by L. Divine
“No. Because my emotions got the best of me. And as with all practitioners, you must separate your emotions from your work. Otherwise, you get caught up in the desired outcome and can hurt yourself in the process. My senses were off because I was worried about your uncles and your stupid grandfather when I should have been concentrating on my work,” she says, putting the least burnt ones in a Ziploc bag before leading the way to our room. “Just be careful, Jayd. That’s the third rule: don’t get emotionally attached to your work. It’ll cloud your vision and we as Williams women can never be off when it comes to our sight.”
“Mama, do you ever think of what we do as magic?” I ask as I lay across my bed and Mama sits on hers, placing the bag on the nightstand between our twin beds. Mama looks exhausted. I know she’s had a long weekend helping the home less shelter on Rosecrans prepare their annual Thanksgiving dinner. Mama chairs the event and has done so since I can re member. Daddy and my uncles and Jay have dinner at the church with the rest of the church members, which includes half the block. I usually kick it at my mom’s and go wherever she goes, unless she has a date. Then I’m alone and that doesn’t bother me one bit.
“Jayd, doing hair for people is the same as making food for them. It’s all nourishment and you must have people’s trust in order to be effective. There’s nothing like doing someone’s hair and making him or her feel like a different per son.” She rubs her feet with the menthol and shea butter cream she made a few days ago.
“How do we nourish through doing hair?” If that’s what I’ve been doing all weekend then I should’ve charged my clients double. I’ll remember that when I meet new clients. Mama pauses before answering me. She doesn’t want me to take my newfound career lightly.
“There’s a story about Oshune helping Orunmilla—the prophet of our religion—and how Legba facilitated this by having Orunmilla pour cold water on her head every day until she gives in to Orunmilla’s demands.” Mama stretches her legs out on her bed and relaxes a bit. I know she wants to get out of her dress and panty hose, but she looks too tired to move anymore.
“Mama, everything I know about Oshune says she’s a strong warrior woman who can’t be moved unless she wants to be.” Mama laughs at my interpretation of our deity but nods her head in agreement.
“Yes Jayd, it is true that Oshune can be stubborn. But we all need help and it starts with a cool head. She agreed because Orunmilla was messing with her head thereby creating chaos in her daily life.” I remember Netta telling me how Mama was so powerful as a hairdresser that people accused her of messing with their heads back in New Orleans. Mama was hurt by the accusations and still feels the pain.
“So why didn’t she use some of her other powers to get rid of them both?” She looks at me, searching for some recognition of the right answer in my eyes but it’s not coming. After several minutes of quiet, Mama gives me my final lesson for the night.
“Peace of mind starts with a clean head and it’s more precious than most people give it credit for, Jayd. Remember, it’s the head that carries the body that moves the feet. The whole point is conserving the power in your crown. Doing hair is another powerful and envious part of our lineage. You can ask Netta about the job yourself when you meet me there on Tuesday with your protection potion in hand.”
“Oh Mama, thank you,” I say reaching across the small space between our beds and hugging her tightly. “I promise I won’t let y’all down.”
“I know, Jayd. Just be careful and listen to Netta and me when we tell you to do something. And try not to ask too many questions when we do. Trust is the first step in any relationship, especially between a student and her teachers.”
Exactly. I’m learning to trust Rah more and more as he opens himself up to trusting me completely. I hope the tea works. I guess I’ll have to wait to find out when he goes to school tomorrow. I hope it takes. I’ve had better luck with making food than gris-gris, so I’m pretty confident in my abilities.
“What’s Misty doing at my house again?” I say to myself as I walk into the living room to see Mama having tea with my sworn enemy. They’re using Mama’s good china that she reserves for feeding the Orisha. Has she lost her mind?
“Oh hello Jayd. You’re just in time for some tea,” Mama says, pouring me a cup though I’m too confused to drink anything. Misty looks up from her cup but her eyes don’t belong to her: they’re a shade of green I’ve never seen before. She picks up the honey sitting on the serving tray and takes a spoonful, putting it in my cup. I take a seat in the rocking chair across from the couch where they are seated, as directed by Mama. But her eyes look different, making me feel like I should stay on my guard just in case I have to make a move for the door.
“Jayd don’t be rude. Have a sip,” Mama says as she picks up the saucer and cup from the coffee table and forces me to take it. “Misty made it just for you.” I really don’t want it. I can’t trust Misty as far as I can throw her and she’s a thick sistah.
“Yeah Jayd. I’d thought I’d return the favor. I’m trying to help you like you tried to help me by making that gris-gris,” she says pushing the cup toward my mouth. But I resist. I don’t care if it is a dream. I’ll be damned if I take anything that trick gives me; I don’t care if Mama was there when she made it.
“No thank you. I appreciate the gesture but really, I’m good.” I stand up and head for the back door, ready to retreat to the backhouse. Before I can turn around and leave the two to their twisted teatime, Misty thrusts the cup at me again, spilling the hot concoction all over me.
“Ahhh,” I scream as the steaming liquid burns my skin. It feels hotter than any tea I’ve ever known and my skin is itching like crazy. What the hell?
“Jayd, get up before you’re late,” Mama says. My skin is still itching from my dream. I need to work on something to help me control my dreams, for real.
“I’m up Mama.” I pull back my blankets and let in the cold morning air.
“And don’t forget to get started on your potion if you haven’t already. Remember, you’re meeting with Netta tomorrow.” Mama’s on point for someone who’s barely awake. I wonder if the potion will protect me in my dream world too.
“Okay Mama.” I’m anxious to talk with Netta tomorrow about my new position. I only hope she’s as excited as I am. I can’t wait to get through this school day just so I can get to tomorrow. Too bad Mondays have to come first.
I’m hoping to start off my school week with a little less drama than last week. Mainly I was hoping that I would wake up and realize that Mickey really wasn’t pregnant with God only knows whose baby. I’ve got to convince her to come clean and keep Nellie from blowing her cover at the same time. Sometimes having more than one homegirl is highly overrated.
Jeremy didn’t come for me at the bus stop this morning but I did get a text from him saying he was running late and was sorry he would miss me. Rah also texted me to say good morning and that his mouth was still burning from the tea. I hope that’s a good thing.
“So what’s up with you this morning?” Mickey says as I follow her into the girl’s bathroom in the main hall. Nellie had to meet with the other ASB members to help with the canned food drive on Wednesday, which is a joke because Nellie doesn’t have a charitable bone in her body. But as a crowned princess she has to work with the rest of the court.
Mickey walks through the door and automatically looks under the stalls, checking for feet. “There’s someone in here with us.” Instead of hiding, this time Misty opens her stall door and steps out. I would say something smart to her but she looks like crap. I’m trying to be obedient and stay out of Misty’s business but something tells me not to. I feel for the girl even if she did creep her way into my dream this morning. Mickey on the other hand could care less about her and now’s the perfect time for her to exercise revenge.
“Well, look what crawled out of the toilet,” Mickey says, turning away from the mirror and walking toward Misty, who’s holding her stomach like I ho
ld mine when I cramp. I hope she’s not on her period because Mickey’s about to bite into her no matter what time of the month it may be.
“I wasn’t listening to the two of you bitch,” Misty says as she steps around Mickey to wash her hands at the sinks. When Misty sets her purse on the counter she notices it’s wet and reaches for a paper towel to wipe the counter before setting the bag on it.
“If I weren’t pregnant I’d mop the floor with your curly bush of a head,” Mickey says, stepping behind Misty and forcing her to look at her in the mirror’s reflection. Mickey’s much taller than Misty and even more intimidating, which makes Misty nervous.
“Mickey, let’s get going before the bell rings.” I’m trying to diffuse the situation. I don’t want to witness Mickey bully Misty even if she does deserve it for trying to rat out Mickey’s pregnancy to Nigel. If Misty knew that the paternity was in question I’m sure she’d spread that around school as quickly as possible too.
“Oh come on, Jayd. I’m just having fun.” Mickey flicks Misty’s long hair with her claw-like acrylic nails. The look on Misty’s face tells me she’s in pain and Mickey’s scaring the hell out of her. It reminds me of how I felt in my dream about Misty this morning. I just wanted to be left alone and they kept pressuring me, eventually causing me to get burned. Maybe the dream wasn’t about me as much as it was about Misty.
“Okay Wolverine, let’s go.” I grab my girl by the arm, but not before she lets go of Misty’s hair.
“Ouch,” Misty says, instinctively holding her head with both hands and causing her purse and its contents to crash to the floor. The gris-gris bag I made for her slides across the floor, landing in front of my feet. Why is she still carrying this around? After all I went through because of her fear of it, now she’s using it as a charm?
“Well, what do we have here?” Mickey follows Misty’s eyes away from my feet and toward the pill bottle near the bathroom door. Misty reaches for the bottle first but Mickey swoops it up before she can get to it. “Gonorrhea! Oh this is too good to be true,” Mickey says, as she laughs her way out of the bathroom and into the busy hall.
“Give that back Mickey! I need my medicine,” Misty shouts after her, running ahead of me but I’m right behind them both. Mickey stops, turns around, throws the bottle at Misty’s feet. Instead of me being the one getting burnt, this time it’s definitely Misty.
“I don’t need it anyway. The proof is in the pudding, or in this case your cookies, which are stank and everybody’s about to find out just how stank they really are.” Mickey turns on her heels and speeds down the busy hall. Misty picks up the bottle of pills and looks back at me like it’s all my fault. I wish I could stop Mickey from spreading the news but I know she’s not going to hear me. Misty will have to deal with her consequences, both physical and social. And from the looks of it, they’ll probably be equally excruciating.
10
Hot Air
“Nothing can save you/ For this is the season of catching the vapors.”
—BIZ MARKIE
The scariest thing about having dreams that always come true in one way or another is seeing them play out once I’m awake. I never wished anything bad on Misty—not even after she led the witch hunt against me for making the same charm she’s now carrying around in her purse. All that heat she gave me for leaving it for her was nothing but a bunch of steam to front for I don’t know what. Now I’m sure she’s wishing she’d heeded my initial assistance; maybe I would’ve dreamt a different dream.
The crowd is out on the quad today, even if it is only sixty degrees. In southern California that’s damn near freezing. But the sun is bright and the vibe’s relaxed, at least for the time being. I didn’t want to leave Misty in the main hall like that but my girl’s about to spread all of Misty’s business and it’s more important for me to stop her before it’s too late.
“Mickey, don’t do this. I’m telling you it’s not going to end well,” I say, following behind my girl, who can’t get to South Central quick enough. She’s not hearing me at all. All Mickey sees is red and Misty is in for all her rage.
“Why are you protecting her, Jayd? She doesn’t give a damn about you,” Mickey shouts over her shoulder, continuing her marathon through the quad. We have barely two minutes left before the bell rings and I don’t want to be late for government class. Nigel, Chance, and Jeremy are sitting on the benches directly across from where KJ, his boys, Shae, Tony, and the rest of South Central are chilling. Maggie and her crew are also chilling in El Barrio, the area where the Latino brothers and sisters mainly chill. Everyone is out to witness Mickey’s lethal announcement except for Misty, but I’m sure she’ll be here soon enough.
“I’m not protecting her. It’s you I’m worried about.” Mickey stops in her tracks and faces me. I don’t know if I can win her compassion but it’s worth a shot.
“What are you talking about? Only good can come of me letting everyone know just how foul Misty is—literally,” Mickey puts her right hand on her hip and looks down at me. I almost feel like I’m the one whose mind is being swayed.
“Mickey, think about the consequences. If you tell the entire school that Misty has an STD, she’ll be unfairly judged when the one we should be looking at is KJ.” Mickey rolls her eyes at me like I do when Mama’s not looking. She knows I’m right about this. Girls are always judged more harshly than dudes when it comes to anything sexual. For a girl to brand another girl dirty is against all the rules and can only breed more disaster, especially where Misty’s concerned.
“I don’t give a damn about either one of them. And as far as consequences, I don’t have anything to hide.” How can Mickey stand there and lie to me and to herself? Has she forgotten Misty lives in Compton just like we do? Although Mickey and her man live on one side of the railroad tracks and me and Misty live on the other, it’s a very small city and drama travels fast.
“Are you sure about that Mickey? You don’t have anything to hide?” I ask. Her eyes turn cold as she gets my drift. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that her baby could be either her man’s or Nigel’s and Misty probably already has her doubts. If Mickey does this to her I’m sure Misty will retaliate in the worst way she can think of and I’m certain it’ll have something to do with Mickey’s man.
“I’m not afraid of Misty and I don’t have a real problem with KJ. But if it makes you feel better I’ll call them both out. How about that?” she says, turning back around in hot pursuit of her target. I think I just made matters worse. Why did this have to happen right before third period? I can’t afford another tardy in Mrs. Peterson’s class.
“Hey baby,” Mickey says, kissing Nigel on the lips before walking up to KJ’s table. Jeremy and Chance look at me and from my expression they know something’s up.
“What’s Mickey going over there for?” Nigel asks, eating the last of his soft pretzel and mustard. “Did KJ say something about the game on Sunday to y’all?” If Nigel only knew how over his head the situation really is. Their basketball game is the last thing on Mickey’s mind.
“No Nigel, it’s not that.” I stop at their table and watch the scene unfold with the rest of them. “Mickey found out something about Misty and KJ and she’s about to spill the beans.”
“It’s probably something like that nigga gave her the clap, huh Jayd?” How did Nigel get that dead on? Reading into my silence, the boys look at each other in recognition of the secret. “Damn, that’s heavy.” And Mickey’s about to let everyone else know the truth, even if it’s not her truth to tell. Clapping as she stands in front of KJ’s face, my girl begins her exposé.
“Congratulations, KJ. I heard the good news,” she says, clapping obnoxiously in his face. KJ backs away from Mickey and looks at her like she’s gone mad.
“The hormones already getting to your head, huh?” KJ says as he and his boys laugh. Mickey laughs with them, catching them all off-guard. Her applause grows louder, getting the group’s attention.
; “Oh, you are so funny, KJ,” Mickey says, pretending to laugh harder than necessary. “You’re right. The pregnancy has made me a little sensitive so I better back up from you if I want to stay clean. We all know what happened to Misty after she got too close, don’t we?” she says, slowly clapping and allowing the reality to settle into KJ’s brain. He looks at her like he wants to punch her in the face. Noticing the vibe shift, Nigel jumps up to defend his woman.
“Mickey, what’s the problem?” Nigel asks. Chance, Jeremy, and I follow Nigel just as Misty comes out of the main hall, headed our way.
“Shut your girl up before she goes too far, man,” KJ says, rising to meet Nigel’s eyes. Looking past us, Mickey notices Misty’s approach and decides to meet her halfway.
“Misty, come tell everyone the good news,” she says, clapping the entire way there. Even Laura, Reid, and Nellie look up from their worktable to witness the festivities. Noticing my panic, Nellie decides to intervene for all our sakes.
“Mickey, what’s going on?” Nellie says, falling in step with our girl gone wild. Not slowing down, Mickey entertains Nellie’s questions and her plan.
“I’m going to let the entire school know that Misty and KJ have the clap. Care to watch?”
“Gonorrhea,” Nellie whispers to Mickey but we can still hear her. We are only a step behind her but it feels like Mickey’s miles away and determined to take Misty with her.
“Do you know another kind of clap?” Mickey teases, looking at Nellie out the side of her eyes before stopping Misty in her tracks. As usual, no one has Misty’s back, not even the dude who gave her the STD. All KJ cares about is himself.
“Well, if you ask me this is not the way to handle it,” Nellie says. “If you do this you’ll be no better than Misty. Is that what you really want?” I hope Nellie takes her own advice when it comes to airing Mickey’s dirty laundry to Nigel or her man.