would spill my guts to my favorite uncle. But Bryan and I both have work to do and need to move fast if weâre going to get anything done today.
5
Change Happens
âYeah, I got some changinâ to do.â
âJ OHN L EGEND
I donât even remember how I drove the forty-five minutes it takes me to get from Compton to Redondo Beach this morning in less than forty, but Iâm here and ready to get on with my day. I wish I could call my mom from mind to mind like she does me, but Iâll have to settle for using my cell later. Itâs not fair that her powers work in only one direction. Had my mom appreciated her powers when she was my age, thereâs no telling how dope her shit would have been. Now her gift of sight works to get into only my head, no one elseâs. I sure could use my momâs help this morning, but itâll have to wait until I see her tonight, if she comes home before going to her boyfriendâs apartment for the weekend. Sheâs a professional at arguing with her mother and eventually gets over it, whereas I, on the other hand, always feel bad after having a disagreement with Mama.
Mr. Adewale could tell something was up with me in first period. I wanted to talk to him about my issues, but because he has such a profound respect for Mama and our lineage, I doubt heâll take my side. What am I thinking, leaving Mamaâs house? But if I donât do something fast, Iâm in danger of not passing my AP exams, and Iâll be damned if I give Mrs. Bennett the satisfaction of seeing me fail. Besides, Iâve worked my ass off for two years on the AP track and deserve to study for my exams in peace.
The only good thing about this freaky Friday is that my momâs powers have been off the chain. The people I come into contact with all let me inside their minds with no idea of what Iâm doing, and I canât help itâI can hear everything theyâre thinking. Itâs like verbal diarrhea in my head. And the fact that some of it is audible doesnât help keep the noise down, but it did help me chill out Nellie and Mickey for the time being. My momâs persuasive techniques can cool almost any situation and turn it to her advantage, I see. Iâve decided not to tell Mama or my mom about my newfound sight. Iâm not ready to give up this power just yet.
âHey, girl,â Mickey says as she and Nellie approach my locker. Theyâve been texting me all day about the baby shower this weekend, and Iâm not any more excited about it than I was last week or the week before. Iâll just be glad when itâs all over. Mickeyâs still sour about Mrs. Esop inviting me to become a debutante, but I think Nigel has helped calm her down about the entire situation, especially since I agreed only for Mickeyâs sake. And Nellie hasnât said a word about dinner at Chanceâs house earlier this week. I heard what they wanted to say to me before I mentally resolved their issues during the pass between first and second period, and I am grateful I could squash that girl fight before it surfaced.
âHey,â I say unenthusiastically. Reid and Laura are passing out fliers for some Associated Student Body event I could not care less about. Nellie and her platinum hair are right on the back of the bandwagon with them. She tries to hand me a yellow paper, and I ignore the gesture. The last thing I need is another piece of trash in my locker. I think the environmental club should set up an official tribunal and put ASB on trial for unnecessarily killing trees to advertise their useless bull.
âWhatâs got your panties all up in a bunch?â Nellie asks, reading the sour expression written all over my face while placing the paper back in the pile sheâs carrying. This morningâs battleânot to mention the plastic-coated couchâleft me feeling twisted.
âJust shit,â I say, not wanting to relive
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