Holidaze (18 page)

“Oh, they’re coming. At least I haven’t moved around while sleeping, in the last couple of dreams I’ve had.” I place my personalized apron over my head and close the closet doors.

“Amen to that,” Netta says, slathering Mama’s hair with some of their sweet strawberry leave-in conditioner. I walk over to one of the vacant sinks and wash my hands, ready to start my work for the day. I also have to remember to stock up on my hair supplies before I leave today. But first things first. And these Christmas decorations are definitely top priority. The sooner the holidays are completely behind us, the better.

“Anything interesting happen in the last one?” Mama looks over at me and I can tell she knows something’s up. Netta leads Mama from the wash area to her station, ready to blow dry Mama’s crown. Her hair seems to get longer each week.

“Actually, yes. The one I had last night was very interesting,” I say, unplugging the tree lights before removing them. “This time Jeremy’s grandmother was Maman’s lover’s daughter and I was the nanny. That was a whole lot of fun,” I say sarcastically. Mama looks up from her reflection in the mirror and into my eyes.

“Are you sure, Jayd?”

“Your little white boy, Jeremy?” Netta asks, clamping the hot curlers hard three times before placing them in the miniature oven to heat. I guess Mama’s getting a simple dry and curl today, no press needed for her soft hair.

“Yeah, positive.” I place the lights in a plastic bag and continue un-decorating the dehydrated tree. Netta should be ashamed of herself for leaving this thing up here for so long. She’s not the only one still stuck in Christmas past, but still. I expected more from her.

“Now isn’t that a coincidence?” Netta says. She, like Mama and I, knows there are no coincidences in life. Jeremy and I being the descendants of ancestors who knew each other during the time when it wasn’t even legal for white and black folks to drink from the same water fountain, is more than a fluke.

“It just goes to show you how planned out your destiny truly is,” Mama says. That’s what Mickey’s baby said to me about our destinies almost verbatim. “Did you gain anything from the vision?”

“Just that I’m glad I’m living now and not back then. I’d hate to work for somebody and get treated with no respect.”

“It wasn’t easy for our ancestors, but they made it through,” Netta says.

“Yes, they did. And so will you, Jayd. If you keep calling on them they will answer.” Mama’s words resonate deep inside of me. All the petty bull I go through on a daily basis is nothing compared to what I’ve seen Maman deal with and even what Mama went through in the sixties. They were both gangster with their shit.

“I hear that, Mama, but it seems like they’re taking a long time to answer my call this time. I’m trying not to get a hot head about it, but Mickey’s making it real hard for me to keep cool.” Just thinking about Mickey rolling her neck at me during lunch makes my blood boil.

“Don’t give up on the emotion, Jayd. Just do away with the pettiness. Emotions are how we navigate our feelings. If it doesn’t feel right then you know to go in the opposite direction, and vice versa. Just get rid of the BS so we can move forward and get some work done.”

“I know you’re right, Mama,” I say. I can’t help but agree with every word. Had I listened to my first uneasy feeling about Misty and KJ being friends, back in the day, I wouldn’t be in this mess right now.

“No matter how many times they try and take you out of your body, remember the shell cannot replace the self,” Mama says, eyeing her fresh do in the mirror. She looks good with long hair, but I prefer it short and sassy.

“Exactly. As long as you can find your way back to center, little Jayd, you’ll be okay.” Netta’s right, too. I just need to find my way back to the middle with all of my friends. I also need to find my balance within my powers. Once I get both of my worlds straight, with the help of my ancestors, I’m sure I’ll feel a lot better.

After talking to Mama and Netta Tuesday, I feel a little better about my dreams coming back, even if they are still causing me to walk in the past. I’m not in the mood for anyone’s madness, especially not Misty’s or anyone else up here for that matter. It’s been a long week and it only promises to get longer, especially with Valentine’s Day next week. My mom’s the only one I know who’s happy about the stupid day. She’s hoping for a big engagement ring, and I hope she gets exactly what her heart desires.

If my mom and Karl are going to get engaged I don’t see why she needs his mother’s approval. They should just do the damned thing. They’re both grown, been married, and have children. If it were up to me I’d tell them to elope. But no, my mom has to go winning over the in-laws. I’m tired of being pulled both in and out of my sleep world, which at the moment seems saner to me than my reality.

“Secret valentine?” one of the lesser members of ASB says to me as I make my way through the main hall. I didn’t get a chance to switch out my books at break so I have to do it now.

“No, thank you,” I say, acknowledging the poor freshman. If she only knew what she was getting herself into with ASB. When Nellie started hanging with the school clique she basically sold her soul to the devil.

“Chica. Que paso?”
Maggie asks with her entourage not too far behind. “You don’t look so good,
Mami.
I know you’re not still letting those
brujas
mess with you, are you?” She shouldn’t even joke about witches because they’re real. And I know Maggie knows it.

“Girl, you know how it is,” I say, giving my friend a hug while continuing the trek to my locker. “Your hair still looks tight but bushy.” I’m proud of my work, especially now that I’ve figured out a way to keep the braids in longer with my personal line of products. But touch-ups are inevitable with cornrows, and I’m thankful that they are. That will always keep a sistah in business as long as I stay on my game.

“Sí, Señorita.
So when can you hook me up again? Me and my
papi
are going to take pictures next week and I want my hair to be extra flyy.” Maggie’s becoming one of my best clients and I am grateful for the steady side hustle.

“Well, maybe Monday after school. I’ve got to get to Inglewood this afternoon and hook my mom’s crown up, otherwise I’d do it today.”

“Maggie, Jayd,
vamanos,
” Mario calls after her. Her boyfriend smiles our way, giving me a nod to walk over with her and I oblige. It’s been a while since I showed
mi hermanos
in El Barrio some love.

“Oh
chica, mi papi
told me you have a secret admirer,” Maggie says like she’s sharing the family crest with me.

“Oh, no. I don’t need any more admirers, secret or otherwise,” I say, as serious as a heart attack. “I have enough drama on my plate.”

“But what if he’s the one you’ve been waiting for your whole life? And what if he’s super cute?” She sounds like she’s seen
Cinderella
one too many times.

“Okay, Maggie, I can see it’s not that secret so just tell me who he is. You know you want to.” Maggie looks like she’s going to pop if she doesn’t spill the beans, but we reach her crew too quickly for me to get the full details. I’ll get it on Monday when I get inside that head of hers.

“Hola, Mario, y adios,”
I say to Maggie and her crew. I don’t mean to be rude, but I need to get to third period. We have a quiz today and I don’t want to be late.

“Later, Jayd,” Mario says. I give Maggie a quick hug and head to class. Besides, the sooner I get through government class, the quicker I can get to speech and let Mr. Adewale distract me until lunch.

Mrs. Peterson’s quizzes always take up the entire period. I thought that was called a test, but whatever. I’m just glad it’s over. Jeremy and I didn’t get to speak much in third period and by the looks of it we won’t have much time to catch up in fourth, either.

“Okay, class. Today’s debate is going to center around the purpose of music in our lives. This entire section for the next few weeks is going to focus on the relevance of culture in our daily lives. We’ll begin with the roots of hip-hop, since I know many of you listen to that genre. Then we’ll venture into rock, alternative, and reggaeton as well as reggae, jazz, and the blues.”

As the music begins to play, students start dancing and really feeling the vibe. I personally love Common. Jeremy looks at me and I him. We both love East Coast rap, and even though Common’s from Chicago, he’s still got that East Coast vibe.

“Want to dance?” Emilio, the new student, asks. I don’t want to embarrass him but I was kind of hoping Jeremy would ask me. Jeremy smirks at the youngster’s advance. What was I thinking—Jeremy would offer me a dance? I should know by now this is not his thing, but that doesn’t have anything to do with me.

“Sure,” I say, taking Emilio’s hand and allowing him to lead me into a slow dance. He slips his right hand around my waist and moves me to the melodic beat. Mr. A watches us as we easily move to the music.

“You’re pretty good,” I say, acknowledging Emilio’s skills. The boy can move.

“So are you,” he says, blushing as he smiles down at me. I look at Jeremy, who’s no longer smiling in that cocky way of his. He looks concerned now. Serves him right. He should’ve taken my hand when he had the chance.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Mr. A says, rolling his eyes at me as he stops the music. Why is he hating? “Now, how did the music make you feel? Jayd, let’s start with your response.” I haven’t even had a chance to catch my breath yet and he wants to put me on the spot. Damn, I guess that’s how it’s going to be having him as my regular teacher in not one, but two of my classes this semester. Lucky me.

“Hot,” I say, fanning myself like I’m in church. Before he can reply to my smart-ass answer Mickey shows up, interrupting the already excited classroom.

“May I help you?” Mr. A asks.

“Yeah. I came to get Nigel Esop. We have a doctor’s appointment,” Mickey says, rubbing her baby bump like it’s a trophy. I see that’s not the only reason she’s ventured up to the main campus this afternoon.

“What’s up, Jayd?” Mickey asks while Mr. A inspects the early pass from the office. Something about her tone isn’t sitting well with me. We haven’t seen each other since she accused me of trying to steal her man when I braided Nigel’s hair the other day. I know she’s not over that conspiracy theory so quickly.

“What’s up?” I say. Mr. Adewale calls the main office to verify the pass and I don’t blame him. With Mickey and Nigel’s history of ditching, their faces should be posted across campus to let everyone know not to let them leave without triple-checking their notes.

“Me and Nigel made up, and just in time for Valentine’s Day, too,” Mickey says, sitting on Nigel’s lap and claiming him like he’s a puppy. I’ve never seen Mickey giddy before and I don’t like it at all, especially not at my boy’s expense.

“I’m happy for you.” Even she has to know she’s living in a dream world if she thinks she and Nigel are back to normal. Nigel hasn’t been himself since the shooting, and not playing football isn’t helping the situation much at all. And neither is his keeping a girl on the side.

“You should be, especially with this bling,” she says, holding up her ring finger and showing off the shiny diamond and gold engagement ring on it.

“What the hell?” I exclaim without thinking first. I look at Nigel, who has no response at all. It’s like he’s asleep or something. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that Mickey turned him into her personal zombie.

“Careful with that word. We know that’s what they’re trying to do,”
my mom says in my head, reminding me of the fact that Misty and her evil godmother are trying to make me their dream mule, even if we’re not having it. And that goes for my friends becoming ones, too.

“That doesn’t sound too happy at all,” Mickey says, smiling at her conquest. I just talked to Nigel and he was anything but ready to propose. He wasn’t even claiming her baby fully, and now they’re engaged? Something’s definitely not right with this picture.

“Oh, she’s just mad because she couldn’t get you the results that we did,” Misty says. “You know haters can’t help themselves.” Mickey laughs at Misty’s comment and Nellie, Laura, and the rest of their circus crew join in the fun. Jeremy looks at me and shakes his head as if to say
I told you so
about hanging with my torn-down crew. And I’m with him now. This is getting to be a bit much for a sistah. Why am I fighting so hard to put us back together when it seems like my friends are the very ones tearing us apart?

“What, are y’all chilling now? Please say it ain’t so.” I look at Mickey, who smiles slyly, like there’s a secret I’m not in on. The bell for lunch rings and Mr. A dismisses the class. The rest of the students file out as Mr. Adewale watches the end of our drama unfold.

“Everyone’s realizing just how crazy you really are, Jayd. Hurts, huh?” Misty says. Usually her words are empty threats, but for some reason those hit home. I can’t think of anything to say in response. She’s right. It does hurt and I can’t do anything about it.

“Okay, that’s enough. You can all leave now. Here’s your note back,” Mr. Adewale says, stepping in front of my desk to block the hater rays coming at me from every angle. Nigel’s even quieter, and now I know there’s definitely something wrong with him. He would never let anyone talk shit to me like that.