Read Online The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Caught by Neta Jackson - Free Book Online Page A

Andy. I know I got a long way to go, Jesus, but thank You for bringin’ me this far. And help me not to bum out on You.”
    Now the prayers were mixed with laughter and hallelujahs.
    â€œMe, too, God,” Yo-Yo chimed in. “But in the thanks department, I’m real glad Pete got to go to that Cornerstone gig, even if he does think they were heavy on religion. So thanks. And, if it’s OK with You, I’d like some of what he got there to stick—oh.” Yo-Yo looked up, stricken. “Guess I wasn’t supposed to ask for anything yet.”
    By now we all had our eyes open. Even Avis laughed. “That’s all right,Yo-Yo.Maybe it’s time to bring our requests to God and each other.Who’d like to start? ”
    I eyed Stu. I’d really like to hear about that family reunion.
    But Florida jumped in. “Hickman household sure do need your prayers. Thought Chris was gettin’ the message when we grounded him. But, then, what do I find in the backpack he carry ever’ time he go out? Spray paint. Jesus, help me! Don’t know what to do with that boy! Police gonna catch him for sure if he’s taggin’.”
    Delores cleared her throat. “José said he saw some drawing Chris did at Cornerstone.”
    Florida smacked her head. “Don’t tell me that boy got himself in trouble at Cornerstone too! Mercy! He just got himself grounded another two weeks—”
    â€œNo, no,” Delores protested. “A picture on a T-shirt. José said it was very good.”
    â€œ Humph. Don’t know about that. His teachers complain ’cause he doodles all over his homework, turns in a mess.” Florida shook her head. “But what can I do? Can’t take away his drivin’ privilege ’cause we don’t have no car.”
    Adele snorted. “The boy’s only fourteen anyway.”
    Florida ignored her. “Still,we lookin’ to move ’fore school starts, Jesus help us.We got all three kids crammed in one little bedroom. Chris sleepin’ on the couch most of the time. But Carla growin’ up, needs a room all by her own girl self.” As Florida talked, my eyes focused on the long scar that ran down the side of her dark face. She’d never mentioned it, and I’d never asked. The scar was wide, like it hadn’t been stitched properly. Oh, Flo.What happened to you?
    â€œWhere do you want to move? ” Stu asked Florida.
    â€œNorth Side if we can. We’d be closer to church, closer to Carl’s work. Fact is, I wanna get Chris outta that neighborhood. Them Black Disciples runnin’ over the place. And you know Chris. Lookin’ up to all they swagger and gold chains. He’s ripe for the pickin’.” Her eyes were fierce. “But they gotta step over this mama first.”
    â€œYeah,” said Yo-Yo. “Toss Pete in there. Don’t think he’s runnin’ with no gang, but he don’t see nothin’ wrong with smokin’ weed, playin’ around with pills an’ stuff. Man! He oughta know what that stuff did to our mama. She still zoned.” Yo-Yo sounded like she was going to cry. She was only twenty-three and trying to raise her two teenage half brothers. I’d cry too.
    â€œI think maybe we should stop right here and pray for our children,” Avis said. “Whether they’re little or whether they’re grown, all of our kids need a lot of prayer.My Rochelle needs our prayers right now too. Adele? You want to lead us out? ”
    Avis! That’s all you’re going to say about Rochelle?
    But Adele with her sixth sense—or maybe God’s gift of discernment—picked right up on Avis’s half comment and plowed right into a prayer for Rochelle. “Glory, Jesus! The Bible says God loves us like a mother loves her nursing child, so we know You understand about our kids who are grown. They still break our hearts, because we