Keep It Movin' (13 page)

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Authors: L. Divine

BOOK: Keep It Movin'
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“Hey, we all have to start somewhere, girl. I'm happy for you. Your own wheels are the first step to independence. See you Monday,” Matt says, speeding off into the sunset and reminding me of our return to Drama High next week. At least I can sleep in for a change, now that I don't have to wake up early for my usual three bus rides. I pass by a few of the bus stops on my route and smile that I'm no longer one of the many folks standing on the corner waiting for the bus. Before I can get too lost in my good feeling, I smell smoke coming from somewhere and from the way people are pointing and staring at me, I'd say it's coming from my ride.
“Oh hell no,” I say, pulling into the nearest gas station and turning off the engine. Where is Rah when I need him? Well, he must've smelled the fire because he's finally calling me back.
“What's up with you,” Rah says groggily. It's almost six and this fool's just waking up. But that's how it is when he gets lost in his music.
“What's up is this piece of shit car my daddy gave me. I'm stuck on Manhattan Beach Boulevard. Can you come help a sistah out or are you still pissed at me?”
“Have you ever heard of quitting while you're ahead?” I've always been warned about my mouth being too sassy and I guess that was his way of telling me nicely to shut up. “I'm on my way.”
“Thank you,” I say.
“You're welcome.” It'll take Rah a good forty-five minutes before he gets here with the New Year's Eve and after-work traffic well underway. I might as well leave my ride here and walk across the street to The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, my favorite coffee house. Jeremy and I come here often when we hang out by the beach, and I never get tired of the menu. I'd better call Mama and let her know I'm going to be a little late for our annual date.
“Hey, Mama. What's shaking?” I ask while making my way into the busy spot. The smell of coffee always perks me up.
“Nothing much, little one. What's up with you?”
“Well, my car overheated and I'm in Hermosa Beach waiting for Rah to come check it out, so I'll be there as soon as I can.”
“What would you do without that boy on your side?” Mama asks. If I didn't know better I'd say she was referring to our spat at the mall, but I didn't tell her about that. Knowing Mama, she's probably referring to some future event that I don't know anything about.
“I don't know but I'm glad he's here now.” And not just because he got me a new phone to chat on.
“Jayd, you go on home to your mother's house. These fools in the neighborhood have already started shooting off their guns to celebrate New Year's, and I don't want you caught in the crossfire. But stay close to your spirit book tonight and get some studying done. Focus on getting your blessings through doing work from your own hands. That's how you keep what you've gained.”
“Are you sure? I'm close to Redondo Beach and it's the same distance from here to you or my mom. I know you don't want to be alone.” And frankly, neither do I. But I'm not hanging out or partying like the rest of my friends will be doing. I'd rather spend a quiet night in, like we always have.
“Jayd, get back to your mom's. I'll be fine and will see you on Sunday. You're getting off early tomorrow at Netta's to get ready for school on Monday, right?”
“Yeah, but I'd much rather hustle. I need all of the money I can get.”
“There are lots of things more important than money and one of them is rest. Without your health you won't get very far in life to spend that money you're working so hard for.”
“I know, Mama, you're right.” I watch another car pull up, as I anxiously wait for Rah's Acura to arrive on the scene.
“I'm always right. Now go on and get, and call me when you make it back,” Mama says before hanging up the phone. I hate to leave Mama alone without another female to help ward off the masculine energy in that house, but I must follow Mama's directions first and foremost, no matter how I might feel about it.
Finally, after I'm almost finished with my large Vanilla Ice Blended, Rah pulls up, ready to save me. “Come on, girl, I've got plans tonight,” Rah says through his open window. No hi or hello. I guess he is still pissed.
“Jayd,” his little brother Kamal yells out from the backseat.
“What's up, little man? My car's across the street,” I say, pointing toward my broke-down vehicle and giving Kamal a high five.
“Alright. I'll get her cooled off, then follow you back to your mom's crib. Here, you drive my car back,” he says, pulling up next to my car and getting out. What would I do without Rah, indeed?
 
When we get back to Inglewood, all I want to do is shower and watch television, but I can't ring in the New Year with Rah still mad at me, and judging by his puppy-dog eyes, I'd say he feels the same way. My mom and Karl have already started their evening festivities off at his house, so it's just me and the television tonight. And as far as I'm concerned, this is all I need to have a good time.
“I'm sorry I left you yesterday, but you really hurt me.” I open the front door, toss my jacket and purse on the couch and run to the bathroom. When I come back out, Rah's standing by the door, waiting for an apology from me that ain't coming. From what I can see, I didn't do anything wrong.
“How did I hurt you? By not always being available when you want me to be?”
“No, by accepting expensive gifts from that punk when you already know what he's all about.” Rah's jawbone tightens and he looks like he wants to punch the wall. He needs to check himself—and now, before he goes too far.
“Yes, I do know what he's all about and it isn't money, no matter what you may think.” I look at him and notice his eyes soften, but I can tell he's still vexed enough to do some damage. We need to drop the subject. I walk into the kitchen and check the cabinets for snacks, ready for my big night in. I grab a bag of popcorn.
“Jayd, it's New Year's Eve. You can't sit at home and watch TV all night.” Rah's always into festivities and I know he remembers what happened on New Year's several years ago, so I don't understand why he's pressuring me. My uncle's murder is always on my mind this time of year.
“Watch me,” I say, popping the popcorn in the skillet while sprinkling sea salt on it. Rah watches me shake the food in total disbelief of my nonchalant attitude. “You should get going before Kamal gets impatient and starts honking your horn.”
“It's Jeremy. He's coming over, isn't he?” This brotha is too much for me sometimes. Actually, Jeremy will be ringing in the holiday with his brothers. They have a tradition that I'm positive includes lots of alcohol and pot; not my cup of tea. Besides, I've had enough of his family and their version of the holiday spirit.
“Not that I know of. Rah, why are tripping? You know I like to keep to myself on this holiday, especially since Mama's usually in a mood, if you recall. I feel better staying home, just in case she needs me.” I glance at the selection of drinks in the bare refrigerator and settle for lemonade. I haven't been shopping since Monday and I'm almost out of food.
“Jayd, your uncle Donnie died five years ago. It's time for a new tradition, don't you think?” Maybe he's right, but this isn't the year to change shit up. It's a volatile time and I don't want to rock the boat any more than it's already shaking. My powers are getting stronger and so is my ability to make my own money, which Mama says is where the real power lies. The last thing I want to do is break tradition, which Netta swears brings bad luck. She even attributes the fact that I received a dress just like the one Maman had in our vision on Christmas Eve, to some sort of karmic payback, and I tend to believe her.
Déjà vu like that represents a definite glitch in the system and, just like in one of my favorite movies,
The Matrix
, I'm taking note and reacting accordingly, and that starts by staying my ass at home like Mama requested. She had three dreams involving me and violence, and I'm not ignoring the warnings.
“I feel like I need to stay my ass right there on that couch.” I take a large, white bowl out of the cabinet and put the hot snack in it, ready to get my grub on. “There's a
Degrassi
marathon on The N tonight and you know that's my show.” Rah looks at me and knows I'm not budging.
“Jayd, for real. We need to be together to bring in the New Year right.”
“Well, I'm not exactly kicking you out.” Rah follows me into the living room where I plop down on my couch/bed and settle in for the weekend. I grab the remote and turn to The N where
Clueless
is on before my marathon. “Perfect. I love this movie. I'm straight for the evening.” Rah stands over me with his arms crossed over his chest, his hoodie hanging loosely over his sweats. He's adorable and almost irresistible when he really wants something, but I want peace even more than I want to hang with him this evening.
“Don't forget to make a wish at midnight,” Rah says, bending down to kiss me on the forehead. I have a lot to wish for, including another car, since the one I have doesn't seem to be working out. Rah walks back toward the front door, ready to leave me to my evening in.
“I won't, and you do the same.” Last year after Mama fell asleep, I talked on the phone with Mickey and Nellie until the sun came up. This year I'm going to include their reconciliation in my wish. With all that's going on—the good and the bad—I want to share it with both Mickey and Nellie. We need each other to get through the rest of the year. Why are my girls tripping when we need each other the most?
7
My Girls
“It's deep how you can be so shallow.”
—GNARLS BARKLEY
 
 
 
A
fter all of the shooting to ring in the New Year was over Friday night, I finally got some sleep, but not much. I have a long school week ahead of me and I still have a few heads to braid before I get back to Compton tonight. The last thing I need is to be sleep-deprived while doing someone's hair. I remember the last time I lost a lot of sleep after my uncle Donnie was murdered. I saw all kinds of shit that ain't normal and I never want to go there again.
“Girl, your braid sheen is off the chain. You should sell this stuff,” Shawntrese says, spraying more on her fresh cornrows. I'm glad her hair's finally growing strong enough to braid up and it looks good on her.
“I do,” I say, looking at the half-empty bottle in her hand. I've been perfecting my braid products during my days at Netta's and it seems to be working. So far I have three steadies in my Lady J line of hair care: braid sheen, twist gel and scalp cream. I haven't shown Mama yet but I plan on unveiling my new creations Tuesday when we're together at Netta's. She's been helping me get it right. But I'm finally satisfied with the recipes and I think Mama will be very proud.
“Yeah, it does look good,” Shawntrese's new boyfriend says, stepping into the hallway and poking his head through the open door. I didn't know he was laid up over there. If I did I would've closed and locked the door. She has the worst taste in men and I don't want him up in my mom's crib.
“Yeah, Jayd's got that magic touch. You should let her hook you up, Leroy. She's good at hooking up the brothas, too.”
“I'm sure she is,” he says, eyeing me a little too closely for my taste. And he's got a head full of hair that looks like it's never seen shampoo or conditioner. I'll have to charge him double to fix that mess.
“Down boy,” Shawntrese says, checking her man. I know this girl's got my back and won't let her man get too fresh with me: at least one of my girls does. Mickey hasn't called me back and I've been calling her since Friday. I guess she and Nigel got caught up during the weekend, with his parents gone on a church retreat until today. Mickey didn't get to chill with him for New Year's Eve, but they've no doubt made up for it by now.
“What? I'm just saying if she could hook up that big head of yours she can work miracles on my dome, ain't that right, little miss pretty?” Leroy looks at me like the hungry dog he appears to be and smiles.
“Who you calling big head?” Shawntrese asks, slapping him on his massive chest. This brother looks like he just got out of the pen yesterday, as swole as his muscles are. What's up with my girls and these thug dudes, I just don't know.
“Nah baby, I didn't mean it like that,” he says, running from her attack. I hate to side against Shawntrese but he is right; she does have a big head in comparison to her petite, boyish body. She's cute in an athletic sort of way. Shawntrese has very small hips and her breasts are almost nonexistent. But, she's got a behind as hard as a rock and that keeps the brothas on her jock, not to mention her bright smile.
“Look, if you want to get hooked up then let's get to it. I have to leave soon and it's going to take awhile to get all that in check.” They stop playing around and get serious.
“Alright, Miss Lady. You serious about your time and I like that,” Leroy says, sitting down at the dining room table with Shawntrese following suit and landing on his lap. “How much you charge?” I run my fingers through his filthy scalp and close my eyes. I read about Maman Marie doing the same thing with her clients and have taken on the practice myself, and it seems to be working to my advantage. No two heads are the same and no two clients get the same treatment, as Netta would say.
“Twenty an hour and it's going to take me about two hours to do your hair. Don't move yet,” I say, putting my right hand on his shoulder while my left continues making the trek through his thick afro. I can see approximately twenty braids in his head, thin parts and coming back at an angle with the two sides meeting in the middle. I can't explain it, but seeing the braids or style before I start helps it come to life while I'm doing it.
“That's cool. Do your thang,” Leroy says while my eyes are still closed. I can feel my girl looking up at me from her man's lap. I know she's wondering what the hell I'm doing to his head.
“Jayd, what the hell are you doing?” she asks, taking the thought right out of my mind.
“I'm working,” I answer, still in my vision. “I can tell he wears a bandana most days by his smooth edges, but that's going to have to stop if he wants his receding hairline to stop growing,” I say, opening my eyes and selecting a comb from the hair tools spread across the dining room table. I'll have to replace my mom's permanent place settings, and the vase of flowers Karl keeps full for her, before I leave. I also need to vacuum because I have hair all over the place from the various clients I've worked on this weekend.
“What is she, some sort of psychic or something?” If he only knew the half of it. I've had more visions doing folks' hair these past two weeks than ever before. Netta says it's because of the exchange in ashe going on, and Mama insists that I learn how to rid myself of it before it damages me. According to the spirit book, every Williams woman must define her generation and, more importantly, come up with her own signature style, which includes a cleansing for self-preservation. I think I've got the style down, it's just the cleansing that's keeping me guessing.
“Nah, she's just strange, but she's my girl though.” Shawntrese has always known I'm a little different and has never minded.
“Okay, let's take it to the sink, Buckwheat,” I say, draping a clean towel around Leroy's shoulders before Shawntrese moves to the couch to watch television. Before I can get too involved in my new client's scalp treatment, my phone rings. Finally, my girl calls me back.
“Jayd's House of Hair,” I say, throwing Mickey off a little.
“Jayd, stop playing before you get hung up on.” She sounds like she's in a good mood. I hope that means she told Nigel about the school bullying her into submission and he talked some sense into her.
“That's a good title for your business. You should copyright that,” Shawntrese says, adding her two cents. Now that she's almost finished with her Associate's Degree in business, I guess she's going to be all up in everyone's business even more than she already is. At least now she'll have a certificate to do it.
“Anyways girl, what's up with you?” I ask, propping the phone between my shoulder and ear so I can talk and work at the same time. I then take my comb and start to part and scratch the dandruff out of this brother's scalp. He's bent over the sink and I intend on all of these flakes going down the drain. Damn, now I'm going to have to disinfect my mom's sink before I leave, too.
“We're good, me and my family. How was your weekend?”
“It was cool, just hustling. You know how I do it.” After I finish scratching Leroy's head, I take the peppermint and lavender shampoo Mama makes especially for dandruff-ridden clients and pour it all over his head. The effervescent scent fills the small kitchen, instantly calming my nerves. And from the look of it, the scent is having the same effect on Leroy.
“Yeah, not at all,” Mickey says, making herself laugh.
“Did you call to harass me or what?” I gently massage the liquid into Leroy's scalp, making sure to cover every inch of hair and skin. I then scrub more forcefully, ridding him of his past hair products. After using Mama and Netta's line of hair products, as well as my own, I can never go back to store-bought stuff again.
“Where'd you get that shampoo? I can smell it all over the house,” Shawntrese says, coming into the kitchen and making it too close for comfort. I've got to get off the phone and focus on getting my work done so I can relax. Otherwise, I'm not going to have a good morning getting ready for school tomorrow.
“My grandmother makes it.” I can hear Mickey's heavy breathing over the phone. She doesn't like being ignored by anyone.
“Well, I can see you're busy. What, do you have a fan club now?” Mickey can be real funny when she wants to be and she's cracking herself up this afternoon.
“No, just satisfied customers.”
“Damn straight,” Shawntrese says, smacking her man on the behind before returning to the living room. Leroy barely moves, he's so relaxed. That means I'm doing my job.
“You should let me hook you up,” I say. Mickey's silence speaks volumes.
“Jayd, I don't think so.” Enough said. I don't want to get offended by my last homegirl at South Bay. Besides, I have enough of her ashe to shake off as it is. “I have a steady stylist and we go way back.” Yeah, and so do her highlights and extensions. But Mickey's my girl and if she likes it, I love it.
“Alright then. Let me call you back when I get to Compton later on. I should be done here in a couple of hours.”
“Okay then. Holla,” Mickey says before hanging up. I can tell she didn't want anything too serious, but it is the first day back tomorrow and we have to catch up before we get to school in the morning.
“Jayd, do you give out samples? I need to slang some of this around the hood,” Leroy says as I rinse his hair, ready for a second wash. If he likes this then he's going to love the coco-mango conditioner I've got for him next. I'll use my own products to braid him up with.
“I never thought about it but that's a good idea.” Why not pimp my products like Mama does? It'll be more money in my pocket and a way to help out folks, with natural options for their crowns. I'll probably even get some more clientele out of it. Right now, I just need to finish this one client and get moving. I want to make sure I have any and all work that may be due in my classes, including my government paper. Hopefully Mrs. Peterson won't be that mean, but I know her better than that.
 
My car didn't overheat on the way back to Mama's and for that I am truly grateful. Rah has mad skills when it comes to cars and music production. I just wish he were better at managing his personal life. We kicked it this weekend, but without his daughter. I can't help but miss Rahima when she's not around. I hope his court case at the end of the week ends favorably. Otherwise, I can count on Rah being in a bad mood eternally, and that's not good for anyone. I also hope it ends with his little girl in his home for her own sake. Even if Rah is still in school and slanging, I know he'll do right by his child, and his grandparents will help in any way they can. Rahima's sweet disposition and loveable spirit are fragile and she needs to be raised in the right hands, and those hands unfortunately don't belong to her mother.
Speaking of unfit mothers, I notice Misty's mother's car parked outside of Esmeralda's house. I wonder if Misty's over there too. I just hope we all keep our distance from each other, mainly Esmeralda from me. That lady works my nerves even when she's not around. Although I can't see Esmeralda I know she sees me, and that's not a good feeling. I can see why my mom moved out the first chance she got. Anonymity isn't an option on our block.
I park my car right in front of the house so I can keep an eye on it. I'm not really worried about anyone jacking the car, especially considering the dilapidated state it's in. But I still don't want anyone breaking into my shit. Glass costs money just like anything else and I'm not spending any more of my hard-earned cash on this thing .
Before I can get through the back door good my phone rings. Damn, Mickey's on my jock this evening. Whatever she wants to talk about must be important.
“Yes Mickey,” I say, stepping over a sleeping Lexi and through the kitchen door. I put down my garbage bag full of dirty clothes, set my weekend bag and backpack on the floor, and take a seat at the table. I guess I'll be doing laundry tonight if no one else is in the garage using the machines already. It's Jay's first day back to school tomorrow too, and I know he has mad clothes to wash just like I do. Mama's out with Netta this evening so I'll have the bedroom all to myself once I make it back there.
“I've had it with that bitch,” Mickey says, waking my tired ass right up.
“Which bitch?” It's a fair question considering how many girls have earned that title in Mickey's book. I'm sure even I get called the occasional bitch when the mood suits her.
“The original bitch. Your girl Nellie.” Here we go. I roll my eyes and prepare to hear my girl vent. I know she misses our third musketeer just as much as I do, but Mickey will never admit it. She'd rather just talk shit about her.
“Nellie's no more my girl than she is yours, if you recall correctly.” I reach for my backpack and take out my multiple school folders. I might as well check my schoolwork while I'm sitting here.

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