by L. Divine
“I know you’re not talking about that nappy-headed teacher, are you?” Nellie’s not into natural hair at all. Whenever I wear my hair in Afro-puffs, she clowns me for a week straight. “Jayd, please tell me you don’t like dreads.”
“What can I say? I prefer a natural black man, especially after dealing with KJ’s pretty behind,” I say, watching KJ and his boys strut into the gymnasium. Nigel and his team stop and stare down their opponents. KJ and his team face them on the court, ready to ball. They know they’ve got this game in the bag. I actually feel sorry for my boys. I hope their egos are strong enough to survive the ass-whipping they’re about to receive.
“Come on, let’s get a seat,” Mickey says. As we walk up the bleachers, the rest of my dance class, my dance teacher, and the other sixth-period activity classes file into the open space. I know they’re not here to witness the impromptu ball game.
“Jayd, I see you made it to class after all,” Ms. Carter says. She’s hella cool and basically lets us make up our own routines. I always dance solo so that I can dance to my own music, unlike the rest of the white girls in the class who practice their ballet steps all period. I use the class to get a good workout to my reggae and hip-hop CDs.
“Yes, Ms. Carter,” I say as my girls take a seat in the bleachers. I hope Ms. Carter doesn’t make me sit with our class.
“Good. I was just about to hand in my roll sheet and didn’t want you to get marked absent. The gym teachers have a meeting right now and I’m leaving you to the sub over there. Make sure he knows you’re here,” she says, leaving me to chill with my girls and flirt with Mr. Adewale. This day’s looking up minute by minute.
“I have to go check in real quick,” I say, tossing my backpack down by my girls’ feet and jogging back down the bleachers toward Mr. Adewale.
“But Jayd, you’re going to miss the game. They’re only playing until the end of the period.” Nellie’s too into this game for me. I get enough of watching brothas ball from my uncles at home. They have a basketball hoop attached to the top of the garage and ball whenever the mood hits them.
“I’ll be right back. Besides, we all know who’s going to win.” Mickey and Nellie both look at me like I’m the biggest traitor alive. I guess since their boyfriends are playing, it’s personal for them. And I have to admit, I would love to see Jeremy whip KJ’s ass. But I know different. I just hope Jeremy doesn’t get humiliated too bad.
“Hello, Miss Jackson,” our substitute says as I approach the crowd where my class is standing. My fellow classmates are too busy salivating over him to notice me walk up late. Wait until he’s here every day. Ms. Toni’s right, I refuse to be one of these girls. But I do like his style. Maybe for now he can be the big brother I never had. “Glad you could make it this afternoon,” he says, giving me a sly smile as he erases the absent mark from my name.
“Sorry I’m late. I was in here the whole time,” I say, but I know he’s just giving me a hard time.
“It’s okay. Have a seat with the rest of the class and we’ll begin shortly.”
“Oh, but Mr. Adewale,” I say, looking across the gym at my girls who are completely engrossed in the game while I’m missing crucial moments. “I was hoping I could sit on the other side and watch the basketball game, if it’s okay with you.” Lord knows I would much rather get to know him better, but I’ve got to support my boys.
“But your class is over here, Jayd. And your teacher does have a lesson plan for me to follow, which means I’ll need all of the students present. But look on the bright side, you don’t have to get dressed today,” he says, smiling as he continues to call off names from the roll sheet. How do I get him to cut me some slack? It’s not that serious, I know.
“Mr. Adewale,” I say in my sweetest voice. “Can I please be excused, just this one time? It’s a very important game and I’ve already missed the first five minutes.” But Mr. Adewale isn’t budging. Now what?
“Use your eyes, girl. Those pretty brown things are for more than seeing with,” my mom says, creeping into my thoughts. But this time I’m glad. “Just try it. Keep staring at him and think of the outcome you want, like Mama taught you. And whatever you do, don’t let go of your gaze.”
“Jayd,” Mickey shouts from across the packed room. There are a couple of smaller games going on, but most of the students are kicking it in the bleachers, waiting for the period to end. “Get your ass over here girl. We need you.” Following my mother’s advice, I lock onto Mr. Adewale and I can’t help but fixate on his flawless butterscotch skin. Looking unmoved at first, Mr. Adewale continues his duties, seemingly unaffected by my plea. But my eyes are wearing him down and he can’t resist my request.
“Fine Jayd. But make sure you practice your drills at home. There will be a quiz tomorrow and you will have to incorporate the drills into your own routine.”
“Thank you so much,” I say, ready to dart off toward my girls. “And can I call you Mr. A?”
“Not if you expect me to answer,” he says, smiling at me as I walk backwards toward my destination.
“Damn, what took you so long? You almost missed the whole thing,” Mickey says, munching on her Funions as Nellie preps herself in the mirror.
“Don’t you think you’re exaggerating a bit? And Nellie, why are you worried about your makeup right now? We’re in the gym.”
“So what? The Homecoming Princess always represents the court and I must look flyy at all times,” she says, closing the small compact and returning it to her purse as Mickey rolls her eyes, trying to ignore our girl. “Besides, Chance will be devastated after KJ finishes with him and I want to put a smile on his face.”
“Nellie, sometimes you really make my butt itch, you know that? Homecoming is over,” Mickey says, smacking on the tangy chips. They do smell good.
“You should talk, bringing those stank-ass things in here. You know there’s no eating in the gym,” Nellie says, pointing to the multiple signs posted throughout the room. “I can’t believe you’re still hungry after that lunch you ate anyway.”
“Shut up Nellie and watch the game,” Mickey says, a little more serious than necessary. I wonder what’s got her panties in a bunch.
“Everything okay Mickey?” I ask, grabbing a Funion out of the near-empty bag. Nellie’s right: our girl can eat. “You seem tense today.”
“Yes Jayd, I’m fine. I want to watch the rest of the game in peace, if y’all don’t mind.” No, something’s definitely wrong with her. She’s being bitchy, even for Mickey.
“Ouch,” Nellie says, responding to KJ dunking on Nigel’s head. Damn, I know that hurt.
“And that’s what we like to call ‘above the rim’,” Dell says, talking shit to Chance as he guards him. “You see all that air KJ left for y’all?”
“Less talking, more ballin’,” Jeremy says, stealing the re bound from C Money and taking the ball back up the court.
“Oh, so the white boy thinks he can ball,” KJ says, but even he can’t front: he’s impressed with Jeremy’s skills. “You’re not going to beat me on my own court.” Talking shit is KJ’s second-best sport. It seems to go hand in hand with being a good basketball player.
“We’ll see about that,” Nigel says, catching Jeremy’s pass before shooting for three. “Did you hear the sound of that? That’s what we refer to as a swoosh,” Nigel says, laughing all the way back up the court.
“Yeah, well this is what we refer to as a tiebreaker,” KJ says, dribbling into Jeremy, through Chance, and around Nigel for a perfect layup.
“Foul,” Chance says and he’s right. But the rules are different in street ball and that’s new territory for both him and Jeremy.
“Dude, you can’t step on someone’s feet and still take it to the hoop,” Jeremy says, stepping into KJ’s face as the warning bell rings. Most of the students have already started to head out of the gym, waiting for the final bell to ring. My dance class is still in awe of Mr. A, who’s on his way back to the boy’s locker room. And
me and my crew are staying posted, waiting to see if this game will end in bloodshed.
“Dude,” KJ says, mocking Jeremy. “There’s no referee here, if you haven’t noticed.” KJ and Jeremy are the same height and probably about the same weight. If they fight, it’s going to be an even brawl and I ain’t missing a beat, even if I do miss my bus.
“Yeah, dude. And that’s game,” Del says, rubbing salt into their wounds. “Take it like a man.”
“I would if you played like one,” Nigel says, throwing his own shit in the mix. “Y’all play worse than the Lakers when Shaq and Kobe were competing for best bitch of the league.”
“Who you calling a bitch?” KJ says, stepping out of Jeremy’s face and into Nigel’s. Even if Nigel stands a few inches shorter, KJ doesn’t want to mess with him. Nigel was recruited to sack players for South Bay and he’d be glad to do it right here on the basketball court, if need be.
“Is everything alright over here?” Mr. Adewale says, catching us all off-guard. Me and my girls are mesmerized by the scene, waiting to see who will throw the first blow. And Chance, Nigel, and Jeremy all look ready for a fight.
“Yeah man, everything’s cool,” Nigel says, being the first to back down. “This game isn’t over.”
“Anytime, any place baby. You call it and I’ll be there,” KJ says as he and his team retreat toward the locker room. “It’s going to be my court no matter where we play.”
“We’ll see about that,” Nigel says, passing the ball to Mr. Adewale as he comes to give Mickey a kiss before heading back to the weight room. I hope he works off some of that frustration before he hurts someone.
“Jayd, you want a ride? From the looks of it, it’s about to storm,” Mickey says, suddenly in a generous mood. There must be some magic in Nigel’s lips because my girl’s mood has completely changed.
“Yeah, thanks. Chance, are you okay?” I say, noticing the black scuffmarks across his new kicks and I know how sensitive dudes can be about their shoes.
“Yeah, I’m cool. Jeremy, you should’ve kicked his ass when you had the chance, man.”
“That’s not the way to handle it, trust me,” Mr. Adewale says, dribbling the ball and shooting some practice hoops. I see he’s got game, too. “But, you should have a ref around next time, just in case.”
“You’re right, man. Next time,” Jeremy says, responding to Mr. Adewale but looking at me. I think we should hit the road before I get into some trouble of my own.
“I have to get going,” I say, signaling my girls to get up. “Good game. I’m impressed with both of you.”
“Why thank you, Lady J,” Jeremy says as Chance takes Nellie by the hand, escorting her down the bleachers. “You ladies want to grab something to eat?”
“Oh, I can’t. I’ve got a ton of work to do.” I wish I could hang out more after school like other students do, but Mama would have my ass in a sling if I didn’t stick to my regular schedule. “But how about tomorrow? It’s an early day.”
“Tomorrow it is,” Jeremy says, helping me down too. I forgot how much of a gentleman he can be.
“And thanks for being our cheerleaders,” Chance says, kissing Nellie’s hand as Mickey leads the way out of the gym. I think she’s had enough of us and our white boys for one day.
By the time we get to the parking lot, it’s raining heavily and most of the cars are gone.
“Mickey, do you have my sweater in the car?” Nellie asks, getting in the back since I’ll be dropped off first.
“No, I left it at home. I’ll get it to you tomorrow,” Mickey says, starting the car as Keisha Cole and Missy Elliot blare out of her speakers, making the trunk shake.
“No, Mickey. I need it now. I have my outfit picked out for tomorrow and it includes my red Bebe sweater. You’ll have to take me to your house to get it.”
“Ah, hell no. I’ve got to get home,” I say, emphatic about not going to the other side of Compton today. I’m not in the mood for seeing Mickey’s family, her man included. “Besides, that’s out of her way to go all the way to her house and then back to mine.”
“Not if she takes the 105. And besides, you were supposed to give me back that sweater weeks ago. I’m not getting out of this car until I have it in my hand.” Nellie can be more demanding than Mickey sometimes. It’s a wonder they’re friends at all.
“Fine. I’ll give you your damned sweater,” Mickey says, barely catching the on-ramp to the 105 East from the 110. I don’t feel good about this detour at all. I knew I should’ve taken the bus home, even if it meant getting a little wet. It’s better than dealing with Mickey’s side of town any day.
2
Hot Head
“In and out, out and in you go/ I feel your fire then I lose my self-control.”
—LISA FISCHER
As we approach the Long Beach Boulevard exit, my stomach tightens up and I get the feeling that something’s up. It could be paranoia, but I know better. Every time I come to Mickey’s house, some shit goes down. If her mama and daddy ain’t at each other’s throats, then her brothers and sister are tripping. Not to mention that her man is usually in close proximity, which is always a negative experience for me.
“I hate coming to your side of town,” Nellie says, expressing my sentiments exactly. “Why couldn’t you just bring my sweater to school when I first asked you to?”
“Because I forgot. What’s the big deal? You only live five minutes away from here,” Mickey says. “And Jayd, doesn’t your daddy live over here somewhere?” Mickey intones, recalling my first visit to her crib where I mentioned I was familiar with her hood. Most of my friends from my old school, Family Christian, live out this way, including Rah’s grandparents.
“Yeah, he lives by the old Lynwood High.” Even though my dad lives directly behind the Compton Swap Meet, his side of town is considered Lynwood and he’s very proud of not actually living in the city of Compton, just like Nellie.
“Want to stop by and give him a shout-out?” Mickey says, making light of the fact me and my dad barely speak. I haven’t seen him since we went to a family picnic together a couple of months ago. He called and left a message afterwards but I never did return his call. I’ll make sure to give him a call tomorrow. Even if I can’t stand the man, he’s still my father and my elder, which means I have to respect him, or so he says to me all the time.
“We don’t have time for family visits or any other kinds of stops. I need to get home and touch up my hair,” Nellie says, tucking a wayward strand behind her ear before silencing her ringing cell.
“Nellie, you act like you live in another county,” Mickey says pulling into her driveway where her family’s outside kicking it. “You live right up the street from me, same area code and all.”
“Yeah, but you live in Compton and I live in Rosewood. Very different energies between the two places,” she says, sounding as bougie as ever. I knew Nellie’s foul experience with Tania and her crew wouldn’t have a permanent effect on the diva in our girl.
“Yeah, whatever. Tell that to the brothas who’ve pledged their lives to the streets of Compton, right on your block,” says Mickey, and she would know. Her younger brothers and her man are in that category. And speaking of which, her man pulls up right behind Mickey’s car, blocking us in. This trip isn’t going to be as quick as I anticipated.
“Ah damn,” Mickey says, turning off the engine and opening the car door. “I was supposed to call him after school and forgot.” She didn’t forget as much as she was distracted by her other man ballin’. Mickey better tighten her game or she’s going to be in more trouble than she can handle.
“How long are you going to keep this juggling act going, Mickey? You know you’re playing with fire,” I say. I don’t mean to sound like her mama, but damn. I’m being put in an uncomfortable situation no matter how it goes and personally, I’m sick of it.
“I know you’re not talking,” Mickey says, looking at me through the rearview mirror before getting out. And she’s r
ight. I’m slightly torn between Jeremy and Rah still. But at least I’m not playing anyone. The way she’s working the game, it can only end up bad for everyone involved.
“Mickey, where you been? I told you to call me when you got out of class,” her man says, getting out of his car without even turning it off. Mickey’s man is hotter than hot and that ain’t good. Nellie and I watch it all go down as her family members ignore the dramatic scene. I guess this happens on a daily basis around here. Mickey’s man takes a large step toward her and snatches her by the arm, making her drop the new cell phone in her hand. I wonder if he knows it was a gift from Nigel.
“Damn boo, chill,” she says, pulling away from him and going for her phone on the ground. But it’s no use. He grabs her arm again, this time tighter, and pulls her in closer so she can’t get away.
“Who you messing with, Mickey, huh?” he says, smelling her hair like a dog. What the hell? If a dude ever tried that shit with me, his days would be numbered. “What’s his name?”
“Damn, nigga, calm down. It ain’t even like that,” Mickey says, trying to save face. How she keeps her lies straight I’ll never know. “We just got here and I have to run inside and get something for Nellie before I take my girls home.” He looks inside the car and sees Nellie and me looking dead at him. I wish I had Esmeralda’s eyes right about now. I’d like to give him a headache from hell like only she can.
“Whatever, Mickey. I know you been screwing somebody else and I’m going to find out who it is, one way or another. Get your ass in the house and get whatever it is you need to get. We’ll take your girls home together,” he says, pushing her toward the front door. He sounds more like her daddy than her man. But I guess since her dad’s too busy working two jobs to support his extra-large family, her man’s the only regular father figure she’s got.
“I don’t want to ride in the car with him,” Nellie says, looking at me with a panicked expression. “And I don’t want him knowing where I live. What do we do?” she says, turning around in her seat and digging in her purse for her phone again.
