Soulful Strut Read Online Free PDF Page A

out a white
glove, slip it on one hand, and swipe down the surfaces. “Yeah.
Nice group from what I can tell.”
    “We’ve been careful in selecting our
participants. The board felt you would be an asset” Trudy checked
the room temperature displayed on the thermostat before she turned
to face Monette.
    “I appreciate them for accepting me.” Monette
returned her gaze with an impassive expression. She crossed her
legs.
    “Several of them feel that you can bring
positive media attention to New Beginnings. I hope that’s true.
Helping you adjust and start your new life is what we’re most
concerned about.”
    “I won’t do anything to embarrass New
Beginnings or make the board regret their decision.” Monette never
lost her relaxed pose. She continued to stare at the director.
    “I’m sure you’ll do your best,” Trudy
replied. When Candi, Tyeisha and Yarva came in, Trudy smiled at
them. “Don’t forget the special house meeting tonight. We won’t
take long, since everyone has met Monette anyway. The twelve-step
meeting will be after dinner.”
    “Okay, Trudy,” Yarva said with a smile back
at her. They watched Trudy leave.
    “Okay, Trudy,” Candi mimicked Yarva with a
snicker as she tossed an apple into the air and caught it. “I
thought your nose had gotten so brown from being out in the sun.
Now I know better.” Tyeisha laughed and fell into a chair. “Candi
is so crazy.”
    “Damn right. Trudy talks to my parole officer
every week. I’m gonna be sweet as my grandmama’s lemon ice box pie
when Trudy is in the room.” Yarva flipped her fingers to show she
didn’t care about Candi’s joke.
    “If you hadn’t been such a badass maybe your
parole officer wouldn’t be riding your butt,” Candi tossed
back.
    “I’ve seen the error of my wicked ways.
Okay?” Yarva sat down in a chair and looked at Monette. “So you’re
the famous author and talk-show darlin’. Nice work if you can get
it.”
    “Which obviously you can’t.” Candi flopped
down on the sofa next to Monette. She bit into the apple, and then
crunched the crisp chunk.
    “I didn’t get pimped by the right rich white
dude,” Yarva replied with a shrug. She grinned as though being
friendly. When Candi and Tyeisha frowned at her, she raised both
hands. “What?”
    “That wasn’t funny,” Candi snapped.
    “Geez, we tease each other all the time.
Guess your old cellmate is off limits.” Yarva rolled her eyes. She
stood and walked out.
    “It’s okay, Candi.” Monette put a hand on
Candi’s arm to keep her from following Yarva.
    “I don’t know what’s up with her. She’s not
usually a hater.” Candi gazed after Yarva for a second, and then
turned back to Monette.
    Monette thought about the challenges of
building a new life. Staying sober and following rules had been
easy in prison. The question was, could she do it with no locks
between her and the street?
    “One jealous ex-con is the least of my
worries,” Monette said.
     
     
     

Chapter 2
     
     
    Two days later Monette was well into what she
thought of as her probationary period at New Beginnings. All new
residents were required to use those first few days to adjust to
the rules and being on the outside again. According to the social
worker, women did better if they didn’t try to jump into things too
soon. No job hunting right away, no visitors, and limited phone
calls, especially to old pals. Monette had spent individual
sessions with Trudy and Sherrial, the social worker at New
Beginnings, planning her gradual reentry into the free world.
Unlike most of the other women, Monette had a calendar of
appointments. Part of her parole required that she commit at least
fifteen hours each week to community service. With help from the
female minister who had run the prison ministry, which proved to be
no problem for Monette. Reverend Moody had invited Monette to be
the morning speaker at a conference for social workers and
activists. On that bright spring Monday