Beware of Boys (26 page)
Authors: Kelli London
Charly grabbed onto M
kel and Liam, and pulled herself up into a sitting position. She may've just been knocked out, but she wasn't dazed or confused about what she wanted. “Well, Lex. I'll tell you what. If you all agree to get this project rolling, to get this retreat and other retreats for all ill girlsâphysically, mentally, emotionally, and economically sick girlsâI might recover from you knocking me out.” She winked. “And if you go out there, knock out your opponent in less than five rounds,
and
make the project happenâI'll forget this ever happened, and put it in writing too.”
kel and Liam, and pulled herself up into a sitting position. She may've just been knocked out, but she wasn't dazed or confused about what she wanted. “Well, Lex. I'll tell you what. If you all agree to get this project rolling, to get this retreat and other retreats for all ill girlsâphysically, mentally, emotionally, and economically sick girlsâI might recover from you knocking me out.” She winked. “And if you go out there, knock out your opponent in less than five rounds,and
make the project happenâI'll forget this ever happened, and put it in writing too.”
Lex bounced up and down in place, warming up. “Bet. I'll knock him out in two rounds . . . but only if you have the dinner with me that you owe me.”
Epilogue
C
harly put a hand on her hip, then looked at the line of masking tape on the floor. With careful steps and a book on her head, she put one foot in front of the other, scaling it as if it were a tightrope. With precision, she crossed one ankle in front of the other, then twisted around, facing the other way. “Got it?” she asked, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. She couldn't believe she was doing what she was doing, but she was.
harly put a hand on her hip, then looked at the line of masking tape on the floor. With careful steps and a book on her head, she put one foot in front of the other, scaling it as if it were a tightrope. With precision, she crossed one ankle in front of the other, then twisted around, facing the other way. “Got it?” she asked, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. She couldn't believe she was doing what she was doing, but she was.
Faizon stood next to her, nodding. “Like this?” he asked, just a bit too femininely, then tried to mimic her walk, which was also over the top.
“No, Faizon. No,” Bobsy said from the side of the room. “Girls don't prance like that. We walk.”
Faizon put his hand on his hip, then wiggled his polished pink nails. “You swish when you walk. What's the difference between prancing and swishing?” he asked, then adjusted his blush-colored blouse.
Loud laughter erupted as M
kel, Lex, Coop, and Liam entered the theater room.
kel, Lex, Coop, and Liam entered the theater room.“Shuddup,” Faizon shouted in a high-pitched voice.
“Yo, Fai. I'm out. I can't do this,” Coop said, then turned on his heel. “I can't see you like this. I don't care if you did chip in to help pay for our crib when it burned.”
M
kel laughed, holding up a fist to his mouth. “Coop, it's cool. You know Faizon always lives as his character. It's a front though, and you know it. Y'all don't mind, do you, ladies?” M
kel turned toward the girls in the audience.
kel laughed, holding up a fist to his mouth. “Coop, it's cool. You know Faizon always lives as his character. It's a front though, and you know it. Y'all don't mind, do you, ladies?” Mkel turned toward the girls in the audience.“No, they don't mind,” Lex said, smiling. “These are theater arts ladies, which is why they're in the theater wing.”
“Mmm, I don't know, Lex. Some of us, maybe. But I don't know how long I can watch Faizon make a fool out of us girls. We don't act like he's acting. I may be coming over to the boxing area or learning how to sing soon,” the other Charlie said, then smiled. Her baby was in the seat next to her in a car seat. Eden sat next to her, dressed as a character, nodding in agreement too.
Liam walked over to Charly, then put his arm around her. “You know, Charly number two, you can always come over to the other wing and learn construction. I'm quite the teacher,” he said, praising himself. “If you don't believe me, ask Whip. He helped me build the stage Faizon's on now.”
“Yep. 'Cause Whip's built for more than speed!” Whip shouted from behind.
Charly smiled. She didn't know if Liam had put his arm around her out of sincerity or competitiveness. He and M
kel had been in constant competition for her full attention since they had started planning and building the retreat for girls, and she didn't care. She liked the attention, and loved that she didn't have to choose between them. As far as her fans were concerned, she was Liam's. In M
kel's mind, it was only a matter of time before she became his girlfriend. To Charly, she was just Charly St. James, and she could and would have the best of both worlds. She had
The Extreme Dream Team
and was shooting a pilot series that would help girls from all walks of life from the inside out, and she'd managed to get the guys to help all girls too.
kel had been in constant competition for her full attention since they had started planning and building the retreat for girls, and she didn't care. She liked the attention, and loved that she didn't have to choose between them. As far as her fans were concerned, she was Liam's. In Mkel's mind, it was only a matter of time before she became his girlfriend. To Charly, she was just Charly St. James, and she could and would have the best of both worlds. She hadThe Extreme Dream Team
and was shooting a pilot series that would help girls from all walks of life from the inside out, and she'd managed to get the guys to help all girls too.
A READING GROUP GUIDE
Â
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BEWARE OF BOYS
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Kelli London
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ABOUT THIS GUIDE
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The following questions are intended to
enhance your group's reading of
BEWARE OF BOYS.
enhance your group's reading of
BEWARE OF BOYS.
Discussion Questions
1.
Charly literally had boy trouble. Every problem she encountered involved either a guy or someone whom she thought was a guy. Because Charly was the common denominator in each problem, could Charly possibly have been the real problem?
Charly literally had boy trouble. Every problem she encountered involved either a guy or someone whom she thought was a guy. Because Charly was the common denominator in each problem, could Charly possibly have been the real problem?
2.
As a reality television star, Charly has received much, and therefore was driven to give much, even if it meant sacrificing her dream of getting another reality show. Have you ever wanted to help a person or cause so badly that you'd sacrifice your dreams? Discuss.
As a reality television star, Charly has received much, and therefore was driven to give much, even if it meant sacrificing her dream of getting another reality show. Have you ever wanted to help a person or cause so badly that you'd sacrifice your dreams? Discuss.
3.
Charly will do just about anything to get what she wants, including “bending” the truth, hiding things from the adults in her life, and twisting someone's arm (i.e. holding something against someone to make them deliver). Though we know right from wrong, were her actions justifiable? Is there ever a reason to use bad to make good things happen?
Charly will do just about anything to get what she wants, including “bending” the truth, hiding things from the adults in her life, and twisting someone's arm (i.e. holding something against someone to make them deliver). Though we know right from wrong, were her actions justifiable? Is there ever a reason to use bad to make good things happen?
4.
Charly was surrounded by some of the hottest guys on the planet, and was tempted by their looks and star power. However, she kept her eyes on the bigger pictureâgetting a place of refuge for girlsâ and that required strength. Do you think you could've done the same?
Charly was surrounded by some of the hottest guys on the planet, and was tempted by their looks and star power. However, she kept her eyes on the bigger pictureâgetting a place of refuge for girlsâ and that required strength. Do you think you could've done the same?
5.
In
Beware of Boys
, we met Charlie, a young teenage mother, who was enrolled in community college. It was clear her life was a struggle, yet she still pursued her education. Other than educational and financial setbacks, what do you think are some other problems that come with teenage pregnancy and parenting?
In
Beware of Boys
, we met Charlie, a young teenage mother, who was enrolled in community college. It was clear her life was a struggle, yet she still pursued her education. Other than educational and financial setbacks, what do you think are some other problems that come with teenage pregnancy and parenting?
6.
Charlie, the young teenage mother, implied a sort of prejudice against certain communities being broadcasted by saying reality shows don't showcase “real” everyday people or “at risk” communities, and Charly readily agreed. Do you think their assessment is true? Do you see all communities showcased on your television screen? If not, why?
Charlie, the young teenage mother, implied a sort of prejudice against certain communities being broadcasted by saying reality shows don't showcase “real” everyday people or “at risk” communities, and Charly readily agreed. Do you think their assessment is true? Do you see all communities showcased on your television screen? If not, why?
7.
Charly, though a good girl, consorted with ex-criminals to help her achieve her dream, and put herself at risk to get what she wanted. Do you think Charly was too trusting when she was alone with Coop? Was she herself a criminal by “allowing” him to break into Faizon's house or “borrowing” Faizon's car?
Charly, though a good girl, consorted with ex-criminals to help her achieve her dream, and put herself at risk to get what she wanted. Do you think Charly was too trusting when she was alone with Coop? Was she herself a criminal by “allowing” him to break into Faizon's house or “borrowing” Faizon's car?
8.
“Disease \diz-â
z\ (adjective) An impairment of the normal state of the living animal or plant body or one of its parts that interrupts or modifies the performance of the vital functions, is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms, and is a response to environmental factors (as malnutrition, industrial hazards, or climate), to specific infective agents (as worms, bacteria, or viruses), to inherent defects of the organism (as genetic anomalies), or to combinations of these factors.ӉMerriam Webster Dictionary
“Disease \diz-â
z\ (adjective) An impairment of the normal state of the living animal or plant body or one of its parts that interrupts or modifies the performance of the vital functions, is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms, and is a response to environmental factors (as malnutrition, industrial hazards, or climate), to specific infective agents (as worms, bacteria, or viruses), to inherent defects of the organism (as genetic anomalies), or to combinations of these factors.”âMerriam Webster DictionaryÂ
M
kel, Faizon, and Lex viewed illness according to what they'd been exposed to (diagnosed medical issues), and Charly believed illness to include mental, emotional, and physical suffering, such as being down and out, a victim of an unstable home, low self-esteem, etc. What's your take? Should all the above be considered because some other “unseen” ailments cause
dis
ease in a person?
kel, Faizon, and Lex viewed illness according to what they'd been exposed to (diagnosed medical issues), and Charly believed illness to include mental, emotional, and physical suffering, such as being down and out, a victim of an unstable home, low self-esteem, etc. What's your take? Should all the above be considered because some other “unseen” ailments causedis
ease in a person?
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