by J. Dillard
A THOUSAND DOLLARS?! It was hard to hear anything after Mom said that. But she explained that Mr. Mathews had decided to suspend Jordan’s $50 allowance for ten weeks to pay for half, and I was expected to pay for the rest.
“James, you do still have some money saved from Hart and Son, I hope?”
I couldn’t lie.
“Yes, Mom, I do, but not that much.”
Since Jordan had been given ten weeks to pay off his part, I got the same amount of time.
“I’m sure if you go back to the barbershop, you can pay what you owe pretty quickly,” Mom said.
My shoulders dropped. That was it. It was over.
I shuffled back to my bedroom. I needed to start counting!
CHAPTER 11
Back to Zero
I couldn’t open my old sneaker box right away. It’s where I kept my money. Instead, I started playing NBA 2K with the Cavs and LeBron James. Whenever I played, I put LeBron on my team, and I would pit them against the Showtime Lakers, my mom’s favorite team, or the 1990s Chicago Bulls. But video games made me think of Jordan, and Jordan made me think about the broken camera and how much money I owed. So I opened the box and started counting.
$20 x 1= $20
$10 x 3= $30
$5 x 2= $10
$1 x 8= $8
Total: $68
My part of the camera owed: $500 - $68 = $432.
Should I just go back to Hart and Son to pay it off? Then I’d have hardly any free weekends left this summer! Maybe I should just go every day of the week. I bet Jordan wouldn’t want to talk to me anyway since he probably blamed me for getting his allowance cut off.
I woke up the next morning with a copy of the latest Spider-Man comic on my face. That’s another thing: No more new comics for the rest of the summer.
Every option I had was a bad one.
* * *
»»««
Usually at breakfast, Vanessa was buzzing with new ideas and plans, but today she just ate quietly.
“Jessyka is starting tennis camp soon,” she said in a sad voice.
We watched as Granddad got up to drop off Grandma, Justin, and Mom like usual.
As soon as they left, Vanessa shut her math workbook and slammed her head on top.
“How will I apply to Junior Business Scholars when all the project has done is lose money?” she said.
“Well, at least you didn’t lose everything, Vanessa. All I know is that I have no money, no job, and no fans like you promised!” I said. “And my best friend probably hates me!”
Vanessa lifted her head from the table. She reached over and patted my arm softly.
“J.D., I didn’t mean for this to happen,” she said. “Thank you for telling Mom the truth, by the way. I know that was scary.”
We sat there without doing our math problems.
“And Jordan doesn’t hate you,” she said.
I hoped she was right.
Vanessa quickly opened up her math workbook when she heard Granddad pull into the driveway. I felt like making up my own word problems that would help me figure out how long it would take me to pay off Naija’s camera. I closed my eyes and saw myself as an old, old man, older than Granddad, walking over to visit Naija, who was old, too, and handing him $500.
There had to be an easy way to get out of this. I just didn’t know what it was yet.
CHAPTER 12
The Lifeline
Neither me nor Vanessa wanted to go outside after we finished our homework. I didn’t even ask for computer time. What was there to look at? I brought out my sketchbook and started drawing pictures of dollar bills and sad faces, and Vanessa started cutting her doll’s hair.
Granddad was getting in some TV time before his insurance visits later in the day. He only watched three types of television shows: the news, game shows, and soap operas. His favorite news anchor was Tom Frank, an older white man with salt-and-pepper hair who wore glasses and a black suit every day. After the local news ended on WTOK, Granddad watched What’s Up in the Southeast?, a show that highlighted interesting people in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia. His favorite segment was “Southeast Star.” It was always hosted by this lady named Sharon McNeil, a Black woman who wore a pixie cut like my mom used to.
As soon as Ms. McNeil came on the screen, Granddad turned up the volume.
“This week’s Southeast Star is the Jumping Jacks of Memphis, Tennessee!” A group of people who looked like they were in their twenties tumbled onto the set and threw each other into the air.
The three of us watched the Jumping Jacks’ routine and interview after, where they talked about how they became expert gymnasts.
“I started tumbling at the age of three with my brother and sister, and now we travel the world as dancers,” the smallest Jumping Jack, a man with dyed blond dreadlocks, said.
“That is truly unique!” Ms. McNeil said. “And how wonderful that you started at such a young age!”
She turned to the camera and continued. “And that’s a perfect lead-in to our new contest: ‘Southeast Star’s Summer Vacation Showdown’!”
The screen faded to black behind her as she gave more details. “Hello, boys and girls between the ages of five and twelve! Do you have a special talent or skill you think should be highlighted by ‘Southeast Star’? Well, please visit our website and click the link for the Southeast Star competition. Follow the instructions, submit your video entry, and good luck! The winner will be invited to appear on our show, live in our studio! And they’ll also receive a grand prize of five thousand dollars!”
Vanessa whipped around to look at me.
Whoa, here was my chance! I could pay back Naija without having to go back to Hart and Son, and become famous at the same time!
When I won the barber competition, I’d gotten written up in the Meridian Star. Now that I had learned some new things, like how to do girl hair and write a good video script, I knew I had a chance.
WE had a chance.
I thought about Jordan and how well he directed our videos. Jessyka was the only person who could edit a prize-winning video. And like the Jumping Jacks, me and Vanessa were an unstoppable brother-and-sister team. We had to get the group back together somehow.
CHAPTER 13
Parents Might Just Understand?
Not only would we need our friends’ help to enter, but we’d need their parents’ permission this time. Vanessa read the rules for “Southeast Star’s Summer Vacation Showdown” to me on the website. They stated that each entry needed a parent or guardian to give permission for every minor to participate and to film a follow-up TV interview at WTOK.
Since neither one of us was going to go anywhere after we finished our homework that Monday, we decided we’d try to talk to Jessyka and Jordan. We agreed that Vanessa would talk to Jessyka and I would talk to Jordan, even though I was afraid that he wouldn’t want to talk to me.
“He can’t be that mad,” Vanessa said. “He’s the one who showed you the camera, plus you can tell him that we’ll split the money evenly if we win. That way, he doesn’t have to worry about his allowance.”
I had a feeling Jordan would like that deal. $5,000 divided by 4 people was $1,250.00 each. That was a lot! Even after paying off the $500, he’d still have $750 left over.
* * *
»»««
I went next door to Jordan’s house and knocked. My heart pounded so loud, I wondered if Mr. Mathews would be able to hear it when he opened the door.
“Hello, J.D.,” he said. “Jordan’s outside in the carport if you’re looking for him. I told him he could not play video games for two weeks as part of his punishment for the camera.”
“Oh,” I said. I was sure Jordan was not in a good mood.
I found Jordan drawing with chalk on the ground.
“Hey, Jordan,” I said cheerfully.
/>
“Why are you so happy, J.D.?”
I knew Jordan wasn’t going to let me ignore everything that happened with the football. I had to be honest, just like Mom had said.
“Look, Jordan, I’m sorry about what happened at Jessyka’s. We both messed up, and we’re both paying for it. I just want to be best friends again. I have a plan to get us back to having a great summer,” I said.
Jordan looked up. “Really?”
I told him about “Southeast Star” and the prize money to pay for the camera and the TV interview and how Vanessa was trying to get Jessyka to join, too.
“All you have to do is ask your dad to give you permission to enter the video contest with us,” I added.
“I want to do this, J.D., but I don’t know what my dad will say,” Jordan said. “He’s still mad. Let me try to ask him right now. You can stay out here. I’m not allowed to have any friends inside yet.”
I watched Jordan jog back into his house, the screen door slamming behind him.
While I waited, I picked up a piece of chalk and wrote the word WINNER, just like I had done on the back of a kid’s head to win the Great Barber Battle. I thought about how close I was to being a winner again.
Jordan came sprinting back outside not too long after with a big smile on his face.
“My dad said yes! With the money we’re gonna win, we can buy our OWN camera!”
We jumped up and down with our fists in the air, one step closer to our dream!
* * *
»»««
When I got back to the house, Vanessa filled me in on her phone call with Jessyka. She said Jessyka had sounded tired when she picked up the phone. She had just gotten back from tennis camp for the day, where she had been training for a tournament next week. Mr. Fleet had lectured her all the way home about working harder because she’d missed so many balls.
“She doesn’t like tennis camp,” Vanessa told me. “Do you know what she said? She missed some of those balls on purpose. I think she wants to get kicked out.”
In all the time I’d known Jessyka, I’d never known her to do badly on purpose. This sounded serious.
“I told her it was the perfect time to talk to her dad about ‘Southeast Star,’ ” Vanessa said. “I pretended to be her dad, and Jessyka practiced what she wanted to say.”
Jessyka had said a lot, and she ended by saying she could only be the best Jessyka, not the best Mr. Fleet, and that she hoped her dad could understand why she wanted to do “Southeast Star” instead.
“I’d say yes if I were Mr. Fleet,” Vanessa said.
We didn’t hear from Jessyka until after dinner.
Vanessa hung up the phone, and the grin on her face told me that Jessyka had finally gotten what she wanted.
We told Mom that Jessyka’s and Jordan’s parents gave their permission to let them enter the contest with us.
“That’s nice, kids,” Mom said.
“Jessyka is finishing up editing our last video so we can send that one to ‘Southeast Star.’ I gave her your work email, Mom. Will you help us send it tomorrow?”
“The mornings are hectic, Vanessa, but sure. I can tell you kids have worked hard to make amends.”
We were so close! It was going to be very hard to sleep that night.
CHAPTER 14
A Hope and a Prayer
“Kids,” Mom said as we ate breakfast the next morning. “I got an email from a Mini Triathlete Jess.”
My heart started to race. Jessyka had finished on time!
“Mom can you open it now?” Vanessa asked.
“Well, the file is huge!” Mom said. “I have to download it from a link Jessyka sent. I don’t know if it will load before I have to go to work, Vanessa.”
Granddad put down his coffee. “What are you talking about, may I ask?”
“Granddad, remember when they announced on ‘Southeast Star’ that they were accepting kids’ talent for the next round of submissions? Well, me and Vanessa are going to enter! We have been doing hair on camera all summer,” I said. I left out the part about wanting to win $5,000 to pay back the money I owed for Naija’s camera.
“Oh, I love ‘Southeast Star,’ ” Grandma said. “It reminds me of when I used to do ceramics segments for the morning show in Meridian. Sometimes I was even a guest on the morning show in Jackson, after all the kids were out of the house. I was big time!” Grandma laughed.
“Yes, Granddad, if we win, you can meet Sharon McNeil!” I hoped that would make him excited, too.
Granddad laughed to himself and then shot me a look over his mug as he took a sip of coffee.
“You kids sure got up to a lot these last few weeks without me knowing much,” he said.
Mom came back into the kitchen to tell us the video had finished downloading.
“It’s only a few minutes. Why don’t we go watch it together?” she said.
Everybody broke out into smiles as they watched me and Vanessa onscreen. Justin kept trying to replay the part that showed him. He couldn’t stop laughing!
“Okay, everybody, let’s get this off so I can go to work,” Mom said.
And with one click, our lives could change forever.
CHAPTER 15
Win, Lose, or Draw
The next day at breakfast, all I could think about was what I would wear if we won. I’d probably borrow some clothes from Jordan. How would I cut my hair? My usual fade, or should I try something new? We had sent our entry on the last day of the contest, so we didn’t have long to wait before the winner was announced two days later.
“J.D., it’s in God’s hands, now,” Granddad said.
“What’s meant for you will be yours,” Grandma added.
I knew my grandparents were trying to get me to put the contest out of my mind, but it didn’t work.
Then mom reminded me what day it was.
“Are you ready for Take your Son to Work Day, J.D.?” she asked. “Exciting, isn’t it?”
I had completely forgotten because of the contest. She’d mentioned it weeks ago. I wasn’t sure what would be so exciting about the mayor’s office, but I was happy I’d have somewhere to go while I waited for “Southeast Star.”
Vanessa decided to go to the rec center with Grandma and take a ceramics class, probably with the same thought, so we all piled into the car for a change.
Grandma, Vanessa, and Justin, who was too young to go with us, got dropped off first, and then Granddad dropped me and Mom off at the mayor’s office.
The mayor’s office was in a building in the main square downtown. It was big and reminded me of pictures I’d seen of The White House in Washington, D.C.
Everyone greeted Mom as she walked through the door, wearing her usual work clothes: a white button-down shirt, a long black skirt, and low heels that clicked on the marble floors.
Mom had her own desk, and as soon as she got settled in and turned on her computer, the mayor walked in.
“Good morning, Mayor Thompson,” she said. “Meet my son, James.”
“Ah, yes, the famous barber!” Mayor Thompson replied.
It made me feel so good that he knew I cut hair!
Mayor Thompson was a tall, light-brown-skinned man with a bald head and a goatee. He had a pair of glasses pushed up onto his head that he lowered when he got an alert on his phone. He said it was good to meet me and excused himself.
I spent the rest of the day drawing on a pad of paper that had the mayor’s office seal on it. I kept drawing me and my friends on television, receiving a check for $5,000 from Sharon McNeil. There was a big sofa in the office, where I sat and watched Mom answer phones, go over the mayor’s schedule, and pop in and out of meetings. She asked me to follow her to a few of them, but I only understood the one about budgets—I didn’t know what a “surplus” was, but I sure knew about “debt�
� right now.
My favorite part of the day was lunch, when I went to the office cafeteria and sat next to Mom the whole time. It was just like the alone time we had when she used to cornrow my hair, before I started cutting it myself.
I wondered if Vanessa, Jessyka, and Jordan were as nervous as I was about the results of the contest. Maybe Vanessa would be, but probably not Jessyka or Jordan.
What would I do if we lost? Would Vanessa and my friends be disappointed in me? I’d know soon enough.
CHAPTER 16
Did We Win?
RING RING RING!
We’d been waiting for the phone to ring all day, and so far, it had been nothing but false alarms. An internet company had called to see if we were happy with our service. Two automated calls had come through, too. Granddad was sick of them! So when the phone rang for a fifth time, we let Mom pick it up.
“Hello,” she said.
A few seconds later, Mom put her hand over the receiver and mouthed to us, It’s ‘Southeast Star’!
“I sure will. Thanks for calling,” we heard her say.
“Well, Mom, what did they say?”
I didn’t know how great my mom was at playing it cool until today. She could win a poker tournament!
Finally, she told us that she had spoken to the segment’s producer. They had reviewed just under one hundred submissions from kids with all sorts of unique talents. Of those kids, they had chosen our team as . . . second-prize winners.
What?!?
My face fell to the ground. I didn’t remember anything about a second prize. I had been sure if they called the house, it was because we were the winners.
I looked at Vanessa, and she seemed crushed. How would we tell Jessyka and Jordan? They were counting on this, too.
Mom cleared her throat, and we both looked up at her.