Free Flyy Girl by Omar Tyree

“Does that mean he’s coming back?”
    Patti hesitated. She didn’t want to give her daughter any false expectations. “Well, we’re still working on that,” she answered carefully. “See, your daddy and I had to work out a plan where we can all be happy.”
    Tracy failed to see how that plan was working. She wasn’t all that happy. Nevertheless, she smiled and rubbed her mother’s stomach. “Is he gon’ look like daddy?” she asked.
    â€œHe might, but I don’t know. He could come out light, dark, or like you.”
    â€œDad said that God does it.”
    â€œYeah, that’s just because you wouldn’t be able to understand it.”
    â€œWell, tell me then.”
    First Patti frowned. “Look now, I don’t feel like it,” she said. Then she piped down and smiled. “But isn’t it great that you’re going to have a little brother?”
    Patti went to the kitchen to begin fixing dinner. Tracy thought over the news. A little brother could bring some entertainment to her life. He’d be cute and cuddly like the babies on TV. But he couldn’t be like her dad, if he was only a baby. It wouldn’t work. It would take too long for him to grow up, and he would always be younger than her. How could he answer any of her questions? She would always know more than he would. Tracy began not to like the idea. Babies always cried on TV. What if he turned out to be a big cry-baby.
    â€¢Â Â Â  •    •
    The next day at school, Tracy wanted to know if Aaron really hated girls as much as they all thought he did. No girls really tried to talk to him. They just smiled and giggled whenever he walked by. No wonder Aaron didn’t like them. They were “stupid.” But not Tracy.
    She decided to break the norm and talk to a boy first. She didn’t like Aaron or any other boy. Tracy could care less if he liked her or not, as long as he responded to her.
    The bell rang to end class, and Tracy watched Aaron get his football from his locker. She followed him and his friends through the hallway and into the schoolyard. Her girlfriends watched her, all wondering what Tracy was up to.
    The boys began to play keep-away. When the ball finally landed near her, Tracy picked it up and tried to throw it back to Aaron.
    Aaron frowned at her. “What ’chew do that for, girl?” he asked her sternly.
    â€œâ€Šâ€™Cause, I just wanted to help.”
    â€œAw, you can’t even throw, girl. How you gon’ help somebody?”
    â€œTeach me how to throw then,” she challenged him.
    â€œNo,” Aaron said, walking away from her with his football in hand.
    Tracy followed him. “Why not?”
    â€œâ€Šâ€™Cause you a girl,” he told her.
    â€œSo? I can learn to play if you teach me.” Tracy was optimistic about it. How hard could it be to catch and throw a ball? she figured.
    â€œYou can’t catch. Girls don’t play football,” Aaron hissed at her.
    Tommy took the ball from him. “I’ll show you how to play,” he said, giving Tracy the ball. Tommy was light-skinned with reddish-brown hair and freckles.
    Tracy’s girlfriends moved in closer. They all wanted to join in, but the fear of embarrassment prevented them.
    â€œNO! I want Aaron to show me!” Tracy demanded. She was going to get what she wanted.
    The boys began to giggle, recognizing Tracy’s challenge to Aaron.
    â€œNo, girl. Dag,” he said, taking his ball back.
    Tracy hated him. She vowed that he would teach her to play catch if it was the last thing he did. Aaron had survived that round, but hewould give in eventually, Tracy was sure of it. But at that moment, as she walked back toward her girlfriends, all she felt was hatred for him.
    â€œWhat did ’ju say to them?” Celena asked excitedly.
    â€œNothin’! I hate that boy!” Tracy fumed.
    â€œBut what did