the room and silently pray for protection as the lights go off and the scene begins.
The remainder of the rehearsal went by without a hitch, thank goodness. I got so into character that I actually thought I was blind again, allowing my other senses to take over and guide me through until the very end.
“Good work, people,” Mrs. Sinclair says, clapping loudly. The rest of the crew joins in the applause, making me feel good. I can’t wait for Thursday to come. We have only two shows, with the last on Friday evening. I’m sure we’ll be sold out both nights. “Lights, please. Chance, help me lock up the main stage,” she yells, but they never come on. I’m still in darkness. What the hell?
“I can’t see!” I exclaim, my blindness as real as a heart attack. I knew it was a bad idea to remove my bracelets. Shit. Now what do I do?
“Oh, Jayd, quit being so melodramatic. You did a good job. It’s over now,” Mrs. Sinclair says as she leaves the room, but I couldn’t care less about her nonchalant ass right now. I literally cannot see, just like when I experienced my mom losing her vision, and this time it’s not from a dream.
Taking a deep breath, I reach my hands out in front of me, feeling for whatever I can. I’ve got to find my bag.
“Jayd, what’s up with you, girl?” Nigel asks, coming to my aid. I hold on tight to my friend and try not to panic.
“My bracelets are my protection, Nigel. I need my bracelets.” I continue feeling around in front of me, reaching for my purse. Next time I’ll have to figure out something else, because this shit ain’t working for me at all. I feel like I’m going crazy, and I know I must look like it, too.
“Here’s your purse, Jayd. I got you,” Nigel says, handing me the bag as I frantically reach inside and claim my jewelry.As I slide the cold circles onto my wrist one by one, reciting the chant for power Netta gave me to accompany the ancient birthday gift, my sight begins to clear. By the time the fifth one hits, I can see again, even if my vision’s still a little blurry.
“Damn, that was scary,” I say, rubbing my eyes clear. Mama wasn’t kidding when she said never to take these off. Mama rarely jokes about anything. I don’t know why I thought this time would be any different. I’m just glad the chant to Shango, one of the most powerful male orishas, worked. Come hell or high water, these bracelets have to stay in place for the play, damn what Mrs. Sinclair thinks. I’ll figure something out, but this Suzy comes with bangles whether it’s written into the script or not.
Chance and Mrs. Sinclair come back into the classroom, and we’re ready to roll. Matt, Seth, and the rest of the stage crew buzz around, tearing down the set and performing other duties that come with their jobs. The rest of the class files outside with the ringing bell. Nigel and I head toward the gym while Alia and Chance walk toward the parking lot, exchanging knowing glances. They can try and be discreet all they want, but it’s obvious they’re sharing a secret. However, that can wait until later. I’m more concerned about the fact that I went blind for a moment. I knew I shouldn’t have taken this part. It’s too close to our lineage’s taboo, and I walked right into the trap with my ego leading the way.
“And like every other challenge the women in our lineage have faced, you can’t run from it or you’ll be chased down until you face it head-on,”
my mom says, joining the trek.
Nigel’s too busy texting to notice the warped look on my face that accompanies my mom’s invasion.
“But, Mom, you saw what happened to me in the shower on Monday and now this, not to mention my meltdown yesterday, courtesy of Esmeralda.”
I think back. I reallyneed to write everything down before I forget it, although I don’t see how that’s possible.
“Something’s wrong and I need to fix it.”
“Of course you do, but instead of telling Mama like I told you to, you
The remainder of the rehearsal went by without a hitch, thank goodness. I got so into character that I actually thought I was blind again, allowing my other senses to take over and guide me through until the very end.
“Good work, people,” Mrs. Sinclair says, clapping loudly. The rest of the crew joins in the applause, making me feel good. I can’t wait for Thursday to come. We have only two shows, with the last on Friday evening. I’m sure we’ll be sold out both nights. “Lights, please. Chance, help me lock up the main stage,” she yells, but they never come on. I’m still in darkness. What the hell?
“I can’t see!” I exclaim, my blindness as real as a heart attack. I knew it was a bad idea to remove my bracelets. Shit. Now what do I do?
“Oh, Jayd, quit being so melodramatic. You did a good job. It’s over now,” Mrs. Sinclair says as she leaves the room, but I couldn’t care less about her nonchalant ass right now. I literally cannot see, just like when I experienced my mom losing her vision, and this time it’s not from a dream.
Taking a deep breath, I reach my hands out in front of me, feeling for whatever I can. I’ve got to find my bag.
“Jayd, what’s up with you, girl?” Nigel asks, coming to my aid. I hold on tight to my friend and try not to panic.
“My bracelets are my protection, Nigel. I need my bracelets.” I continue feeling around in front of me, reaching for my purse. Next time I’ll have to figure out something else, because this shit ain’t working for me at all. I feel like I’m going crazy, and I know I must look like it, too.
“Here’s your purse, Jayd. I got you,” Nigel says, handing me the bag as I frantically reach inside and claim my jewelry.As I slide the cold circles onto my wrist one by one, reciting the chant for power Netta gave me to accompany the ancient birthday gift, my sight begins to clear. By the time the fifth one hits, I can see again, even if my vision’s still a little blurry.
“Damn, that was scary,” I say, rubbing my eyes clear. Mama wasn’t kidding when she said never to take these off. Mama rarely jokes about anything. I don’t know why I thought this time would be any different. I’m just glad the chant to Shango, one of the most powerful male orishas, worked. Come hell or high water, these bracelets have to stay in place for the play, damn what Mrs. Sinclair thinks. I’ll figure something out, but this Suzy comes with bangles whether it’s written into the script or not.
Chance and Mrs. Sinclair come back into the classroom, and we’re ready to roll. Matt, Seth, and the rest of the stage crew buzz around, tearing down the set and performing other duties that come with their jobs. The rest of the class files outside with the ringing bell. Nigel and I head toward the gym while Alia and Chance walk toward the parking lot, exchanging knowing glances. They can try and be discreet all they want, but it’s obvious they’re sharing a secret. However, that can wait until later. I’m more concerned about the fact that I went blind for a moment. I knew I shouldn’t have taken this part. It’s too close to our lineage’s taboo, and I walked right into the trap with my ego leading the way.
“And like every other challenge the women in our lineage have faced, you can’t run from it or you’ll be chased down until you face it head-on,”
my mom says, joining the trek.
Nigel’s too busy texting to notice the warped look on my face that accompanies my mom’s invasion.
“But, Mom, you saw what happened to me in the shower on Monday and now this, not to mention my meltdown yesterday, courtesy of Esmeralda.”
I think back. I reallyneed to write everything down before I forget it, although I don’t see how that’s possible.
“Something’s wrong and I need to fix it.”
“Of course you do, but instead of telling Mama like I told you to, you
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