It Is What It Is Read Free Page A

get beyond this?
    â€œWell, I know Ricky’s family and I know him. I am not concerned with him doing anything like that child Romeo,” says Gwen.
    Elder LeRon takes a long pause like he’s thinking. “Well, all right. Ricky and Ricky only. If you break that rule, there will be a severe punishment.”
    Severe punishment? Okay, he must not know Gwen very well if he thinks he’s scaring me with that. Severe punishment is her middle name. I think she invented severe punishment and used me as the test dummy.
    Yeah, I’m not afraid of him. Plus, I’ve seen him get punked by Candy.
    Gwen asks, “Gia, do you have a problem with this?”
    â€œNo. Is someone going to ask Candy if she has a problem with it?” I ask with much attitude. “Did you all just sit down and write these rules for me or are they for both of us?”
    Trust and believe, I know I’m getting out of pocket. But Elder LeRon and Gwen are out of control here. I haven’t heard one thing that’s going to change Little Miss Evil’s life.
    â€œHonestly, Gia, we want to make sure that your past behavior doesn’t wear off on Candy. She’s at a very impressionable age right now,” LeRon says.
    Oh no he didn’t! He better hope I wear off on that problem child. I get straight A’s, and the only issue I’ve ever had was that one time with Romeo.
    I take a slow, deep breath, because there’s a chance that after I give my reply, I might not take another one.
    â€œIt sounds like you are judging me by my lowest point. I wonder if you would like it if Jesus judged you by your lowest point?”
    Gwen frowns deeply. “Gia, I think you’ve lost your mind. Do you realize you’re speaking with an adult?”
    â€œI’m just repeating what I heard Bishop T. D. Jakes say on his broadcast. Does Elder LeRon have a problem with Bishop Jakes?”
    Gwen closes her eyes and places her hand over her heart. I know this pose. This is when she’s praying for strength not to do bodily harm to me. I haven’t seen it in a while, but I do know it when I see it.
    LeRon says, “Gia, I think you just need to get out of your mother’s sight for a while. We’ll finish this discussion later.”
    â€œWell ... you two are in my ... our room.”
    Gwen replies through clenched teeth, “Girl, you better be glad I’m saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost. I’m gon’ deal with you later.”
    She walks out of the room muttering like a crazy person. LeRon follows her but glares over his shoulder at me. Whatev. They’ve got me messed up if they think this little Brady Bunch scenario is going to turn my life upside down.
    Candy rushes to close the door behind them and then lets out a flurry of giggles. “You know you’re going to pay for that, right?”
    â€œWhatever. I don’t care.”
    Why should I? With a ten o’clock curfew and an evil little stepsister tagging along, they’ve pretty much wrecked my life anyway.

3
    â€œR icky, your new ride is fresh!”
    Ricky beams a proud smile as he stands next to his new car. His mom helped him get a nineteen-ninety-something Pontiac Grand Am. It’s blue with a silver interior and except for a few little rust patches, it looks great.
    â€œThanks, Gia. I knew you would like it.”
    Hope and Candy follow me out of the house so that we can all pile into Ricky’s car and go school-clothes shopping. Hope was invited, but Little Miss Unsunshine was not. Unfortunately, we don’t have a choice.
    Hope narrows her eyes and grins at Ricky. I hope that’s not supposed to be her seductive pose. If it is ... then I vote no.
    Plus, she just looks like she’s squinting from the sun. It’s hot, sunny, and sticky out here today, but by the first day of school, it’ll be rainy season. That’s something about the beginning of the school year here in