Hustlin, p.18
Hustlin', page 18
After all of Saturday’s excitement, I opted for a quiet remainder of my weekend. I braided Rah’s hair Sunday afternoon, as agreed. Afterwards he brought me back to Mama’s house early so I could get some work done in the spirit room while Mama was at the shelter. Daddy spent all day at church, which isn’t unusual, and I took the opportunity to take another quiet bath and get to bed early for a change.
Now, I can’t wait until opening night tonight. Laura won’t know what hit her—literally. She thinks she’s got my crown in the bag, but she’s got another think coming. And I’ll be right there tonight to make sure she gets everything she deserves.
“Bryan, out,” I whisper through the closed bathroom door. I don’t want to risk missing my bus and this morning we’re both running late.
“Patience, young blood,” he says through the door. “It sounds like someone’s nervous about their opening night. Is this how all divas act?”
“Bryan, not today,” I plead. “I’ve got to get ready.” He opens the door slowly, tempting me to kick it in and push him out of my way. But I choose to wait. I’ll have to exercise a lot of patience today, so I might as well start off on the right foot.
“What’s the rush? The play isn’t until later tonight.”
I’m surprised anyone in this household knows my extracurricular activity schedule. Not a single one of them has ever come to any of my events, especially not a play. It’s just not my family’s cup of tea.
“Yes, but I’ve got business to handle before then.”
He opens the door to see me standing in the hallway, holding all of my morning essentials and looking desperate, which is exactly how I feel. Sensing that I’m talking about more than catching my bus, he gathers his things without subjecting me to any more torture.
“You’ll be alright, little Jayd,” Bryan says, removing a wet towel from his head and leaving the bathroom. “You’ve got that hustler in you. Trust me, when it comes down to the moment of truth, you’ll know what to do and how to do it. That’s a real hustler, baby, and it’s in your blood. Now go on and get before you’re late for school. Don’t have me get my belt out.”
I love Bryan. He always knows what to say and when to say it. Mama says that one of his deities is also Legba and I can tell. He’s always got my back and clears the road for me whenever I need it.
“Thank you,” I say, entering the steamy bathroom. I should’ve put my shower cap on before coming in here. I don’t want to mess up my hair before my big night. All the spray in the world can’t straighten my hair out once the frizz gets to it.
“Anytime.”
Now I can get ready for my day. Before I can even get to drama class, I have to deal with turning in my paper in government class and with the rest of my school day. I just hope it goes by smoothly and that I get to be in the same room with Laura before we go on stage. All I need is one moment and I’ll have my crown back in no time.
When I arrive on campus, the air is thick with excitement on various levels. It’s the last week of school before the long break and opening night for the festival. The athletes and cheerleaders are gearing up for their performance in the festival, as well as the other side acts. But the main attraction is always the play. This is one of the few times the drama club gets to shine. We will perform for three nights in a row, with tonight being the biggest performance of all, and it’s mine for the taking. All I have to do is get through this day, and it starts by making it through third period.
“Good morning, class,” Mr. Adewale says, walking in and making my day instantly brighten. Jeremy’s not here yet and, with the bell ringing as Mr. A speaks, I don’t think he’s going to show. “Mrs. Peterson will be out until after the holiday. Your papers will be due when she returns.”
Now, that’s the kind of luck I’m talking about. Mr. A smiles at me. He knows he’s given me the best gift I could’ve received around here.
“You are the man,” I say, walking up to the teacher’s desk to flirt a little before we start our day.
“I didn’t do anything. She’s got a cold.” He looks up from his usual pile of work momentarily, giving me a slight wink.
“Well, thank you for being here. Your presence is always helpful.” Mr. A looks so cute with his dreads hanging over his shoulders instead of pulled back in his usual ponytail.
“I’m glad I could help. By the way, did you get that situation straightened out you were dealing with last week?”
“Not yet, but it’s all good. Let’s just say I have a little something up my sleeve.”
“I have no doubt that you do,” he says.
Mr. A’s tone gives me the same chill I got on Tuesday when he gave me the advice to hold my ground. What’s up with Mr. Adewale’s vibe towards me?
“Now get back to your seat and polish up that paper. I know it could use a little more work.” He passes me the papers I assume he intended to give me the other day. I’ll check this information out and do more research on the man himself during the two-week break. But right now, he’s right. I have other things to focus on. Tonight’s drama is at the top of my list.
It’s after school and everyone in the drama room is so excited about the play that the noise level makes it difficult for anyone to hear a word that Mrs. Sinclair’s yelling over our heads. We’re all running around like chickens with our heads cut off and Laura’s nowhere in sight. But, like all chickens, she’ll have to show her neck sometime.
“Okay kids, listen up. I need all of the boys on stage for a final costume fitting. Girls, get your hair and makeup done. You’re on in five.” Because my costumes had to be altered again, I still get to wear my original nightgown intended for Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking scene. It’s a plain, beige floor-length dress and it looks better than the gown they gave Laura to wear.
“Poor Jayd,” Laura says, occupying the seat next to mine at the long dressing vanity. I’m glad she’s finally decided to show. “Always a bridesmaid and never the bride,” she says, primping in the mirror.
Now’s the perfect time to spray my “Hustler’s Luck” potion and rid myself of her evil energy once and for all.
“Not everyone’s trying to get hitched,” I say, taking the small bottle out of my purse and placing it on the vanity. I eye the simple, plastic bottle before picking it up and lightly spraying the floral scent over my head and then over the rest of my body.
“That smells nice,” Alia says.
I almost didn’t recognize her because her witch’s costume is perfect. She, China, and the new girl, Shawn, make the best witches ever. Laura was also supposed to play a witch until she took my part. Luckily, China volunteered because I wasn’t going to take up that broom. I’m nobody’s witch, not even in a play.
“Thank you. I like it, too. What do you think, Laura?”
Ready to make a smart-ass remark, Laura tries to speak, but nothing comes out of her mouth. Laura looks panic-stricken at her silent reflection in the mirror.
You, she mouths at me as I smile victoriously at her reflection.
What’s she going to do? Run and tell on me? Not today she’s not, and this is the only moment that matters. As we say in the theater, the show must go on. It stops for no one, Laura included.
“Laura, what’s wrong?” Alia walks over to Laura, noticing her falling tears. “I’ll go get Mrs. Sinclair.”
Just then our teacher walks in, accompanied by Ms. Toni and Mrs. Bennett, who look equally concerned.
“What’s going on here?” Mrs. Sinclair walks up to Laura, who is now completely beside herself.
I stay in my seat, eyeing my reflection and watching the tragic scene unfold. Laura tries to speak, pointing at me and mimicking me spraying myself and then losing her voice. She’s actually improving in her acting skills. I’m glad her being my understudy paid off in some way other than Laura taking my role. Damn, Mama’s good with her shit.
“I don’t know what she said, but this isn’t good,” Ms. Toni says, looking from me to Laura, not believing what she’s witnessing. I know she’s heard about my powers, too. And after tonight’s unlikely event, I know Ms. Toni’s got about a thousand questions for me.
“I just thank God Jayd knows the part through and through. We don’t have time to figure this out right now. We have a show to put on in an hour. Matt, Seth, where’s Jayd’s original costume? Cast change!” Mrs. Sinclair yells. Her curly red hair is bushier than usual, which means she’s really at her wits’ end with this production. Working with Mrs. Bennett can stress anyone out. But it’s showtime and Mrs. Sinclair’s in charge now.
“You won’t get away with this,” Mrs. Bennett mouths at my reflection in the mirror.
I would respond, but I know my power and I don’t need to prove a thing to her. Mrs. Sinclair takes the beautiful, red velvet gown out of the plastic cover it’s been trapped in all week. Now, that’s royalty.
“Here’s your crown, Jayd,” Seth says, handing the small tiara to me.
Before I can properly secure it to my head, Laura reaches up, snatching it from my head just as my dream predicted.
“Get off me, trick,” I yell, fighting Laura for what is rightfully mine in the first place.
“Stop it, you two. We don’t have time for this! We have a show to put on,” Mrs. Sinclair yells. Ms. Toni separates us while Mrs. Bennett looks on in disbelief. I bet she didn’t see this one coming, but I did and I’m glad for it.
“Amateur,” Seth says exasperatedly toward Laura as she’s escorted from the room, kicking and not screaming. He has no patience for people who don’t take his theater seriously.
“What happened?” Chance asks. But seeing me heading toward the dressing room with my costume in hand, he already knows. “I don’t know how you did it, but I knew you could,” he says, hugging me before returning to the stage.
I’m ready to wear my crown and own my part. Let Laura come at me again and I’ll show her who’s really boss. But for now, I’ll be happy playing my role.
The past two nights have been unbelievable. We received standing ovations at each of the sold-out shows and tonight will be no exception.
“Hello, Laura. Still speechless, I see,” I say to a mute Laura as I pass her by, entering the main hall.
It’s the last day of school and I want to make sure I have all of my books before Rah comes to pick me up this afternoon. We’re going to have an early dinner before my final performance tonight. He’s been to every show and so has Jeremy, who was absent from school again today. I don’t know how many times he can get his mom to sign sick notes, but I guess the rules are different for students like him and students like Mickey and Nigel.
“I’ll get you for this,” Laura mouths at me, shooting daggers at me with her brown eyes.
“You really shouldn’t ride around with the top down on your car during the winter, no matter how cute you think you look. You never know how the changing seasons will affect your health.” I know she wants to tell everyone about how I caused her to lose her voice, but it’s a mute point now. I never confessed to the forgery and they can’t prove a thing. They may have been able to get Nellie to join their forces and even get Mickey in trouble, but I’m not the one. When will they learn not to mess with me?
“Hey Jayd,” Mickey says, coming out of the bathroom before Laura can leave. Nellie also enters the crowded hall from the ASB room, not far from where Mickey’s standing. I can’t stand it anymore. My girls need to come back together, damn Laura and her crew.
“Nellie, you’re being hustled. Laura’s just using you until she gets bored. Can’t you recognize a pimp when you see one?”
“Don’t listen to her, Nellie,” Laura whispers. She’s slightly more audible than on opening night but not much.
What is she, Nellie’s life coach now?
“You’re nothing but their little token black girl for their crew. Tania’s spot needed to be filled. They’re not your real friends, Nellie. We are.”
“Speak for yourself,” Mickey says, looking at Nellie and rolling her neck like only a sistah can.
“Well, I’d rather be the token black girl in Laura’s crew than the token bourgie in the gangster girl posse,” Nellie says, walking through the steady stream of students and joining Laura.
Now I know for fact that Nellie’s lost her damned mind, calling me gangster. No doubt, I’m straight hood. But being a gangster girl is Mickey’s mantra, not mine.
“Oh, Nellie, please don’t get it twisted. I will slap the shit out of you if you keep talking to me crazy like that,” I say, ready to snap her delusional ass back into reality. What kind of magic has Laura worked on our girl?
“Jayd, just leave it alone,” Mickey says, walking over to hold me back. At least one of my homegirls still has my back. “As far as I’m concerned, Laura can have her wanna-be-white ass. I’ve got all I need right here,” Mickey says, holding my arm while she rubs her baby bump. Nellie’s hair should be as green as a shamrock, as jealous as she appears to be right now. “Keep her. Maybe she’ll be a better friend to y’all then she has been to us.”
I hate to admit defeat, but I’m with Mickey on this one. When it’s time to move on, there’s no stopping the motion. And I think Nellie’s on the same path. I just hope our paths don’t collide, leaving us all hurt in the end.
Epilogue
I’m glad Bryan decided to add iPods to his parking lot hustle. Otherwise, I’d probably never buy myself one and I stopped making Christmas lists when I was a little girl. He sold it to me for twenty dollars, so I just braided his hair up for free. When we can’t buy, we barter. And since my mom’s car doesn’t have a radio, I needed to do something. A girl can’t keep it moving without her iTunes, for real.
“I like your iPod, Miss Jackson,” Rah says, pulling up to my mom’s house just as I’m ready to go inside. It’s Christmas Eve and I don’t want to be late or my mom will leave me high and dry. I’ve already wasted enough time chilling with Jeremy all day at the beach. Rah must have me on radar because his timing is perfect and I’m glad he’s here. Mama’s going to be so happy to see him tonight. It’s been years since Rah accompanied me to a family dinner.
“Why, thank you,” I say, pulling the headset out of my ears and turning it off before stopping in my tracks. “Bryan’s selling them behind Miracle Market if you want to pick one up.”
Rah parks his car on the street. Karl’s SUV is parked across the street, so I know my mom’s ready to roll. She wants to get this first meeting between her boyfriend and her mother over and done with as soon as possible.
“Bryan’s always got a side hustle,” Rah says, smiling at my uncle’s business prowess. “I know that nigga will never be broke. I just ran into him around the corner from my grandmother’s house, but he didn’t tell me about his latest venture.”
“I wasn’t sure if you were meeting me here or at Mama’s, since you were already on that side of town,” I say, realizing Rah technically shouldn’t be here. “I thought you were meeting Sandy at your grandmother’s and bringing Rahima to Mama’s. I’ll run up and tell my mother you’re here and she and Karl can go on ahead of us, cool?”
Rah catches up to me speed walking up the concrete pavement, and stops me. “Jayd, I’m sorry baby.”
Oh, no. Anytime he begins with that line, I know it’s not going to end well.
“But Sandy wants me to come all the way out to Pomona to get Rahima and I don’t have a choice. I’ve got to go.” Rah looks sad as he breaks the news to me. He lifts my chin up so he can look me in the eyes as he breaks my heart, again. But this time, my sweetness has just about run out.
“Why do I always feel like I’m on borrowed time with you?” I know I’m being a bit selfish, but really. How many times are my plans going to be affected by him and his issues?
“Jayd, come on. You know I want to come with you.” Rah takes me by the hand, but I’m feeling very unsympathetic at the moment. This holiday season has sucked since Halloween, and I’m tired of it. I’m getting one thing I want in total this time around. And what I want is to be the priority when it comes to the girls in Rah’s life, not including his daughter, of course.
“Then come. You can pick up Rahima tomorrow or later on tonight. Stop jumping through Sandy’s hoops and she’ll stop throwing them out there.” I know my words seem a little insensitive, but enough is enough. It’s time for some tough love.
“Jayd, are y’all coming or what?” my mom asks as she and Karl step down the stairs, ready to roll. They look cute in matching black suits, my mom’s, of course, much more fierce than his dapper attire. But Karl looks just as good in my eyes. They make a handsome couple.
“You look nice, Ms. Jackson,” Rah says. “Hi, I’m Rah,” he says, shaking Karl’s hand.
My mom looks into my red eyes and can read my mind without invading my thoughts. “Should we wait for you or do you have a ride?”
Rah looks at me again as Karl and my mom wait for an answer. His sad, puppy-dog look says “sorry,” but I’m still not feeling his pain.
“Can y’all please wait? I’ll only be a minute.” I look at Rah and shake my head. He knows he’s really got to get his stuff together because I wait for no one.
“I’ll call you later if I can make it by. Tell Mama I said hello,” Rah says to my back as I sprint upstairs to quickly wash my face and change into something a little nicer than my beach attire.
My motto for the New Year is to keep it moving, no matter what. I’m not waiting for anyone to help me meet my goals. Dealing with Laura’s vengeful ass has taught me to be one step ahead of the competition at all times. And as long as I keep my hustle tight, no one can stop my flow—best friends, boyfriends and enemies alike. I’m going to keep it moving and, this time around, I’m not slowing down for anyone.
A Reading Group Guide
Drama High, Volume 7: HUSTLIN’
L. Divine
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The following questions are intended to
