Read Online No Boyz Allowed by Ni-Ni Simone - Free Book Online Page B

that she was not feeling this and she was not feeling us.
    On to high school number four.
    “Malik, why is there food under your bed?” she asked. “Is this the food Cousin Shake said was missing?”
    I looked at Malik and his eyes welled with tears. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “Gem, tell her I’m sorry.”
    I wanted to spaz—big time. Malik knew we didn’t need to give these fools any reason to trip. And it wasn’t like I’d never spoken to him about stealing food before in other foster homes. Actually, I don’t even know why he stole the food—maybe it was like he was trying to make up for the times we starved.
    Malik had to know this would cause mad trouble... or maybe since the foster parents always blamed the missing food on me and I always took the weight, Malik really didn’t know or understand the drama that always went down.
    But whatever. All I knew is that this little dude was trippin’. Hard.
    “Malik,” Ms. Grier said patiently. “Why was there food under your bed?”
    He didn’t say a word. But I did. “I did it.”
    She blinked. “What?”
    “I did it.”
    She twisted her full lips. “And why would you steal food?”
    I shrugged. “Habit, I guess.”
    “Habit?”
    “Yeah, I mean. My fault.”
    “Your fault.” Ms. Grier arched her brow. “Were you scared you would go hungry, starve, or that the food would disappear?”
    I hesitated and then I figured whatever. “Yeah, that’s it. I went hungry too many times to count and since all I know is how to survive I was scared to be hungry again. So I started stealing food and hiding it under my bed—”
    “It was under Malik’s bed,” Ms. Grier said.
    “Yeah, that’s what I meant. Hide it under Malik’s bed.”
    Ms. Grier gave me a half a smile. “You’re a wonderful big sister, but a terrible liar. And don’t lie to me again. Now, Malik come here.”
    Malik didn’t move.
    Ms. Grier repeated herself. “Come. Here.”
    Tears slid down his cheeks as he slowly walked over to her. “Yes.”
    She lifted his chin. “Look at me.”
    He lifted his eyes toward her and before she could say anything he said, “You gon’ put us out?”
    Ms. Grier paused and then she hugged Malik tightly. “Oh, baby, let me tell you something. As long as you’ll have me and my crazy family this is your home.”
    “Really?” he said anxiously. “So you’re not mad at me.”
    “No,” she said. “I just want you to understand that you don’t need to steal food because whatever we have here is yours. It’s not going anywhere. It won’t disappear, and I will never let you starve.” She lifted her eyes and looked at me. “Ever,” she said. “And I mean it.”
    And I knew she meant it, I just didn’t want to deal with any mushy, emotional or heavy stuff right now. I just wanted—for once—to have a regular day. No worries. No aggravation. No baggage.
    “Yo, Gem!” Man-Man yelled up the stairs. “Let’s go! I need to get to school a few minutes early to stroll around the grounds.”
    Saved.
    “Let’s roll!” he yelled again.
    Gladly.
    I looked at Ms. Grier and said, “I gotta go.”
    “And we both know you’re in no rush.” Ms. Grier smiled at me and surprisingly I smiled back; mostly because I couldn’t help it. “Have a good day,” she said.
    “You too,” I said as I raced out of the room. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough and just as I headed toward the stairs I heard Malik say, “I love you, Ms. Grier!”

11
    “ L et me school you on Brick City High politics,” Man-Man said as wide and purple lace panties dangled from the rearview mirror of his black ’01 Civic Hatchback. The panties swayed like a ribbon in the morning breeze. I was disgusted. Lip turned up and face frowned disgusted.
    “What’s wrong with you?” Man-Man said as we drove up the street. “Ms. Minnie’s fried eggs tearing up your stomach?”
    “The only thing tearing up my stomach are those wide behind lace panties dangling from your