On the Come Up Read Free Page B

looking over at the gazebo. Someone over there had turned up theboom box. Method Man rapping. She watched Darius dip his head, keeping time with his fingers.
    Hell, no. No way she startin’ 8th grade without some Jordache. Guess. Diesel. The new Diesel jeans with the side stitch … Put the thirty-seven dollas with the hundred eighteen she got hidden in her drawer, that buy something. That get you something.
    Plus she had days a summer. Days a summer still.

3
    When AnnMarie walked in, Blessed was dozing on the couch, the fan blowing hot air around the room, Steve Harvey on the TV. She went straight for the fridge, pulled it open and found it empty except for the orangeade sitting there on the top shelf. Her stomach felt torn.
    She knelt next to her mother, touched her leg. She knew Blessed didn’t like being woke when she in one of her dozes.
    Ma … she said softly.
    Ma, I’m hungry.
    Her mother didn’t stir. AnnMarie wondered how long she’d been sleeping, what time Miss Jessica left off, the scent of clove and cinnamon still in the air. AnnMarie stood up, walked back into the kitchen, pulled open the fridge and stared. Mr. Chow’s Chicken Stir-fry cost $5.49. $3.99 get you the lo mein noodles. A dollar get you rice with beef juice on top. She could feel the bills pressing through her pocket. She hesitated, then reached into the cupboard and pulled down a can of Chef Boyardee.
    She dumped the ravioli in the pot, turned up the flame.
    Halfway home Raymel had caught up to her, pushing his bike slow. We should go to my boy Darius’ house, he said.
    How you know him?
    I know everybody.
    Oh, you Mr. Popular now.
    Raymel tsked, smiling. He got a studio set up in his room.
    Word?
    We could lay down some tracks. Throw in one a your hooks.
    AnnMarie looked at him sideways. For real? You told him about me?
    No, I’m just saying … We could lay down some tracks, see what come out.
    AnnMarie glanced at him. Where he live at.
    Over there by Nameoke.
    He pushed the bike along, the two a them bumping shoulders, eyes on the ground.
    He said, we put some work in, see what come out.
    She ate standing at the counter, wiping up the sauce with a piece of bread. Steve Harvey going on about something. She tuned him out, drifting to Darius leaning back against the rail. His skin deep chocolate. A beedie to his lips. She let a picture roll out. His arm heavy on her shoulder, walking real slow, letting everybody see. She’d be wearing a halter, not this one, but another one she’d seen in Teisha’s closet, soft like silk. And her breasts would be big. Big enough to push out the cloth …
    AnnMarie turned off the TV. She stood for a moment in the stillness, listening to her mother breathe.
    She ran all the way down to Beach 9. The sky was changing, pale blue folding into twilight. Yellow moon hanging low and fat over Far Rock train yard. On the boardwalk, kids were still roaming, hanging by the rail.
    Yo, Wallace, where Raymel at?
    They went by to Jason house.
    Wha—? When he leave off?
    Wallace shrugged and she stood for a moment, not knowing what to do.
    What, he ditch you, AnnMarie? Wallace asked.
    No, he didn’t ditch me, what building Jason live at?
    12-70.
    She knew she couldn’t go over there, not into Redfern after dark. She missed Crystal all of a sudden. Felt her heart banging in her chest, she didn’t know why. Stop banging, she thought. Chill.
    He come back, tell ’im I’ma be at Teisha’s, she said, then turned and ran back the way she came.
    She swung through the door of 1440 where Teisha lived, reached up and pressed the buzzer.
    Who that?
    Ann Marie.
    She heard the click and she was in. She took the stairs slow, calming herself. Breathe, AnnMarie. These girls your friend. Don’t matter Crystal’s not here.
    Hey y’all. What up—we cyphering?
    No we ain’t cyphering, Teisha snapped as AnnMarie stepped in.
    Damn, Teish. Why you so nasty. This from Niki who was sitting with Sunshine at the kitchen table