Street Soldiers (23 page)

“I might. Let me check with my grandmother to see if she needs me for anything else,” I say. Before I can go look for her she walks up to us ready to leave.

“Say goodnight to your friend, Jayd,” Mama says, giving Keenan a quick once-over. “I need you to come home with us. We have work to do.”

I look at a confused Keenan, shrug my shoulders and say goodnight. I wish I could go with him and enjoy the rest of this beautiful evening but Mama has spoken. One day I might tell him more about my lineage and responsibilities outside of my already full existence, but not too soon. Like with all new friends, I can only reveal bits and pieces of my true self until I feel Keenan can handle the rest.

“I’ll call you later,” Keenan says, giving me a hug. “Goodnight Pastor and Mrs. James. It was a lovely ceremony.”

My grandparents return the cordial parting and lead me toward Daddy’s car.

Netta’s going to stay at the water for a while longer and pray to her spiritual mother, Yemoja. Bryan’s also staying behind with some of his friends while everyone else prepares to head back to Compton. Unlike the people who live here, the beach is reserved for special occasions only.

“When we get back to the house we need to seize Esmeralda’s brood and free their diabolical souls,” Mama says, locking her seatbelt into place.

Daddy looks at his wife, shakes his head and says nothing. He knows how Mama gets down.

“You make it sound so easy,” I say, remembering the last time I had to contend with her house beasts. Her favorite pet—that damned crow—sent me into an early initiation process. Thank goodness the unfortunate incident also helped me manifest my powers sooner than later. Otherwise, I would’ve been that crow’s dinner.

“It will be easy if you utilize your powers as only you can. We should have no problems taking possession of the animals. You sure had your way with me this afternoon.”

Mama looks in the rearview mirror and catches my eye as I settle into the spacious backseat. I knew she wasn’t cool with that move but she doesn’t have to punish me like this.

“Mama, how are we going to find out which animal possesses which person’s spirit?” I ask. “We can’t just go killing them all.” No doubt I’ll defend myself if need be, but I don’t want to get my hands dirty if I don’t have to.

“We are not killing them for the sake of shedding blood, Jayd,” Mama says.

Daddy shifts uncomfortably in the driver’s seat and attempts to ignore our conversation. I don’t blame him. From an outsider looking in this all must sound completely insane. Unfortunately, the real crazy lives next door.

“We’re sacrificing Esmeralda’s wretched menagerie for the sake of the greater good,” Mama continues. “If they don’t respond to the calming incense we’ll burn and we have to kill them all then so be it.”

Damn, Mama’s gangster with her shit tonight. She’s always on point but this vigilante spirit she’s displaying is new to me. I think when Esmeralda went after Lexi Mama decided to speed up the ass-kicking process. This time around, Mama’s out for blood.

“I’d sacrifice every animal in that damned house if it means saving one human life,” Mama says, affirming my thought. “Besides, that shouldn’t be necessary if you use your sight properly, Jayd. You should be able to look into their eyes and hear who’s who.”

All of the sudden I feel a lot of pressure weighing down on me. What if I can’t summon my mother’s powers like I did earlier? What if I can’t hone in on one mind with all of the other animals in the room?

“What about Esmeralda?” I ask, making my final fear audible. “She’s not just going to let us walk in and take over.”

“Let me worry about Esmeralda, Jayd,” my grandmother says, sounding more like a solider on the front line than a priestess. “You just take care of Misty and Emilio’s spiritual counterparts and get out of there untouched.”

Daddy puts the car in park in our driveway without turning of the engine. As the pastor, he needs to be at the church for the repast. We each have our spiritual jobs to do.

“Be careful, ladies,” Daddy says, automatically unlocking our doors.

Mama reassures Daddy that we know what we’re doing and we exit the vehicle. He heads back to do his work and leaves us to ours.

“Let’s get this over with,” Mama says, taking three incense sticks out of her bag and lighting them with a red lighter. She always has supplies on her just in case.

We enter Esmeralda’s gated front porch. Mama waves the smoke around before every step we take insuring that we don’t cross any traps. Rousseau and Esmeralda are apparently still out but their pets are well aware of our presence. I summon Califia’s vision, thinking especially hard about seeing the unseen. Then I’ll lay my mom’s eyes on them for the finale.

“Lead me to see the unseen so Mama won’t go H.A.M. on the innocent,” I say, causing Mama to roll her eyes. It shouldn’t matter how I deliver the petition as long as it works.

It takes a moment but I can feel the shine in my eyes as they begin to glow. I gaze through the various cages and boxes spread throughout the front of the small house all the way out into the back yard where Rousseau’s dogs are on red-alert. If they could break down the back door they’d be all over my ass.

I close my eyes and think about what I want to know, allowing my mom’s cold sight to come over me like a brain freeze. When I open my eyes I can clearly see Misty and Emilio’s souls trapped inside of two rattlesnakes.

“There they are,” I say, pointing at the caged reptiles. “The female is Misty and the male is Emilio.”

“Damballah and Aida Wedo,” Mama says, catching her breath. “I can’t kill them and Esmeralda knows it, that evil wench!”

“Did someone call?” Esmeralda says, sneaking in behind us. Damn, she’s good at creeping.

“How could you do this to those children?” Mama asks, damn the breaking and entering charge and imminent fight to the death.

“You gave me no choice, Lynn Mae. Remember that.” Esmeralda looks up at the wooden beams lining her ceiling where there are several familiar birds perched at her whim—one in particular stands out more than the others.

“Mama, watch out!” I scream, recognizing the beast from my own ill-fated run in with Esmeralda’s favorite pet.

I try to protect Mama but the bird’s too fast. The crow dives for Mama and pecks her on the forehead. Blood drips into Mama’s eyes and distracts her from tearing into her nemesis. Esmeralda disappears just as quickly as she appeared leaving us defeated for the time being.

“Let’s go,” Mama says, hurrying back outside.

I follow her across the path to our front porch where Mama stops suddenly. I step in front of her to check her out. Mama’s eyes look blood-shot and drained. What the hell did Esmeralda do to my grandmother?

“Mama, are you okay?” I ask, lifting her chin. Before my grandmother can answer she passes out. Mama’s nails scratch me as I break her fall.

“Mama!” I scream, the tattoo on my arm burning from the contact. “Help me somebody, please!” I call out in a panic. I know some of the neighbor’s must be home by now. “My grandmother needs an ambulance.”

The Baxters, our neighbors across the street, come over to help and already dialed 911. I continue holding Mama wishing I knew what more to do. All we can do now is wait and pray that Mama’s okay.

I have listened to my elders; I have been a good girl. I studied when I was supposed to study, did my chores, and provided for others and myself whenever possible. I have been a responsible, compassionate friend and a good daughter. Now the time has finally come to stop turning the other cheek when it comes to our enemies. I hope Esmeralda’s ready for the fight of her life. Whatever hesitation I may have once had for completely demolishing Esmeralda and anyone on her team is over. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, may God have mercy upon your soul.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Do you think Mickey has the right to take Nickey away from Nigel? Why or why not?

2. Is Keenan good for Jayd or is Lynn Marie right in her concern that Jayd is playing with fire by dating a college man? Explain your answer.

3. Is Mrs. Esop simply a manipulative shrew or is she just misunderstood?

4. Have you considered which colleges you want to apply to? Make a list and give at least five major influences for your decision-making process.

5. Is Rah being a good father, getting played by Trish, or a little of both? Should Jayd forgive him again and maintain their friendship, or is it time for them to call it quits for good?

6. Nigel’s being heavily recruited by colleges and accepting illegal gifts…do you think this is right or should he return them?

7. Have you ever had a friend or relative confide in you about being gay? How did you react?

8. Have you ever been a bully and/or the victim of bullying? Talk about these experiences.

9. In light of Esmeralda’s union with Rousseau and her growing powers, should Mama permanently eliminate her and her followers? How do you think this should occur?

10. Against popular opinion, Jayd has remained a virgin. Do you think it’s time for Jayd to sleep with Keenan or someone else? Why or why not?

Stay tuned for the next book

in the DRAMA HIGH series,

NO MERCY

RECOMMENDED READING

Listed below are a few of my favorite writers. The list is in no particular order and always changing. Please feel free to send me your favorites at www.DramaHigh.com.

Octavia E. Butler

Alice Walker

Jewell Parker Rhodes

Tina Mcelroy Ansa

James Baldwin

Maryse Conde

Madison Smart Bell

R.M. Johnson

Napoleon Hill

Jackie Collins

Mary Higgins Clark

J.K. Rowling

Stephen King

Iyanla Vanzant

Rhonda Byrne

Amy Tan

Nathan Mccall

Nikki Giovanni

Edwidge Danticat

J. California Cooper

Toni Cade Bambara

Richard Wright

Gloria Naylor

James Patterson

Luisah Teish

Queen Afua

Bri. Maya Tiwari

Hill Harper

Joseph Campbell

Tananarive Due

Anne Rice

L.A. Banks

Francine Pascal

Sandra Cisneros

Danielle Steele

Carolyn Rodgers

Stephanie Rose Bird

Chief Fama

START YOUR OWN BOOK CLUB

Courtesy of the DRAMA HIGH series

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

The following is intended to help you get the Book Club you’ve always wanted up and running! Enjoy!

A Book Club is not only a great way to make friends, but is also a fun and safe environment for you to express your views and opinions on everything from fashion to teen pregnancy? A Teen Book Club can also become a forum or venue to air grievances and plan remedies for problems.

To start, all you need is yourself and at least one other person. There’s no criteria for who this person or persons should be other than a desire to read and a commitment to read and discuss during a certain time frame.

Just like in Jayd’s life, sometimes even Book Club discussions can be filled with much drama. People tend to disagree with each other, cut each other off when speaking, and take criticism personally. So, there should be some ground rules:

1. Do not attack people for their ideas or opinions.

2. When you disagree with a book club member on a point, disagree respectfully. This means that you do not denigrate another person for their ideas or even their ideas, themselves i.e. no name calling or saying, “That’s stupid!” Instead, say, “I can respect your position, however, I feel differently.”

3. Back up your opinions with concrete evidence, either from the book in question or life in general.

4. Allow everyone a turn to comment.

5. Do not cut a member off when they are speaking. Respectfully, wait your turn.

6. Critique only the idea (and do so responsibly; again, saying simply, “That’s stupid!” is not allowed). Do not critique the person.

7. Every member must agree to and abide by the ground rules.

Feel free to add any other ground rules you think might be necessary.

Once you’ve decided on members, and agreed to the ground rules, you should decide on a place to meet. This could be the local library, the school library, your favorite restaurant, a bookstore, or a member’s home. Remember, though, if you decide to hold your sessions at a member’s home, the location should rotate to another member’s home for the next sessions. It’s also polite for guests to bring treats when attending a Book Club meeting at a member’s home. If you choose to hold your meetings in a public place, always remember to ask the permission of the librarian or store manager. If you decide to hold your meetings in a local bookstore, ask the manager to post a flyer in the window announcing the Book Club to attract more members if you so desire.

Teenagers of today are all much busier than teenagers of the past. You’re probably thinking, “Between Chorus Rehearsals, the Drama Club, and oh yeah, my job, when will I ever have time to read another book that doesn’t feature Romeo and Juliet!” Well, there’s always time, if it’s time well-planned and time planned ahead. You and your Book Club can decide to meet as often or as little as is appropriate for your bustling schedules.
Once a month
is a favorite option.
Sleepover Book Club
meetings—if you’re open to excluding one gender—is also a favorite option. And in this day of high-tech, savvy teens,
Internet Discussion Groups
are also an appealing option. Just choose what’s right for you!