Read Online Indigo Summer by Monica McKayhan - Free Book Online Page B

different, we had lots of other things in common; like clothes, boys and a warped sense of humor.
    We stopped at the nail shop for French manicures and pedicures, grabbed a bite to eat at the food court, and then hung around for a little while just checking out the crowd. We recognized many faces from school, and giggled as somebody’s mama passed by with a head full of pink and green plastic rollers.
    â€œSomebody forgot to tell her that you don’t come out of the house like that.” Tameka laughed. “And especially come to the mall on a Saturday afternoon.”
    â€œAll she needs now is a pair of house slippers.”
    â€œAnd a bathrobe,” Tameka said.
    â€œGlad it ain’t my mama,” I said.
    â€œI second that,” Tameka said. “Your mom seems nice, by the way.”
    â€œShe’s okay. She’s really overprotective. And my daddy, too,” I said. “But your mother seems really cool. And she looks really young, too.”
    â€œShe is young,” Tameka said. “She had me when she was sixteen.”
    â€œThat is young,” I said.
    â€œMy dad is only two years older. They got married when they found out my mom was pregnant,” Tameka said. “Mommy had to drop out of school to raise me. And even though she went back for her GED, she never got to go to college. That’s why I have to go…for both of us.”
    â€œAnd that’s why you already got your college all picked out.”
    â€œThat’s right.” She smiled. “Spelman won’t know what to do when Tameka Brown walks through those doors.”
    â€œI hear you. But wouldn’t you rather go away to school? Somewhere like UCLA or FAMU?”
    â€œNo, I need to be near Jeff, and he’s going to Morehouse right here in Atlanta,” Tameka said, and then changed the subject. “Come on, let’s go over to Macy’s and find us some dresses.”
    Â 
    We shopped the Macy’s clearance rack for dresses that would transform us into supermodels, like Eva, America’s Next Top Model or Tyra Banks. We tried on at least ten dresses each, strutting in front of the mirror as if we were on the runway. Finally settling on the dresses that we wanted, Tameka called her mother to pick us up.
    Mel pulled up in front of Sears, an Alicia Keys CD being pumped up. Tameka hopped in the backseat and I followed. Snapped our seat belts as she drove us to Applebee’s for dinner.
    â€œOrder anything you want on the menu, girls,” Mel said, and then told the waitress to bring her a margarita.
    â€œMommy, do you have to have a drink today?” Tameka asked.
    â€œIt’s just a margarita, Tameka,” she said. “I always get a margarita when I come to Applebee’s. You know that.”
    â€œBut we have company today,” Tameka pleaded.
    â€œI don’t mind,” I said, not wanting to cause any problems.
    â€œDo your parents drink, Indi?” Mel asked.
    â€œSometimes they have wine with dinner,” I said. “And sometimes my daddy has a beer when he’s watching the football game.”
    â€œSee, Tameka, Indi’s parents drink, too.”
    â€œYou’re missing the point, Mommy.”
    â€œThen what is your point, baby?”
    â€œNever mind,” Tameka said, standing. “I have to go to the restroom. Can you just order me the chicken fingers basket?”
    She slid from the booth and headed for the ladies’ room. I peeled the wrapping from my straw and stuck the straw into my glass of Coke.
    â€œTameka gets so motherly sometimes,” Mel said. “She wants to make a good impression on you, Indi. She likes you a lot, and she doesn’t have that many friends.”
    â€œI like her, too,” I said. “And my best friend moved away at the beginning of the summer. I don’t really have that many friends either.”
    â€œThen you two should get along just fine.”
    The waitress