The Gift-Giver

by Joyce Hansen

  I was miserable for the rest of the night. When I went to bed I heard them talking. My ears ain't like my mother's so I couldn't tell what they was saying. But I decided there was no way I was gonna miss that game. I'd go anyway. Since I was already under punishment, there'd just be some more punishment added to that. Probably I'd get a whipping. Still, I couldn't miss the game for nothing in the world.

  When I got to the kitchen the next morning my father had already left for work. Mama was still banging pots. Sometimes I felt sorry for those pots and pans. I didn't say nothing. I just drank my milk.

  "Listen, Miss, you speak when you come in this kitchen."

  "Mornin'," I said quietly.

  "You lucky your father is so soft-hearted. He talked me into letting you stay after school for the game."

  "Oh, Ma!" I yelled so loud the baby jumped.

  "Okay, all that noise ain't necessary."

  She came over to me and shook her finger in my face. "Girl, you better walk a straight line home after that game."

  4. The Game

  The first crazy thing about that day was that Sherman was absent. This was the day of the big basketball game between the fifth and sixth grades. Sherman was the captain of the fifth-grade team. Big Russell was angry because of Sherman. I was mad too. We just knew that the fifth grade would win this year 'cause Sherman was so good.

  As usual we went to the schoolyard after lunch. Amir came with us—quiet like always. All the boys practiced for the game except Big Russell. He sat by himself looking like a fat volcano ready to explode. We all knew to stay away from him when he got mad. Russell is okay but you always got to be so careful how you act with him. I went over to him, kind of nervous-like. Amir followed me.

  "Russell, what you think happened to Sherman?" I asked.

  "How I know? He just don't care, I guess."

  "Maybe he's sick," I said.

  "He ain't sick. He just don't care about us winning."

  Amir turned to Russell. "Don't you know how to play basketball?"

  Lordy, I said to myself. This boy better stop asking Russell them dumb questions.

  Russell looked at Amir like he was crazy. "Of course, man. What you ask me that for? You trying to be funny?"

  "Since you play too, why you thinking you'll lose 'cause Sherman ain't here?"

  "Don't you understand nothing? Sherman is the captain. He's the best player, man. He plays better than them sixth graders. He tall and big like them."

  "So are you," said Amir.

  Oh, oh, I said to myself. Russell gonna bust him a good one now if he don't shut up.

  But Russell just looked at Amir again, like Amir had no sense at all.

  "Sherman knows all the moves. All the plays," he said.

  "Don't you know them too?" Amir asked.

  "Yeah, but he's the captain. We need another man. None of them guys is good as Sherman."

  "Use Yellow Bird," Amir said.

  Even I had to laugh at that. Yellow Bird never played in important games. I mean it was crazy to think of Yellow Bird with his little, short self trying to play a regular game with guys like Russell and Sherman—not to mention those big sixth graders.

  "You really stupid, man. Bird can't play in no regular game!" Russell yelled.

  "He practices with you. He's little and fast and could keep the other team confused."

  "Look, Amir, you're confused. It don't make no difference. We gonna lose anyway. I'm gonna get Sherman good for this."

  "If you gonna lose anyway, may as well put Yellow Bird in the game."

  Russell looked at Amir like he was really gonna hit him this time.

  "Man, what do you know? You can't even play ball."

  At three o'clock everyone headed for the gym. We looked forward to this game all year. The fifth grade had never beat the sixth grade at Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School. I felt real bad for the team 'cause they thought they had a chance this time. This was the one time I hoped Big Russell would get Sherman for letting everyone down like this.

  Me and Mickey and Dotty got good seats in front. I saw Amir on the other side of the court talking to Big Russell. I wanted to know so bad what they said my ears hurt.

  "Hey, Mickey, I wonder what them boys talking about."

  "About the game."

  "I know that. But what they saying?"

  "How should I know?"

  "Tell Dotty to go over there and find out."

  We always sent Dotty on errands to find out what people said. Somehow she could be some place and nobody see her. She came back in two minutes, sat down and didn't say a thing.

  "What them boys saying?" I asked.

  "That new boy just say 'You play good like Sherman, you should win.'"

  "That sound like some of that Amir talk. What Big Russell say?"

  "My mama don't allow me and Mickey to talk like that."

  Sometimes I don't understand Dotty at all. What did her mama have to do with her telling me what them boys said? Before I could ask her to explain, the game started.

  The sixth-grade team came out first and them old sixth graders in the audience yelled and hollered. I got so mad. They knew they was gonna win.

  Then the fifth-grade team came out. Russell led them. Suddenly the audience started stomping and yelling. I looked to see what the noise was about. Who do I see at the end of the lineup but Yellow Bird, looking like he wearing his daddy's drawers.

  Russell went and listened to Amir after all. Yellow Bird was a sight. Even me and Mickey and Dotty laughed until our faces hurt. Yellow Bird didn't care. He grinned and got ready to act the fool. At least we had a good laugh even if we lost the game.

  The game began. First of all, I thought Yellow Bird was going to lose them shorts he was wearing. That kept me worried. Them shorts waved like flags as he flew from one end of the court to the other.

  Russell looked like a tank—mowing people down.

  The sixth graders had six points and the fifth graders six fouls. Then I heard some noise on the other side of the gym.

  I see Amir moving around where a lot of fifth graders is sitting. Then he comes running over to me and Mickey and Dotty. He puts them big eyes on me and says, "We cheering for Russell."

  So we all yelled, "Go, Russell! Go Russell!" Seemed like every fifth grader was yelling.

  Meanwhile, down on the court, Russell is butting heads and Bird is flapping. But Russell made a basket and finally got them two points.

  Bird caught the ball and spun like a top back to Russell who made a beautiful hook shot.

  The fifth-grade team started moving. Yellow Bird darted and dribbled all over the place. No one could catch him.

  Russell made all kinds of shots.

  The sixth-grade team looked confused. Another point for the fifth grade. Then the crowd starts yelling, "Go Bird! Go Russell!" We screamed till we lost our voices.

  It was worth it. For the first time in the history of Dunbar Elementary, the fifth-grade basketball team beat the sixth grade. They beat them just by one point. But that didn't matter.

  Of course, Bird and Russell was the stars. Russell looked like he lost twenty pounds 'cause he wasn't blown up and evil anymore. He looked so proud it made me feel proud.

  Before I even had a chance to say something about the game to her, Mickey was on the court grinning in Yellow Bird's face. Dotty disappeared too. I remembered I was under punishment. I left without saying anything to anybody. I didn't want everyone to know I had to leave right away.

  I walked down 163rd Street slow as I could and still keep moving. I saw Amir and caught up to him. After I ran over to him I felt stupid. I didn't know what to say. He looked at me and smiled.

  "That was some game," he said.

  "Yeah. The fifth grade did good." I wanted to ask him something about himself. But how you ask somebody why they strange?

  "Hey, Amir, how come you...."

  Some boys from our class came dashing down the street. "Amir. Come on to the playground with
us."

  Amir looked at me. "See you later, Doris."

  He went with the other boys. Mickey and Dotty came over to me. "Let's go to the playground," they said.

  "I gotta do some things for my mother."

  They laughed. "Come on, Dotty," Mickey said. "Let's find Lavinia or anybody who can do something."

  "You some friends," I yelled to them. They just laughed again.

  I went upstairs. Mama still looked mad. But she was baking a chocolate cake—my favorite, and this wasn't even Sunday. I went to my room which was really a hallway. But it was my own spot.

  "Get the baby, Doris. Don't you hear him crying?"

  Don't you hear me crying? I thought. I'm never going to get married or have babies. I'm going to be free and do everything I want.

  I thought about Amir. If I could've went to the playground I could've talked to him. When I picked up the baby he started crying even more. I felt like crying too.

  All I wanted was to do some of the things my friends did. Mickey and Dotty was my best friends, but I could tell they was getting tired of being with me cause I couldn't do anything.

  5. Missing

  The next morning I waited for Mickey and Dotty, but they never showed up. I took the shortcut through the playground. Mama said I couldn't play in the playground. She didn't say I couldn't use it as a shortcut to get to school. I saw Mickey and Dotty up ahead and ran over to them.

  "Hey, I waited for you this morning. What happened?"

  Dotty didn't even bother to answer. Mickey said, "We thought your mother wouldn't let you come out."

  "You think you so funny! You could've waited for me."

  Dotty twisted her little round head to the side. "Me and Mickey thought you was gone. Lots of times you don't wait for us, you know!"

  "That's a lie! I always wait."

  "You better not call my sister a liar," Mickey said.

  Dotty twisted her face. "Come on, Mickey," she said. "Forget her."

  "Later for both of you," I said.

  I walked away from them. I should've known when I saw them dressed exactly alike in green skirts and green sweaters that they was gonna be acting hinkty. It was sickening having twins for friends anyway. Sometimes they act like nobody's in the world but them.

  When I got near the school I saw Amir.

  "What's wrong with you this morning?" he asked.

  "Nothing."

  "You look mad."

  "I ain't mad."

  "You walking fast like you're mad. Where's your two friends?"

  "What friends?"

  "The twins."

  "We ain't really friends. We just acquaintances."

  He started looking around the schoolyard. "I wonder if Sherman is in school today."

  "Who cares?" I said.

  "Russell, Yellow Bird—everybody cares."

  "He didn't care enough about us to show up for the game."

  "Maybe he's sick."

  "Maybe. Maybe not."

  He looked around and saw Russell and them in the yard. "I'll see you later, Doris."

  Soon as he left I felt a little bad about the way I talked to him, but he didn't act like he was insulted.

  It was good I didn't have them twin friends anymore. That day was the first time all year I didn't get in trouble for talking in class.

  Everybody else was still excited about the game. Mickey and Dotty got a pass to the bathroom and stayed an hour.

  Russell autographed basketballs instead of copying notes off the board.

  Yellow Bird came flying in the room playing basketball with big wads of paper. Of course, Amir behaved.

  And Sherman still wasn't back.

  We went to the yard at lunchtime. There was a whole crowd of kids around Bird and Russell.

  "Hey, Bird, play some ball with us after school."

  "Russell, you made some nice moves yesterday."

  "Bird, you got to show me some of that."

  "Come around the block after school."

  And that Mickey and Dotty was twitching and dancing around Bird and Russell too.

  People sure is phony, I thought. They used to laugh in Bird's face and behind Big Russell's back, now they was all over them.

  Suddenly someone yelled, "Hey, there goes Sherman."

  "Sherman!" Russell shouted.

  Sherman just looked in the yard and then turned around and ran. Everybody ran out the yard calling him. Amir was the only boy who stayed. He sat down on the school steps and I walked over to him.

  "How come you didn't run after Sherman too?" I asked.

  "Sherman don't want to talk to no one."

  "How you know?"

  "I could tell. He didn't run 'cause he was scared. He just don't want to be bothered."

  I sat down next to Amir. "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I told you that boy just don't care about nobody. I knew he wasn't sick."

  "Maybe he's in trouble."

  "He just playing hookey and acting crazy," I said.

  Amir didn't say nothing else. He just looked real quiet and serious.

  "Hey, Amir, how come you ... I mean, why did you ... How come you don't act like you just moved here?"

  He looked at me a long time and I felt kind of stupid. Then he smiled a little. "I'm used to moving to different schools. And new neighborhoods."

  "How come you just followed Sherman and them to the park the other day? You know they was going to bother you."

  He shrugged his shoulders. "They would bother me more if I ran home scared. It's better to face it and get it over with. Now we friends. You ever move to a new block or a new school?"

  "Nope. I been living on 163rd Street all my life."

  I was sorry when the bell rang to go back in. I saw Russell and them running back to the school. I wondered if they caught up with Sherman.

  When we got out of school that afternoon Mickey and Dotty ignored me and I ignored them. Russell and the other boys disappeared before I could ask them about Sherman. I walked real slow hoping I might see Amir, but he was gone too.

  Just as I started going into my building I heard him calling me.

  "Doris, I was looking for you. Where you went so fast after school?"

  Here I was walking like a turtle so I could see him and he's talking about where I went so fast.

  "I heard that Sherman's family moved," he said.

  "Russell and them talked to him?"

  "No, they didn't catch up to him. Lavinia told me."

  Lavinia is the most gossipy girl in our class.

  "How she know?" I asked.

  "She said that's what she heard."

  "She always hearing something. How come he ain't tell nobody good-bye?"

  "That's what I asked her."

  "I saw his grandmother yesterday," I said.

  "Did she say good-bye?"

  "That mean old woman never talks to no one."

  Amir sat on the bannister. "You going upstairs now?" he asked.

  "Yeah."

  "I'll see you tomorrow then." He left the stoop and ran toward the playground.

  At least he didn't act like I was a freak because I had to go in the house.

  As I ran up the stairs to my apartment I thought about Sherman. He had about eight brothers and sisters. There was so many of them that you always saw somebody from that family. But come to think of it, I hadn't seen none of them for the past two days. I only saw his grandmother, and like I said before, she never talks.

  Next day at lunchtime I heard five different rumors about Sherman. I wondered whether Lavinia started all of them.

  One boy said Sherman was sent to reform school. A girl in class 6-1 said he was just playing hookey.

  Another girl said she heard he was scared Big Russell would beat him up for missing the game. I guess Big Russell started that rumor.

  Another boy said he heard Sherman was suspended from school, but he didn't know why.

  Me and Mickey and Dotty still wasn't talking to each other, even though we was
standing around in the schoolyard listening to the same rumors. I noticed that this day the twins wasn't dressed exactly alike.

  Suddenly Dotty goes over to some little fourth graders and starts jumping double-dutch with them.

  Then Amir says that maybe we should go to Sherman's house and find out what really happened.

  Mickey says, "Yeah. That's what we should do." Then she looks at me. I made believe I didn't see her and turned to Amir.

  "No one goes to his house," I said.

  "That's right. His grandmother hates kids. And they can't have no company," Mickey said. She looked at me again like she was talking to me. I looked back at her, but I really didn't want to.

  "Yeah. No one goes there," I said.

  The bell rang and I walked back to the building. Mickey followed me. Dotty was still jumping double-dutch like a little nut.

  "That's really something about Sherman," she said.

  "No one knows what happened." I walked real fast, but she kept following me.

  "You think he afraid of Big Russell?" she asked in a little whiney voice.

  "Girl, you crazy. Sherman could beat that fat Russell into a Virginia ham," I said.

  We laughed so hard we couldn't stop. When we got to the room Mrs. Brown made up her face right away.

  "Shut up that racket. You've been so good for the past two days, Doris. Don't spoil it."

  School was long and hot and boring that afternoon. But everytime me and Mickey looked over at Russell we had to cover our mouths to keep from laughing.

  Then Mrs. Brown called Russell up to the board. Mickey drew a picture of a big ham and showed it to me. We tried not to laugh out loud. But we couldn't help it. Me and Mickey exploded. We was all doubled over laughing and crying.

  Mrs. Brown stopped her lesson. "Mickey and Doris, go and stand in the hall until you control yourselves."

  We went outside. When we looked at each other we started laughing. I guess you could say we was friends again.

  After school Mickey and Dotty headed for the playground and I went home.

  For the rest of the week all we heard was these stories about Sherman. By the time the weekend came I was off punishment, but it didn't matter 'cause it rained all weekend. I still had to stay in the house because of the rain, so I didn't hear any news about Sherman.