Read Online I Wish I Had a Red Dress by Pearl Cleage - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Pearl Cleage
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luck and be careful’?”
“What would you suggest?”
“Tell her what you think!”
“What’s the difference between that and giving advice?”
She looked completely exasperated with me. “Givin’ advice is tellin’ people what to do. Sayin’ what you think is more of a this is how I see it kinda thing.”
Nikki was watching us with interest, glad the focus was off of her, even temporarily.
“Show me,” I said.
Tee looked at me, then turned to Nikki and flipped her braids over her shoulder. “Okay, here’s the advice. Quit! Go tell them you quit and don’t do no more stupid shit like that as long as you live!” She took a deep breath. “But here’s what I think.” Her voice was calm. “I think you deserve better than that, Nik. I really do. That’s why you need to quit. Not because it’s dangerous or crazy or nothin’ else except for the fact that you better than that. ” She leaned over and hugged Nikki, who hugged her back, hard, then stepped away quickly and left the room without a word.
Neither one of us spoke for a minute and then I picked up the poetry book that had been left behind.
“Nikki Giovanni,” I said, remembering when I gave this book to Jasmine back when we were both in high school, amazed she still had it and even more amazed it had taken her almost twenty years to share it with her daughter. “That’s the poet she’s named after.”
Tomika, at the window, didn’t say anything. She was watching Nik get into her car and drive off toward the danger just like they always do in the horror movies; gripping the wheel, gritting her teeth and swearing she doesn’t believe in ghosts.
TWELVE
busted
EVERYTHING WAS IN PLACE for the anti-Super Bowl party tomorrow. All I had to do now was drop off the keys I’d promised Nate and do my grocery shopping. Otherwise, dinner was looking like another round of leftovers and that wasn’t going to get it.
I was looking forward to a night to myself. It was my intention to take a long hot bath, make a fire and see how much of Booty Call I could get through before I fell asleep. I’ve been trying to keep up with as many of the young actors as I can. My current interest was Vivica A. Fox. I admired her work in Why Do Fools Fall in Love?, especially her character’s vulnerability even as the woman’s life added harder and harder layers.
I liked her even more in Set It Off, especially when she gets angry at the timid girl in the gang after their first successfulbank robbery. She denies her a share of the money but then comes back to apologize, saying “it’s not you I’m mad at” with the perfect blend of rage and resignation.
I liked her in Independence Day too, and appreciated the dignity she maintained even when they made her do a scene backstage at the strip joint with her incredible body fully on display. So when I heard she had made a movie called Booty Call, I wondered why. I hoped taking a look at it might help me understand.
When I pulled up to Baldwin High School at four-thirty, the building was empty. All the team practices and Saturday activities were over, but Nate had told me he’d be lifting weights, so I headed for the gym. I graduated from this school and the halls are full of good memories. When we moved here, I was fifteen and about to start my sophomore year. I left behind a boyfriend who I had allowed to kiss me passionately whenever we could find a place to do so, which wasn’t that often since neither of us could drive and my parents were not about me having company when they weren’t home. I knew better than to even think about going to my boyfriend’s house when his parents weren’t there, since I was lovesick but not crazy.
The only time we broke the rule was right before my family left town and we were desperate to express what we regarded as undying love before my father’s dreams ripped ours to shreds. We spent an endless, sweaty, nerve-racking afternoon trying to get as close to having sex as we
“What would you suggest?”
“Tell her what you think!”
“What’s the difference between that and giving advice?”
She looked completely exasperated with me. “Givin’ advice is tellin’ people what to do. Sayin’ what you think is more of a this is how I see it kinda thing.”
Nikki was watching us with interest, glad the focus was off of her, even temporarily.
“Show me,” I said.
Tee looked at me, then turned to Nikki and flipped her braids over her shoulder. “Okay, here’s the advice. Quit! Go tell them you quit and don’t do no more stupid shit like that as long as you live!” She took a deep breath. “But here’s what I think.” Her voice was calm. “I think you deserve better than that, Nik. I really do. That’s why you need to quit. Not because it’s dangerous or crazy or nothin’ else except for the fact that you better than that. ” She leaned over and hugged Nikki, who hugged her back, hard, then stepped away quickly and left the room without a word.
Neither one of us spoke for a minute and then I picked up the poetry book that had been left behind.
“Nikki Giovanni,” I said, remembering when I gave this book to Jasmine back when we were both in high school, amazed she still had it and even more amazed it had taken her almost twenty years to share it with her daughter. “That’s the poet she’s named after.”
Tomika, at the window, didn’t say anything. She was watching Nik get into her car and drive off toward the danger just like they always do in the horror movies; gripping the wheel, gritting her teeth and swearing she doesn’t believe in ghosts.
TWELVE
busted
EVERYTHING WAS IN PLACE for the anti-Super Bowl party tomorrow. All I had to do now was drop off the keys I’d promised Nate and do my grocery shopping. Otherwise, dinner was looking like another round of leftovers and that wasn’t going to get it.
I was looking forward to a night to myself. It was my intention to take a long hot bath, make a fire and see how much of Booty Call I could get through before I fell asleep. I’ve been trying to keep up with as many of the young actors as I can. My current interest was Vivica A. Fox. I admired her work in Why Do Fools Fall in Love?, especially her character’s vulnerability even as the woman’s life added harder and harder layers.
I liked her even more in Set It Off, especially when she gets angry at the timid girl in the gang after their first successfulbank robbery. She denies her a share of the money but then comes back to apologize, saying “it’s not you I’m mad at” with the perfect blend of rage and resignation.
I liked her in Independence Day too, and appreciated the dignity she maintained even when they made her do a scene backstage at the strip joint with her incredible body fully on display. So when I heard she had made a movie called Booty Call, I wondered why. I hoped taking a look at it might help me understand.
When I pulled up to Baldwin High School at four-thirty, the building was empty. All the team practices and Saturday activities were over, but Nate had told me he’d be lifting weights, so I headed for the gym. I graduated from this school and the halls are full of good memories. When we moved here, I was fifteen and about to start my sophomore year. I left behind a boyfriend who I had allowed to kiss me passionately whenever we could find a place to do so, which wasn’t that often since neither of us could drive and my parents were not about me having company when they weren’t home. I knew better than to even think about going to my boyfriend’s house when his parents weren’t there, since I was lovesick but not crazy.
The only time we broke the rule was right before my family left town and we were desperate to express what we regarded as undying love before my father’s dreams ripped ours to shreds. We spent an endless, sweaty, nerve-racking afternoon trying to get as close to having sex as we
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