Read Lady J Online

Authors: L. Divine

Lady J (13 page)

“Legba, please don't confuse me. Let someone else be confused.” Now that it's done, I can get out of here. This house has always given me the creeps. The slumbering cat, unaffected by my ritual, hasn't moved a muscle. But when it sees me walking backwards, it perks its head up and looks at me as if to ask, “What the hell are you doing?” Even the cat thinks I'm strange. I pull my cell phone out and check the time. I hope this works, for Misty's sake and for mine. South Bay High has enough drama without having to deal with KJ pimping Misty's ass on a daily basis. There's enough to deal with without having to be a part of
What's Love Got To Do With It?
the reality show.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Chance says, ignoring my warnings, as usual, and hugging me as we continue to walk to class. The first bell rang a few minutes ago and I'm still hyped from this morning's good deed. My girls must be running late and I can't wait for them.
“What's up with you,” I say, pulling away from him slightly. I'm getting a different vibe from him and it's making me uncomfortable. “When are you going to get it through that thick skull of yours that you can't flirt with me like you used to do before you started dating Nellie?” I say, pushing him in the shoulder. “You're spoken for now, remember?”
“Yeah, yeah. But I can still give my homegirl a friendly hug, can't I?” Chance puts his right arm around my shoulders, pulling me in close.
“Stop it, Chance,” I say, trying to squirm my way out of his arms, but he's got me on lock. “I don't want to smell like you.” Even if he does smell good, I prefer my Egyptian Musk oil to his Polo cologne any day.
“Okay, I get the hint. So, how do you like the rehearsals so far?” he says as I step into my Spanish class. I'm disappointed to see Mr. Donald's here today. I wonder when Mr. Adewale will start on a permanent basis. As many sick days as our regular teacher takes, I'm sure he'll be back soon.
“It's okay. I wish we didn't have to share our class with ASB. It's already cramped enough in there as it is.” I notice Mickey, Nigel, and Nellie rushing across campus to their class. They don't even notice Chance and me talking, they're in such a hurry.
“There's the bell, girl,” Chance says, giving me a final hug good-bye. “I've got to go.” All of the students on the late boat with my friend are rushing to get to class before the bell stops ringing. The only thing I'm concerned with today is whether or not Misty acts any different. After she drank Mama's lemonade yesterday she looked much better, but not back to the Misty we know and hate. Who knows what happened to her after she went over to Esmeralda's house yesterday? I never saw her mom come for her and she wasn't on the bus this morning.
Before I can turn around to go to my seat, in the distance I notice Misty following KJ. I guess she's back to rolling with him after all. Maybe that's a good sign that the gris-gris is working. I'll have to wait until lunch to see for myself. If she's still walking around like a zombie, I know it hasn't taken yet. I'm not too sure how quickly her luck will turn around. But knowing Maman's work, it won't take long.
Because I missed the majority of the school day yesterday, I had some catching up to do in government and math. Jeremy missed me yesterday, but tried to play it off like he was about to give away my seat, which was really cute. I'm glad we're able to maintain a civil friendship amid the hurt of our breakup. I wonder if he's dating someone new already.
 
“Hey, Jayd. What happened to you yesterday?” Mickey says, walking up to our usual bench with her lunch tray packed. “You disappeared after you went to bat for Misty. I thought KJ kidnapped you or something.”
“Are you going to eat all of that by yourself?” Nigel asks, walking up with Chance and Jeremy in tow. What's Jeremy doing here at lunch? Usually he's off-campus and I know he and Nigel aren't that cool.
“What I eat is none of your business. I told you not to come near me unless you had a new BlackBerry with you,” Mickey says, biting into her cheeseburger before stuffing her face with fries. She has a large Coke and chocolate ice cream to wash it all down with. I know my girl can eat, but this is an unusually large lunch, even for Mickey. “And what are you doing here anyway?” Mickey says, looking straight at Jeremy. I'd like to know myself.
“Me and Chance have some business to take care of. Care to join us?” Jeremy says, looking at me as I peel the banana that I brought from home. I also packed a pear and some crackers, along with my bottled water. I'm trying to save all of my cash, especially since I didn't work too many hours this weekend and that means no more buying lunch until I'm sure about my income flow. Unfortunately, my hours are still cut until further notice, really messing up my timeline for buying my car.
“I'm cool. Shouldn't you be in the drama room? I thought today's lunch rehearsal was a fitting for the dudes' costumes,” I say, biting into my fruit, envious of Mickey's meal. “And, where's Nellie?”
“Nellie's running late. She had to retake an English quiz from yesterday. Nellie needs to get on her schoolwork in a real way,” Chance says, looking across the quad toward South Central where KJ, his boys, and the rest of South Central are hanging out. Misty seems a little better, but she still looks like a zombie to me. “What did you ever see in him?” Chance says. Jeremy's eyes follow mine and then he looks dead at me, making the heat in my body rise to my cheeks.
“I don't know,” I say, taken aback by my still apparent feelings for Jeremy, who hasn't taken his eyes off me yet. He looks extra yummy today, in his khaki shorts and blue Polo shirt that sets off his eyes. He decided to let his bushy curls run wild today, instead of trapping them all up in a hat. I bet if I hugged Jeremy his smell would rub off on me. But unlike with Chance, I don't think I'd mind.
“Same thing we always see in these fools; nothing,” Mickey says to Nigel as Jeremy and I break our connection and rejoin the conversation. Nigel looks like he wants to slap Mickey in the face. Lucky for us all he doesn't believe in hitting women.
“Jayd, will you check your girl, please,” Nigel says, looking for some love. But I'm with her on this one.
“I can't say she's entirely wrong. We do see what we want to see when it comes to our men,” I say, telling the truth. Jeremy looks slightly disappointed in my response, but still amused. “And usually, the trick's on us. We end up getting hurt and cleaning up the aftermath while the dudes are free to explore new terrain.”
“Not always,” Jeremy says, walking over to sit next to me on the bench. My heart's fluttering fast, like the first time we talked at Matt's house. Why can't relationships stay that blissful indefinitely? “Sometimes it's the girl who tricks the guy and rebounds into someone else's arms, even if she knows that she's not over the first dude.” Mickey, Nigel, and Chance are all speechless, noticing the vibe has shifted. Nigel looks at me, completely annoyed, as Nellie walks up, again shifting my world off its axis. And this time I'm thankful for the intrusion.
“Hey, did I miss anything?” Nellie says, taking Chance's Snapple from his hand and taking a swig.
“I've got work to catch up on. I'll check y'all later,” I say, hugging Nellie before taking off down the hill. Jeremy rises from his seat next to me, ready to walk me down.
“Where are you rushing off to? I just got here,” she says, looking as confused as I suddenly feel.
“I need to catch up on yesterday's work,” I say. I never told anyone that I took Misty back to my house. And, knowing her, she didn't either. I hope it stays our little secret.
“Want an escort?” Jeremy says, causing Nigel to glare at me even harder. The last thing I need is more bull from Jeremy. I admit, we never said we weren't attracted to each other. And, yes, I'm still feeling him. But I have no respect for the way he lives his life and I can't stand his family values. There's no hope for us as far as I'm concerned, even if I am still rocking my Lucky bag and the gold “J” bracelet he gave me. What can I say; Jeremy has good taste. He has to in order to buy his way out of all the bullshit he can put a girl through.
“No, I think I'll walk alone for now.” And until I can sort out my feelings, I think it should stay that way. However, that doesn't change my plans for helping Rah. It's bigger than us being able to get back together. Having Trish completely out of the picture is a must no matter what happens to us. And from the looks of Misty's smiling face, I'm the girl for the job, no matter how I get it done.
13
What the Hell?
“She's hot, she's danger/ Everybody knows her name yeah.”
—T.O.K./PITBULL
 
 
A
fter yesterday's emergency rescue with Misty, Mama and Netta have been talking about nothing else ever since. I'm scared to tell them about the gris-gris I made for Misty and the one I'm planning on making for Rah. But Mama was grateful I made the eye patch to help her sleep and I didn't ask her permission for that. Maybe she won't be too upset that I tried to help Misty without her knowing about it. After all, it's the thought that counts, right?
 
“Jayd, hand me that towel, please,” Netta says, ringing the water out of Mama's hair. “I think it's honorable that you want to help that girl out, especially after all the shit she's put you through in the name of friendship,” Netta says, squeezing Mama's head tightly. “Besides, Jayd, your Mama has been guilty of helping folks who didn't ask for it back in her day too.”
“Yes, and we both know how those situations turned out, don't we, Netta,” Mama says as Netta sits her straight up in her chair at the washbasin to finish towel-drying her hair. Next comes Netta's leave-in conditioner that Mama helped her create. If they would get a patent for their hair products we'd all be millionaires. But for some reason, they refuse to sell the recipes. “Don't encourage the girl, Netta. And watch your heavy hands on my head,” she says as Netta continues to squeeze her head, pulling her eyes tightly.
“Oh hush up, Lynn Mae,” Netta says, smearing Mama's jet-black hair with the tropical-scented cream. I think they put a mixture of mango, pineapple and avocado in this one. The natural ingredients are what make it smell so good. The aroma's also making me hungry since I barely had a chance to eat today. It was my first rehearsal playing opposite Reid, and it took a lot out of me, making me lose my appetite in the process. Reid is very convincing in his role as the twisted king: a part he was born to play.
“Hush up nothing, Netta. If Jayd can avoid the madness that comes with trying to help ungrateful people, then why shouldn't she?” I know Mama's trying to protect me, but I've got this one under control. She doesn't know about my mystic cupcakes that helped Jeremy out of his possible incarceration, and that worked out fine. She just needs more faith in my abilities and I'm going to prove to her that I'm ready to take the next step in my legacy.
“Who says they'll be ungrateful?” I'm glad Netta's here to fight my battles for me. I can't see how my mom didn't like her when she was growing up. I don't know what I'd do without her and our Tuesdays at the shop. It's like she says everything I want to say to Mama but can't because she's my elder. And I've learned not to question her too much if I want to keep all of my teeth. But Netta's her homegirl and equal, making it an even playing field.
“Experience, that's who. And you know better than anyone how evil ungrateful people can be, especially when they don't understand how we work.” Looking from me to Mama, Netta notices how quiet I am, calling Mama's attention to it as well. I can't hide anything from them for too long, but I'm not ready to tell them about this morning's adventures at Misty's.
“Jayd, why are you so quiet? Everything okay?” Netta asks, walking Mama over to her station to blow-dry her hair. I think Mama's going for cornrows today. She's been complaining about her head itching in her French roll all week and, like me, braids are her alternate style.
“Yes, everything's fine. Just worried about Misty, that's all,” I say without completely blowing my cover, or so I think. Mama's eyes tell me she knows I'm up to something; even if she doesn't know what it is yet.
“That girl needs all the help she can get, especially now,” Netta says. I think she can feel me plotting too, and wants to come to my defense. Mama, on the other hand, isn't so sympathetic. Netta drapes Mama with a pretty pink-and-yellow hair cape before sitting on her stool, ready to work Mama's do. I love to watch Netta make magic on Mama's head. I wonder if she wants an apprentice. I would love to work here.
“Rule number one Jayd, you must have your clients' permission before you can do any work on their behalf. To do otherwise is being dishonest and that's not how we do it in our house,” she shouts over the loud blow-dryer Netta's combing though her shoulder-length hair. “That's why I asked the cats' permission to use their sight. I respect individuals' souls, girl, even animals',” Mama says, lowering her chin to allow Netta to dry the back of her head.
“How did you ask the cats, Mama?” I say from my seat in the adjacent station. I don't understand why Netta has two stations when she's the only stylist in the shop. She has the same steady clientele—no walk-ins allowed, unlike the other shops around here that'll take anyone off the street. Doing hair up in here means more than the average press and curl. When a client leaves Netta's shop, she leaves with a flyy hairstyle and blessings, too.
“I knew Esmeralda wouldn't give me the time of day, so I went to the next best resource, her pets. When I made them breakfast, Jayd, that was my way of giving them an offering to request the use of their vision. First I offered them the milk, which had my special honey blend to sweeten them up.” I wonder if it's the same honey she gave to Misty? If so, I hope its effect never wears off. School would be much nicer if Misty wouldn't trip as often.
“Your Mama's good with that honey, chile,” Netta says, shutting the dryer off and brushing through Mama's hair, ready to style it. “Nobody can sweeten a tongue like Queen Jade, a.k.a. Lynn Mae Williams.”
“Then I gave them the cupcakes with a little something extra in them to help facilitate the exchange. You see, Jayd, I didn't deceive or manipulate anyone. And Esmeralda can be as mad as she wants but I didn't break any rules in what I did. The interaction was between me and her fur balls, not her—and it was mutually beneficial.”
“But what if your target doesn't have any pets?” Which is the case with Rah. I didn't know Misty had adopted a cat. As a matter of fact, I remember her being allergic to animal fur. But maybe that's changed over the years or perhaps it was just a stray looking for a place to rest.
“There are many ways to influence a situation without directly hitting your target. That's what your studies are for, Jayd. Don't put the cart before the horse,” she says, dropping her old-school wisdom on me as Netta parts her scalp for braids. “What you need is one of Netta's head cleansings, girl. You know better than to let these people mess with your emotions. You've got better things to do anyway.”
“Oh Jayd, you'll love it, girl,” Netta says, leaving Mama's head to escort me over to the wash basin Mama just left. “I'll finish your braids in a minute, Lynn Mae,” she says, too excited to get her hands in my head. “I haven't touched your crown since you were about nine days old. Look at all of this hair,” she says, releasing my hair from the tight ponytail and rubbing her fingers across my scalp. Damn, her touch feels good.
“Yes, at your naming ceremony,” Mama says, smiling as she recalls the event. I can remember a little bit of it, but it all comes flooding back as Netta runs the cool water over my hair. “Your mom had a fit when she found out I let Netta touch your head.”
“Yeah, Lynn Marie hasn't liked me too much ever since I caught her making out in the backhouse when she was fifteen years old and I told your grandmother on her,” Netta says, but I'm too relaxed to keep up with the conversation. This feels so good. I wish I could let people in my head all the time, but Mama says it's a serious taboo for me. Only when she's around and only people she trusts can touch my head.
“Jayd, after Netta does this, you're going to need to wear white for the next twenty-four hours,” Mama says, going into Netta's closet and grabbing two long white cloths to wrap my head up in. I already feel much better. But I don't know about wearing all white to school.
“I'm going to stick out like a sore thumb if I come to school in nothing but white clothes.” It's bad enough I don't fit in already. If I go to school looking like I was just baptized, they'll really have something to say.
“You already stick out, Jayd. Don't worry about what others think of you. Be proud of your lineage, girl, even if it means you have to stand up for yourself at school. Know that what's in you is much stronger than anything that's in the world.” And I know she's right. I just hope Misty and Rah feel the same way and trust that I would never do anything to hurt them. I know Rah will always give me the benefit of the doubt, but Misty is another story.
I see Misty coming at me with a torch, shouting “Witch, witch!” My jade bracelets fall off my arm to the ground, shattering my powers along with their fragile forms.
“You don't have the sight, child,” the evil woman's voice says. “And you never will!”
“Yes I do!” I shout at the veiled voice as I look down through my tears at the shattered bracelets Mama entrusted to me. Misty and her followers are on a serious witch hunt and I'm the only one standing accused, which means I should be running for my life.
“Just admit it. Those pretty brown eyes are no good without your bracelets,” the voice hisses. “The legacy ends right here, right now. Give it up, Jayd, before you get hurt.”
“My eyes are just as good as my mother's and my grandmother's, not to mention my ancestors,” I shout. But the longer I stand here fighting with this unseen voice, the closer Misty and haters get to burning my ass alive. I've already been scorched in one dream and this isn't about to be round two.
“She's learning the hard way, but she's still learning,” Mama's voice says. She, like the other woman, is nowhere to be seen. “Move out of the way when you see fire coming toward you, Jayd. Otherwise, you will get burned.” I touch the scar on my arm, remembering the painful incident, and decide it's time to face my fears.
“Witch, witch,” Misty shouts louder, egging on the crowd. “Get her!” As the crowd comes toward me at full speed, I recognize some of the faces as my own friends. Mickey and Nellie are on the front line right beside Misty, ready to light me like a Christmas tree.
“I knew you were weird, Jayd, but damn. I didn't know you were a witch,” Mickey says, sucking on her Blow Pop while lighting a torch of her own.
“Yeah, Jayd. That's really something you need to tell folks. I mean, what would the people at my church think of me if they knew I was hanging out with a witch,” Nellie says, putting her torch to Mickey's to light it, too. Before I can run off, I'm trapped in place and suddenly tied to a makeshift stake, like so many gifted conjure women before me.
“Mama, help!” I yell. But all I can hear are the chants of the angry crowd surrounding me. Before they can get the roast started, Rah runs up to the crowd carrying a water hose and puts out everyone's torches, saving my ass.
 
“I'm a survivor
.” My phone rings, waking me from my nightmare just in the nick of time. When I fold back the comforter, I realize I'm dripping in a pool of sweat. My sheets are cold and my white T-shirt is clinging to my body. If Mama saw me like this she'd have a fit. I learned at an early age never to be too revealing in a house full of men, even if they're related to you. And Mama will never let me forget it either. What's Rah doing calling me so early? Something must be wrong.
“Hello,” I say, out of breath. I feel like I just ran ten miles and I don't run unless a dog's chasing me.
“Jayd, are you okay?” he says, sounding short of breath too. “I just had the weirdest dream about you.” Oh hell no. Not him too.
“Yes, I'm fine,” I say, sitting up in bed and reaching over to the nightstand for my alarm clock. It would have rung in five minutes anyway. No need for it now because I'm wide awake. “What was your dream about?” I whisper into the phone as I creep out of my bed and grab my daily necessities. I don't want to wake Mama up. I'll tell her about this one later, after I get Rah's side of the story too.

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