Teenie by Christopher Grant Read Free Book Online

because I’m never wearing it again.
    “Look at me when I’m speaking to you, young lady.”
    I look up. I’m close to tears. I hate disappointing my mother, hate having her upset with me.
    “Do you understand me?” she repeats herself. That’s never good.
    “Yes, Mommy.”
    “Go inside and change your clothes.”
    “Yes, Mommy.”
    As I try to hurry past her, I bump her with one of the shopping bags. She is so upset by my dress that she hadn’t noticed them until that instant. She puts her arm out, blocking my way.
    “What’s that?” she asks, pointing at the bags.
    “Cherise and I went shopping today.”
    “Let me see.”
    I don’t even put up a fight. I’m in trouble regardless, so it’s best to just hand over the goods. She sifts through the bags,carefully checking the price tags on each piece of clothing.
    “Martine.”
    Oh no. That voice again.
    “These clothes amount to over two hundred dollars. Where did you get the money for them?”
    “Cherise got them for me,” I whisper, hoping she won’t ask me again.
    “Excuse me? I didn’t catch that.”
    “I said Cherise got them for me.” I make sure to keep any hint of annoyance out of my voice.
    “Oh really?” Her eyebrows arch when she hears that. I look away and see my father coming up the block. I start crying and drop my head in shame. Now I’m really gonna get it, double-teamed. My mother sees him too. She shoves me inside the door and says, “Go inside and take that dress off right now. Take these bags and put them inside your closet, and don’t touch them until I come home.”
    I’m nodding my head like crazy.
    “We’ll finish this discussion later.”
    “Yes, Mommy.”
    I fly upstairs into my room. Even though she’s upset with me, she still covered for me. I love my mother.
    My mother is still mad, because she didn’t even give me a chance to apologize. She came into my room and handed me my ID card without saying a word. I sure am happy she didn’t say anything to Beresford before she left for work. He would’ve lost it if he’d seen that dress. He did say something to my mother about “the slackness” that Cherise was wearing. Ihaven’t heard much since then. He’s probably on the couch snoring, with his feet jammed under the throw pillows. I swear the soles of his feet look like raw chickens.
    Thank God Cherise just logged on, because thinking about Beresford’s feet is starting to make me gag.
    Cherish me: u get in the house ok?
    Cherish me: I tried to stall him as long as I could
    Appletini: yeah. thanx.
    Cherish me: did he say anything to you about my dress?
    Appletini: no
    Cherish me: ok cool
    Cherish me: what’s with the one word answers?
    Cherish me: u ok
    Appletini: I’m ok. my head is just hurting me a lil bit.
    Appletini: I think I pulled my braids too tight
    Appletini: actually … I kind of want to talk to you about some stuff.
    Cherish me: please don’t tell me ur still nervous about talking 2 Greg.
    Now why she had to go there? I wanted to talk to her about the new clothes and her leaving her house to meet withBig Daddy tonight. I wasn’t even thinking about Greg until she brought it up. And guess who just added me to their Buddy List?
    Appletini: he just added me 2 his buddy list!!!!
    Appletini: gulp  
    Cherish me: you’ll be fine. Just tell me what he says when you get stumped
    Appletini: ok
    Multi-Mil: hey Ma what’s da deal?
    Appletini: hey gregory. What’s up?
    Appletini: I like your screen name.
    I hope I didn’t type back that response too fast, like I was anxious or something. He sure is taking long to answer. He must be slow on the keys.
    Multi-Mil: nuthin’ just chillin’. what’s good wit you?
    Appletini: I’m fine.
    Multi-Mil: u like my name?
    Appletini: yup. It’s cute and it fits you.
    Multi-Mil: aight, aight. That’s what I’m talking about. So whassup wit u?
    Okay … this is pretty easy. He’s asked me the same question three different ways.
    Appletini: nothing much