Jazmin's Notebook: Chapters 17–21

She took one look at my unruly strands and said, “Child, it’s time for you to do something with that head of yours."

Then he begins the ritual. “So, how do you want your hair cut today?” he asks.

I’ve decided to adopt Destinee’s dad as my honorary second father. I doubt he’ll have any objections, but for now I’ll keep the information to myself.

I could ask CeCe’s friend Crew where he got his name, but judging from his bulk, I'm betting it comes from “crew," as in wrecking.

CeCe doesn’t want me smoking, yet there she was sending me out to buy her a pack of menthols. Talk about a hypocrite!

Anyway, CeCe warned me not to dawdle, then called the bartender to say I was on the way, and to ask him to keep an eye out for me.

CeCe says, in this town it pays to be paranoid, and I happen to agree.

“Whatcha doin’ out here, all by yo’ sweet self? Come here," he said, staggering close enough for his 40-proof breath to ferment the air around me.

It was Crew, a menacing sight in black shirt, black slacks, black jacket, black hat, and wire-rim shades.

CeCe and I have never shopped for a pet, but that doesn’t mean we're minus furry visitors, even if they are unwanted.
Last night an oily black one, tail long as a leather whip curled at the tip, ambled through my room.

I shivered during his sharp appraisal, and wondered if other members of his clan waited nearby.

I shivered during his sharp appraisal, and wondered if other members of his clan waited nearby.

Eventually Mr. Rat continued his rounds, swaggering on into the living room where, thankfully, the hair-raising scratch of his claws was muffled by the carpeting.

Once it was safe, I slipped my bare feet over the side of the sofa bed, and ran into CeCe’s room to rouse her.

“I saw a rat the other day," said CeCe, stuffing the last Coke-bottle shard into the hole.

I went back to bed and laid there, stiff enough to fool an undertaker, my eyes pried open by fear, for who knows how long.

I pause in the entryway and smile, because this place is new, and clean, with no smells of wine or urine in the halls. This place is distinctly devoid of rats and roaches.

I’m about to take a second bite when, wouldn’t you know it, a sand crab, hoping for scraps, scuttles by.

I thought I’d stuff my anger until she finally got bored trying to rile me, and found someone else to pick on to get her kicks.

The main thing is, I wanted Brenda to know that I’m easygoing, not gutless, and she understands that now.

The writing on the bathroom door gave me a couple of ideas, but using profanity seems lazy to me, as if you can’t come up with something better.

Some days
are dim
as alleyways
where the streetlights’ glow
can’t reach
and laughter
is the one and only spark
luminous enough
to pierce the dark

CeCe says it’s good to splurge every now and then, since most of the time we’re just making do.

You know you’re in deep, because they enunciate every single, solitary letter.

You know you’re in deep, because they enunciate every single, solitary letter.