Read If I Were Your Boyfriend Online
Authors: Earl Sewell
Tags: #Juvenile Fiction, #People & Places, #United States, #African American, #General
If I Were Your Boyfriend (42 page)
Keysha
"
his is Angela Rivers reporting to you live from outside
the county jailhouse where Neophus Trinity, a notorious
drug lord, is being held without bond."
his is Angela Rivers reporting to you live from outsidethe county jailhouse where Neophus Trinity, a notorious
drug lord, is being held without bond."
My family and I were sitting in the family room, watching the breaking news story. I was also on the telephone with Wesley, who was watching the news with his father from the hospital.
"A few days ago a court order was issued that gave
local narcotics agents the authority to raid Neophus's
home, where it was suspected that he produced mass
amounts of the drug Ecstasy. It is reported that Neophus
recruited teens from several area high schools to help
him distribute the popular drug. At this time authori
ties are saying that not only did they seize mass quan
tities of Ecstasy but they also confiscated over eighty
thousand dollars in cash, several bags of marijuana and
a number of unregistered handguns and assault rifles.
Neighbors in the quiet suburban community were
stunned when the raid took place and are still reeling in
shock and disbelief. Authorities have also confirmed
that several other teens have been arrested on various
drug-trafficking charges. One of those teens, named Liz
Lloyd, is also being charged in connection with framing
one of her classmates, Keysha Kendall. Keysha Kendall
was originally charged with distributing the drugs, but
as a result of new evidence in connection with this case,
all charges against Keysha have been dropped."
Jordan, Barbara and Mike all began clapping.
"What's that noise I hear in the background?" Wesley asked.
"That's my family clapping for me," I said, beaming with joy.
"Here is more on Liz," said Wesley.
"Liz Lloyd has been taken into custody and will remain
in a juvenile holding facility until she has to appear in court
on several charges ranging from drug selling to blackmail."
"She's going to hate that place," Wesley said.
"Good," I replied. "I hope she rots in there."
"Keysha, don't say that. The girl needs help," said Barbara.
I glanced at her and said okay out of respect, but as far as I was concerned I really, really wanted Liz to rot.
"Let me speak to Wesley," said Jordan, getting up from his seat. I handed the cordless phone to him.
"Hello, Wesley," he said. "I just want to say thank you again for what you've done. I misjudged you on so many levels and I truly apologize for being such a jerk. For you to risk your life and well-being to clear Keysha of the charges against her is nothing short of phenomenal." Jordan paused and I heard Wesley's muffled voice. "I know that I don't have to thank you again but I can't help it. You're a very bright and smart young man and you've most certainly earned my respect. What's that?" Jordan paused and listened to Wesley. "I know, I won't forget that you couldn't have done any of it without the help of Mike and Keysha."
"That's right," Mike shouted. "We're a crack team of investigators."
"Okay," Jordan said, "I'll let you talk with Keysha again." Jordan was about to hand me the telephone. "Oh, Wesley, you're still coming by for dinner this evening, right?… Good, I'll see you then."
"What's up, boo?" I said as Angela Rivers wrapped up her news story.
"So, have I made up for my mistake?" Wesley asked.
"Now, you know that you don't even need to ask that question." Wesley laughed.
"Okay, just checking."
"You know you're my hero," I said. I heard Jordan clear his throat at my comment. "And you too, I said," which made him feel better. I didn't really mind that he was all up in my conversation because everyone in the house was so relieved.
"I still can't believe what you did for me. I mean, going into that house, dealing with that crazy man and all of those people doing drugs. I would have taken one look at everything that was going down and turned right around and walked out the door."
"I really did do it for you," Wesley said once again. "When I got home I became violently ill because of the Red Pill that I partially swallowed. I thought I'd gotten it all out of my system when I puked in Neophus's bathroom but I hadn't."
"I am so glad you came through all of this unharmed. This was so dangerous."
"I'm not afraid of danger, especially when it comes to you," Wesley said. I felt butterflies dancing in my tummy when he said that.
"Thank you, boo. It's nice to have man who has my back. So what happened with Ed Daley?" I asked.
"Rehab," Wesley said. "He really needs it because he's was out of control."
"Well, I hope it helps him," I said.
"So do I," Wesley answered.
"How is your dad doing?" I asked.
"He's okay. His arms and hands are healing up well. He still has to keep them wrapped to fight off infection but he's able to move them more. He'll be coming home soon."
"I walked past your house earlier today. It looks as if the workers are really moving along."
"Yeah, they're working a little harder since they know I have to stay there. They're real nice guys. They're going to show me how to put up drywall over the weekend. I think it will be cool to learn how to do that."
"What about your mom?"
"What about her?" Wesley asked.
"Is she behaving any better?"
"You know, my mom is my mom. I know I have to respect her to some degree, but for the most part we just don't get along and the less contact I have with her, the better."
"Okay, I just thought I'd ask."
"Keysha, let me call you back. My dad's food just came and he's going to need a little help eating."
"Okay, call me back when you can." I hung up the phone and asked if there was anything additional that I missed in Angela Rivers's report.
"No," said Barbara. "Now it's just a matter of due process," she said. "I got the local newspaper to print an apology letter for all of the stress they caused us."
"Oh, really?" said Jordan.
"Yeah, they pretty much crucified Keysha and this family and I didn't like it one bit."
"Ooh, I'm just glad all of this drama is over with," I said.
"You can say that again," Mike chimed in. He stood up and headed upstairs.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"To my room to read."
"What are you reading?" I asked.
"Some book called
Indigo Summer
by Monica McKayhan. My English teacher met the author at some book signing and read the book. She thought it was so good that she had the school order it for the class."
Indigo Summer
by Monica McKayhan. My English teacher met the author at some book signing and read the book. She thought it was so good that she had the school order it for the class."
"What's it about?" I asked.
"So far it's about a girl named Indigo Summer. She's in high school and is trying out for the school dance team. I haven't gotten that far into the book. What about you? What are you reading?"
"
Can't Stop the Shine
by Joyce E. Davis. I just picked it up from the school library but I haven't started it yet."
Can't Stop the Shine
by Joyce E. Davis. I just picked it up from the school library but I haven't started it yet."
"Well, let me know if it's any good," Mike said, and then continued on to his room.
"I think I'm going to follow Mike's lead, guys," I said to Jordan and Barbara. "I'll be in my room if you need me."
"Okay," they both said simultaneously. I got up, went to my room and relaxed on my bed. It was so cool to not have any drama going on in my life. My grades had improved, my family cared about me, I no longer had a court case hovering over my head, plus I had a new boyfriend who truly cared about me. What more could a girl ask for? At that moment I thought about my grandmother Katie, whom I hadn't talked to in a while. I decided that before I began reading, I'd give her a call and share all of my good news with her.
The following Saturday morning I woke up before anyone in the house. I walked downstairs and into the family room with my book. I opened up the shutters so that the sunlight could come inside. I placed my book on the end table adjacent to the sofa and then went into the kitchen to pour myself a tall glass of orange juice. As I walked back into the family room I noticed a raggedy and loud burgundy car creeping up the driveway.
"Who in the world is coming by this early in the morning?" I uttered to myself. The car paused for a minute.
"Oh, they must be lost," I whispered to myself but then realized that the car had actually stalled out and the driver had to fire it back up. The engine snarled, rattled and growled as it came back alive.
"Oh, this guy is definitely a gold-card member of the hoopity ride club." The car pulled around to the rear of the house and stopped.
"Jordan." I called out my father's name but he didn't hear me. I rushed toward the front of the house and knocked on the master bedroom door.
"Jordan?" I called out again.
"Yeah." I heard his voice come alive.
"Someone just pulled into our driveway."
"Who is it?" he asked.
"I don't know," I said. At that moment the doorbell rang.
"Go see who it is," he said. "I'm right behind you."
I walked back through the house and toward the door. The doorbell chimed again before I could reach it. I went to the door and looked through the peephole and who I saw made my heart stop beating for a few seconds. The doorbell chimed again. I began hyperventilating. The doorbell chimed yet again. I unlocked the door and opened it.
"Well, it's about damn time, girl. You shouldn't leave your mama standing outside in the cold like this." It was my pregnant mother, Justine. I was horrified and speechless.
"I told you we were related." I looked at who was with her. It was her friend Simon, the man with the hideous scar on his face. "Open up the screen door and give your cousin a big hug." He spread his arms out for me to step into his embrace, but I didn't move.
"Why are you looking like that?" my mother asked.
"Look at you," I uttered. She was a mess. She was wearing bright red sweatpants and a purple sweatshirt that was too small. Her pregnant belly was poking out like a beach ball.
"I know, girl. I'm fine and sexy even though I'm pregnant." She spoke so loudly.
"Is my cousin Jordan home?" asked Simon.
"Yes—he's coming. Why are you here?" I asked.
"Why do you think? It's time for you to come home with me."
Everything around me began to spin around. I felt lightheaded and dizzy.
"I got a new one-bedroom apartment in the hood for us to live in, so you can start packing your bags."
I threw a horrified look at my mother. I wanted to tell both her and Simon to go away, but my words couldn't form fast enough.
"Hurry up and go get your things," Justine ordered me but I refused to move. "Come on now, stop playing around. I'm going to have this baby soon and I need you back in the house with me to take care of it." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I couldn't believe that my mother was actually out of jail and demanding that I return home with her.
"Keysha!" she called. I tried to respond but everything began to spin around. "Come on, girl. You can't live the lifestyle of the rich and famous. I won't let you." Her voice was filled with hostility. "Keysha!" she yelled. I felt my legs buckle beneath me just before I fainted.
Reading Guide Questions
1. Why do you think Wesley turned to alcohol as a way of dealing with his parents' divorce?
2. Discuss why Wesley became infatuated with Keysha the moment he met her.
3. Discuss some of the lessons about friendship that both Keysha and Wesley learned.
4. What are the reasons you feel Liz turned against Keysha?
5. Who do you think trusted Keysha more, her stepmother, Barbara, or her father, Jordan?
6. Why do you think Wesley was so bitter toward his mother?
7. Discuss why the rumors about Keysha and Wesley were so easy for the students at their school and the community at large to believe?
8. Have you personally spread or shared a rumor about another person at your school? If so, what was it, was it true and why did you spread it around?
9. Why do you think Liz was able to persuade so many students to believe everything she said?
10. If you had a friend who was in Keysha's or Wesley's situation, discuss how you would help them cope with their circumstances.
11. Do you think Keysha had justification for attacking Liz and trying to get the truth through violence?
12. Why do you think Wesley's relationship with his father was so strong?
13. Everyone has dealt with drama or conflict at some point. Discuss an uncomfortable situation that you were confronted with and how you resolved it.
14. Discuss the lesson Jordan learned about judging an individual before getting to know him or her.
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