Subject:  Chapter 67 |
Author:
Ade
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Date Posted: 12:15:18 03/29/03 Sat
Chapter 67
Lams: WHAT?!
He looked at John incredulously
Lams: Are you nuts?! What should I do, slap you, run you over with my lawnmower or throw you outta my window?
John put his hand on his forehead and gave a long sigh
John: I know it’s kinda stupid of me
Lams: Kinda stupid? No, no homie kinda does not even begin to describe how dumb that is. You know Letonia is pure trouble and that chick will not give up!
John: You think I don’t know this?
Lams: Well you ain’t acting like you do! Look you gotta cut it short before things get outta hand!
John: I know, I know.
Lams: Then you gotta tell her and say you’re sorry
John was startled and shook his head vigorously
John: No, no, no, what Cat don’t know ain’t gonna kill her
Lams: But if she finds out, she will kill you!
John: Look rather than me telling, I’ll stop it with Letonia, it won’t happen again.
Lams: Good
John: Promise me you won’t tell Cat or Des
Lams: You know I can’t lie to Des, she sees through me like X-Ray
John: Can you not tell Cat? And if you’re gonna tell Des make her promise not to tell Cat
Lams: I promise. If Des does not see through me I won’t tell her, and I promise not to tell Cat. You better make sure you set Letonia straight and don’t continue cos if I as much as catch you guys doing something funny, I will sing like Pavarotti at an opera concert.
John: I promise.
Just as they finished, they heard a knock on the door, it was Letonia
Lams: Who is it?
Letonia: Its me Letonia
Lams rolled his eyes
Lams: What do you want?
Letonia: Can I come in?
Lami [grudgingly]: Yeah sure
Letonia came in
Lams: What do you want?
Letonia: Just wanted to return your 50 cents CD, the one I borrowed the other day
Lams: Oh, alright then
Letonia came over and handed the CD to Lams. Now Letonia knew that Jiz was around so she had on this tight white low cut top and Christina Aguilera type mini mini skirt, and as she bent down to give Lami the CD, she turned to Jiz and looked surprised
Letonia: Oh, hi Jiz, didn’t see ya there, how you doing?
Jiz was mesmerised by her top that he forgot himself for a while; Lams had to nudge him and whisper ‘stop drooling’
Jiz: Oh, y…yeah hi whassup
Letonia: Nothing, hope to see more of you later
As she was walking out, she “accidentally” dropped her phone right in front of Jiz’s gaze, and she bent down to pick it up, as she did, John’s gaze was focused on her skirt and the fact that she wasn’t just showing crack, she was showing what was more like widescreen cinema Dolby surround sound view. Lami just shook his head- this girl has Jiz under her spell big time. Letonia just gave a little smile to herself- all in good time, all in good time.
As she left, Lams threw a towel towards Jiz
Lams [a little irritated]: Use that to wipe your drool
Jiz [embarrassed]: I wasn’t drooling
Lams [sarcastically]: No, just that I could see your tongue rolled out 10 feet heading towards her ass. Man, that girl is going to kill you if you let her and by the looks of it, looks like you wanna die. Just remember what you have with Cat. Lose that, and get ready to be terminated
Jiz: I know, I know
The next day in school everyone was present and were all talking in their cliques and all when down the hall, guys could be heard cat calling and whispering ‘damn she fine’
Des: Let me guess new student?
Cat: Even if it isn’t, if a girl puts on a new shade of lipgloss the guys here act like she went and got a new body
Tyra: I know, the fellas in the school act like they ain’t see a woman before
Jiz: It’s not that. The shape of a woman is like money, you can never see too much
Cat [turning to him, with her hand on her hip]: Really Jiz, I’d like to hear you expand that theory of yours
As Jiz opened his mouth to talk, Lams hit him over the head
Lams: Dude, if I were you I’d shut up. Don’t you know that, that’s female code for ‘shut up before you flying solo again?’
The stir continued and as they person walked closer, they all saw it was Letonia, Lams rolled his eyes, Jiz’ heart started beating faster and his palm started sweating. Des however broke out in smiles totally unaware of the situation between Jiz and Letonia. Letonia as well seeing Des walked faster smiling. Des left to go and hug her
Letonia [screaming]: Aaaahhhh! Dessie Des!
Des: Lele!
They hugged each other
Letonia: How are you doing? It has been a while
Des: And a day! Lami told me you were back in town and ooh girl it is good to see you!
Letonia: Right back at ya
Des: We have got to hang out real soon so you can tell me every detail about New York since the last time I heard from ya
Letonia: That’ll be so good! It’s nice to see everybody, especially you …and Jiz
Jiz’s throat went dry, and it doesn’t help when she came over and hugged him and it seemed for a second there she won’t let go, until when Cat cleared her throat loudly, and Letonia stopped the hug and turned to Cat with a surprised expression on her face
Letonia: Oh hi Cat didn’t see you there
She took a step back
[Still talking]: Cat you look good, did you gain weight?
Cat’s eyes narrowed into tiny dangerous slits
Cat: No, but I took up kung fu, still waiting for my first dummy to practice my brown belt skills on
Letonia: Goodluck finding one
Cat: Don’t worry she’ll come around real soon
The two girls were looking at each other and the atmosphere was getting tense. At that point Lami remembered even further why he despised Letonia; she had the ability to ruin a whole nation. Des stepped in the middle and turned to Letonia, Tyra pulled Cat back slightly
Des [in an attempt to diffuse the whole situation]: So Lele, I know you didn’t just come to school to come and start trading words with me in that tight outfit
Letonia: Oh right, I will see you later Des cos we got a lot of catching up to do
Des: Yeah and you can give me a run down of all the New York men who got a taste of your flava
Both girls laughed, hugged and Letonia walked off not before turning and giving John a sly wink. After she left Cat hissed, glared at Jiz and walked off ahead of the others
Lami [to John]: You are dead meat. What’d I tell you about that bitch, see what she done caused?
Des: Jiz, you my friend and I and Letonia do get along but then anyone who had an IQ point could tell that girl was after something. You better watch yourself and let her know what the deal is, or else, if u as much as think of cheating on Cat, I’ll be the first to kill you- that I promise you.
Jiz [acting innocentee]: Why all the anger from you and Lami, what’d I do?
Everyone rolled their eyes
Tyra: C’mon even I who don’t know her that well knows she’s up to something and don’t give that bullsh** that you don’t know what she’s up to.
Lami: Ty’s right, remember last night?
Des: What happened?
Lami: She came on to him big time and dude here had his tongue on the floor by the time she was done with him
Des: Just be careful ok?
The bell rang and they all went to class. Surprise, surprise when they all found Letonia sitting on the seat that Cat normally sat beside Jiz. Des’ heart stopped and they all looked at each other
Letonia [excitedly]: Jiz! Sit, here!
The idiot of a guy went and sat over, not that he had much of a choice but he coulda said no still for once.
Des: Lele, the seat you’re on is reserved specifically for Jiz’s girlfriend
Letonia: So? I’m a girl and I’m his friend
Des: You know that’s not what I meant, I mean the love of his life, his lady, for Cat
Letonia: She ain’t here is she?
Des was about to reply when
Teacher: Settle down people, you’re about to discover the joys of Shakespeare’s King Lear
The whole class groaned. The teacher was Ms De Burca who taught them Lit [rememeber her? She appeared in an earlier chapter]
De Burca: Y’all shut up aiight? Its only the first period. I hear you guys have Algebra II next, and you know me and Mr Simmons are tight, one word from him and you lot are going to have “fun” in his class. And I don’t mean fun “fun”; I mean fun as in good for me and very bad for you.
At that, everyone hushed up, and she began to take the register. Des was looking around to see if Cat was in at all, she wasn’t.
The class had been in session for 10 minutes when she walked in
Cat: Sorry I’m late
De Burca: Ok, take your seat.
Cat looked to where she normally sat and saw Letonia sitting there smiling at her smugly. Cat’s eyes narrowed and even De Burca noticed this
Cat: I see my seat has been taken
There was silence and if looks could kill Letonia would have been ashes by now
Des: Come sit by me Cat, [turning to Lionel who sat on her other side] Move boy!
Lionel: Why do I always gotta move, can’t she sit on my lap?
The whole class laughed
Des: Of course not, move- don’t make me have to slap you!
Lami: You heard the lady, bounce!
Lionel finally did and Cat came and sat beside her. Tyra, who sat directly behind her put a hand on Cat’s shoulder, Cat turned around, saw it was Tyra and smiled warmly. Des put her hand over Cat’s and Cat held it for a while before letting go.
Class was over and they all walked to the next class. Jiz didn’t know what to say so he just walked beside Cat very quietly. Letonia’s attitude continued all day and Lami was beginning to get irritated. As they both were going to the same home together, he decided to call her to order then.
At his home, Letonia was in the kitchen when he walked in, Letonia was making a sandwich and she looked up
Letonia: Hi
She looked at his face and saw he was angry
Letonia: What’s wrong?
Lami: What the f*** were you playing at today?
Letonia [pretending not to know what he meant]: What do you mean?
Lami: Don’t act stupid with me, everyone saw your game. Coming into school like that, being all over John and making Cat feel bad, especially when you be taking her place in Lit, and being all up in his face. What’s your problem? Ain’t you ever happy for people in love? Why do you always gotta ruin it? Look, leave my boy alone aiight? Go find your own man elsewhere aiight? LEAVE HIM ALONE!
He walked out and even though he went upstairs she heard him slam his room door real hard making her jump.
Fast forwarding to a month after Letonia had arrived. During the month, she didn’t leave Jiz alone and it was getting bad. Cat, Des and Jackie were hanging out at Jackie’s house,
Cat: I can’t take it anymore! Its like everywhere we are, she shows up and is all over him
Jackie: That I can understand but what I can’t understand is why Jiz does nothing about it…does he?
Cat: Not really, he just says she’s being friendly
Des: Like a golden retriever?
Cat: He does nothing while she’s there always trying to catch his eyes and she ignores me completely whenever she’s around us
Jackie: You gotta tell her how you feel.
Des: The Letonia I know will not respond to it. I have talked to her and she says that as long as John doesn’t mind, she’ll continue. I think you need to talk to John about how you feel and tell him to tell her to back off okay?
Cat: I guess.
Des: I’ll talk to Lami and tell him to call his boy to heel
Jackie [laughing]: You say it like he’s a dog
Cat: Lets face it, all guys are dogs
Des: Except for my baby
Cat and Jackie looked at each other and shook their heads
Cat: Whatever!
Jamal was at home in his room thinking about how screwed up his life is
Jamal [thinking in his head]: I don’t know where it all began. A year ago I was trying to get with Jackie and thinking that finally my life can be together, and somehow I manage to screw it up, all cos of Kelly. I am so stupid, stupid, and stupid!
He got up from his bed and picked up a pen and paper and began writing all the things he’s lost since the whole Kelly drama began.
1. Jackie
2. Symphony
3. Friends- Jiz, Lami, Des, Cat
4. Grades
5. Happiness
6. Sanity
He was still thinking when his mother [Michelle] came in with some food.
Michelle: Honey would you have something to eat?
Jamal: Not now Momma, I’m not hungry
Michelle: You’ve not been hungry for the past couple of months. Your clothes are practically hanging off you, you’re no longer spending time with your friends and I saw your report card, 9 Ds and 1 C is definitely not good. What’s up?
Jamal: Nothing Mom, can you please drop the subject?
Michelle got up
Michelle: Fine, I remember the times you used to be able to come to me and talk to me about what’s on your mind, but now I guess you’re too grown to spend time with your momma. Ah well you’re not the only child I got, which oh by the way you’ve not been much of a brother to them. I’ll just go and tell Bradley and Michaela that their brother is no more
She was about to walk out of the room when
Jamal: No Momma, please come back
She turned back around. He came towards her and gave her a hug
Jamal: I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’ve not been a good son to you lately or a good brother and friend to Brad and Michaela. I’m sorry I’ve not been a good anything to anybody, just that…
Michelle: Just that what?
Jamal: So many things have been happening to me lately and I am sorry Mom but I have failed you in so many ways
Both sat down on his bed facing each other. Jamal ran his hand over his head
Jamal: I don’t even know where to begin, it’s like everything is not going right at all
Michelle: How?
Jamal: Firstly, I cheated on Jackie with a girl called Kelly, and it made Jackie go into premature labour
Michelle: Jackie was pregnant?
Jamal: Yeah and I cheated on her with Kelly, Jackie went into premature labour and had a baby girl which she won’t let me see, none of my friends are talking to me, and Kelly just told me she might be pregnant with my child.
Jamal put his head in his hands, Michelle was speechless. She had no idea all these was going on in his head and in his life
Michelle: Son, why didn’t you tell me all these before it escalated?
Jamal: I thought I could handle it, and I felt like such a failure because I remember you telling me about babies and how not to have them till I was 25 and I should focus on school not girls. I remember the day Dad walked out and never came back, the look on your face, and the tears in your eyes. I was afraid if I told you I’d disappoint you totally
Michelle took a deep breath
Michelle: Son, you think if everytime you did something wrong I’d hate you or be disappointed in you? Honey, you’re learning that being an adult is a lot. Baby I’m not going to say I’m exactly pleased with what you’ve done, but I still love you regardless.
Michelle pulled him closer and Jamal buried himself in her arms. It had been long since he felt the hug of a woman who loved him truly.
Michelle: Now, what we’re going to do is that we’re going to set things straight. We can’t change the beautiful child being born in fact she may be a blessing eventually
Jamal: Mom its like I heard Des and the others talk about her about how beautiful she is and how special she is and all, and I want to know all that. My friends know more about her than I do. I want to be her father, not just by DNA but actually be in her life. Take her for walks, read her to bed, teach her not to drive in Jiz’s car and all
Michelle [laughed]: I know and I’m very proud of you son, proud that you’re willing and wanting to be in her life
Jamal: But I can’t, Jackie won’t let me, and her Mom is threatening me with a restraining order
Michelle: If we sort that out, what else would you want
Jamal: I want Jackie. I just don’t want to be a father to Symphony; I want to be with Jackie so that we can be a family together
Michelle: Really?
Jamal: Yeah, I really love her, not because she is the mother of my child, but I really love her Ma
Michelle: So if you get those two back
Jamal: I want my friends back, all of them. I wanna tell them how sorry I am, and make it up to them in a big way, and I’m going to tell Kelly to leave me alone for good, and if she truly is having my child and DNA proves it cos I know she’s been unfaithful to me, I’ll be a father to my child but have nothing to do with her.
Michelle: You do know all you say you want won’t be easy right?
Jamal: I know and I’m willing to do whatever it takes
Michelle: Sure about that?
Jamal: Yeah, anything.
Michelle got up
Michelle: First of all, you’re going to give me Jackie’s number, I want to call her mother, we’ll sit down and have a conversation properly, the four of us
Jamal looked shocked
Jamal: The four of us?
Michelle: Yeah, you, me, Jackie and her Mom
Jamal: The same one who wants my head on a platter?
Michelle: Yeah. You do want your baby and Jackie back right?
Jamal: Y…yeah, but…
Michelle: But nothing. Now give me the number, get dressed and we’re going that’s it!
She got the number and was walking out, and then she turned around
Michelle: And while you’re at it, clean your room up!
Jamal smiled and said
Jamal: Thanx Mom
Michelle [smiling]: Anytime baby, anytime
At Jackie’s house, Jackie’s Mom Ava was just finishing off the phone when Jackie walked in. Ava looked up and Jackie who sensed something was up
Jackie: Whassup ma?
Ava: I don’t know if you’re gonna like this, but I just invited Jamal and his mom over
Jackie: WHAT?!
Ava: Yes, I just got off the phone with her and she asked if she could speak to me and that Jamal has a couple of things he wants to say to us
Jackie: And you said yes?
Ava: Because I know it’s the right thing to do. No matter what, we can’t keep on hating him. Let’s hear them out first. You know Symphony needs a father and he is her father, plus I still know that deep down in your heart, despite all the hurt you still love that boy
Jackie looked away; Ava got up and came close to her
Ava: We both know I’m right and what’s it that I always say about second chances?
Jackie: Everyone deserves one
Ava: Exactly, let’s give them a chance and I’ve been asking God that my baby and my grandbaby gets the happiness they should get, He just may have given us the answer
Jackie: Okay Ma
Ava gave her a hug and Jackie went back upstairs to check on Symphony and stylishly went to take a bath and get herself all ready for Jamal coming [no matter how much she tried to deny it to herself]- this would be the first time in months they’d be up close
After about half an hour, the doorbell rang. Ava went to answer it and she saw Michelle and Jamal standing outside the door
Ava: You must be Jamal’s mother Michelle?
Michelle: And you are Ava the beautiful owner of this mini palace and a unique name
Ava smiled
Ava: You flatter me. Please come on in, both of you
She stepped aside and both went in and she closed the door after them. She showed them to the living room and all of them sat down
Michelle: Wow this living room is gorgeous, who designed it?
Ava [proudly]: Me and my babygirl Jackie
Michelle: It truly is spectacular…[she changed her tone to make it more serious] I know we didn’t come here to discuss fashion and all, so I’ll get down to it
Ava: Before you continue would you both like something to drink?
Michelle: None for me thank you
Jamal: No thank you very much
Ava: Please go on with what you were going to say
Michelle: Well, I have just been told by Jamal everything that has happened within the last couple of months. I know it has not been the ideal of all situations, I mean the last time I was aware of anything, he was still telling me how happy he was with Jackie, and he just stopped talking to me
Ava: I understand, my Jackie is sometimes like that too
Michelle: It the teenage hormones. I know what my son has done has upset you and your daughter and we’re here to remedy it and make a fresh start from our talk and a better future for all.
Jamal: Ma can I take it from here, please?
Michelle nodded
Jamal: Mrs Carter, I know that I have been a complete idiot and fool by messing up Jackie and Symphony. I truly am sorry. I’ll understand if you never want to see me again or come near your family, but I have to take this risk and tell you how sorry I am. You have no idea how much I love Symphony and want to be her father. Be there and be a man and show her that even though people make mistakes
Ava [completing the sentence]: Everyone needs a second chance
Jamal: Yes and I am so sorry, I wish I could take back all my stupidity. I just want to be there for Jackie and Symphony
He got on his knees, Ava was moved to tears. She came towards him and pulled him to his feet and gave him a hug. Jamal straight up began to cry. Michelle did not do anything she just sat down and let the emotions flow. She looked at Jamal and shook her head. He’d probably deny crying and begging whenever he’s with his buddies but at the end of the day, he’s still her lil man, he’s not a boy not yet a man.
After the tears were dried and all, Jamal regained his composure and sat back beside his mom.
Michelle: I know that the person to really soften is Jackie but we had to first make things right with you
Ava: Thank you and apology accepted.
Michelle: Can we speak privately?
Ava: Sure, I’ll call Jackie and have her get you both something to drink, Jamal you go help her.
Ava got up and went out into the hall to call Jackie. Jackie came downstairs cradling Symphony. Jamal’s heart stopped and Jackie’s heart skipped a beat. This was the first time they were seeing each other without yelling or angry words and it felt a little bit strange.
Jamal couldn’t stop staring at Jackie, she was gorgeous. She had on a pair of jeans and a little cotton top and she was holding Symphony. Jackie as well saw that Jamal was looking extra fine and her head got giddy with joy
Jamal: H..hi how are you
Jackie: I’m fine.
She went past him into the kitchen he followed her. She was trying to get cups and glasses and she was still holding Symphony
Jamal: Do you want to help you?
She turned and looked at him
Jackie: Yes please.
Jamal came over and was standing next to her; Jackie had to summon all her willpower to stop her from doing something she wasn’t sure of. She was reaching for a glass and Jamal’s hand overtook her and helped her take the glass down, their hands were still over each other holding on to the glass and both turned to face each other almost as if they wanted to kiss.
Jamal [softly]: Jackie…
There you go, sorry for the delay but I got university exams looming in the distance. Hope u enjoy it tho.
Ade
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