No Mercy (12 page)

“Esmeralda,” Dr. Whitmore says into his hand full of cowrie shells. He also does readings? There’s so much about the good doctor I know nothing about
.
“Jayd, have any of your friends experienced any unusual challenges lately?” he asks, reading the shells.

“Yes, all of them, but that’s nothing new,” I say, thinking about my fallen crew. “My friends always have plenty of drama around them.”

Nellie’s in a abusive relationship and lying about it. Nigel and Mickey are at war with one another, and Rah’s battling for custody of his daughter. Chase is cool for the time being, but Jeremy is caught up in Cameron’s nightmare. It’s just another day in the life of my motley clique and me.

“
That drama, as you call it, is indicative of a curse,” Dr. Whitmore says, pointing at the mat with the ten shells facing upward. “Ofun Mafun means you have been cursed. Esmeralda knows she can’t get to you directly but she can destroy those around you.”

“What?” I ask, confused. “Why would she go after my friends when Mama’s her true target? My friends can’t do anything for her.”

“All of your grandmother’s friends are in this room,” Netta says, ushering around. “Esmeralda can’t get to us, so she went for the next best thing. She is going to attack you one friend at a time until it’s all said and done.”

“
I think you should take some time to work on protecting your friends the best way you know how,” Dr. Whitmore says, passing me the near-empty bag of goodies. “Esmeralda has no mercy, Jayd. She will ruthlessly dismantle your life brick by brick until you go absolutely insane and take your friends down with you. You won’t be able to separate your dreams from reality. The two worlds will collide and it’ll feel like you’re in a drug-induced haze.”

“That’s exactly what it felt like inside of my dream,” Mama says, sipping the last of her tea. “I was high on narcissism, and it felt damned good.”

“Esmeralda’s dream, not yours,” I say, correcting her.

             
Mama was on a trip like I’ve never witnessed before. It must be how Pam felt when she was high: You couldn’t tell her that she didn’t look good walking down the street, her raggedy sandals loudly click-clacking against the sidewalk as she approached Mama’s house for a plate of food. I could kill Esmeralda for going after my grandmother through Pam, and I will kill her if she doesn’t get the message through me.

“What a bitch,” Netta says, rising from the futon to help Dr. Whitmore set up for Mama’s head cleansing.

“Yes, she is,” Mama agrees. “And this is only the beginning.” Mama stares at me as if she sees something I’m not yet privy to. Whatever it is has her scared and that frightens me. “Jayd, I’m sorry all of this is falling on your shoulders but I promise, you can handle it. You’re much stronger than you think.”

I needed to hear that. In this moment a sistah is filled with doubt, fear and dread. I told Rousseau a lie last night when I said I wasn’t afraid of him. In all honesty, he scares the shit out of me. And knowing that he and Esmeralda have me and Mama right where they want us is a bit more than I can take no matter how much faith Mama may have in me. I’m angry enough to fight,
but without Mama operating at full capacity I may be in over my head.

“A rich ghetto bitch is the worst kind there is, I swear.”


-
Jayd

Drama High,
volume 14: So, So Hood

~9~

Bullies and Bitches

              My clients were not happy with my tardiness yesterday evening, but once I finished hooking up their heads they forgot all about my being late. I spent the remainder of the night looking through the spirit book for ways to keep Esmeralda away from my friends. Because I’m the first one in my lineage born with the gift through my dreams there’s no precedent for stopping the bitch with my sight.

I used the rest of the herbs the old priest gave me to keep Rousseau off of Mama’s scent while Dr. Whitmore made several Legba stones to surround Mama with. As long as she stays inside of his shop she’ll be fine. She can stay awake for a few hours but still has to remain asleep for the majority of the day.

I, of course, can’t tell Mickey and Nellie what’s really going on but need to find a way to warn them nonetheless. Nigel and Rah have always been supportive of the way I roll but never got too much into exactly what it is that I do. Jeremy’s really the only person with an open enough mind to listen to me, but we’re not exactly on friendly terms. He knows that I’m dating Keenan and he’s caught up with Cameron. That doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends at some point, just not today.

Knowing Jeremy he probably skipped school to surf this morning. It’s a perfect, sunny beach day in Redondo and most of the rich, carefree students are missing in action, including Chase.

“Que paso, chica?” Maggie says, standing in the lunch line behind me. We share a big hug.

“Not much, Maggie. Did you get your dress for Homecoming yet?” I ask, knowing she’s excited about the ASU nomination. I can’t wait to see her win the crown in two weeks. With all of my at home drama I’ve been a little out of it at school.

“Mi abuelita is making it. Oh Jayd, it’s going to be magnificent, just like my  quincinera dress, recuerdo?” Maggie’s eyes are glistening she’s so caught up in the festivities and I’m glad for it. She deserves to be queen and I’m going to do everything in my power to see that it happens.

“Do I remember,” I say, looping my arm through her bent elbow. “How could I forget the biggest party I’ve ever been to for a girl turning fifteen?” I’m teasing Maggie but really, her party and dress would’ve put most weddings to shame.

“Jayd, how could you?” Nellie screams from across the courtyard, charging toward us.

“Oh shit,” Maggie says, exclaiming my sentiments exactly. “Here comes the bruja of South Bay High.”

I giggle at Maggie’s description of Nellie, but lately she has been acting like a witch.

“
How dare you support some Mexican from around the way when you’re supposed to be my best friend?”

Laura and crew are behind Nellie, each of them in full bitch mode.

              “First of all, Mickey’s your best friend, not me,” I say, even if she did call on me for help the other night. Everyone at home and at school knows that if it weren’t for Mickey, Nellie would’ve been beat down a long time ago. “And second of all, your ignorant, racist ass attitude is exactly why I would never support you running for a damned thing.”

“Tell her, Jayd,” Maggie says, tightening her grip in support.

“No one was talking to you, Maggie,” Nellie says. She’s not a bad ass at all but with the white chick crew behind her she thinks she’s got some swag.

Mickey’s been scarce since Nigel threatened to take her child away from her, so Nellie’s been a bit out of control and working my last damned nerve. Let me check this chick right now before Maggie slaps the shit out of her.

“Nellie, when you won the princess spot last year you morphed into a completely different beast, and you were already enough of a heffa to deal with. We’re still getting over that shit and now you want to be queen? It’s bad enough you’re a cheerleader—by default may I remind you—now this. When will you learn?”

             
I know that was a bit harsh but I’m telling the truth and everybody knows it. Nellie can’t handle being the popular girl. The bitch in her has way too much power over the sweet Nellie that’s so hard to see.

             
“I knew you were jealous of me being a cheerleader after you got kicked off of the team! I knew it!” Nellie screams spit she’s so worked up. “And now that I’m back where I belong you can’t handle it. You’re such a fake it’s disgusting to watch.”

             
The line continues to move and Maggie and I right along with it. I can cuss Nellie out and get my grub on at the same time.

             
“Nellie, please. You didn’t even have my leftovers; Misty did, as usual,” I say, reminding her of how she inherited the spot on the team. “You gladly accepted thirds because you want so badly to be something you’re not. Don’t you see that, Nellie? These same girls are laughing at you behind you’re back every chance they get.” Laura and her groupies blush at the truth. I know how they operate from my time in ASB, lest they forget. “And speaking of chances, you outdid yourself ruining the one real relationship you ever had, and with one of my actual best friends nonetheless.” Chase was too good for her and I’m glad he finally bowed out of that uneven relationship.

“Again, jealous of me because I had some
thing you only wished you could have had,” Nellie says, flinging her blonde streaked weave over her right shoulder. “How’s it feel to be the only virgin left in the world, Jayd? Next to nuns, of course.”

             
I should slap this trick where she stands but I can’t because then she would use that against me, no doubt. Who the hell does she think she is talking to me like this? If I weren’t a child of God Nellie would be picking herself up from off the ground right now, I promise.

“Being a virgin isn’t a crime, Nellie. It’s better than being a promiscuous hoe.” So what if I’m the only person I know who hasn’t given up the cookies yet. Is that something to be ashamed of?

“Okay, Dr. Drew,” Nellie says, not backing down. What’s with her today? Is the friend I picked up in the middle of the night when her punk ass boyfriend left her stranded turning against me a part of the curse Dr. Whitmore warned me about?

“She’s cray cray, Jayd,” Maggie says, passing me my nacho combo. “Vamanos, mija. It’s almost time for fifth period anyway.”

“No, not cray. Crazy,” I say, following Maggie away from the lunch line. “Use all of the alphabets when talking about Nellie.”

“Haters! I’m winning, bitches,” Nellie says to our backs.

Maggie gives her a one finger wave good bye and I completely ignore her out-of-control ass. Where is Mickey when this chick needs saving? Maybe Mr. Adewale can calm her ass down in class. Unfortunately I have to see her again in a few minutes.

“It looks like the first fight of the year is about to happen,” Maggie says, pointing to two freshmen circling each other like Pit bulls in the main lunch quad. This should be interesting.

              “I’m just glad it’s not me,” I say, making Maggie smile. She and her crew have become consistent members at the African Student Union meetings this year, unlike my crew. They’ve fallen out of the club one by one, all except for Chase who’s always present. I wish Emilio would bounce but that’ll never happen, and Mr. Adewale still has hope that his soul can be saved. I hope it happens before I choke Emilio out.

             
“You ain’t gone fight me, fool,” the shorter of the two guys says. “Look at you. You was talking all that shit earlier. Now say something, punk.” If they do end up fighting it’ll be two less for the already miniscule black population at South Bay. The administration will have no problem kicking them to the curb.

             
“Man, I’m not about to fight you,” the taller dude says, but it’s too late. All that talk has instigated payment his body has to cash out.

             
Without hesitation, the short one pops dude in the jaw. Stunned, he grabs his bloody mouth and runs off in the opposite direction.

             
“I bet that’ll teach you to talk shit, you little bitch.”

             
Shorty looks around the crowded courtyard as if to say, “Who got next?” We all watch him walk away like nothing happened.

High school reminds me of prison in several ways. One way is the need to be the alpha male on the yard. By this shorter fool challenging this taller cat to a fight he’s solidified his status for the entire year, perhaps for
the rest of his high school career. He’ll be known as someone not to mess with. Too bad for his sparring partner there can only be one winner. The loser will be teased all year long. Each school year is already too long if you ask me, and this freshman’s just got extra time added onto his.

             
“It’s bad enough the loser had to run away but did you see his backpack?” Nellie says. “I think it had cartoon characters on it. Is he still in middle school or what?” Only she would notice a fashion mistake in the middle of a dramatic event.

             
“What are you laughing at?” Laura asks the new girl, Marcia, out of the blue. “You like you just got dropped off by a dump truck coming from the Salvation Army.”

             
Marcia doesn’t say a word. She looks as shocked by the comment as the tall dude did by the slap.

             
“Uh oh. The bitch brigade has a new chew toy. See you later, mami,” Maggie says, walking away toward her class.

             
“Seriously. Did you know you were coming to school this morning?” Laura continues with her clique right behind her, as usual. “You look like you’re going to collect bottles from the recycling bin.” Laura tosses her empty water bottle at Marcia, giving her girls a good laugh. That was a bit harsh, even for the queen bitch herself.