Holidaze Read online

  Mama breaks our stare-down and concentrates on finishing her baking. I know she had to feel that connection as strongly as I just did. Maybe that’s why, when I dreamt about my mom moving out of Mama’s house, it was Maman who was in Mama’s place. I don’t know what was in that drink I just downed, but it’s got me feeling a bit buzzed.

  “As you already know, your head carries your Ori, which is your personal link to the creator. And the shrine is a representation of that connection. Here, take this with you and give it to your head,” Mama says with a smile of recognition on her face. It’s another personal-sized pudding for my head orisha, Oshune.

  “I guess Oshune likes this dessert, too,” I say, smelling the tasty treat. It’s going to be hard to give this one up.

  “Of course she does. She likes what you like, and vice versa. You are one and the same. The sooner you realize that, the quicker your powers will develop. Now run along. We’ve both got work to do.”

  I grab my school bag and purse and head out the door into the backyard. There’s nothing in the house to eat, and my one little pudding didn’t do anything to help end my hunger. Luckily my mom’s ride can easily solve my involuntary hunger strike by taking me to get something to eat after I feed my orisha. I don’t know what I’d do without my mom.

  “Hey, sweety. I’m glad you think so, because I need for you to come to dinner with me at Karl’s mom’s house on Friday. Some family thing, and I’m going to need you there with me. Mothers always hate me.”

  “They don’t like me much either, in case you’ve forgotten,” I say, returning the thought. “I don’t know if I’d be much help.”

  “The in-laws are usually easier on the new wife if they see she’s a good mom. So you’ll be there, right?”

  “In-laws? Did I miss a step?”

  “Not really, but I’m hopeful for Valentine’s Day. Besides, wanting me to meet his family is a huge step, and you should be there to witness it. Come on, Jayd. When have I ever asked you for anything? Oh, and that reminds me, I’m going to need you to hook my hair up before we go, if you’re feeling better. So, get on it, girl. We’ve got a ring to get and no future mother-in-law of mine is keeping it from my finger,” my mom says, leaving my head just as quickly as she entered it. I could care less about Valentine’s Day, but if she likes it I love it for her. But seriously, will these holidays ever end?

  I’m so happy it’s Friday, I don’t know what to do. With the exception of my friends’ drama it’s been an okay week. I decided to leave Chance alone about him and Nellie consummating their relationship until I’m in better space to deal with the impending bell that’s going to eventually ring. And ever since I informed Mickey that I couldn’t help her deal with her relationship with Nigel through magic, she’s been avoiding me like the plague.

  It’s not my fault Mickey doesn’t understand how we get down in Mama’s house. What’s even stranger is that she and Misty seem to tolerate each other in public now, which is highly unusual. Although Mickey’s attending the continuation school on the lower campus, which is on the other side of the football field, I guess she’s still allowed to come up here for lunch, and she hasn’t missed a day yet.

  Nigel seems to be warming up to her a bit more, but they are not completely back to being all good, or so it looks to me from a distance. I know Nigel’s dealing with a lot. Tonight’s football game is the first one where he’s actually going to sit on the bench and watch from the sidelines. Pissed doesn’t begin to explain his current feelings toward the administration, and from what I’m hearing from Rah, he still blames Mickey for most of the shit.

  Rah and I aren’t back to normal either, but I have a little bit more sympathy for his ass than Nigel does for Mickey, and rightfully so. Rah has to go to Sandy’s arraignment today and I know when it comes down to it he’s not going to let the mother of his child stay in jail over charges he filed. He would expect the same loyalty from her, even if I doubt she’d be as generous.

  “What’s up, lady? Where’s your head at this morning?” Jeremy asks. It’s lunchtime and everyone’s paired off or in a group except for me.

  “In the clouds. What’s up with you?” I ask, looking up at him from where I’m sitting under a tree next to the library. It’s a great spot to sit and think when I don’t want to be bothered by anyone. I noticed him, Matt, Seth, and Chance heading to the parking lot to do whatever it is they do, but I was too caught up in my own world to acknowledge them with more than a nod. Seeing Jeremy in third period last semester was enough. But now that I have him and the rest of the Too Live Crew that Misty rolls with in debate class, school has been overwhelming, to say the least.

  “Nothing much. We were going to get some Mexican food if you want to roll with us.” I haven’t been off campus for lunch in a while, and if Jeremy’s inviting me then he must be paying, too.

  “What the hell. I haven’t worked in a couple of weeks and could use the treat,” I say, listening to my growling stomach second the motion.

  “A little hungry?” Jeremy teases, reaching his hand out to help me up off the grass. “And cold.” It’s a nice day but still a bit chilly to be sitting outside. I didn’t notice how cold my hands were until he said something.

  “You’re right,” I say, zipping my North Face jacket up and handing him my backpack. We walk toward the rest of his waiting crew, only to see Nellie has joined them. What fun this is going to be.

  “Ah, baby, I didn’t know she was coming. Honest,” Jeremy says, instantly aware of the tense vibe. It’s sweet of him to be concerned about my comfort, but I think he’s more concerned about me going off at the mouth in the restaurant and embarrassing him. Whatever the case, I intend on keeping a cool head no matter how hot I may want to become.

  “No worries. I’m a big girl and I can handle her.” I take Jeremy’s hand as we walk down the steep hill toward the back parking lot near the theater. I can’t wait until the next festival this spring. We haven’t returned to our regular schedule in drama class yet, but we do know what our next play is going to be. Mrs. Sinclair’s too wrapped up in the semester change, like most of the other teachers, to really care what we do this week. Thank God it’s Friday, because I know next week all of the teachers will be back on their game, and that means I will have to be on mine, too.

  “What’s up with you, Jayd?” Chance says, choosing to give me the Obama fist bump instead of a hug. Wise choice.

  “Nothing much. Hi, Nellie,” I say, trying to make nice. But her rude ass chooses to play deaf and that’s just fine with me. I wish she’d play invisible so we could have a diva-free lunch, but I doubt that’ll happen. Where is her clique anyway? I’m surprised she’s hanging with Chance and his friends. But I guess hanging with the rich potheads on campus is also good for her image.

  “Last one to the restaurant pays for everyone’s drinks.” Matt’s got jokes. If this were my crew rolling, that wouldn’t even be funny. But with Jeremy and his friends, money’s something to be gambled at will.

  “So how do you like your new schedule?” Jeremy asks, opening the passenger’s door and letting me in his classic ride. I miss rolling in the Mustang on a daily basis, but my mom’s car is cool. And nothing beats being able to take myself in and out of any situation. I wish I could master that art with my dreams.

  “It is what it is,” I say when he joins me inside of the vehicle. He starts the car and we follow the caravan of students out of the crowded lot. “Different semester, same school.”

  “I feel you on that one,” he says, catching up to Chance’s Nova, the leader of the pack. Matt, Seth, and Nigel each rev their engines, ready to race the two miles to the burrito spot. These boys have way too much time on their hands. “What do you think about the debate class?” I know that’s not his real question. What Jeremy wants to know is what do I think of Mr. Adewale. He already knows I think our new teacher is beautiful. But what he doesn’t know is that we have an ancestral connection that supersedes the typical teacher/student r
elationship.

  “I think it’s interesting at the very least. We’ve got some characters in our class, that’s for sure.” With Misty and all of South Central as our classmates, I’m sure the debates will be hot topics every day. I just hope Mr. A can control it. But after the way he checked Del earlier this week, I think he’s got it down.

  “Yeah, I think it should be very interesting. I’m just glad I get to sit next to you in two classes back to back,” he says, taking his right hand off of the leather steering wheel and placing it on my left thigh. I look up at Jeremy’s olive complexion and notice he’s sporting a five o’clock shadow. How sexy is that?

  “Well, like I said, it should be interesting.” I reach up and stroke the stubble growing on his cheek. The roughness feels good against the back of my hand. Jeremy stops my hand in mid-stroke. He takes my hand with the one that was formerly keeping my thigh company and kisses my knuckles.

  “I miss you, Jayd,” he confesses as we pull into the parking lot. Everyone’s rushing to get inside first, as if paying for six drinks will break any of these fools. Jeremy turns off the engine and sits back in his seat. I guess we know who the loser’s going to be.

  “Did I go somewhere?”

  “Yeah. Away from us. Why is that, by the way?”

  “Jeremy, we’ve been through this. Besides, aren’t you concerned about losing this bet y’all have got going on?” I reach over to open my door, but not before Jeremy can turn my face toward his and plant a big kiss on me. I allow his lips to mesh with mine, matching him move for move. I don’t want to pull away but I feel like I should.

  “Let’s go,” Nigel says, knocking on Jeremy’s window and interrupting our flow. I wish Nigel hadn’t seen us kissing because I know he’s going to give Rah a full report.

  Once inside we all stare at the menu like we’ve never been here before. We each have our favorites and usually stick to the norm. Nellie and Chance order first with everyone else following suit. Jeremy orders last so all the drinks can be on his tab.

  “At least he’s a man of his word,” Nigel whispers in my ear. “But he’s still not a nigga, if you get me.”

  “Yeah, I get you loud and clear.” When will Nigel get over the fact that I’m kicking it with a white boy? “I hope you realize that you’re kicking it with white boys now, too.” He looks at me like I just called him a bitch. He needs to get used to it. When in Rome, do as the Romans. Isn’t that how the saying goes? I know this isn’t Europe, but Redondo Beach is still a foreign country to us and we need to survive, white friends included.

  When we get back to campus we have less than one minute before the bell rings. Luckily most of us have drama class, which is on the west end of the large campus, near where we’re parked. If college campuses are any bigger than this property, I’m going to be one fit sistah by the time I graduate. Nellie and Jeremy are the only two who have to hike up the hill to their classes, but neither of them look too concerned about getting there on time. When Matt, Seth, and Nellie leave, Nigel says his good-byes, too.

  “Hey, both of you are invited to my official pre–Super Bowl party tomorrow night,” Nigel says to Chance and Jeremy. I never need an invitation. “Come with your cash in hand. There’s a pool for each team.” What is it with boys, sports, and losing all of their money betting on them? I’m sure Rah’s in on this bet, too. I know Nigel’s torn between his loyalty for Rah and his new friendship with Jeremy. But when it comes down to it, Nigel’s my friend too, and I hope he remembers that before he goes blabbing to Rah about unnecessary shit.

  “Hey, thanks, man,” Chance says, giving him the nod of approval.

  “Thanks, man, but I’ve already got plans tomorrow night. Next time though,” Jeremy says. Plans? What kind of plans does he have on a Saturday night and with who?

  “You want to hang out tonight, Lady J?” Jeremy asks with the sweetest look in his eyes.

  “I’m sorry, but I already have plans.” They may be with my mom, but he doesn’t need the details.

  “You sure have been busy lately. It’s turning me on,” he says, bending down and planting a kiss on me as the bell rings. “I’ll call you later.”

  “Okay,” I say, smiling from our lip lock. I have half a mind to tell my mom I can’t make it this evening, but I can’t let her down. Besides, if I stay home it’s going to be to catch up on some much-needed sleep. Jeremy can wait until I’m back on my game.

  When I get to my mom’s house she’s got clothes everywhere. It looks like a bebe tornado hit this place hard. I set my bags down and look for my mom amidst the destruction that is her bedroom.

  “Mom, are you in here?” I ask, picking up skirts, dresses, and shoes off the floor and returning them to their place in the closet.

  “Jayd, are you ready to do my hair? We’ve only got an hour before Karl gets here and I still have to do my nails.” My mom’s so nervous. I’ve never seen her like this before. “And get me a glass of wine, please. Oh, and don’t let me forget the bottle of cognac for his father, on the table.”

  “Mom, calm down. It’s just a family dinner. It’s not like you’re going to a hater’s convention or something,” I say, trying to make my mom laugh, but she’s far from laughing.

  “Jayd, the biggest hater a woman will have to deal with in life is the mother of the man she’s going to marry. It’s the oldest jealousy relationship in existence and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.” I can tell that from the way both Rah and Jeremy’s moms deal with me. They hate on me and I’m just a girlfriend. I can only imagine how they’d treat me if I married one of them fools.

  “Well, in that case I think I’ll sit this dinner out. I have enough hating of my own to deal with. Besides, I still need to catch up on my sleep,” I say, yawning and stretching out on her bed. I managed to clear a spot for me to sit down among the designer clothes.

  “Oh, baby, I’m sorry I didn’t ask how you are. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own mess, I didn’t consider you may be too tired to go with us. Have your friends starting acting right yet?” she asks, exiting her room, and I’m inclined to follow. She takes my hair bag out of the hall closet and walks into the dining room, ready for a quick press and curl.

  “Nah. They’re all tripping.” I take out my tools and set up at the dining room table.

  “You can still try the punch, you know. I made it for you anyway, just in case you needed it.” She walks over and opens the refrigerator, taking out a clear pitcher with a thick liquid inside.

  “Thanks, Mom.” I plug in the miniature oven to warm up the hot combs. As soon as she leaves I’m going to pass out on the couch and not move until tomorrow afternoon, or at least I hope so.

  “You’ll love the results. It’s like having a camcorder in your head. Try finding that at Best Buy,” my mom says, stirring the red brew. She cuts up some lemon and puts in a dab of honey, for luck I guess. “Almost there,” she says, tasting the punch with the wooden spoon. She then puts enough sugar in it for ten bags of Kool-Aid. “Perfect. Read up on it in my notes and you’ll see the benefits of being able to walk in your friends’ dreams. Now come on, I’ve got to get going. Karl will be here any minute.” We’ll see how this punch works at Nigel’s party tomorrow. If all goes well, I should be able to fix some of what they’ve broken.

  9

  Santa Baby

  “I really do believe in you/

  Let’s see if you believe in me.”

  —EARTHA KITT

  By the time my mom left last night I was ready to pass out, and I did just that. I slept most of the day away too, only getting up to eat. When Rah picked me up a little while ago for Nigel’s party I was more than ready to get out of the house. I’m also anxious to try out my mom’s punch on the crew. It’ll have to wait until we get inside and chill out. Right now, the boys are too busy showing off their toys.

  “Hey man, Santa was real good to me this year, you hear me?” Chance says, bumping his sound system and shaking the entire block. The new bling s
lides down his arm as he waves his hands up in the air like he’s at a T.I. concert. I wonder if that thing can still tell time with all of those diamonds in it.

  “Yeah, I do. What kind of system you got in that joint, fool? And where’s the old one?”

  “Ah, man, you know this is Kenwood, baby. And I gave the other one to my little cousin. We don’t mind hand-me-down gifts in my family, know what I’m saying?”

  “I’m sure y’all don’t,” I say. I’m not a hater, but damn. How much extra money does one family need?

  “Ah, Jayd, I told you I’ll hook you up. Just say when,” Chance says, putting his arms around my shoulders, instantly pissing both Rah and Nellie off. I’m glad Jeremy couldn’t make it; otherwise I’d be catching his hater rays, too. Feeling the heat, Nigel switches the subject back to sports and food, two of any dude’s favorite subjects.

  “Come on, man. We can watch some college ball and get our grub on. I’m getting the munchies,” Nigel says, leading the way into his house. We walk up the stairs and into his large room, ready to settle in for the evening.

  “I brought some punch,” I say, putting the container on the table while everyone gets comfortable. We all have issues with one another, but we’re trying to keep the peace, for now.

  “Is it spiked?” Nigel asks, checking the punch out from afar.

  “If it was, do you think I’d give it to your pregnant girlfriend?” I look at Mickey, who follows suit. I hope this works. I need to change a few things in all of our actions over the past couple of months. And since we’ve had such an effect on one another I need to get into everyone’s head tonight. I wish Misty were here, but she’ll have to get the trickle-down effects of this spell. I pour everyone a cup and prepare to walk in their dreams.