Keysha's Drama

by Earl Sewell

  “Jeez, look on the bright side. At least the cops aren’t searching the school looking for you.”

  “Why would they be?” I asked as I exhaled and slammed my locker shut.

  “The police are here doing an investigation involving that Ecstasy scandal,” Liz said. She tried to touch me again but I moved.

  “I don’t like it when you do that, Liz.”

  “What? I didn’t do anything.” She laughed at me as if she didn’t take me seriously.

  “Whatever,” I said and headed toward our science class. As soon as we sat down the teacher announced that there was going to be a pop quiz.

  Damn it, I thought to myself, I haven’t been following along or keeping up with reading the textbook like I was supposed to at all.

  “It’s okay, we can flunk it together,” Liz said. I just rolled my eyes in annoyance at her. She didn’t seem to care about what I was going through, and I didn’t understand why. I mean, when she was talking about how much she missed her dad, I was there for her, but now that I have a problem, she thinks my situation isn’t important. As I looked at the questions on the test I knew right away that I was going to flunk it because I didn’t know any of the answers. I didn’t have even the slightest clue because I had a “who gives a damn” kind of attitude, just like Liz. As I sat there staring at the page, the principal and two uniformed police officers walked into the classroom. My heart began to pound and I didn’t know why. Liz was summoned to go with them and my heart damn near stopped. Liz captured my gaze as she got up. Her eyes were asking a thousand questions that I didn’t know the answers to. Liz never returned to class. I thought I’d see her in our next class but I didn’t. There were reports and rumors all around the school about how the police and the principal were pulling students out of their classes. Then, during my lunch hour they came for me.

  “Keysha Kendall,” I heard an officer call my name just as I was about to sit down. I swallowed hard.

  “Yes,” I answered him.

  “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.” Oh, damn, I’m being arrested, but for what? What did I do? I felt a panic attack consume me. I began to breathe hard and wring my hands.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  “You’re under arrest,” said an officer as he removed his handcuffs. I felt dizzy, and the next thing I knew I fainted.

  Chapter 23

  Fainting didn’t help my situation at all, because once I was revived, I was placed under arrest and taken to the principal’s office. I was so nervous that my bottom lip trembled uncontrollably. I wanted to call my mother but I couldn’t. I could’ve called Jordan but I was too afraid to because he was so angry with me, and I knew that an episode like this would land me back at the group home for sure. I knew that Barbara would see to it this time. The two police officers left me in the care of my guidance counselor, Mr. Sanders, while they went and searched for another student.

  “Keysha, you’re in some very serious trouble,” said Mr. Sanders. “This is what the police found in your locker once it was opened.” He pointed to a large clear plastic bag with a load of pills in it.

  “That’s not my bag,” I said.

  “It was in your locker, Keysha. How did it get there?”

  “I don’t know but that’s not my bag or pills.” Mr. Sanders exhaled slowly and looked at me with judgmental eyes. I read his facial expression and knew right away that he didn’t believe me one bit.

  “Look, I’m just trying to help. Just tell me where you got it from?”

  “I’m telling you that I don’t know,” I shouted at him. He picked up a file from his desk and opened it up. He didn’t say anything for a long moment.

  “So your mother has been arrested and is currently serving time until her court date. Your grandmother was arrested and convicted of bank robbery and—”

  “Don’t you bring them into this,” I snapped at him. “I am not them, and I don’t appreciate you trying to insinuate that I’m a criminal, because I’m not.”

  “Okay, Keysha. Have it your way. The police have returned, anyway. I’ve tried to help you but I can’t if you are unwilling to help yourself.”

  “Her locker is the only one that had the drugs in it,” said one of the officers.

  “That’s not my stuff,” I told him.

  “Does anyone else have the combination to your locker?” asked the officer.

  “No,” I answered him.

  “Then how did this bag of drugs get in there?”

  “I don’t know—I have no clue.” I wanted him and everyone to believe me but I saw by their expressions that they didn’t.

  “Come on,” said one of the officers who helped me stand up. I was then escorted out of the building between classes so everyone saw me. I was placed in the backseat of the squad car, and hauled off to the police station.

  Once I arrived at the station I was taken into an interrogation room for further questioning and processing. The interrogation room was very small with solid white brick walls. It reminded me of the room my Grandmother Rubylee described in her letter. There were no posters, no artwork or anything of that sort on the walls to give the room any life. The room felt like a tomb, and the police officers were there to seal my fate.

  The police officials left me in the room all alone for a long time. I was a little feisty when I’d arrived because I knew that I was innocent and that all of this was some huge misunderstanding. They left me alone in my tomb until I calmed down. I felt as if I had no one I could depend on. I felt as if no one would come to defend me or speak up for me. I began to think about my Grandmother Rubylee’s letter and how she described prison life. I felt my tears swelling up because I didn’t want to go to jail. My body just started trembling all of a sudden and I couldn’t control it. I felt as if I were coming unglued. I felt as if my mind couldn’t take or comprehend what was going on.

  In all honesty, I felt as if I’d just reached my crossroads. I could turn left and go down the crazy road or turn right and try to fight to prove my innocence. At that moment, the crazy route was the road I was leaning toward. In my mind, it offered me a sense of peace that I wouldn’t get anywhere else. I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone and I would be able to live inside of my own world, with my own rules and laws. At the very moment I was about to make my choice, I heard the door open. I looked over my shoulder and saw my father. Never in my life had I been so happy to see him, even if he did have a crazy look on his face.

  “Daddy?” I said, bursting into tears. I couldn’t help it. I stood up, locked my arms around his neck and buried my face in his shoulders. I was so happy to see him. I was so happy to know he cared enough to come when I thought he wouldn’t. Jordan hugged me back, and being held by him for the very fist time made me feel safe.

  “I didn’t do it, Daddy,” I said through my tears. “This is all some big mix-up.”

  “All right, we’ll get this all sorted out,” he assured me. “First I need you to calm down, okay?”

  “I just want to go home with you,” I said, refusing to unlatch myself from his embrace. “Please take me home,” I pleaded. “Please make them leave me alone.” Jordan didn’t say anything, he just stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head. I cried some more. I didn’t realize I had so many emotions stored up inside of me. I cried so much that I wet up the front of his suit.

  “I’m sorry,” I said as I finally lifted my face. He wiped the tears away from my cheeks, and we locked our eyes on each other. I wanted to tell him that I loved him. I wanted him to know that deep in my heart I truly loved him for taking the test and saving me from the group home, but a boulder was in my throat blocking my words.

  “I’m going to ask you this one time and I want a straight answer. I don’t care if you’re guilty or innocent. All I want is the truth.” I felt more tears surfacing, but I didn’t take my eyes off of him.

  “Were you planning to sell and distribute Ecstas
y to the students at your school?”

  “No, Daddy, I wasn’t.” My voice trembled. I could feel my lips quivering as I found the strength to answer him.

  “Have you ever used or been addicted to any type of drug?”

  “No, Daddy, I’ve never used anything. My mother and grandmother did a lot of things that just turned me off. I never wanted to be like them. I’ve always wanted a better life for myself, and I never thought I could until you came into my life.” He searched my eyes and face for the truth.

  “That is the truth, Daddy,” I said, still looking him directly in the eyes. “I don’t know how that stuff got inside of my locker.”

  “Okay, I have an attorney on the way. We’ll get through this,” he said.

  “Do you believe me?” I asked, because I needed to know. I wanted and needed him to know that I wasn’t using or manipulating him in any way.

  “I’m your father, and whether you’re right or wrong, I’ll always be here for you,” he said. “And yes, I do believe you.”

  Chapter 24

  Several hours later, I learned that I was being charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute it. Asia, a woman of Chinese descent whom my father went to undergrad school with, was the attorney he hired. Asia informed us that it was going to be a long, hard fight, especially if the batch of Ecstasy found in my locker was linked to the batch that caused a severe reaction in the people at the Tricked Out dance club. And especially since one kid actually got brain damage from the stuff.

  “If she’s found guilty, you should expect a civil lawsuit from the parents of the child with brain damage to follow,” said Asia.

  “But I didn’t do it. That’s not my stuff,” I said.

  “I know and I believe you. We just have to make a judge believe you. We do have several things in our favor. You don’t have any criminal history and there is no medical file that indicates you’ve had addiction problems. I’m going to be honest with both of you. The prosecution is under pressure to bring someone to justice. Apparently, according to police, there has been a recent invasion of Ecstasy in this community, and they want to stop it.”

  “But I don’t even know where to get the stuff,” I said.

  “That’s another thing. The prosecution contends that they have a witness who says that they saw you with a man named Trinity Neophus Friday night at Tricked Out. Police say he has strong ties to the drug world.”

  “I have no clue as to who that is. And whoever this witness is they’ve found is flat-out lying.”

  “Were you at this club last Friday evening?” asked Asia.

  “Yes, I was there, but I don’t remember everything that happened. I got sick and fainted. My brother had to bring me home.”

  Asia exhaled. “Look, we’re free to leave now. Bail has been posted, and we’ll be notified of a court date in the coming weeks. Keysha, it is very important that you don’t talk to anyone other than me, your father or mom about this case. Anything that you mention to friends at school can be used against you in court.”

  “So I need to keep my mouth shut about all of this?” I asked.

  “Yes. And under no circumstances should you speak with the media. That’s my job as your attorney.”

  “Okay,” I said, feeling as if I’d somehow gotten myself into something that was way over my head.

  When we arrived home it was around six-thirty in the evening. No sooner had we set foot in the house, than Barbara began snapping out on Jordan.

  “Do you see now, Jordan? She’s too much,” Barbara began talking about me. Before, she would at least wait until I was in another room, but now she just didn’t care whether I heard what she said or not. “This girl is going to rip us apart!”

  Jordan sat down on the sofa in the family room. Now I wanted to be there for him. I wanted to defend and fight for him the way he’d done for me.

  “I’m not trying to rip you apart,” I said. Barbara’s eyes became slits in her face.

  “Listen, you little—”

  “That’s enough, Barbara,” Jordan cut her off. She took her attention off me and focused back on Jordan. I went and sat down next to my daddy.

  “We are going to stick together on this,” Jordan said. “We’re going to get through this storm—”

  “You believe her, don’t you?” Barbara had a shocked expression on her face. “Jordan, how can you be so blind?”

  “I’m telling the truth,” I said, hoping she’d understand.

  “Okay, hang on a minute,” Barbara said. She marched out of the room and returned with the letter that Grandmother Rubylee had written me. “I didn’t want to have to do this but I guess you have to see it for yourself.” She handed him the letter. “Read the highlighted part.” Jordan looked down at the letter. I glanced over at it and saw that Barbara had highlighted Rubylee’s request for money and bank account information.

  “Do you see now, Jordan? The girl and her grandmother are plotting to clean us out! For all we know, Rubylee could be running a narcotics ring from prison, and if we’re linked to it we could lose everything. The house, our lifestyle, everything!”

  “Grandmother Rubylee is crazy, okay?” I said because I didn’t want my daddy to think I was playing some kind of game with him.

  “Why would she ask you to do something like this?” Jordan asked me. I looked into his eyes and saw nothing but pain.

  “Daddy, I don’t know. All I told her was that I’d found you and that you had a nice house.”

  “Well, now she has our address and can probably send a hit squad or something over here to take us all out,” Barbara insisted. She was very passionate about her position.

  “It’s not like that at all,” I said. “You have everything all twisted.”

  “Keysha, I want you to go upstairs while Barbara and I talk.”

  “Yeah, get upstairs, because you have a lot of work to do.” Barbara’s anger toward me was teetering on turning into violence.

  “Come on, let’s go take a ride,” I heard Jordan say to Barbara.

  When I got upstairs, Mike was waiting for me on the landing. We locked eyes for a moment. He didn’t say anything and neither did I, but I could tell that at that moment he didn’t like me very much.

  “My life was sweet until you came along,” he finally said. “Why are you doing this to us?”

  “I didn’t do anything, Mike,” I said sincerely.

  “I’ve never seen my mom go so crazy,” he said, pointing to my bedroom. I looked down the hall toward my bedroom. It looked as if a tornado had gone through it.

  “What did she do?” I asked as I rushed into my bedroom.

  “She really lost it when she found out about drugs being found in your locker. She demolished your bedroom,” Mike said. My bedroom was a complete disaster. Every dresser drawer had been pulled out and dumped out. All of my clothes were turned inside out, and all of the pockets were hanging out of them. She even cut open my mattress and pulled out the foam. As my mind processed all of this I felt weak. I placed my back against the door frame and slid down to the floor. I closed my eyes, and placed my face in my hands.

  “Why is my life such a mess?” I spoke aloud. “Why can’t things ever go right for me?”

  Chapter 25

  The following day I didn’t go to school because I’d been suspended. I didn’t sleep well, my stomach was sour and I felt as if I were coming down with the flu. Around midmorning I turned on the television to catch the news and to my surprise and horror, reporter Angela Rivers was doing a follow-up story on the Ecstasy problem in my neck of the woods.

  “Tonight school board officials in District 411 will have to face residents who are angered and outraged that the student charged with possession of the drug Ecstasy has only been suspended and not expelled from the school. Many residents say that their quiet close-knit suburban community now has a black eye because of the drug scandal, and many of them are not happy about it.”

  Angela paused bri
efly while video interviews played of residents talking about how they wanted school officials to get rid of any student who was involved in any way with the drugs. My heart began to beat very fast and I began to panic and hyperventilate. I couldn’t believe how serious the residents were about kicking me out of the neighborhood.

  The school board meeting begins at seven o’clock tonight, and many of the residents I spoke with said they planned to be there to express their views and concerns.

  Angela concluded her report, and I turned off the television. I now felt sicker than I ever had before.

  That evening I sat in the family room with Mike and watched the school board meeting on our local community cable channel. The meeting was held inside the high school cafeteria, and it was packed with parents and students from not only my high school but other high schools within my district. I watched as they talked about issues regarding building repairs, school supplies and funding for extracurricular activities. Everything seemed to be going fine and no one mentioned anything about the drug problem until they reached a part on the agenda that called for open comment. Then, all hell broke loose. Parents were yelling at the board members about protecting their children. One person even wanted random searches of student lockers. Then some lady stood up and attacked Barbara directly.

  “Mrs. Kendall, I’ve heard that this drug problem didn’t seem to appear until your stepdaughter began attending Thornwood High School. It is also rumored that she is the one actually behind all of this. In light of this, don’t you think it would be wise for you to step down as school board president?” My heart dropped when I heard that lady ask such a mean question.

  “Oh, go to hell, lady,” Mike shouted at the television screen.

  “Why would she ask a question like that?” I asked Mike. I didn’t like Barbara very much but I certainly didn’t wish for her to be put on public display. In my mind I knew that she was going to say something negative about me and I didn’t know if I could take hearing it. Barbara repositioned herself in her seat before speaking into the microphone.