of her and she put her hands through his hair.
Let Me Just Say This Page 5
