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Dad tries to make small talk by asking me about my session with Dr. O’dea. I don’t want to talk to him. I’d rather keep pretending to be depressed. Besides, I think whatever I discuss with Dr. O’dea is supposed to stay private.
“Phone,” he says holding out his hand. I give it back to him. Fine by me. My screensaver lights up allowing Dad to see the photo JJ took of me watching the sunrise.
“When’d you take this?” he asks looking at the photo.
Now I have to say something. “I went running with JJ yesterday morning. Am I allowed to do that? Or would you prefer to keep me like veal, caged and in the dark?”
“Don’t get smart with me. I was just asking you a question because it’s a nice photo.”
Instantly, I feel bad for the way I responded. “Thanks,” I mumble. When I get home, I return to my desk to finish my homework.
There’s a knock on my door but I don’t respond. Dad comes in seconds later. He sits down at the end of my bed. “I need you to do something for me.”
I keep writing.
Dad taps my shoulder. “Clove, be respectful. Stop what you’re doing and look at me.”
I put my pencil down. “One of our church members, Sister Brenda, is having her annual Easter Supper for her family. Your mom always made a few desserts for her and she wanted to know if you would make them. You’re the only one I know that can make things like your mother used to. You know her recipes.”
I do know her recipes, but I’ve never made them by myself. I’m also not so sure I’m up for the task. Wasn’t Sister Brenda the one who snitched on me about my nose ring?
“Can’t they make it at the bakery? Or can’t I just give them the recipes so that they can make it?”
Dad lets out his breath. “She’s requested you specifically. Not the bakery.”
This has to be some kind of ploy to get me out of whatever depression or funk he thinks I’m in.
“She’s willing to pay you.”
That gets my attention. “How much?”
“How much do you want? It’ll be two pies and two cakes. One Chess, one Chocolate Chess, Pineapple Upside Down, and a Strawberry Poke Cake.”
I’d never made a Strawberry Poke cake, but the Pineapple one I had done plenty of times. People used to rave about Mama’s Strawberry Poke cake. Whenever she made it, the whole house would smell so good that I could hardly wait for it to cool. Whenever the bakery tried copying her recipe it didn’t come out right. Plus, it wasn’t always a very pretty cake. It needed to be put into a casserole dish because it was so messy. Messy but really good.
If I can do this right, I can make some money before going on the trip, assuming Ms. Brenda will pay me in advance. “I’ll get back to you on the price,” I tell Dad. I need to calculate how much it would cost for all the ingredients plus enough for me to make a profit.
“They won’t need it until Easter. You have plenty of time to do some practice runs if you need to. I volunteer myself as a taste tester.”
Of course he volunteers himself.
“Brenda said she’ll pay you upon completion. So you’ll need to buy your supplies with your savings.”
Doggone it!
“Dad, can I see my phone? I need to text Jessa about something for school.”
He takes my phone out of his pocket. “No texting. Call her.”
Fine.
I dial Jessa and wait for her to pick up. But it goes to voicemail. Good. “Hey Jess, call me back.” I hang up.
Dad folds his arms over his chest because he knows what I’m about to ask. “Fifteen minutes,” he says. “I want your phone back in fifteen minutes.”
I text Jessa as soon as he leaves my room.
Me: Don't call me back. Need an outfit for the dance
Jessa: sorry couldn’t answer when u called. Ur still going with Trevor??
I’m not 100 percent on going with Trevor. But at this point he’s my first choice since JJ is going with Tisha. Not that I wanted to go with JJ, just...well anyway, it’s more about the thrill of going to my first real dance that’s not at the church.
Me: Yes. Need ideas.
There’s no reply from Jessa at first. But then a message comes through.
Jessa: It should be something easy.
Me: That’s what Trevor said
Jessa: He said that???
Me: He said easy to get into and easy to get out of.
Jessa sends a surprised-face emoticon.
Jessa: Idk. U really want to go w/ him? Can u ask someone else? Is ur dad letting u go?
Me: Who else could I go with? No. I haven’t asked dad if I can go yet
Now she sends a worried face emoticon.
Jessa: Really really don’t think this is good idea.
I sigh and bite my nails.
Me: R u going to help me or not? I wanna go. I’ve never been to a school dance.
I wait several seconds for Jessa’s reply, but there’s nothing. After two minutes I go back to my homework but then I text Jessa once more. Tisha suggested I go as Storm.
Still no response. Maybe she’s busy. I text Trevor, What should we go as for this dance?
Trevor: Is this your official ask? Don’t I get candy or flowers?
I snicker to myself.
Me: No this is it.
Trevor: Ok then. How about u be Storm?
Ughhh, there goes that suggestion again.
Me: No
Trevor: Catwoman? I bet a tight catsuit would be sexy on u
I blush. Sexy? Me?
Me: No
Trevor: :(
There has to be some superhero duos that haven’t been overdone.
Trevor: I don’t know much abt superheroes. Sorry.
My time with my phone is dwindling. Who knows about superheroes? Xavier and JJ.
I text them both.
Me to JJ and Xavier: Superhero suggestions? Be quick!
Xavier: How’d u get ur phone back?
Oh lord. I said be quick.
Me: I have 5 minutes.
Xavier: Black Panther
Who? Xavier sends me a photo of one of his comics. It’s super old. I’d never heard of it.
Xavier: This is going to be a movie next year
Hmmm. I put a pin in that to research later but I want to see what else there is.
JJ: Why not be a real superhero, someone not fictional?
That’s a good idea too.
Me: Examples?
JJ: Raven Wilkinson, Maya Angelou, Nina Simone, Harriet Tubman.
Me: That sounds great but Harriet Tubman?? may be hard to dance in a long dress and coat. That’s not hot.
Xavier: Actually you WILL be hot with all those clothes on
JJ sends crying laughing emoticons. I swear my friends are so corny.
Xavier: Josephine Baker, she danced in banana leaves in France. She was topless though.
Well that doesn’t help either.
JJ: U r creative enough to make anything work. Don’t overthink it, b original like only u can be.
Best advice I’ve been given so far. Xavier sends a hand clap meant for JJ I’m guessing.
My time is up and I have to give my dad back my phone. Quickly, I text Trevor my idea.
Trevor: but who can I b?
Me: Study your history and figure it out. Don’t text me back. Have to give my phone to my dad.
Trevor: ok
I give my phone back and then go to my room. Just as I remember that I probably should’ve turned my phone off, Dad comes back in and reads my phone. “Trevor says he’ll pick you up at eight. Where y’all headed?”
Shoot! I told him not to text me back!