Keep It Movin'

by L. Divine

  “It was okay. Just glad to be here,” I say, not wanting to let her go. Mama lets me hug her a little longer before pulling away and forcing my chin up to look at her before letting go.

  “So, how’s the car faring?” She takes her customary seat in front of Netta’s station, ready to get her hair done. Her crown’s getting so long she’s now wearing it in a long bob that grazes her shoulders. Her natural salt-n-pepper color perfectly compliments her latest style, and makes Mama look ten years younger, and she already looks younger than her fifty-plus years.

  “It’s not. I’ve spent most of my money on the thing and it still needs a lot more work.”

  “Did you ask your daddy to help?” Netta asks. Mama can tell from my eyes that I’ve already been down that road. “Of course you did,” Netta says, now in the loop.

  “Oh, Jayd, I’m sorry you’ve been disappointed again, baby,” Mama says. “If I could kick your daddy’s ass again without going to jail, I would,” Mama says, making me laugh.

  “Lynn Mae, you know you can get to that man if you really wanted to and no one would be the wiser,” Netta says, clamping the cold flat iron before setting it down next to the oven. I still have to do my mini cleansing before officially beginning my work. After my encounter with Mickey’s man, I really need to get my energy purified.

  “My dad’s tripping,” I say, wiping the tears from my eyes with the back of my jacket. I take it off and hang it up next to my backpack, then retrieve my personalized apron and put it over my head, ready for work. These dudes have slowed me down enough today.

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” Mama says, looking at me while Netta parts her scalp. I know she knows something else is up with me, but I’m not telling her about my encounter in the parking lot right now. That can wait for another day when I’m not so emotional.

  “Well, I still haven’t decided if I’m going to pretend to be Rah’s baby-mama-in-waiting for the judge tomorrow,” I say, dropping yet another bombshell. It’s been an eventful week and it’s only Tuesday. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do about that situation and I know I can’t leave my boy hanging much longer.

  “Wow, little queen. You’ve got a lot on your plate. And don’t you have your school finals this week, too?” At least Netta remembers my school schedule. Mama wouldn’t know what semester it was if I didn’t remind her.

  “Well, luckily in my AP classes we have term papers due. So that only leaves my math and dance class where I have finals tomorrow, and I have an open-book exam on Friday in my Spanish class. I should be okay as far as my grades are concerned.” I don’t know what I got in government class, but it can’t be less than a B, and I know I got an A in English. And I never worry about my steady A in drama class. Our final was the Fall Festival. We’ll chill until the next play, which isn’t for a couple of months. “It’s Mickey and her drama I’m still worried about.”

  “That boyfriend of hers thinks he owns her,” Netta says. “And that’s because she allowed him too much power over her.”

  “I have no sympathy for that fast-ass girl. She knew what she was doing when she did it and now she has to pay the consequences. I just hope no one else gets dragged into her mess.”

  “Mama, that’s a bit harsh,” I say, cleaning all of the combs in the sink.

  “Well, it’s the truth. She gives young mothers everywhere a bad name. Instead of focusing on how she and her baby are going to make it, she’s still playing games with these boys. When is she going to get serious?”

  “I agree with you one hundred percent, Lynn Mae. Babies don’t wait for their parents to get a clue. They have a way of being born whether or not folks are ready for them.” Rahima’s a perfect example of that fact of life.

  “All Mickey thinks about these days is locking Nigel down, but his parents are never going to let that happen.”

  “I know they’re not and I think that’s the best way to handle the situation,” Mama says.

  “Why? If they want to be married why shouldn’t they have the right to be?” I ask, but I already know the answer.

  “Because she doesn’t know whose baby she’s carrying, that’s why.” Netta says, taking the words right out of Mama’s mouth and my mind. “That’s old-school pimping, baby girl, and that game’s not so easy to play anymore. They have paternity tests to clear all of that up now.”

  “And until they do, Nigel needs to deal with Mickey very delicately. That little fool-ass boyfriend of hers is no joke. I still blame him for getting Pam strung out.” Mama’s forehead crinkles and I know she’s worried about Pam, our neighborhood crackhead. We haven’t seen her in a couple of weeks and she’s usually around to collect one of Mama’s hot plates at least once a week. “Never put yourself in a position where someone can control you because they feel you owe them something. That’s what your mom did with your daddy and you see where that’s gotten us all.”

  Yeah, in a perpetual state of drama, and I for one intend to break this cycle. There are some lessons that come hard and some that I get the first time around. Dealing with controlling dudes is a big no-no in my book, and I’m not keeping this lesson for the next lifetime. I just hope Mickey gets it this time around, too. She needs to let go of the past for the sake of her baby and everyone around her. Otherwise, we’re bound to keep repeating this bull over and over again.

  11

  Mine to Keep

  “... it ain’t what you cop / It’s about what you keep.”

  —LAURYN HILL

  After talking to Mama and Netta yesterday, I decided to be a compassionate friend and accompany Rah to his hearing, even if I don’t want to go. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to completely trust Rah like I did when we first met years ago. When he’s not honest with me I question his true intentions and that’s not good for any relationship. But, he’s a friend I love and intend on keeping around, so we’re just going to have to find a way to work this out.

  I’m just glad I get to leave school after lunch to attend the hearing. Today’s a good day to be gone anyhow, with half the school conveniently absent as the semester winds down, Jeremy included. I haven’t talked to him since he took me to the lake last week and I’m not looking forward to running into to him today, should he show up. I know Chance told Jeremy about me being back in hot water with Mrs. Bennett and I don’t want to hear his mouth about it. I don’t care if she is his favorite teacher; Jeremy’s judgment concerning Mrs. Bennett is still questionable to me.

  “What’s up, Lady J?” Jeremy says, surprising me as he falls in step with me.

  “Nothing much. Is school out already?” I ask, noticing he doesn’t have any books with him.

  “These last days are just technicalities. After today I won’t be back until Monday. My last final’s this afternoon and the rest of the week looks good for surfing.”

  “It’s only sixty-five degrees outside and I know the water’s got to be much colder than that. How is that perfect?”

  “ ‘The sun is shining, the weather is sweet,’ ” he says, in the worst white-boy imitation of Bob Marley I’ve ever heard.

  “Yeah, okay. You’re not immune to the elements, you know.”

  “Neither are you,” Jeremy says, noticing my long, black sweater dress with panty hose to match. I’m wearing socks over them with my sneakers around campus, but my matching black heels are in the car. I wanted to look as professional as possible for the hearing this afternoon, but I also need to be comfortable while I’m here. “You look nice. Going somewhere special today?”

  “Not really,” I say, avoiding a straight answer. I wish my plans were to chill like him but that’s a day I’m not counting on happening anytime soon. “We all can’t just up and leave school when we want.” Jeremy looks down at me and smiles, reminding me just how attractive he is. His baseball cap can barely fit over his thick, golden-brown curls that compliment his blue eyes, making me forget what we’re talking about. The bell for second period rings, snapping me back to reality, but Jere
my heads in the opposite direction of his class. “Aren’t you worried about your absences?”

  “It’s a new semester, which means a clean slate, absences and all. I’m not worried about it.”

  “Must be nice,” I say.

  “It is. I’ll catch you third period. I’ve got to make a quick change to my schedule,” he says, disappearing into the break crowd.

  I can’t wait to get my car back this afternoon, although I’m not looking forward to being back over at Mickey’s house, especially after running into her man last week. After the hearing, Rah and I are going to reclaim my vehicle.

  Rah and I arrived at the courthouse early, just to make sure we got here on time. Part of being responsible is not being late, and Rah’s proven that he’s good with time already. Now it’s the rest of the requirements we have to meet.

  “Jayd, I really appreciate you doing this for us, baby,” Rah says, nervously holding my hand under the table we’re seated at, waiting for Sandy and the judge to appear. Both attorneys are present and waiting with us. “I wonder what’s taking them so long?”

  “I don’t know. But hopefully they’ll be here soon.” I’ve never seen Rah so nervous. He’s kind of cute like this.

  “Excuse my tardiness, but we have a situation in the hall,” the judge says, poking her head through the door.

  “What kind of situation?” Sandy’s attorney asks, the first to stand up. Rah’s attorney stays seated and instructs us to do the same.

  “Come get your client. She’s refusing to come into the room. She said she wanted to speak with me alone and I obliged, but now she’s become irate and I can’t handle her.” I knew Sandy would pull something like this. When the attorneys informed us that she and the judge were in the judge’s chambers I knew it wasn’t going to be a good day. I just hope it’s nothing like the dream I had about her taking Rahima. I pray that the brownies we made for Rah work, and keep the good luck on our side no matter what kind of fool Sandy acts like.

  “In light of the situation, I’m going to proceed in granting the request that’s been filed for joint custody until we can establish grounds for giving one parent sole custody. This hearing is adjourned.” Well damn, that was the quickest decision I’ve ever seen, but from the way the attorneys went with it I guess it’s pretty standard in these cases.

  “I know it’s not what you asked for, but at least it’s on record now that you have rights too, and she can’t just up and leave without you knowing about it anymore,” Rah’s attorney says. She looks down at her ringing cell and answers it, leaving us alone.

  “Yeah, I guess,” Rah says, sounding deflated. Sandy always has a way of making shit all about her and today was no exception. “Let’s go get your ride.” I hold Rah’s hand as we walk out of the small room behind the main courtroom, which is where we’re going to end up eventually, knowing Sandy’s crazy ass. When we get outside, Sandy and her attorney are talking loudly. We try to avoid them, but there’s not a chance.

  “He’s mine and so is his baby. You know that, right Jayd?” Sandy says to me as rudely as possible. You’d think she’d act better when the threat of losing her child is right in front of her face.

  “Sandy, shut up talking to Jayd and act like you have some sense for a change,” Rah says. Sandy’s attorney tries to regain her focus but Sandy’s on one and doesn’t plan on stopping her tirade.

  “I will not shut up talking to her if I don’t want to. I can keep it up for a lifetime, Jayd. Remember that.”

  “Let’s just go, Rah. Forget about her. I have,” I say, loud enough for her to hear.

  “Mine, Jayd. It’s my life you’re trying to live and I’m not going to let you have it.”

  “You don’t have any choice in the matter because, just like you, I’m not going anywhere,” I say, turning around and following Rah to the parking lot. I’m keeping my friend around, no matter how huge a mistake he made with Sandy. As long as we’re together, I can handle her and anything else that comes our way.

  Rah and Nigel have been working on my car for the past two hours and they say they’re almost finished. I don’t know how true that is, but we’re having a pretty good afternoon and I don’t have any homework tonight to worry about. It’s not so bad hanging out, even if I am worried about Mickey’s man pulling up.

  “You look so cute C-walking, but you’re still doing it wrong,” Mickey says to her little brother Mikey who is trying his best to get the gangster dance down. “Jayd, show him how it’s done.”

  “I haven’t tried C-walking in a long time,” I say, getting up and joining Mikey on the front lawn. I put my hands in the air and rise up on my tiptoes, crip-walking as best I can in my pantyhose and sneakers.

  “Ah, go head, shawty. You got it,” Mickey says, laughing at me. “Let me see if I can get that.” I miss hanging out with Mikey. Ever since he entered junior high he’s been hard to catch up with. I just hope Mickey’s man doesn’t get him or anyone else out in these streets. He’s a good kid and I’d hate to see him go the wrong way.

  “Jayd, you’re just showing off now,” Rah says, looking up from under the hood of my car and smiling. Rah taught me how to crip walk and Mikey looks impressed that I can get down.

  “What set you from?” Mikey asks, playing around with me. But claiming hoods is no joke around here. We’re in Blood territory and he knows I stay on the blue side of town. I’m sure he rarely rolls to the Nutty Block side of Compton where I live.

  “Me phi me, fool,” I say, imitating some of the college boys KJ used to hang out with who refused to pledge a fraternity. It’s all the same to me—fraternity, sorority or gang. They’re all about giving up your solo identity to be a part of some group where someone else is the leader, and I’m not down with any of that shit and never will be.

  “I got to pee. I’ll be right back,” Mickey says, walking into the house. I continue dancing to the southern rap blaring from Nigel’s twenty-twos. None of us notice at first when Mickey’s man’s Monte Carlo pulls around the corner. Damn, I hate running into this fool.

  “You look good doing that gangster shit, girl,” he says to me through his window. Tre, my old homeboy and neighbor, is in the passenger’s seat and looks as high as a kite. “Who’s the nigga?”

  “That’s Rah,” I say, looking toward my car. I hope Nigel has sense enough to stay under the other side until Mickey gets back out. Her little brother goes in the garage after nodding “what’s up” to Mickey’s man. If Rah pops his head back out it’s liable to go down between him and Mickey’s man. They’ve never gotten along.

  “I’m not talking about him. I’m talking about the other fool over there. Is that the Nigel I’ve been hearing so much about?”

  “Nah, that ain’t Nigel. That’s my homie, Brad. He’s just helping Rah work on my car,” I lie. Mickey comes back outside, looking from her man to Nigel’s feet and then at me, trying to figure out what’s really going on. Before she has a minute to plan her next move, I tip her off to our innocent game. “Mickey, Rah and Brad are almost done,” I say, and she immediately catches on. Nigel’s dad is right: Mickey would be good at hustling in a game of pool. But without me to help her, she’d be caught in the act for sure. Just then both Rah and Nigel emerge to see we have company.

  “Hey Nigel, you want to play after you’re done?” Mickey’s little brother says, tossing a football in the air and blowing our cover. Nigel and Mickey both turn gray as Mickey’s man goes for his glove compartment. How does he go riding around strapped when he’s under house arrest? Does he value his freedom at all?

  Just as my dream predicted, Mickey’s man pulls out his nine and starts busting rounds Nigel’s way. But unlike my dream, Nigel’s not in his car and can’t get away fast enough.

  “Gun!” I yell and everyone hits the ground and ducks for cover. I’ll never forgive Mickey for this shit.

  Tre and Mickey’s man open their doors and run toward Nigel and Rah, who now are back in Rah’s Acura where I know Rah’s got his
piece too. I hate this shit. Rah jumps out and fires a few rounds in return but Mickey’s man is already too close. Tre, noticing it’s my homie from back in the day that Mickey’s man is shooting at, looks at me, confused. He knows Nigel’s a good brotha and so is he. I look at Tre and plead with my eyes for the shooting to stop. Just then, Tre jumps in front of Nigel to try to stop Mickey’s man from killing him and catches the bullet instead. Rah shoots at Mickey’s man again, this time catching him in the shoulder.

  “My man!” Mickey screams, running toward the tragic scene. It’s not clear which man she’s referring to, but both of them are in pretty bad shape from what I can see. How did this happen? One minute we’re kicking it and dancing and the next we’re running from gunshots.

  “Shit,” Mickey’s man yells, getting back behind the wheel of his ride. Trying to get away, he runs his car straight into the light pole and is knocked out cold.

  The cops get here just in time, and thank God, because even with Tre taking the bullet, it still hit Nigel and they’re both losing blood quickly. Rah’s okay and hides his piece in the garage before we embrace, grateful we’re okay.

  Yesterday’s shooting has been the talk of the city. Brandy and her sister spent the night at the hospital with their brother, and Tre didn’t make it. Mickey’s man will probably be locked up for a while, and that’s good news for Mickey and Nigel. The word is out now that Mickey’s maybe baby-daddy is Nigel, and they couldn’t be happier, but his shoulder having a bullet in it isn’t good news.

  Tre wasn’t one of my favorite people, but we did grow up together. He was always included in hide-and-go-seek, freeze tag, and playing house, which was his favorite of all our childhood games. Speaking of childhood, Misty and her mom are also here at Brandy’s house to show their respects. Tre was Misty’s first kiss. I forgot all about that. We were at her house playing spin the bottle and when he spun, Misty was the target. She was sprung on him for the rest of the summer and he liked her booty.