The Perfect Present Read Free

were going through.
    Tionna and I had just gone outside to look at the pretty Christmas decorations that lined our street when Grandma Bessie stuck her head outside. “You girls done with your cleaning?” she asked.
    â€œYes, Ma’am,” we said at the same time.
    â€œWash your hands and help us set the table.”
    We both let out a long sighs, as if on cue, then got up and went back in the house. As soon as we had the table set, my mother came back in the living room.
    â€œGirls, Lois and Jayla are here,” my mom said. “Make sure you’re smiling. We want Jayla to feel welcomed.”
    I put on a big, fake smile and went to greet our guests. Both of them were sitting in the living room. Mrs. Lois was talking to grandma. Her niece was looking around the room. Grandma Bessie liked old stuff, so our living room wasfull of old but nice furniture - the kind of furniture you would see in fancy magazines. She also liked figurines and paintings. Some of my friends said that Grandma’s house looked like a museum.
    Momma gave Tionna and me the eye. That meant we had to move closer to Jayla. Grandma smiled and said, “Jayla, I want you to meet my grandbabies, Tionna and Jasmine.”
    We all smiled at each other. But when the grown folks turned their heads, Jayla rolled her eyes at me. I was shocked, but I quickly rolled my eyes right back at her. Of course, Momma caught me and pulled me to the kitchen.
    â€œYoung lady, I don’t know what has gotten into you, but you’d better fix it,” she warned.
    I wanted to protest, tell her that Jayla had started it, but I just said, “Yes,, Ma’am.”
    My mother was not happy. She shook her head. “I raised you better than to be embarrassing me in front of company. That poor child needs a friend, not a bully. You don’t know what she has been through.”
    Now, I had to speak up. “But Momma, she did something to me first.”
    â€œI don’t want to hear it. Just do what I said.”
    â€œYes, Momma.”
    OMG, this girl just got here and I am already in trouble. I didn’t do anything wrong!
    We went back in the living room and Jayla had the nerve to look at my mom with a sad expression on her face. But when she looked at me, she was smirking.
    â€œGirls, take Jayla to your room. Jayla, the girls have iPads, computers and phones you can play with,” Momma said.
    I did not want this girl using any of my stuff! But I knew I didn’t have a choice. Tionna knew something was wrong because she kept giving me these crazy looks. I didn’t say anything as I stomped up to the room Tionna and I shared.
    We walked into our bedroom and Jayla immediately turned up her nose as she looked around. Tionna and I had matching white canopy beds with black, ballerina-themed bedding. Jayla looked at the two iPads on our dresser, then our laptops and Wii.
    Jayla dropped on Tionna’s bed and looked around the room, glaring at our pink painted wall, which was covered with Mindless Behavior, Bruno Mars and One Direction posters.
    Tionna spoke first. “Do you want to play the Wii? We have some fun games.”
    â€œWii is for babies. I haven’t played the Wii since I left 4 th grade,” Jayla snapped, rolling her eyes again.
    I crossed my arms and turned my back to Jayla.
    â€œIf I were you, I wouldn’t let your momma catch you with an attitude. You don’t want her to come in here and yank you off again.” Jayla actually laughed.
    I’d enough. I was about to go off. Luckily, Tionna stepped in.
    â€œIt’s okay, Jasmine. We only have to put up with her for a little while longer,” Tionna whispered.
    I stared at Jayla. Yeah, forget my grandma’s plan for us to BFFs. That wasn’t gonna happen. I stomped over to my bed, plopped down and grabbed my pink, frilly pillow.
    â€œSo we have the Simms app on our iPads. You wanna play?” Tionna asked.
    â€œWell, I guess