Caught Up in the Drama Read Free

“Besides, even if she wanted to go off, she’s not going to do it with us here.”
    â€œYeah,” Jasmine echoed as she climbed out of the backseat, “unlike my mom, who would just cuss all us out.”
    Thinking of Jasmine’s mom brought a small smile to my face. “Okay, let’s go.”
    I led the way to my front door. After letting myself in, I found my mom sitting in the living room in her favorite spot—her old rocking chair. Her Bible was spread out on her lap. I smiled as I noticed her sleeping soundly. She must’ve really been tired if she didn’t wake up when the door opened. I swear, sometimes I felt my mom had supersonic hearing.
    â€œHey, Ma,” I said, gently shaking her shoulder.
    I had played down the talent show because I hadn’t wanted my mom fawning all over me and embarrassing me. Besides, I’d known she’d have had to take off from work, something we couldn’t afford for her to do.
    â€œHey, baby,” my mom said as her eyes fluttered open. “Hey, girls,” she added when she saw everyone else standing behind me.
    â€œHi, Mrs. Harris,” they all said in unison.
    â€œHow did the talent show go?” she asked, closing her Bible.
    â€œI won, Mama.”
    â€œThat’s wonderful,” she replied as she stood up and hugged me.
    â€œYeah, Ma, can you believe it?”
    â€œOf course I can,” she said lovingly.
    â€œCamille was so off the chain,” Alexis chimed in.
    â€œFor sheezy,” my mother joked.
    I groaned in horror, the smile leaving my face. “Mother, please. Don’t ever, ever say that again.”
    My mom laughed. “I heard someone say that when I was flipping through the channels earlier. I thought that was the hip stuff all you teens like. Anyway, are you guys hungry?”
    â€œNo, Mom. Can you sit back down?” I said as I glanced nervously at my girls. They gave me supportive looks, so I continued before I lost my nerve. “Okay, so you know I get the thousand dollars for winning, right?” I said when she didn’t bother to sit back down.
    â€œYes, and we’re putting that up for college. You can take a hundred and buy you something, and we have to put some in church, but the rest is going for college.” She put her hands on her hips like she was readying for an argument.
    â€œYeah, yeah. That’s cool,” I quickly replied.
    My mom’s left eyebrow immediately went up. “Okay, what’s going on? Because there is no way that you agreed so easily to only get a hundred dollars. What do you want?” My mom knew me so well.
    I flashed a bright smile. “Okay, well, there was a surprise guest at the talent show, and he announced that not only was the winner gonna get the money but they would get the chance to appear in his video.”
    â€œWhat kind of video?” my mom said, instantly apprehensive. “And who was this surprise guest?”
    â€œSisco. And it’s his new rap video. He’s shooting it in two weeks.”
    My mother cocked her head and gave me a look. “I’m sorry. I thought you just said you want to be in a rap video.”
    â€œShe did,” Angel piped in.
    I looked at Angel to tell her to shut up. I just needed them here for moral support and so my mom would maintain her cool in front of company. I didn’t need them adding to the conversation.
    â€œAnd this Sisco fella,” she asked slowly, “is he one of them gangsta rappers?”
    â€œNo!” I exclaimed. “He raps and sings. Kinda like Nas.”
    â€œLike I know who that is. Well, the bottom line is, I’m sure you told them you wouldn’t be able to do that. Because there’s no way my daughter is going to be in some gangsta rap video, where they’re bragging about shooting police, forty- inch rims and calling women derogatory names.”
    Jasmine giggled at my mom’s reference to forty-inch