Myself and I Read Free Page A

said.
    â€œI’m sorry your evening was ruined,” he said as he pulled off.

two
    By the time I arrived home I had a massive headache. My feet were hurting and my stomach was feeling sour. All I wanted to do was pop an aspirin, take a shower, put on my pajamas and go to sleep. When I walked in the house, Jordan and Barbara were snuggled up on the sofa watching a rented movie called Slumdog Millionaire. I really didn’t want to answer a lot of pointless questions, but given the fact that I had smudges of black mascara smeared beneath my eyes, my hair was a total wreck and my beautiful yellow prom dress had a hideous red punch stain that covered my breasts and abdomen, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to walk in the house looking like a disaster without giving some sort of explanation.
    â€œWhat the heck happened to you?” Jordan asked, pushing the pause button and turning on a lamp.
    â€œI’m fine,” I said, trying to downplay my appearance.
    â€œYou are not fine, Keysha. What happened to your hair,and your beautiful dress?” Barbara was breathless and came over to take a closer look at me. Jordan followed.
    â€œDid that boy try something? Did he try to rape you?” Jordan asked, getting all worked up.
    â€œNo, Dad. It’s nothing like that,” I answered, hoping he’d calm down before he burst a blood vessel.
    â€œAre you hurt?” Barbara asked.
    â€œDid you get into a fight?” Jordan asked.
    â€œNo. Not exactly. It’s a really long story and I just don’t want to talk about it right now,” I said, trying to hold back my tears of disappointment.
    â€œHow did you get that stain on this dress?” Barbara asked. “I think it’s ruined.”
    â€œDid the kids get unruly? Was there some kind of commotion? Did they trash the hotel?” Jordan was trying to figure out every possible scenario.
    â€œI was dancing and lost my balance. I tumbled over a table that the punch was on and it got all over me. Everyone laughed at me and I just didn’t want to be there anymore,” I lied. I knew it was wrong, but right then I just wanted to be left alone. I figured I’d tell them the truth in the morning once my head stopped hurting.
    Jordan folded his arms and I knew that he was skeptical. “How did you lose your balance dancing? Weren’t you paying attention?” Jordan didn’t believe a single word I said.
    â€œIt’s hard to walk in high heels, Jordan, let alone dance in a pair,” Barbara said, defending the lie I’d just told. I felt crappy about lying, but I thought it was the quickest way toget them to leave me alone. My little white lie worked, because Barbara said, “Well, go get yourself cleaned up and get some rest.”
    â€œGood night,” I said, and began to head toward my room.
    â€œKeysha—” Barbara caught me before I could leave her sight. I turned to look at her.
    â€œI know there is more to that story than you’re telling.” Barbara saw right through me. I didn’t know what to say so I remained silent. “I want to know the truth about what happened, but we’ll talk about it later.”
    I nodded my head and continued up to my bedroom. I got undressed, took a nice long shower and washed the punch out of my hair. Once I blow-dried it, I wrapped my hair in a scarf and then went to bed.
    I didn’t wake up until noon the next day. The sound of a lawnmower’s motor woke me up. I placed my feet on the floor and sat upright. I walked over to my window and saw Mike cutting the grass. He glanced up at my window and stuck his tongue out at me. Typical Mike, I thought. He likes being rude just because he can.
    I went over to my dresser and removed my gray cotton sweatpants with matching top, then headed down the hall to my bathroom to get myself together. By the time I returned to my bedroom, Mike was sitting on my bed fumbling around with my cell