The Gift-Giver (7 page)

"I ain't going to no library," Dotty said.

"Me neither. You go."

"Come on, Doris. It'll be funny."

I laughed. "I still think you like Yellow Bird."

Dotty started laughing too. "Yellow Bird and Black Bird," she said.

"Y'all so silly." Mickey made believe she was mad. Then she said to me, "I know you like that bubble-eyed Amir."

Me and Dotty was still laughing. Mickey started whining.

"Come on, Doris. Just for a minute."

"Okay, but I ain't staying long."

Dotty ran ahead of us, down the street. "I'm going to
get me a sour pickle at Mr. Sam's," she yelled.

I felt silly going to the library to see how somebody studies. But it was a boring afternoon and at least we'd have a good laugh.

Amir and Yellow Bird sat by the window way off in a corner. We didn't go over there at first. We made believe we was looking for books. Yellow Bird was hunched over a book and Amir watched him. Then Amir looked around and saw us. I waved and opened my eyes in surprise, like I didn't see them before. Me and Mickey walked over and sat down. Yellow Bird said, "Okay, Amir, ask me them questions again." His little face looked worried and frowned up. His hands shook a little. I never saw Yellow Bird like that before.

Amir talked to him real quiet. "Bird, you getting them dates mixed up, man. First remember what happened. Then we get to the dates."

"Okay, Amir. Let's go over it again."

He still got everything mixed up and wrong. Mickey giggled. I made believe I didn't hear her. Even Amir looked worried. Bird looked like he was about to cry. I wondered why he played the fool all this time and now he wants to be a scholar. We sat there trying to figure out how to help Yellow Bird.

Then Amir says, "Doris, I got a idea. Since Yellow Bird remembers that Black history perfectly, he could use the Black history facts to help him remember the other stuff."

"What you mean, Amir?"

"Look, he remembers that the first Black people came here in 1619, then he can remember that one year later the Pilgrims came. One year from 1619 is 1620. The Pilgrims landed in 1620."

"Oh yeah, I see. And you know I can write down all the important dates and things that happened. He can study them from the paper later on."

"Yeah, that's good," Amir said. "Then he won't get so mixed up trying to memorize the whole book."

We got so busy helping Yellow Bird, I forgot Mickey was there. She just sat and didn't say nothing.

Bird closed his eyes. "The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620. The Declaration of Independence was signed in uh, in uh, in 1776. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed in uh, in uh, in 1862. The Civil War ended, 1865."

"He got them right!" I yelled.

That little, skinny librarian looked over at me. Poor Bird was sweating. He should get that award just for trying so hard, I said to myself. I didn't feel like laughing at Bird anymore. I wanted him to win the award.

When we left the library, Yellow Bird's silliness came down on him again. He and Mickey walked ahead of us hitting at each other like two kids. Me and Amir walked behind them. All I did was shake my head. Mickey and Bird made a nice, silly couple.

Three days after that time in the library, we took Mrs. Brown's last test. Most of us just wanted to pass so we could get a good grade in social studies. But Yellow Bird needed to pass with a very high mark to win the award. There was three other students in the class with real high marks. He'd have to beat them to win the award.

When the test was over we went crazy. Mrs. Brown kept us in, but who cared? It was June at last and summer waited for us.

The last day of school and all we talked about was what we was gonna do over the summer. Like we was gonna do something new. Now the summer sounds began: The tinkly music on the ice cream trucks; the crack of the stick on the sidewalk when the boys played ball; girls jumping double-dutch or standing on the stoop trying to sing. Skates and bicycles grating down the street. Now I could stay out a little later. And no more homework! You know I was happy to see this day.

Mrs. Brown always gave her class a party and their awards on the last day. People acted like they didn't care, but everybody was proud to get one. Everybody had on their Sunday school clothes. Even Mrs. Brown had a Sunday-looking dress.

"Well, children, you look lovely this morning. I wish I could give all of you an award, but some of you didn't try at all."

Seemed like she looked straight at me. I turned to Mickey.

"Who she talking to?"

"Those of you who didn't make it this year will have a chance to make up for it in the fall."

I wondered if that meant some of us was left back?

"Now for the awards."

My heart beat fast. Suppose I get an award? I made a 95 on an English test once. But I hoped Yellow Bird got his social studies award.

"Science award—Sharon. Art award—Lewis. Mathematics award—Lavinia. English award—Alvin. Social studies award—"

I held my breath and crossed my fingers for Yellow Bird.

"Dorothy."

Russell yelled out loud, "Oh, that's cold!"

Amir turned around and looked at Yellow Bird. Bird jiggled in his chair and grinned like he didn't care. I knew better. The class got noisy.

"I'm not finished, class!" She looked at Yellow Bird. "Now, James, I know you worked hard for that award and you passed all the tests you made up. But Dorothy worked all year and had a higher average.

"However, I have a special gift for you. If you start out in September the way you ended up this June, you'll win many awards next year."

We clapped and Yellow Bird bopped up the aisle to get his gift. He waved the pretty wrapped package like it was a million dollars.

She gave out the report cards. I peeped at it real slow to see if I was promoted. Me, Mickey and Dotty, Russell, Bird and Amir would all be in the same sixth-grade class. We was glad of that.

Well, I didn't get an award, of course. But if Yellow Bird could get a gift from Mrs. Brown, I know I could get an award next year. But in the meantime, summer was here.

After the party we raced out of school. It seemed like this day would never come!

"What you want to have a double-dutch contest for?" I asked Mickey.

"For fun."

"I don't feel like it."

"You just don't want it 'cause you don't jump good."

"I can jump."

"But you don't jump good."

"I'll show you. Okay, let's have a contest."

"Don't back out."

"I won't."

Mickey and Dotty made me mad. They think they the best rope jumpers in the world. I got some of the little girls on the block to turn for me so I could practice.

I twisted my ankle, tripped, scratched my legs and scraped my knees. Those little girls started giggling and I felt like wrapping the rope around their heads. I chased them away and sat on the stoop rubbing my legs.

Amir was across the street watching Russell and them play stickball. When I sat down he came over.

"You had a hard time with that rope, huh?"

"How you know? I thought you was watching the ball game."

"Why you get so upset?"

"I ain't upset. And I wasn't having no hard time. Them girls don't know how to turn."

"It ain't that important. People ain't gonna hate you 'cause you can't jump rope."

"Why don't you mind your business, Amir? You want me to stand around and watch like you do?"

"Sometimes it's more fun watching."

"I like to do the things my friends do."

"If your friends jump off a roof, you going too?"

"You know what I mean, Amir! I'm not like you!"

He shrugged his shoulders and went back across the street. Amir didn't understand.

We decided to just have the contest with the girls on our block. But word got over on Union Avenue, and who of all people but the Nit Nowns decided to enter the contest.

Now the Nit Nowns is five ugly sisters—Charlene and Charlotte, Pauline and Paulette and Baby Claudette. They live on Union Avenue. Baby Claudette is two. She can't say "sit down." She says "nit nown" instead. Ever since then Sherman call the whole family the Nit Nowns. The name stuck.

I've never known any of the girls on 163rd Street to play with them. None of us liked them.

One woman in my building said, "Them children look
like they just reach in a box and put on whatever they pull out. They some scruffy children."

And them Nit Nowns is always chasing someone home. I even heard that Baby Claudette be slapping other babies. I don't believe that, though.

"They'd mess up the whole thing with they ugly selves," Mickey grumbled.

The big problem was who was going to tell them they couldn't be in it. Mickey said, "Well, I can't tell them 'cause I don't talk to people like the Nit Nowns."

I looked at Dotty but that was no use.

I said, "I can't tell them either because if my mama ever caught me talking to them she'd kill me."

Big-mouth Lavinia says, "How your mama gonna see you talking to someone on Union Avenue?"

"She might be passing by."

"You just scared."

"Why don't you tell them, Lavinia?"

"I ain't telling them nothing."

I saw Amir coming up the street. "Hi, Amir," I said loudly. "Could you do us a favor?"

"What?"

"Could you tell the Nit Nowns for us that they can't be in the double-dutch contest?"

"Why?"

"'Cause nobody bothers with them girls."

"Why?"

"'Cause they mean and ugly."

"How you know they mean and ugly if you never bother with them?"

"They act mean and anyone can see they ugly."

"They chase people home and is always trying to mess with nice kids like us," Mickey said, putting an innocent look on her face.

"Maybe they just want to play with you. Did you make up rules for being in the contest?"

"Yes. It's only for the girls on 163rd Street."

"Tell them then. But maybe if you let them be in the contest they won't chase you home no more."

"Amir, you scared of them too," I said.

He just smiled and walked up the block.

Mickey said, "Maybe we can tell them it starts at five o'clock and when they get here it'll be over."

"Yeah. I can just see them coming down the street ready for the contest and it's over." We died laughing.

Dotty looked at us. "But what you gonna do when they find out you tricked them?" she asked.

"Let's don't have no contest," I said.

"But everybody is all excited about it. Even Mr. Sam said he'd give free ice cream pops to the winner."

"We got to have the contest. People been practicing like crazy," Mickey said.

Next day I was coming from the store for my mother and passed by the playground. I was sorry I did. I should've went some other way. I saw the Nit Nowns playing on the seesaw. I turned my head and walked fast, hoping they didn't see me. Then I hear, "Hey, wait up." It was Paulette, the biggest one. She ran out the playground.

"We can't wait to be in the contest. What time it start again?"

"Twelve," I said.

"We'll be there. And we gonna win too."

"Okay," I said all quiet like.

"Bye. We'll see you Saturday."

Baby Claudette looked up at me. "Bye," she said, waving her little hands.

Well at least they didn't run me home. I was glad no one heard me talking to them.

As the contest day got closer, I got nervouser. Now I wished my mother would make me stay in the house. I even thought about doing something so I could be put under punishment. But the thing was turning into a big block party. Even the grown-ups was looking forward to it. This is gonna be one big mess, I thought. Me falling. And them Nit Nowns messing things up. I was sorry I got mixed up in it.

Mickey and Dotty's mother bought us two new ropes. A lot of the grown-ups said they'd bring food. Lavinia's father said he'd give the winner a prize from the African jewelry he makes. Three of the older girls on the block said they'd be judges. Even old Mrs. Shepard said she'd make a pitcher of Kool-Aid. And the whole block would be there to see me make a fool of myself.

When Saturday came I thought I had a fever.

"Ain't nothing wrong with you, girl," my mother said. "It's just hot out."

All morning I wished for something to happen to keep me in the house. Maybe it'll rain. I looked out the window. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. Not even a half a cloud. I looked down at the stoop. No one was out yet. But I could see myself down there in a couple of hours. Everybody laughing. Me twisted in ropes from my ankles up to my neck. I could get strangled.

"Hey Ma, you could get hurt jumping double-dutch, huh?"

"You could get hurt jumping out of bed if you don't do it right."

I finally had to face it. We went outside. Some of the women was setting up tables for the food. Maybe I'll just stand right here and faint, like they do in those old-time movies, I thought. Then they'll have to carry me upstairs and I can miss the contest. Why was I always in the middle of something dumb?

The stoop filled up like Yankee Stadium. Even all the boys was there. And them boys never paid no mind to us jumping double-dutch until that day. Lavinia was the first to go.

She did her double-dutch twist.

Dotty spun in the ropes and snapped gum like crazy.

Mickey jumped and turned round and round on one foot.

Another girl did some steps that looked like tap dancing to me.

Everybody wanted me to turn for them. If you don't have someone good turn the rope, the jumper gets messed up.

I was miserable, though. Then, my turn to jump came, I felt like I had to go to the bathroom.

"Come on, Doris," Mickey said. "Go on and jump."

People was talking about how good Dotty was, and looking at me. Amir sat there with his head down like he was studying a crack in the sidewalk. I tried to look like I didn't care.

"I changed my mind. I can't jump that good. I'll just turn."

Mickey looked shocked. Someone said, "Okay, but I want Doris to turn for me. No one can turn like her."