Hustlin' (18 page)

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Authors: L. Divine

BOOK: Hustlin'
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“Oh Jayd,” Ms. Toni says, taking a deep breath. “That's not good. They could suspend you and take your part for something like that.”
“They already took my part and gave it to Laura, but the full investigation won't take place until after the holiday.” Saying it aloud sounds even worse than I feel. How could I be so stupid? I feel like I exist in a dream state because this can't be happening to me. Mama will have my ass in a sling if she finds out I did something this stupid.
“Please tell me you didn't do it.” I look up at Ms. Toni and then back down. More tears well up in my eyes and Ms. Toni rubs my shoulder. “Girl, girl, girl.”
“I know,” I say, admitting my mistake without giving up the full confession. Ms. Toni's cool and all, but she's still a teacher. I can only reveal so much information to her without putting us both in compromising positions. I know she'd do anything for me, but even she's no match for this lily-white administration, as we've seen before.
“You'll be okay, Jayd. Just learn your lesson this time around. Mrs. Bennett doesn't need bullets when you give her all the ammunition she needs to take you down. And Laura—well, let's just say I've known her and Reid for a long time and they are just as bad as Mrs. Bennett when it comes to seeking revenge.” Ms. Toni looks across the courtyard toward the entrance to the main hall and smiles. I follow her gaze and smile myself at the sight of the fine brotha walking into our public confessional.
Mr. Adewale walks over to where we're seated. “Hello,” he says, standing over us both. “I've been trying to catch up with you, young lady. I found some more information on Queen Califia.” Noticing the sullen vibe, Mr. A crosses his arms across his chest, waiting to be filled in on the grim news. “So, who died?”
“The first Black Lady Macbeth at South Bay High.” He looks at me sternly and shakes his head from side to side. The bell rings, signaling the end of third period. The last thing I want to do is sit in math class, but I guess I have no choice in the matter.
“I'll see you in rehearsal, Jayd. And keep your chin up. It'll get better.” Ms. Toni smiles at Mr. A before she gets up, with me following right behind her. The last thing I need is a tardy or any other reason for my name to come up in the front office.
“What's this all about?” Mr. Adewale follows me out of the courtyard, joining the oncoming traffic of bodies rushing to fourth period.
“I lost my part because Mrs. Bennett thinks she has some note proving my part in helping Mickey and Nigel ditch. I know, I'm stupid and I let everyone down. Go ahead, say I told you so.”
But Mr. Adewale does nothing of the sort. Instead, he stops me in my tracks and looks at me intensely. I almost feel like he's probing my mind or something, he's looking at me so intently. If I didn't know better, I'd swear time has momentarily stopped and we are the only two people moving.
“Whatever you do, Jayd, don't admit to something you didn't do. But if you did do it, then tell the truth when presented with proof: you'll have more power in it. If there's no proof, say nothing. Let them think what they want, but keep your mouth shut. I know that'll be a new one for you, but true hustlers don't show their hands.”
After his exposé, Mr. A winks at me and walks off, leaving me in the main hall to wonder what the hell that was all about. Again, my charm bag hits me in the hip, making me notice the word “listen.” All I want to do is end this day, damn the advice.
 
I've been in a funk all afternoon because of all of my drama at school. I can't even enjoy my driving lessons and this blonde chick is working my nerves. I wish I could drive straight to Compton, dropping her off somewhere before I get home. But I only have three more lessons and, if I don't blow it, I could have my license before Christmas. I may be offtrack at school, but my personal goals are still on the money.
“Please make a left here,” Tina instructs.
All we've done in the two days she's been teaching me is drive to the beach and back. She gets out and shops a little while I practice parking with my hazard lights on. Tina even had the nerve to stretch out for twenty minutes because the sun crept out of the clouds for a little while. I stayed in the car because I'm never dressed for the beach. And I hate this little cheap-ass Nissan Sentra. I'd never buy this car. Every time we go over a bump in the road, I feel like the entire car's going to fall apart.
“Here, as in this corner, or here, as in the stop sign up ahead?” Tina's very indirect with her instructions and I don't think that's a good thing when it comes to driving.
“Here, as in right here, at
this
corner,” she says, pointing her yellow pencil out of the window to make her point more clear. “Uh oh, Jayd. You didn't use your blinker to indicate your traffic movement. I'm going to have to dock you for that.” She marks yet another check on the long sheet. I forgot about the quiz today and it couldn't have come at a more difficult time. I can barely focus on the road ahead, let alone concentrate on her vague directions.
“Now please find a spot and parallel park.” Tina looks down at the sheet, ready to mark it up.
“Parallel park? You never taught me how to do that.”
“Well, Jayd, you've been studying your textbook, right? Just try it anyway. It's a practice test. The one that counts is on Friday.”
As I pull up next to a parked car on the small street across from my high school, I notice Nellie, Laura and Reid walking up the walkway with a stack of papers and Nellie with a stapler in her hand.
Laura takes her staple remover and rips the Fall Festival fliers off of the bulletin board in front of the main office. She then takes one of the papers from Nellie's stack and staples it in place of the old paper, promptly tossing the latter into the garbage bag Reid's holding.
“Jayd, wake up. Did you fall asleep while driving? That's a definite no-no.” Tina jots down yet another note and I really couldn't care less.
“I'm sorry. What did you say?”
Tina looks at me, closes her notebook and taps it her with her pencil. She purses her thin, pink lips together, wishing she could cuss me out and I know the feeling. But neither one of us wants to go there. I want my license and she wants to get paid. As long as we each concentrate on our independent goals, we'll be fine.
“Okay, Jayd, let's start heading home. You don't seem into this lesson at all. Pull out and make a right turn at the light.”
Without looking over my shoulder, I pull out onto the small street, not realizing a car's coming. Seeing Reid, Laura and Nellie take down the signs with my name on them and putting up new ones with Laura's name as Lady Macbeth was too much for me to swallow.
“Jayd, watch out!” Tina shouts, pulling up the emergency break and stopping me from hitting the car just in time. “Jayd, snap out of it before you kill us both. Please.” Tina's right, I need to wake up and snap out of this funk. There's got to be a way to change my luck. Otherwise, I'm going to hurt someone, most likely myself.
11
Hustler's Luck
“The weak hearted become Babylon puppets/
Making it hard for real hustlas.”
—COMMON
 
 
 
T
he back door is always open. Lucky for us enough people live in this house that someone's usually home. When I get inside the gate, I walk through the back door straight to my room. I don't hear anyone in the den and as far as I know, Mama's not in the spirit room. From the looks of it, no one's here except for me, Lexi, and Jay, who's sleeping in his room. It must be nice to have such a leisurely existence.
“Come on, girl. Did anyone feed you yet?” I ask Lexi as she follows me out of the hallway and back into the kitchen. Lexi only comes in the house with Mama or me, and this is as far as she ever goes. “Let's both get a snack,” I say, petting her dark gray coat. I know Mama's busy if Lexi needs a bath and a haircut. She won't let anyone bathe her dog, and Lexi won't have it any other way. I'm grateful because I know that would be one of my chores and I don't need anymore work to do.
After I feed both Lexi and myself a quick bite, I decide to take advantage of the quiet house and claim a spot on the couch. I need to get lost in my work and forget about the day I just had. Tuesday was extremely awkward after I was so cruelly relieved of my role as Lady Macbeth.
And Wednesday wasn't any better. Having to watch Laura and Reid act like husband and wife onstage was a bit much for me to stomach today. Everyone was shocked when I came to rehearsal and sat down in the audience. But honestly, what else could I do, throw a fit and pull out her hair like I did in my dream? I'm not going out like that, especially not here. Me acting out like that would make Mrs. Bennett's entire year. Besides, we've got a few more days before opening night and anything can happen between now and then. I'm now Laura's understudy and, with any luck, she will get sick or stuck in traffic or something. I'm willing to wish almost anything up if it'll get my part back. And if there's anything that'll do the trick, it's in my spirit studies, which I'm getting into right now.
Before I can get too lost in my studies, I hear the back gate open, announcing my temporary peace is now threatened by someone else's presence in the house. By the way Lexi's tail is wagging underneath the kitchen table, it can only be one person coming through the back door: Mama.
“Jayd, how was your day?” Mama asks in a weary voice that sounds weak enough to make me worry. She's just getting in from the shelter and her ankles look swollen from being on her feet all day.
I put my notebook, pen and spirit book down to tend to my grandmother's needs. Even if she doesn't say it, I know Mama's bone-tired and needs a break. The holidays always whip her ass and I've been so wrapped up in my own crap I haven't been much of a help to her lately.
“It was cool,” I say, taking her two heavy bags and placing them on the couch next to my backpack and pile of work, Mama's assignments included. I walk into our room and grab her herb satchel to make her a tonic while she takes a seat at the dining room table. She looks like she could use a few potions to reenergize her body and soul.
“I wish I could say same the same thing. Those people down at that shelter are going to drive me crazy and run me ragged at the same time.”
I walk back into the kitchen and take a large mason jar out of the cupboard. I empty the multicolored herbs into the clear jar before filling it with tap water. Mama doesn't believe in buying bottled water. She says paying for water—which comes from our mother deity Oshune—is the biggest hustle of all time and she refuses to play that game.
“Mama, haven't you warned me about letting people pimp my ashe?” I hand Mama the large concoction, ready to get back to my work. Mama looks like she's ready to take a long nap.
“Well, isn't this something new; the student advising the teacher. Now that you're working with Netta, you think you can school me, huh, little queen?” Mama smiles up at me, gulping down her herbal potion in three swift swallows. How she takes all of those bitter herbs without choking has fascinated me since I was a child. I can barely tolerate the smell while mixing them up for her.
“Never, Mama. I'm just worried about you, that's all.” I take the empty glass back into the kitchen, adding it to the pile of dirty dishes occupying the sink. I don't know whose night it is to wash them but I'm not doing it. I haven't used a single dish today and I'll be damned if I get stuck with this job.
“Is that why you look like you've been through hell and back?” Mama comments, eyeing me carefully as I sit in the chair across from her, raising her small feet into my lap so I can rub them for her. Mama relaxes at my touch, but doesn't drop her questioning. “Well, are you going to tell me what's going on with you or do I have to find out on my own?” Mama's green eyes look tired, but they haven't lost a bit of their glow or their power. She probes my face for an inkling of a response. Getting what she was looking for, Mama closes her eyes and waits for me to dish.
“I lost my part in the school play,” I say, leaving out the drama with Rah and Sandy. I don't want to overwhelm Mama with my problems. She's already been through enough. But if anyone can advise me on how to deal with Laura and Mrs. Bennett, it's Mama.
“Now, how did you manage to let that happen?”
Mama doesn't open her eyes, but I can tell by her response she already knows. I guess my eyes gave me away, or rather her eyes came in and got the information she needed. Mama's got vision skills like no other.
“It's a long story. But basically, I got caught up in some of Mickey and Nigel's crap and, well, the understudy's now in the lead and I'm the understudy.”
“Well, Jayd, sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles,” Mama says, opening her eyes and looking at her bags on the couch next to my work. “Have you been studying the ‘doing hair' section of the spirit book?” She takes her feet out of my lap and gets up to retrieve the large book. “Netta will expect you to take the initiative when it comes to learning your family's lineage of doing hair. She can't teach you that part,” Mama says, thumbing through the book and turning to a section in the front.
“No, I haven't gotten that far yet. I've been studying for my quiz and working on my Califia paper.”
The way Mama looks at me makes me feel like a little girl making excuses to the teacher about why her homework's late, again. “Jayd, you are going to have to learn how to walk, chew bubblegum and do hair all at the same time if you're going to make it as a priestess. And, more importantly, you can't let anyone take your crown.”
As the seemingly innocent words flow from Mama's mouth, the vision of Laura snatching the crown off of my head in my dream Sunday night comes to mind.
Mama smiles at me and hands me the open book, pointing to a potion called “Hustler's Luck”.
“What's this for?” I ask, reading the ingredients and the story behind it.
Mama walks back over to the couch, takes her bags and heads for her room. I know Mama's about to soak in a hot bath and go straight to bed. I guess we're on our own for dinner again. Mama hasn't cooked for the household regularly since she started working overtime at the shelter. And I don't expect that'll change too much until after the holidays are over. But she'll make up for it by cooking on Christmas Eve.
“It's to help you get back what's rightfully yours. Next time, pay more attention to the consequences of your actions, Jayd. You never know when your mistakes will come back and bite you in the ass,” Mama shouts from her room. She walks across the hallway, wearing her house robe and slippers and carrying the same candle and bubble bath I used for my bath on Sunday.
“I could sure use some of this,” I say. The potion appears to be an anything-goes spray, which means it can be whatever I need it to be, whenever I need it to be.
“Oh yeah, that's the one,” my mom says, adding her opinion to the mix. “I remember Mama made me some of that when my watch was stolen at school. I went to school the next day and sprayed some of that all over myself before every classroom I went into until the perpetrator choked from the scent. I whipped that girl's ass until she gave me my watch back. If any potion will get you your part back, that one will do it, Jayd.”
“If you make it right, you should have your part back by opening night. It won't get rid of all of your problems, but it will help your luck turn around. And tell your mother I'm looking forward to seeing her and Karl at dinner next Thursday,” Mama says before she locks herself in the bathroom.
“Mama's too much,”
my mother adds before exiting my thoughts and leaving me to concentrate on my good luck potion. I'll move my studying to the spirit room where I can really get into this for the rest of the night. By morning, I should have everything all figured out. We'll see who gets the standing ovation opening night. Until then, I'll lay low like Lady Macbeth and wait for my prey to come to me.
 
By the time I came back in the house last night, it was almost midnight and Mama was knocked out. It took me all night to get finished with my schoolwork and my spirit assignment, which I think was very successful. I'll have to wait and see how Laura reacts to the potion when I spray it this afternoon. According to the book, I can use it as a hair, body, room, and linen spray, as well as just a simple air freshener. As tired as I am this Thursday morning, I wish I could use it as a pick-me-up.
“You're up early, I see,” I say to my uncle Bryan, who's already dressed. It's only five thirty-five, so I know I'm not running late this morning.
“Yeah, I'm pulling double shifts at Miracle Market so I can buy this girl a stupid Christmas gift.”
“Oh yeah, my new auntie,” I say to Bryan as I creep into his room, grabbing my weekend bag, which I packed last night, and my toiletries from inside the small closet. This new girlfriend of his has made Bryan a steady hair client and I'm grateful for the business. I'm not complaining, but one day I would like to know what it's like to have my own room, complete with real dresser drawers and all. I've got to tighten my money-making skills if I'm going to get what I want and need around here. “How's the hustle going?”
“As hustles go, girl. Slow and steady wins the race. You know I'll be out there Christmas Eve when folks will really need a gift. That's when we'll hike up the prices on everything and really make a dime, you feel me?”
“Yeah, it's called inflation,” I say, smiling at my uncle. Out of them all, he's on his game and, as the youngest of Mama's children, he also catches the most heat from the others. But, like a champion, Bryan sends the hater rays right back at them.
“Don't hate the player, hate the game,” he says, turning off the bathroom light just to mess with me. I turn the switch on the wall back on, watching him walk into the living room to heat up his body on the other side of the floor heater.
“Are you bringing my new auntie to dinner?” I ask, spreading my toiletries across the laundry hamper. I need to make a run to Target and stock up on supplies. Noticing the mess Bryan's left for me this morning, I leave the bathroom and follow him as he moves from his post by the heater into the kitchen. I need a paper towel to wipe down the sink after his trifling ass left water all over the place and, as precious as toilet paper is around here, I don't want to waste a single square.
“Maybe, maybe not,” he says, eating the last of his cornflakes before putting the bowl into the sink. He must've started eating them when he first got up. “We'll see how I'm feeling that night. You know how Mama gets at Christmas. She'll have us married by Easter with grandbabies by Halloween and I'm not ready for any of that yet.”
He's right about Mama. Rah's the only boy I've ever brought to any of my family gatherings and I can't shake him—permanently. Mama has her favorites and knows how to make them stick when she wants to.
“Yeah, I can feel you there. And thanks again for the mess you left me,” I say sarcastically, ripping a paper towel from the holder and heading back into the bathroom before someone else slides in.
“Don't say I never gave you nothing,” he says, opening the back door and dipping out, taking the last word with him.
That's okay; I'll get him later. Right now all I want to do is get to school and test my potion out. I can't wait to choke Laura up with this shit.
Mama's little pep talk last night has caused me to think about this play in a whole new light. As the understudy, no one really pays attention to my movements too much, which will allow me to work some magic of my own around the dressing room and classroom. I'm going to get my part back before opening night or my name isn't Jayd Jackson. Netta teaching me how to cleanse the shop last weekend gave me a new perspective on controlling my surroundings and I'm going to see what happens when I give the drama room a good spiritual scrub-down and replace it with some sweet-smelling energy of my own.

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