Everybody Say Amen by Reshonda Tate Billingsley Page A

Rachel was at her wits’ end. She immediately dialed Lester’s number and felt her blood boil when it went straight to his voice mail. She hadn’t heard from him all day. She knew he was at some church conference in Galveston, but at least he could answer his phone at some point. She left a short message.
    “This is just a repeat of my daddy!” Rachel snapped as she threw the phone down onto the passenger seat. Growing up, one of the things she’d hated most about her father was the fact that he was always off on some church business. Now here was her husband doing the same thing.
    Rachel’s phone rang and she snatched it up, hoping it was her husband. “Lester?” she said, not bothering with the caller ID.
    “Umm, no. It’s Bobby.”
    Rachel rubbed her temples. “What’s going on, Bobby?” She wasn’t in the mood to deal with him right now.
    “You tell me. Jordan called me and said he’s been suspended.”
    “He called you?”
    “He asked me to come get him.”
    She let out a long sigh.
    “Rachel, what is going on? I mean, he seemed fine last time I had him. This is getting ridiculous,” Bobby said.
    Rachel had been trying her best to hold it in, but she couldn’t help it; she felt the tears begin to form. “Bobby, I don’t know what’s wrong with that boy. He is driving me crazy!”
    “I know you said you’d been having problems, but I didn’t know it was this bad.”
    “Well, it is.”
    “Look, are you on your way to the school?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’ll meet you there.”
    Rachel wiped her eyes in relief. “Okay.”
     
    Twenty minutes later, both Rachel and Bobby were sitting in Mrs. Ward’s office. A bruised-up Jordan was sitting in the corner, a scowl on his face.
    “I’m sure you can understand our position. This is Jordan’s third major infraction, in addition to all the minor ones. We simply cannot allow him to remain at the Rice Academy.”
    Rachel glared at Jordan. They had paid all this money for him to go to this exclusive private school and he was over here acting a fool.
    “It is our suggestion that he be placed in an alternative learning center until he gets his behavior under control,” Mrs. Ward said.
    Bobby looked stunned.
    “Mrs. Ward, on behalf of my son, let me apologize,” Rachel said. “I want to thank you for your trouble.” She stood and shook Mrs. Ward’s hand. The matronly principal gave her a sympathetic look before returning her handshake.
    They had barely made it to the parking lot before Rachel spun on Jordan. “Boy, what is your problem?”
    Jordan just shrugged.
    “I ought to beat the living daylights out of you!”
    Bobby caught her arm and pulled her back.
    “Rachel, chill. You’re in the middle of the parking lot at his school,” Bobby said.
    “I don’t care! As God is my witness, I’m gon’ hurt this child.” Rachel’s chest was heaving. It was a good thing Bobby grabbed her because if she had struck Jordan once, she probably wouldn’t have stopped.
    “Look here, I have an idea. Why don’t we let Jordan stay with me a couple of days while we try to figure this out? Maybe I can talk to him and see what the problem is,” Bobby suggested. Jordan’s eyes seemed to light up at that idea.
    Rachel really didn’t know if that was the answer, but she knew right about now, she didn’t even want to be around Jordan; there was no telling what she might do. She knew Lester wouldn’t approve of Jordan going to his father’s, but they had tried everything else under the sun. Maybe Bobby could succeed where they had failed.
    “You know what, take him. Maybe you can get through to him, because I dang sure can’t.” Rachel got in her car and sped off without even saying good-bye to her son. As soon as she did, though, her anger subsided and sadness crept up on her as she reflected on her relationship with Jordan. She didn’t want to be mean, but she was at her wits’ end. Maybe this tough-love route was the way to go. She didn’t know, but