by L. Divine
“What did you hear?” Nellie asks, taking the bait. I must say I’m impressed with her newfound badass-ness, even if she is applying it in the wrong direction.
“I heard that a little birdie told on someone to get what she wanted. And then I heard that the little birdie got its ass kicked all over campus,” Mickey says, reaching around me and pushing Nellie’s shoulder with the tip of her long nail. If she’s willing to break one of those claws I know she’s one step away from taking the multiple gold earrings off of her ears in preparation for a fight.
“Mickey, take a Pamprin. Oh, that’s right. Your bitchiness is caused from not having a period to worry about these days,” Nellie says as Laura looks on, proud of her protégé. They both look down at Mickey’s growing belly like it’s something to be ashamed of. I don’t like anyone sending negative ashe to an innocent baby.
“Okay you two, let’s just calm down,” I say, trying to appease the situation. I don’t know why I care about these two remaining friends, but I do, and I can’t stand giving our enemies the satisfaction of seeing our crew in shambles. It used to be the three of us against the rest of these fools up here. But now that one of us has joined the fools, everything’s off balance.
“Oh, Jayd. Always the martyr,” Nellie says, mocking my intervention. “You know, we became BACs this Christmas. Maybe you two should try church. It works.” Nellie hands me a flyer recruiting students for their after-school Born Again Christians club. I thought schools were the one place all religions were forbidden and that’s just fine by me. There’s never a flyer going around for my religion. Maybe I should start my own club.
“You can’t be serious,” Chance says, snatching up the flyer and laughing. “Laura, you’re the biggest skank I know,” Chance says, much to Nellie’s disapproval.
“Whatever,” Laura replies. There’s nothing else the girl can say, because she knows he’s telling the truth and so do I. Mickey looks at Nellie like she’s a stranger, but I’m not willing to let this go so easily, even if the ringing bell says that I have to.
“You don’t even like religion,” I yell at Nellie as the hall becomes louder with the growing crowd.
“Well, my soul needs saving after dealing with heathens like you and Mickey. You’ve both been a bad influence on me and I needed something new.”
“No, what you need is a good ass whipping and I’ll gladly give you one,” Mickey says before taking off the first earring, and I don’t know if I can stop her, even if she is pregnant. Misty’s still looking on, watching us go back and forth like a cat watching a tennis match. She really needs to get a life and I need to focus on saving my girls from ripping each other apart.
“Nellie, after all they did to you: putting up naked pictures of you on the Internet, making you anorexic, and then planting a rotten apple for you to eat, I can’t believe you still want to hang with them. But you know what? You go right ahead. Me and Mickey will keep it moving without you, and we’ll be here when you wise up, as always.”
“Speak for yourself,” Mickey says, rubbing her belly. “I’ve got a baby to think about now. All of her little shit don’t matter to me anymore.” Mickey calms down and puts her earring back on, ready to walk to third period. “You can hang with whoever you want to. I’m done with your trifling ass.” Nellie looks sincerely hurt by Mickey’s words. For a split second she has my sympathy.
“You know you’re going straight to hell for your sins, right Mickey? I’ll be here when you’re ready to repent. Bye bye,” Nellie says, walking back into the ASB right behind the rest of her clique, Chance behind her. She’s really tripping this time. And, unlike last time, I’m going to let her fall flat on her face and I’m going to move out of the way ’cause she’s crashing into unknown territory for me and I don’t want to get hurt in the crossfire.
“Mickey, are you okay?” I ask, watching her pace back and forth. I know it took a lot of restraint for her not to kill Nellie and I’m proud of my girl. She’s so hot I feel like she’s going to explode, and that can’t be good for the baby.
“I have to check in with the administration at lunch about transferring to the continuation school. I’ll catch you after school, Jayd.”
“Mickey, I’m telling you, don’t let them derail you like this. It’s not a good move.”
“Maybe not, but it’s my move to make. Later,” she says, waddling off toward her class and me to mine. I’d better get a move on because the last thing I want to do is be late for third period.
I make it to class on time, but barely.
“Thank you for joining us today, Miss Jackson,” Mrs. Peterson says from her desk. When Mr. A was here the last week before the break, I was hoping she’d be out permanently, but no such luck. This holiday season has sucked, through and through. No sense in it getting any better now that it’s officially over.
“The bell is ringing as we speak. You can’t mark me tardy for that,” I say before putting down my backpack on my desk, which is next to Jeremy’s empty one. I wonder if he forgot about school starting today? It is a nice, sunny, and windy day, making for the perfect surf. Perhaps he decided to take an extra day off before getting back on his grind. As I pull my chair out from under the desk, Mrs. Peterson waves her red pen in the air like a magic wand before continuing.
“Not so fast, Miss Jackson.” The entire class laughs as she puts me on the spot, but for what I’m not sure. “As I announced a moment ago, the last person to arrive will be the first one to present their paper. You do have your paper ready, don’t you?” Man, if she wasn’t a teacher I’d take my earrings off right now and give her a run for her money. I’m already vexed about Nellie and Misty, not to mention Mickey leaving main campus in a couple of weeks. But now this heffa wants to put me on the spot my first day back after the winter break. What the hell?
“I’m ready.” I get out my folder and take the five-page paper out, ready to present it, when Jeremy walks in right after the bell. Mrs. Peterson looks at me, pissed that I’m not the latest one and therefore not required to go first. But now that I’m up here, I might as well go ahead.
“Sorry I’m late,” Jeremy says, looking like he just rolled out of bed.
“That’s okay, Mr. Weiner. Please get ready to grace us with your report. Miss Jackson, you can take your seat.”
“Actually, I’d like to go ahead since I’m already up here.” Mrs. Peterson looks at me and shakes her head.
“Fine, Jayd. Go ahead. Mr. Weiner, you’re next.”
“Actually, I think we can go at the same time. Our leaders are kind of connected,” he says, pulling out his paper. “I changed my topic to the ruler Cortes, the one who named California after his love, Califia.” This dude is tripping big time if he thinks Mrs. Peterson’s going to go for that. But before I can contest, the vision of Maman’s white lover coming to the door to save her pops into my mind. Why is Jeremy always trying to save me like I need his help?
“I think I can handle this on my own,” I say, smiling, but I really want to cuss him out for this. When did he make this change? As much as we saw each other over the break he didn’t think to tell me? With friends like mine, I don’t need any enemies. Too bad I’ve got both.
“This is a solo project, Mr. Weiner. You’ll have to wait your turn. Miss Jackson, you may proceed.” Jeremy reluctantly takes his seat and smiles at me like he’s proud of his actions. Wait until I get to him at lunch. He won’t know what hit him.
8
Money, Power, Respect
“Ladies is pimps too/ Go on brush your shoulders off.”
—JAY Z
After class yesterday Jeremy left campus for the rest of the day. I never got to talk to him about his sudden change in topic for his report. We both ended up with good grades but it still doesn’t excuse him for always trying to save me. Why can’t Jeremy get it through his thick skull that he’s not my daddy or my savior? I can save myself, or hasn’t he noticed that by now? With my cupcakes I helped save his ass from going to
jail, even if he doesn’t believe it. Keeping him at school after he was busted selling weed was my first solo project.
Yesterday was so much excitement for me that I decided to come home right after school and study for my test with Netta and Mama, which is coming up soon. It would be too much like the right thing for them to tell me exactly when it’s going to be. So, I’ll just be prepared for whenever they’re in the mood to spring it on me, even if it’s today. After yesterday’s surprise presentation in government, I’m reminded to expect anything at any time.
I throw the covers back and let the morning cold wake me up. Every morning I have to mentally prepare myself for the day ahead. I feel like I move from one world at home and into another one at school, and the shift isn’t always smooth. But getting up a half hour later every morning, now that I can drive myself, should be helpful. Yesterday I made the mistake of going to school early and I ran into all sorts of drama. This morning I’ll roll with the late crowd and pull up right as school begins.
“Good morning, sleeping stank breath,” Bryan says. I sock him in the arm as he passes me up in the hallway. “Such violence so early. You’re already going to be late if you don’t quit playing.”
“Ain’t nobody gon’ be late,” I say, pushing him aside to get into the room he shares with my grandfather and cousin Jay. I’ll be so glad when the day comes that I have my own room. Until then I’m stuck with storing my stuff in their closet.
“Oh, what are you going to do? Fly to Redondo Beach because you know you’re about to miss your bus.” I forget Bryan hasn’t seen me since Christmas Eve because he’s been shacking up at his girl’s house for the holidays. He wasn’t in when I got home from school last night, so maybe he’s just coming up for air. He grabs his “Compton” baseball hat and puts it on over his neat braids. My work does last a long time, but his head is screaming for a new set of rows.
“You know my daddy bought me a car, right?” I say, making my way into the bathroom. I admit I’m a little embarrassed to drive my car. But as long as it keeps rolling, I’m a happy little black girl. Yesterday was my first day driving to school and it was pretty uneventful. I’m just glad it didn’t break down at school. I would’ve never lived that down.
“Yeah? Does your daddy need a new son?” Bryan jokes. “I wish my daddy bought me a car.”
“I did,” Daddy says, stepping out of his bedroom, still half asleep. “It’s not my fault you didn’t take care of that van.” Bryan looks at me like a little boy who’s just been scolded for losing his bike. Daddy’s a big man of few words: a dangerous combination, especially when he has the legal right to whip your ass.
“I was just playing, man,” Bryan says, trying to clean it up. Daddy kisses me on the forehead and continues his trek toward the kitchen. Getting up later means more traffic and conversation that I don’t have time for.
“If you’re done being all up in my business now I need to get ready for school.”
“Don’t act like you didn’t miss me, girl. I haven’t seen you in over a week. And I didn’t get to holla at you for New Year’s like I usually do. I was in and out real quick, but I still checked for you.”
“Yeah, Mama didn’t want me out and I was running late that night. Did I miss anything?” I ask, separating my toiletries and spreading them across the small sink. I hang my long jean skirt and red shirt on the back of the bathroom door, ready to get dressed and get out.
“You know what’s crazy is that I saw Misty on New Year’s Eve go over to Esmeralda’s and she looked like she didn’t recognize me when I walked by. Maybe she was high or something,” Bryan says. Misty has been looking a little strange lately but I just thought she was still recovering from her unfortunate bout with the clap.
“She’s a trip. You know that,” I say. Misty’s one of the rare people I know who doesn’t need any pharmaceutical help to bug out.
“Yeah, but she ain’t that much of a trip. You should’ve seen her. Even Mama had to say something when she saw them go inside.”
“Wait, Mama knew about it?” I wonder why she didn’t mention this to me before. That would explain why Misty asked where I was for the holiday. I wonder what they were up to over there in that hellhole of a house, because I know it wasn’t popping champagne and making happy wishes. Nothing about Esmeralda’s creepy house says good times.
“M-hmm, and she went to the backhouse and stayed there until the next morning, or at least that’s what Jay said when I came home the next day.” Very interesting. Maybe that’s why she didn’t want me to come home on New Year’s Eve. There was something going on she didn’t want me to be around for. I wonder what? I’ll have to check the spirit book when I get home and see if I can find any clues.
When I get to campus the cars are backed up down the same block I used to walk up every morning from the bus stop. There’s something to be said about perspective, because from the inside looking out, I wish I were walking up the steep hill instead of waiting my turn to park. This is a waste of time, and if they don’t move it up we’re all going to be late for first period.
As I finally pull into the front parking lot, I can see Misty hanging up something on the bulletin board. It looks like a flyer for some sort of dance. Don’t tell me she’s volunteering for ASB now. Having a common target for hating sure does make for the strangest friends. I park in a spot far from the front gate we all have to go through to get to the main campus. Whether on foot or in a car, I still have to hustle to get to class on time. And after yesterday’s falling out between Mickey and Nellie, I’m not really looking forward to today, even if we do get out early because of the usual Tuesday staff meeting.
“Que pasa, Jayd? You look a little down,” Maggie says, walking toward the main hall without the rest of her crew. Usually you’d never see a member of El Barrio alone, but I guess every girl needs her space sometimes.
“Is it that obvious?” Maggie’s the only female up here not tripping on me, I swear, and she never has.
“What’s up, chica? You’re not letting those girls of yours get to you, are you?”
“Of course I am. They’re my girls.”
“Were. They were your girls. Now they are just some chicks causing muchas problemas in tu mundo, no?” She’s right. Nellie and Mickey have been causing major problems in my world and it’s been turned upside down because of them both. They need to grow up and come to their senses before they end up on my bad side. Now that would be a strange world, where the three of us are enemies.
“Well, let’s not count Mickey out. She’s just dealing with a lot of pressure right now.” Most of it caused by her own hands, but that goes without saying. “And I’m staying busy with work, so I’m trying to stay out of the mix as much as possible.”
“Yeah, I heard about your mad hair skills. Want to hook me up?” Maggie says, smiling at me while twisting her long, curly brown hair. “Don’t worry. Papi can give you a ride home. We all live that way too you know.”
“Oh, I’ve got my own wheels now,” I say, stopping in front of the main hall and putting my fingers through her hair like I do all of my clients. I can see two rows of tiny cornrows for Maggie, as opposed to the single row of partial braids she’s rocking now. “Yeah, I’ll hook you up one of these days.”
“So it is true? You are turning this school into a beauty shop,” Mrs. Bennett says. She and Mr. Adewale surprise us as they cross our path on their way to the main office. It sure is nice to see Mr. A this morning. I wish he had been here for my presentation of my paper on Queen Califia yesterday. I think he would have been pleasantly surprised.
“Actually, that’s a good idea. We should have a beauty shop elective and Jayd could do her thang for everyone, including teachers,” Maggie says, eyeing Mrs. Bennett’s old-school haircut. Mr. Adewale clears his throat, trying not to laugh at Maggie’s comment.
“Good morning, ladies,” he says. Mrs. Bennett rolls her blues eyes at me and Maggie both as she walks away.
“Good morning
, Mr. A,” I say as he follows behind his school-appointed mentor. Maggie winks at me and, I must say, it’s nice to have a homegirl backing me for a change.
“Jayd, you should come kick it with us. Mickey’s leaving next week and you don’t need Nellie’s stuck-up ass anyway. Besides, my braids are coming loose. You can touch them up at lunch, chica.” Maggie’s right. Just because my girls are tripping doesn’t mean I have to as well. I have plenty of prospective homies, including Maggie and her crew. So I have to keep it moving and hang with those who want to chill, and leave the rest of the folks behind.
“Okay, I’ll hook you up at lunch and this one’s on me.”
“You hook me up right, mami, and I’ll have a whole new clientele for you.” Now that’s what I like to hear. I need to be all about my money and forget about the rest of the drama.
Mickey seemed to avoid me, or maybe she just didn’t want to be bothered. Either way, she and Nigel were conveniently missing in action for the day, and Jeremy didn’t bother showing up to school either. So, kicking it with Maggie was a good distraction and it introduced me to a whole new population of clients, just like she said it would. Having my own car and getting off early today allowed me to get to the shop extra early this afternoon and get some much needed work done. Now that I’ve made sure all the clients’ hair boxes are in order and my own supplies replenished, I can question Mama about what really happened on New Year’s Eve.
“Mama, we never talked about New Year’s Eve,” I say, easing into my inquisition. If Mama didn’t tell me about Misty’s visit by now, she’s apparently in no rush. “Anything interesting happen?”
Mama looks up from her Ebony magazine and at my reflection in Netta’s mirror. It’s been a long time since I’ve worked on Mama’s hair and she looks like she’s enjoying the treatment. Netta walks over from the sink where she’s getting Mama’s shampoo and conditioners ready and joins us at her station.
