Something like right, p.8
Something Like Right, page 8
“Hey, change of subject,” I said. “What are you doing after school? Want to hang out?”
“Can’t” she said, way too quickly. “Got to help my aunt study.”
“She’s still studying?! When is the citizenship test?” I asked.
“She’s planning on taking it in a couple of months.”
“How the hell do you manage all this stuff and get such good grades? Don’t you get tired?”
Feven sighed and stared straight through me to the other side of the lunchroom, shaking her head. “You know,” she said, “I’m used to it by now. I’m always just pushing, pushing, pushing. Next thing, next thing. But every now and again, everything will hit me at once and it’ll just feel … heavy. It’s like I’m carrying everybody’s problems, and nobody could ever even dream of thinking that it all might be too much for me.”
I reached across the table and put my hand on Feven’s. She flinched at my touch but didn’t pull away. We looked at each other for a second without speaking.
“Let me be your backpack,” I said.
“What?” said Feven, giggling. She yanked her hand back. “What are you talking about, Zay?”
“Let me be your backpack! Put me on your shoulders instead of everything you’re carrying. I’ll hold some things for you. Make it a little easier.”
Feven blushed.
“That’s cute, Zay. But it’s soooooo corny!” We both burst into laughter. The lunch bell rang, and everyone started to shuffle all around us, grabbing trays and rushing out of the cafeteria. Feven rose, smoothing out her windbreaker and fixing the part in her afro. I offered my empty tray so that she could stack hers on top.
“Thank you,” she said. “Guess I’ll … see you later?”
I smiled. “Yeah. Hopefully not too much later.”
Feven waved goodbye and headed toward her class. In a lunchroom full of kids, I didn’t see anybody but her. The aisle between tables was like a red carpet, and Feven Hollywood’s brightest star. I held both trays, watching her walk off into the distance, hair bouncing with every step she took, and in that moment, I had an epiphany—the best idea of my life.
I wanted to get closer to Feven. If I could find a way to take some of the weight off her shoulders, then she’d see how much I liked her. It could be the thing that made me different, the thing that showed her I could be more than just a boy she laughed with at lunch. Feven and Aunt Mel had both seen me be a wiz in history. Citizenship tests were just history and other random facts, right? I could use my study skills to help Feven’s aunt prepare for her test. By the time she passed, Feven would have no choice but to love me.
Perfect. Brilliant. Why hadn’t I thought of this already?
I dropped the trays off and ran out into the hallway with black-and-white-checkered tiles, flanked on both sides by dark blue lockers. My brain buzzed with ideas of how to pitch my plan to Feven. Before I crossed the threshold into class, I checked my phone to find a couple of missed calls: one from Aunt Mel and one from … Kenny? I’d have to return that one for sure.
As I moved to put my phone back in my pocket, it vibrated in my hand. I looked down and recognized the name and number on the screen.
Tameka.
I thought about what Feven had said, took a deep breath, and accepted the call.
“Hello? Ma?”
“Xavier? You answered. Oh my goodness. I didn’t think you would. Now I’m nervous. Thank you for picking up. I won’t keep you long. But I have something really important to share with you. And I hope you’ll be willing to hear me out.”
UNIT THREE
The Grand Plan
LESSON 3.1
You Can’t Stack “Draw Fours” on Top of Each Other
The next day after school, Kenny, Smith, and I sat in the living room of Aunt Mel’s place playing Uno. When I had returned Kenny’s call, he said that he missed hanging out with Feven and me. That he was sorry for going quiet on us, but he just needed some time to feel better. We invited Feven to play too, but she said there was no way her parents would let her come over to a boy’s house for a card game. Kenny would have to catch her on the flipside.
“Draw fo’, then draw fo’ mo’!” Smith yelled, slapping the cards down on the table.
“You can’t stack them on top of each other like that!” I protested.
“Yes, you can, bruh. That’s legal,” said Kenny.
“No, you can’t! We can get the rule book right now!”
“Li’l nerd. Nerds always tryna get the rule book,” Smith challenged. “We playin’ the Black way, you just gotta know the rules.”
“That doesn’t even make any sense.” I sucked at my teeth.
“Everybody Black knows the Black way,” agreed Kenny. “It just come downloaded in your brain. And as you hit different ages, the brainware updates with different stuff you just need to know if you’re Black. How not to touch stuff in the grocery store, how to talk to the cops—”
“And how to cheat at Uno?” I interrupted.
“And the proper methods of card games including Gin Rummy, Spades, and Uno, thank you very much!” Smith slapped down another “draw four” from his hand on top of the first two.
“It’s not even your turn! How did you get so many of those?”
Smith erupted with laughter. Kenny reared back in his seat, wiping at the corners of his eyes. They dapped each other up a completely unnecessary amount of times.
“Okay, okay. Time for a little guy talk,” said Smith. “What’s been going on with you, nephew? How’s that girl at school doing? The one you’re crushin’ on?”
“I know he’s not talking about Feven!” said Kenny. “You tryna get with Feven?! Man, I should have seen this coming.”
My cheeks felt flushed.
“Man, come on, Smith. Make Kenny talk about his life, he’s the visitor.”
“No way, city boy,” said Kenny. “My life is simple. I got a gig. It pays. I got a girl. She’s great. I got a grandma. She’s grouchy. Now, get to talkin’. What’s been going on with you and Feven?”
“I like this kid,” said Smith.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. “I mean, we’re cool. She’s, like … the best friend I’ve got at Broadlawn. She’s smart. And funny. And, I don’t know. It’s, like, even when we disagree, her side makes sense. She makes me want to look at things a different way. Like with my ma and all. Giving her another chance and stuff.”
“She got you to talk to your mom?!” Smith practically jumped out of his chair. “Oh, she’s a certified keeper. We’ve got to meet this young lady.”
“Relax!” I laughed. “But yeah. She did. And then Ma called me yesterday, right after, like some freaky coincidence. We didn’t talk long though. She said she’s sending me something in the mail. Something that we can talk more about later.”
Smith cleared his throat and fumbled with the cards in his hand.
“Yeah, yeah, okay, but what’s been up with Feven?” said Kenny. “I thought nerds were good at staying on topic. You asked her out on any dates or anything?”
“Well, not exactly,” I said.
“Y’all haven’t been out together since the jazz concert?” asked Smith.
“I knew something happened at that concert!” said Kenny.
“She doesn’t really know I like her,” I continued. “But … I got this plan. Her aunt needs help passing her citizenship test. So, I’m gonna offer to tutor her. Make a good impression. When she passes the test, Feven will … I don’t know … She’ll like me.”
Kenny and Smith both cut their eyes at each other and then collapsed into laugher.
“Aye, man, he’s your nephew. I blame you!” said Kenny.
“Your generation though,” said Smith.
“What’s so funny?” I crossed my arms as they continued to laugh and slap each other on the back.
“Nothing, man, nothing,” said Kenny. “The nice-guy route. One thousand percent guaranteed not to work, but hey. Your love life, not mine. When’s tutoring start, Einstein?”
“Man, whatever. And I’m not sure. I didn’t tell Feven the plan yet.”
“Do you even like this girl for real?” said Kenny. “You ain’t made a single move yet! Call her right now.”
“Huh?”
“You heard me. Right now. Call her and tell her you want to tutor her aunt. Personally, I think it’s an awful plan. But the only worse plan is exactly what you’re doing right now—nothing. Next time I see you, you’ll be talking about how you’ll tell her about the plan one day, when the time is right. Next thing you know, you’re a washed-up fifty-year-old working at the chicken factory crying over the one who got away.”
“I used to work at that factory,” said Smith.
“Oops. My bad, Mr. Smith,” said Kenny.
Smith smirked. “All good. I got the girl though.”
“Look, Zay,” Kenny continued, “I’m doing you a favor. Get out your phone and call Feven. Right now.”
I looked at Smith and he lifted his eyebrows, turned his mouth down.
“Kid’s got a point,” he said. Kenny smiled.
“Ugh.” I pulled out my phone and called Feven. It rang once … twice … three times before she answered.
“Hello?”
“Um, hey, Feven. What’s up, you good?” I asked, stepping away from the table toward my room.
“Oh, now he running away,” Smith yelled as I shut the door behind me.
“Is that your friend?” Feven asked.
“No. Well, kinda. He’s my aunt’s … whatever. Right now though he cheating at Uno.”
“I wish I could play with you guys!” she said. “Is Kenny there too? Please tell him I said hello!”
“I will, I will. Look, Feven. I have something I want to tell you.” I inhaled deeply.
“Okay, but can it be quick? I have to help my mom cook dinner soon,” she said.
“Sure. So, basically…” I hesitated before I took another deep breath and let it all spill out of me. “I thought about what you said—about your aunt and the citizenship test and all. And I’m, like … seeing as how you think I’m so smart and everything … what if I could help her study for the test? Then you could have more time for yourself.”
Feven was silent on the other end of the phone for what felt like forever.
“What?”
“Um, I said—”
“I heard what you said,” replied Feven. “It’s just … nobody has ever offered to do anything like that for me.”
The butterflies alighted from my throat back down into my stomach. “Well, I think I would be good at it. And if it would help you at all, then I’m more than happy to try,” I said.
“I don’t know, Zay,” she said. “Aunt Segan isn’t the most diligent student. And that test … they purposely make it hard. It’s so stupid. She already failed the civics portion once. She’s been trying for so long that she’s just starting to get discouraged.”
“So, I’ll throw in a few extra civics lessons,” I said. “History, government. That stuff is my jam. I can handle it.”
“Well…,” said Feven, still unsure. “What about my family, Zay? They’re funny about boys. And people they don’t know. And pretty much everything. Aunt Seggie is so gossipy. If I introduce you to her, then my whole family will start asking me about boys and my parents won’t let me move out of the house until I’m eighty years old.”
I pondered for a moment, scratching my chin. “How about if you told them that I’m a free tutor or something? Like, through the school, you know? We could meet at the public library. That way, I can tutor while you handle your own business. And you and your aunt both go back home with more free time.”
“Wow,” said Feven. “That’s actually pretty clever. Am I really about to let you talk me into this?”
“I don’t see why not,” I said. “Everybody wins.”
“Well, what do you get?” she asked.
My ears got hot. “To know that I helped you with something important.”
I felt like I could almost hear Feven smile through the phone. “That’s very sweet of you, Zay,” she said. “We’ll talk about this more. But I have to go help with dinner. Have fun playing Uno.”
“Okay. Bye.”
I walked back out of the room with my chest puffed out, strutting like a peacock. Smith and Kenny paused their new game of Uno and watched me, waiting for an update.
“So?! How’d it go?” asked Smith.
“She’s down with the plan.” I smiled. “She said it was one of the sweetest things anybody has ever offered to do for her.”
“Heyyyy!!! Let’s goooo!” Kenny and Smith exploded into a raucous celebration. I joined in with them, jumping around the living room until we all heard Aunt Mel hollering for us to shut up. I took my place back at the table as Smith dealt a fresh hand.
“I gotta admit,” said Kenny. “Thought you might have been dead in the water with the whole lemme tutor your aunt thing. But I’m not well-versed in the mating habits of nerds. I guess anything is possible.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Enough chatter,” said Smith. “Enough guy talk. Enough phone calls. Both of y’all need to pick up your cards and collect the rest of your respective ass whoopins. Draw fo’!”
LESSON 3.2
Mischief Has Its Merits
It took a few weeks to get our tutoring plan off the ground, maneuvering around Aunt Segan’s work schedule and Feven’s everything schedule. Our first lesson happened on the Saturday during fall break. I walked into the Broadlawn Public Library at 2:00 p.m. sharp and didn’t see Feven or her aunt, so I hung out by the circulation desk. A tall, thin teenager with curly hair and thick glasses walked over. Their name tag said SAM.
“Hiya. Can I help you with anything?” they asked in a nasally voice.
“Oh. No, thank you. Just waiting on a friend.”
“Cool guy. Hot Saturday date at the library.” Sam snickered.
I stale-faced them. The interior of the library was one big rotary with the circulation desk in the center. The brown stacks full of books clashed with the blue-gray carpet. Smaller white bookcases overflowed with volumes that didn’t look to have any particular organization. Aside from Sam and me, the building was totally empty.
“Y’all hiring?” I asked Sam.
They raised their eyebrow, one hand on their hip. “Does it look like we need extra help?”
The back door to the library opened. Sam and I turned to watch Feven stroll in alongside an older woman with a long, flowing dress and a scarf covering her head. Feven put on a big smile and waved at me as they sat at a table near the stacks. Maybe it was all in my mind, but when Feven walked in, I could have sworn I saw an aura around her. She froze time with her entrance. I walked to the back of the library to meet her.
“Hi, Feven,” I beamed.
“Hi, Zay. I’d like you to meet my Aunt Seggie. Auntie, this is Xavier. He’s going to tutor you today while I work on some other schoolwork.”
Aunt Seggie, who stood only as tall as my chest, raised an eyebrow and looked me up and down, then spoke a few words to Feven in a language I didn’t understand. Feven tried to hold back a laugh and then responded to her. She explained things with her hands as she spoke rapidly in the same language.
Finally, Aunt Seggie extended her hand. I gave her mine and felt the strength and wear of her fingers. The hue of her skin was sand at sunset. A smooth forehead cascaded into beautiful green eyes and a slightly pointed nose, high cheekbones. She was a very pretty lady.
“Nice to meet you, Xavier,” she said with a slight accent.
“My pleasure,” I said. “Excited to work with you. I think we can get started with—”
“Oops. One second, sorry, Zay—” said Feven. She grabbed my arm and pulled me out of earshot of Aunt Seggie and whispered in a low tone.
“Now, remember. We don’t know each other. You’re a volunteer tutor I found through the library. My aunt is the queen of gossip in our family. If she finds out we’re friends … I just don’t want her to make a big deal with my parents. They don’t want me interested in … I mean, they just want me focused on school. Getting good grades and going to college.”
“Got it,” I said. “So, just pretend like I don’t know you. That will be easy.”
“Don’t be so sure,” warned Feven. “Aunt Seggie is very tricky. Just focus on the tutoring. She’s really smart but she can be stubborn sometimes. Fingers crossed. I’m going to get on the computer. Let me know if you need me.”
“Will do.”
I went back to Aunt Seggie’s table and sat across from her. She sat with one leg over the other and her hands neatly folded in her lap, a fresh sheet of notebook paper and a black pen perfectly arranged in front of her.
“Hi again,” I said. “Okay, I thought we could start with you telling me about the last time you took the exam. Which parts were challenging?”
Aunt Seggie leaned forward and narrowed her eyes at me. She grinned mischievously.
“You know Feven well?”
I shook my head. “Nope. Just through tutoring. She seems nice though,” I added, laying it on thick.
“Do you think she’s pretty? My niece?”
I hesitated. My eyes found Feven on the side of the library, reading something on one of the computers. The red highlight in her curly afro popped in the sunlight flooding into the library. I snapped out of it and faced Aunt Seggie again.
“Um, I-I don’t think that’s appropriate,” I stammered.
“It’s just a question!” Aunt Seggie raised her arms at her sides. “I see the way you look at her when you two talk to the side. You think she’s pretty, don’t you?”
“Um … okay, okay. Where to begin,” I said, nervously shuffling through the printouts I had brought to the library, my thoughts jumbled.
“I think you two would make a cute pair. But if you don’t find her pretty, then it doesn’t matter. What can you do. Ah, anyway. Yes, as you said. Where to begin studying today?”
“Wait, what?” My turn came to lean across the table closer to Aunt Seggie. “Cute pair? Like a couple? You really think that?”
