The Meltdown Read Online Free PDF Page B

it, which can be good or bad, depending on his inclination. That’s why it’s important for us to do the work that we do.
    “Oh, Lynn Mae. I know you know Legba loves his children. We’re going to have such a good time you won’t want to come home.”
    Mama gives Netta a look that says she’s not so sure what all the excitement’s about. Once Mama gets away from all of the pressures of being a priestess and a housewife, hopefully she’ll loosen up a bit.
    “I’m going to leave it up to you to make sure the spirit room is not harmed while I’m gone, Jayd,” Mama says, turning out the light in her bedroom before locking the door and walking toward the kitchen with Netta and me behind her. She looks at her stove and shakes her head in disgust. “Foolsknow no boundaries,” Mama says, disturbed by the lack of respect her gift has been shown.
    “Wise people know what’s sacred,” Netta says, touching Mama’s shoulder with her free hand. Thank God Netta was here with us on Mother’s Day. She’s the only one who can calm Mama down when she goes completely off.
    “My mom said the repair guy will be out by the end of the week,” I say, wishing I could do more to help. My words provide little comfort to Mama, whose eyes turn red at the memory of her present being destroyed by my uncle Kurtis as we performed a ritual for the ancestral Mothers outside. Mama went way the hell off and will again if he’s not out of her house soon.
    “I hate that I lost my head that day, but sometimes it’s the only way to bring about change,” Mama says, wiping a single teardrop from beneath her right eye. “Don’t be afraid to wear your crazy hat when need be, Jayd.” Mama walks through the kitchen toward the back door.
    “Yeah, girl. Crazy is where your power lies. And yielded properly, it can get the job done when nothing else can.” Netta’s crazy for saying that out loud, but it’s the gospel. We all know that black women have an image of snapping at the drop of a hat, but Netta and Mama both have good points.
    Before we can get out of the kitchen, a knock at the front door pulls us back inside. The hot summer weather and longer daylight hours keep the men in the streets longer, leaving us women at home alone this evening. We were enjoying the peace and quiet. In this house it’s a luxury to get work done without any interruptions.
    “Jayd, get the door please,” Mama says, stepping onto the back porch and petting Lexi, who’s always happy to see her owner.
    “Yes, ma’am,” I say, walking back up the steps and through the dining room. It’s probably someone looking for one ofmy uncles. I should be able to get rid of them quickly. But when I open the front door, it’s the last person I ever expected to see at Mama’s house again.
    “Alaafia, Princess Jayd,” Hector, Emilio’s godfather, says with my schoolmate Emilio by his side. Some people never learn. “Is your
abuela
home? We desperately need her assistance in an urgent matter.”
    This guy’s a little heavy on the theatrics. Mama’s not going to be happy about this pop-in visit at all.
    “Alaafia, Baba. Emilio,” I say, rolling my eyes at my schoolmate. After he tried to blackmail me into auditioning with him in exchange for me swaying Mama to become the head of their spiritual house with Hector, he has the nerve to step back onto my grandmother’s front porch. “I’ll see,” I say, closing the door and walking back into the kitchen where Mama and Netta are waiting on the back porch. Lexi needs to take a bite out of our unexpected guests: Maybe that’ll humble their asses.
    “Mama, it’s for you,” I say, scratching Lexi behind her ears. “It’s Hector and Emilio again.”
    Mama stops petting her German shepherd and looks up at Netta, who peers behind me at the front door. With enraged eyes, Mama marches through the dining room and opens the door, causing Emilio and the elder to jump in surprise. Netta charges behind her homegirl,