Got It Going On by Stephanie Perry Moore Read Free Book Online

Maybe we should just take a second and really think about the repercussions of all this,” I said to Sam.
    She looked over at Cheryl with eyes that longed for compromise. The girls who stood behind me sat on the floor. This bold move spoke volumes. Until we truly discussed this, all of us were not going.
    Sam and Cheryl whispered stuff to each other. The girls outside started having doubtful faces. Sensing she was losing the argument, Cheryl called everyone back into the apartment.
    â€œCan you at least tell us how this all came about?” I asked Cheryl, trying to keep my cool with the chick I felt was a head case.
    â€œCome on, Cass. We all have friends who go to different schools. My home girl I went to high school with is on the line up there, and if we want any respect we’re supposed to go up there and see them along with two other lines. We’re already late.”
    I began my rounds of serious, thought-provoking questions. “Doesn’t that seem odd to you? We’re not even officially on line, yet we got to come there right now or they’re going to deem us paper? That just seems strange to me. Don’t you think we should talk to one of our own Big Sisters to find out if that’s what we should really do? You mentioned some of Alpha chapter may be there, Cheryl—do you know if they will be there for sure? Honestly, they could hate the fact that we went without being told to.”
    â€œBut if you talk to one of them, they’re not going to let us go. Going through other Beta chapters keeps them from being directly involved. Plus, you know Dr. Garnes has them on a tight leash. So what if they don’t go or don’t know? We still want Betas everywhere to give us props. Come on, you guys. We pay now and get much respect later.” Cheryl looked around, waiting for everyone to feel her argument. “Everybody doing this is legitimate. Our Big Sisters went through a lot. We’ve all heard the stories. They get much admiration not only because they’re Alpha chapter but ... I can’t even say it. You know why they get mad respect.”
    I attempted to reason. “Yeah, I know why, because somebody lost their life during their pledge process. And we should be standing in line, getting in our cars, jumping up and down, ready to follow that crazy path? Man, that is just foolishness to me. I’m not doing it. You all can go ahead and call me whatever you want—paper, napkin, towel ...”
    Many started laughing. I was serious though. Cheryl made the meanest face. The majority of us didn’t care about her tantrum.
    I wanted to be part of a sisterhood, not a zoo. I could think for myself, and I could rationalize right from wrong. A part of being on a line was to develop unity, to find one voice, to put a whole bunch of different opinions under a microscope and come out with a plan. But even if we all didn’t agree, we still supported the majority. And although that was the sister theory, where was I going to draw the line? When would I stand up for what was right? Would I go along even if that meant someone else dying?
    Thinking about trying to please everyone, I stood and said, “Look, I’m not trying to be popular here, and I’m not trying to cause problems. I just want to stand for what I think is right for all of us. I got a pretty good relationship with the leader of our line. I’m going to call Alyx and see what she thinks about this whole thing. If she thinks we should do it, I’ll go. That’s the best I can tell you.”
    â€œSo you’re going to jeopardize us to get your own piece of mind? What if she says no and then you won’t go and our line is divided?” Cheryl said, not budging from her point of view.
    â€œWell, if she’s the leader of the line you’re signing up to be on, and she says no, you shouldn’t want to go, and our line will be one,” I retorted.
    Sam pulled Cheryl over