Her Sweetest Revenge (Delphine Publications Presents) Read Free Page A

like that, so it’s all good. If the two of you want to go I can get you in.” Charlene put a stick of gum in her mouth.
     
    “ Count me out. I got other stuff to think about instead of some party,” I replied.
     
    “ You can count me in if I can get Wynita to babysit Tiny. Oh, what am I saying, girl? You know Wynita gon’ watch Tiny. Count me in,” Rochelle replied while snacking on bacon.
     
    “ Saturday I’m going down to visit my dad. I haven’t seen him in a minute, and that trip takes me a whole day on the bus,” I replied smugly.
     
    “ Yeah, I feel that,” Rochelle said still snacking on the bacon. “How is he?”
     
    “ He wrote about a month ago saying everything was cool. But I just need to see him. I need to talk to him about some real issues.”
     
    “ Look, forget about the party. Charlene, you can count me out. I’m rolling with my girl to go see her dad. She needs me.” Rochelle gave me a concerned look.
     
    “ No, Rochelle, go ahead to the party. I need to do this alone. This visit needs to be between me and my dad, but thanks. I always know you got my back,” I assured her.
     
    Rochelle was always so emotional, so she stood up and gave me a hug. Charlene looked at us like we’re trippin’.
     
    “ So what y’all tryin’ to say? I ain’t down because you been my girl forever, Mya. So don’t even play.” Charlene rolled her neck and popped her lips. Not to mention she’s chewing on that gum so hard I think she might break one of her teeth.
     
    Rochelle and I both looked at her.
     
    “ Girl, shut up and come fix yourself a plate right quick. You trippin’,” Rochelle replied with a smile.
     
    “ And fix me one too ’cause I’m hungry.” I started rubbing my growling stomach.
     

Chapter 4
     
    I open my eyes. The sun was shining through the window. I hastily grabbed the clothes I laid out last night and put them on. “Shit!” I said out loud realizing that I overslept, and if I didn’t hurry, I was going to miss the early-morning bus to the prison. Visitation is over at 4:00 p.m., and the next bus doesn’t leave until 10:00 a.m. The bus ride takes five hours to get there; I would really be pushing it.
     
    I had to let Li’l Bo know I was leaving. I knocked on his bedroom door before going in. “Li’l Bo, wake up. I need you to watch Monica. I’m catching the 8:00 a.m. bus to the prison to see Dad. I won’t be back until tonight. So just watch her for me.”
     
    “ Why I gotta watch her? She’s fourteen. And when can I go see Dad? I miss him too. You get to see him all the time.” Li’l Bo sat up rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
     
    “ Look, I know what you feeling, but I don’t have extra bus money. If I did I would take Monica, too. Besides, this isn’t a social visit with Dad today. I need to talk business.”
     
    “ I need to talk business too. Dad is the only one who can tell me how to get money off these streets. I need to be takin’ care of you and Monica. Not going to some sucka-ass school every day.”
     
    Before I knew it, I grabbed him out of the bed by his shirt. “What are you saying, Li’l Bo? You ready to get out here in these streets and start hustlin’? You ready to die? Because that’s what’s gon’ happen. That’s all that happens in these streets; they grimy.”
     
    “ I got to learn how to be a man, Mya,” he said, looking me straight in the eyes. “That’s what Dad would expect me to do. I can’t keep sittin’ back watching us suffer. There’s money in the streets, and I can get it.” He had tears in his eyes.
     
    I released my grip on him. “What I need to know is that you and Monica are safe. I’m going to take care of us. Don’t worry. I will get us out of here. I’m the oldest, and it’s my responsibility. But I can’t do that if I’m worried about you out here hustlin’. Just go to school and help me with Monica. Promise me, Li’l Bo.”
     
    He hesitated. “A’ight, I promise. But I