Keysha's Drama Read Online Free PDF Page A

real job, Mom?” I asked in a softer tone of voice.
    â€œBecause I don’t have to. That’s why I have you, so I can collect a check.” She quickly turned icy on me. Her comment made me feel as if I had no emotional value to her. I was just a person she could get a welfare check for.
    â€œYou know that the back rent is due, and if you don’t pay we could be put out again. I don’t think the landlord is playing around.”
    â€œI’m not worried about it,” she said and didn’t offer up any type of comfort to assure me that everything would be okay. I wanted to scream and yell at her. I wanted to explode, but instead I just built a wall around my emotions for her. At the moment I refused to allow her to cripple me emotionally. If she didn’t care, then I didn’t, either.
    â€œHave fun with your friend Simon,” I said as I walked off.
    â€œI will!” she yelled back at me as I rushed off down the street.

    I thought for sure the lines for registration would be long, but they weren’t. I was able to go through the process fairly quickly. One of the school administrative staff printed out my class schedule and handed it to me. I glanced down at it and noticed that I had math first thing in the morning.
    â€œNine o’clock in the morning is too early to have a math class. Can you switch it for me?” I asked the lady who’d printed out my schedule. She looked at me for a long moment, as if I’d lost my mind.
    â€œI guess that means no,” I said sarcastically.
    She frowned and yelled out, “Next.”
    My biggest concern now was school supplies or my lack of them. I hated being unprepared but I really didn’t have a choice in the matter. I’d have to recycle the folders that I had from last year and latch on to someone when I needed additional supplies. It was an embarrassment I’d have to contend with.
    By twelve-thirty that afternoon I’d arrived back home. As I came up the block I saw Toya still hanging around the front of the building toying around with her deck of cards.
    â€œWhat’s up, girl?” I asked as I took a seat on a kitchen chair that Toya had placed on the stoop.
    â€œHow are you just going to walk up and take my seat?” Toya tried to sound angry, but I didn’t take her seriously.
    â€œMy feet hurt from walking in these cheap shoes,” I explained as I allowed my fingertips to massage my scalp, which had suddenly started itching. It was a telltale sign that I needed to wash my hair and oil my scalp.
    â€œDo you want me to braid your hair for you?” Toya asked.
    â€œNo, I need to wash it before I do anything with it.”
    â€œSo, how did registration go?” Toya asked.
    â€œIt went okay. It went quickly. I have to figure out how I’m going to get my school supplies because my mother—well, you know that I can’t depend on her.” A mischievous expression formed on Toya’s face at that moment.
    â€œYou’re right, Keysha. We can’t depend on our parents because they aren’t cut out for the job. What we need to do is look out for each other. Don’t you agree?”
    â€œYeah, I can agree with that,” I said as I scratched the dry skin on my left leg.
    â€œListen, I’ve been thinking of a way that we can help each other.” Toya stopped shuffling her cards and focused all of her attention on me.
    â€œWhy are you looking at me like that, Toya?” I asked, sensing she was calculating something in her mind.
    â€œI’ve got a plan. Junior needs some new clothes and so do you and I. My baby would look so cute in some baby Nikes and some new gear from Sean John. I want some stuff from Phat Farm, and I know that you do, as well. So here is what I say we should do. Let’s go down to the mall and get what we need.”
    â€œYou must have come into some money,” I said, joking. She didn’t say a word; she just