Lady J

by L. Divine

  “Of course,” I say. I can’t believe two of my exes and Rah’s best friend are all about to engage in a basketball game. And I wonder what they were arguing about in the first place. “And how did this all start again?” As I step into the gymnasium, the bell rings loudly above our heads. I see Jeremy, Chance, and Nigel on the opposite side of the courts, practicing their free throws. I know Nigel’s jump shot is mean. But I’ve never seen Jeremy or Chance ball.

  “I can’t remember exactly, but I know it had something to do with money,” she says. I hope it isn’t about KJ placing bets on me and Jeremy’s breakup. Before I can continue my questioning, Mr. Adewale comes out of the boy’s locker room in a blue and gray Adidas warm-up suit. Damn, he looks good and he’s much taller than I remembered.

  “Hey y’all,” Mickey says, entering the gymnasium, tardy as usual. “Have they started yet?”

  “Not yet,” Nellie says, following my eyes across the court. “Jayd, what are you looking at?”

  “My future baby-daddy,” I say, amusing my girls. I try to make eye contact with Mr. Adewale, but he’s got eyes for his clipboard and whistle only.

  “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 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 go sit with our class.

  “Good. I was just about to take Mr. Adewale 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 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 everyday. 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, and 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 here 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 on 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 gum,” Nellie says, pointing to the multiple signs posted throughout the room supporting her claim. “Anyway, I can’t believe you’re still hungry after that lunch you ate.”

  “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,” Del 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, stea
ling the rebound from Cmoney 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 and 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 lay-up.

  “Foul,” Chance says, and he’s right. But the rules are different in street ball and that’s new territory for 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 to wait 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 all right over here?” Mr. Adewale asks, 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 the 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 over 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 scuff marks 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 after school more, 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.

  “Mickey, do you have my sweater in the car?” Nellie says, 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 that sweater back 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 in my day 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.

  START YOUR OWN BOOK CLUB

  Courtesy of the DRAMA HIGH series

  ABOUT THIS GUIDE

  The following is intended to help you get

  the Book Club you’ve always wanted

  up and running!

  Enjoy!

  Start Your Own Book Club

  A Book Club is not only a great way to make friends, but it is also a fun and safe environment for you to express your views and opinions on everything from fashion to teen pregnancy. A Teen Book Club can also become a forum or venue to air grievances and plan remedies for problems.

  The People

  To start, all you need is yourself and at least one other person. There’s no criteria for who this person or persons should be other than them having a desire to read and a commitment to discuss things during a certain time frame.

  The Rules

  Just as in Jayd’s life, sometimes even Book Club discussions can be filled with much drama. People tend to disagree with each other, cut each other off when speaking, and take criticism personally. So, there should be some ground rules:

  1. Do not attack people for their ideas or opinions.

  2. When you disagree with a book club member on a point, disagree respectfully. This means that you do not denigrate other people for their ideas or even their ideas themselves, i.e., no name calling or saying, “That’s stupid!” Instead, say, “I can respect your position, however, I feel differently.”

  3. Back up your opinions with concrete evidence, either from the book in question or life in general.

  4. Allow every one a turn to comment.

  5. Do not cut a member off when the person is speaking. Respectfully wait your turn.

  6. Critique only the idea (and do so responsibly; saying “That’s stupid!” is not allowed). Do not criticize the person.

  7. Every member must agree to and abide by the ground rules.

  Feel free to add any other ground rules you think might be necessary.

  The Meeting Place

  Once you’ve decided on members, and agreed to the ground rules, you should decide on a place to meet. This could be the local library, the school library, your favorite restaurant, a bookstore, or a member’s home. Remember, though, if you decide to hold your sessions at a member’s home, the location sho
uld rotate to another member’s home for the next session. It’s also polite for guests to bring treats when attending a Book Club meeting at a member’s home. If you choose to hold your meetings in a public place, always remember to ask the permission of the librarian or store manager. If you decide to hold your meetings in a local bookstore, ask the manager to post a flyer in the window announcing the Book Club to attract more members if you so desire.

  Timing is Everything

  Teenagers of today are all much busier than teenagers of the past. You’re probably thinking, “Between chorus rehearsals, the Drama Club, and oh yeah, my job, when will I ever have time to read another book that doesn’t feature Romeo and Juliet!” Well, there’s always time, if it’s time well-planned and time planned ahead. You and your Book Club can decide to meet as often or as little as is appropriate for your bustling schedules. Once a month is a favorite option. Sleepover Book Club meetings—if you’re open to excluding one gender—is also a favorite option. And in this day of high-tech, savvy teens, Internet Discussion Groups are also an appealing option. Just choose what’s right for you!

  Well, you’ve got the people, the ground rules, the place, and the time. All you need now is a book!

  The Book

  Choosing a book is the most fun. LADY J is of course an excellent choice, and since it’s a series, you won’t soon run out of books to read and discuss. Your Book Club can also have comparative discussions as you compare the first book, THE FIGHT, to the second, SECOND CHANCE, and so on.

  But depending upon your reading appetite, you may want to veer outside of the Drama High series. That’s okay. There are plenty of options, many of which you will be able to find under the Dafina Books for Young Readers Program in the coming months.

  But don’t be afraid to mix it up. Nonfiction is just as good as fiction and a fun way to learn about from where we came without just using a history text book. Science fiction and fantasy can be fun, too!