The Perfect Present Read Online Free PDF Page A

didn’t say a lot. I was very surprised. Momma wanted him to give me a talk. He told her he would talk to me when the time was right.
    Daddy must have thought that the time was now right. He placed his arms around me.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, baby girl?”
    I lifted my head. “Everybody hates me. Even Ma and Grandma!”
    â€œBaby girl, you will be just fine,” Daddy said.
    â€œNo, I won’t. That girl, Jayla, has stolen my life!”
    â€œYour grandma and momma still love you. They are just tired of your behavior. We all are tired of your behavior,” Daddy told me. “As for Jayla, I think you are letting her get the best of you.”
    â€œBut everybody else doesn’t see what I see!”
    â€œI think your imagination is getting out of control. Even if she’s doing all the things you say she is, you are the one who is in control of your emotions.”
    â€œBut, Dad, she says and does things to me and then acts like she is all innocent,” I said as I wiped my tears.
    â€œBaby girl, we all encounter people like that in our lives. People will try to make you mad and tell lies on you. But it is up to you to be the bigger person. Don’t let people take you out of your character.”
    â€œBut, Dad, I have no friends. Tionna even hates me. We don’t talk or even hang out anymore. I think she was happy to get away from me.”
    He put his hand up to stop me. “You chose to behave the way you did. Have you tried to talk to Tionna?”
    I stuck out my bottom lip. “No, Daddy.”
    â€œYet, you’re mad at her for not talking to you? Plus, you don’t know the things that Jayla has been through. You don’t know the hard life she’s lived. Maybe if you try showing her love, she’ll stop giving you a hard time. In the end, love conquers everything.”
    I thought about what my daddy said. Maybe I wasn’t giving Tionna a chance. This thing with Jayla was making me crazy.
    I kissed my dad on the cheek. Mrs. Jones had said something similar, and now, here my daddy was telling me the same thing. Maybe it was time I listened.
    â€œRemember, you are in charge of your actions.” He got up and walked out the room.
    I knew I had to get my act together. I did not want my entire year to be like this.
    I made my way downstairs to get a drink of water. The green garland with red ornaments was wrapped around the staircase.
    There was a huge Christmas tree in the living room. The tree was decorated with red and gold ornaments. I usually helped decorate the tree. But this year, I had stayed in my room and listened to Momma singing “Silent Night” while she and Tionna set up the tree.
    Tionna was sitting at the kitchen table, texting on her phone.
    â€œHi,” Tionna said.
    â€œHi,” I replied.
    â€œI’m surprised you’re here. I thought you would be with your new best friend at the mall,” I said before I caught myself. If I were going to change my attitude, I couldn’t be making those smart remarks.
    Tionna rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you stop being the most and act like you have some sense. You are just being mean and spoiled.”
    â€œTionna, you heard some of the things she said to me. Jayla is the mean girl.” I was turning over a new leaf, but I wasn’t about to keep letting Tionna think I was the only one at fault.
    â€œJayla was right; you are so used to getting your way,” Tionna said. “You don’t understand what is like to not have everything you want.”
    â€œTee, what are you talking about? You act like you don’t live here. We both have the same things.”
    Tionna put down her phone. “Jasmine, I don’t have anything. I don’t even know where my mom is.” Tears filled her eyes. “I haven’t seen my dad in six months. I don’t even have a home. This is your house. I sleep in your room. I’m just like Jayla. I have