now?
“You should stick to your own kind. You’re an abomination to God.” Crap, someone must have seen me give Malcom that hug. Damn it!
“Looking for some cookies and cream, are you now, Krystal? I guess you’re not a “Hag” Haggart for nothing,” Tim Brown, Jake’s cousin, felt the need to add his two cents. “Heard your momma were a whore back in the day too.” The whole class laughed.
“Ya’ll are nothing but redneck scum. You don’t know anything.” Anyone with half a brain knew I had been friends with Malcom since kindergarten, for Christ’s sake. I prayed that Mr. T would get his butt in the room before I lost my temper and started hauling on these stupid ass boys. It wouldn’t be the first time either, but the last thing I wanted right now was to get detention for days, or even worse, suspended.
“I know you like to ride that chocolate mule, don’t cha? Don’t cha?” Tim cawed like an annoying crow. The class erupted in laughter again, and I dug my nails into legs. My eyes were starting to burn, but I would be damned before I would let them see me cry. Mr. Thompson walked into the room, finally, killing their laughter.
“Why are you laughing? Care to share the joke?” Nothing but crickets. “No? Well, didn’t you read the board? Your books should be open to page 253. Everyone stays 5 minutes late today for being unprepared.” Meaning that would cut into our lunch, and the class groaned in unison, except for me. At least Tammy might forget about my upcoming birthday seeing I would be late. Doubtful, but I could hope.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jacob and Timothy glaring at me, their anger palatable. Oh, of course, they would blame it all on me, the assholes. I had a feeling I was going to need to do something about those two. Give them a taste of their own medicine. All of sudden, I began to perk up, but my smile was manic the whole rest of class. My class mates began giving me strange little looks, but I didn’t care. I was up to no good, and I liked it.
I had my books all ready to go as soon as Mr. T gave the word our class was free to go. I didn’t want to be a sitting duck for the Brown cousins. I’d been down that road before, and though I was capable of giving a good fight, it usually ended in me getting beat up. I hauled my ass outta there.
I met up with my friends at our usual spot in the courtyard. Tammy sat perched on the brick wall, the sunlight filtered through her auburn hair, making it appear as if she were wearing a halo.
“Why so late?”
“Ug, Mr. T made us.” I would tell Tammy about the trouble with the Browns later when Malcom wasn’t around. No need to get him all worked up, especially since he had more than enough going on as it was.
“So Malcom, what happened after we left yesterday?” I asked.
“The preacher got to the house about an hour after you two left. My dad showed him a copy of the video you took, Tammy.”
“What did he think?” She asked.
“He said it was probably a ghost. Like we didn’t figure that out already. My parents told him about how Candace was talking with it and all. He said that wasn’t good because it was giving the Spirit more strength. He is coming out to the house today to do a blessing, and I guess that is supposed to get rid of it. He told Candace not to talk to it anymore in case it’s from the devil. And my mom is having to miss work again today, remember how she took Candace to the docs yesterday? She’s not too happy, but what else can she do?”
“What about Candace and the doctor stuff anyways? Now that we know she’s not seeing things?”
“The preacher is calling to speak to the doctor today and will be signing a statement with a Notary stating the house had a ghost, or was haunted, something like that. Hopefully, that’ll end it.”
“Alrighty then,” murmured Tammy before breaking out in a smile. “Know what, you
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