Free Back to Me by Wanda B. Campbell Page A

slacks.
    Within seconds, disappointment couldn’t begin to describe how Paige felt. Seniyah spoke with confidence, but her ideas were mediocre at best. Her sales ranked at the bottom, and she didn’t have any concrete ideas about how to turn them around. It was then that Paige remembered that Seniyah never did e-mail her that marketing plan from the previous session. Unlike with the rest of the girls, at the end of Seniyah’s presentation, the only person clapping was Paige. As her mentor, she had to encourage her.
    â€œAre there any questions or suggestions for Seniyah?” Paige asked the group in hopes of helping Seniyah gain a better grasp of what she was supposed to be doing.
    â€œOoh, ooh, I have a question,” Jasmine said, waving her hands in the air.
    Paige knew this wouldn’t turn out well, but she had opened the door and couldn’t close it now.
    â€œHow much longer do we have to carry her?” Jasmine asked. “It’s obvious she don’t have a clue about what she’s doing.”
    â€œNo one asked you to carry me,” Seniyah shot back, uncharacteristically outspoken. “I know what I’m doing. I’ve just been too busy lately to focus on the project.”
    â€œIt’s not a project!” Jasmine yelled, silencing the murmuring among the other girls. “It’s a business, our business. If we don’t believe in it, no one else will. No one is waiting in line to hand us a free ride out of the ghetto like you have. I need this to work. This training and community college may be all I get.”
    Jasmine’s passion surprised Paige, but she couldn’t allow Jasmine to insult Seniyah. Sure, the girl needed to work harder, but Seniyah’s family dynamics were quite complicated. “Jasmine, let’s not be too hard on Seniyah, just because she applied herself and earned a scholarship,” Paige said, maneuvering from behind the desk and walking to the front of the room. “At least she’s trying.”
    â€œAnd just how do you know?” Jasmine snapped. “She hasn’t participated in any of our production sessions on the weekends. And she comes here late and doesn’t complete assignments. So unless you know something we don’t, just how do you know she’s trying? ”
    Paige’s steps slowed as she neared the podium to stand next to Seniyah. She’d grown accustomed to dealing with Jasmine’s outbursts. Usually they were misguided, but not this time. Paige had assumed Seniyah was now participating in the weekend production sessions, and although she’d arrived earlier than last time, tonight Seniyah was still late. For once Paige didn’t have an answer to defend her favorite student. Neither did she like the unassuming expression Seniyah wore.
    â€œInstead of attacking one another,” Paige said, facing the group, “I think we need to come together as a team and work on our weaknesses.” She intended to spend some one-on-one time with Seniyah before the next session.
    â€œWe’ve been doing that,” Jasmine shot back, gesturing toward the rest of the girls. “She’s the one who is not acting like a team player,” she added, pointing at Seniyah.
    Paige had to regain control before Jasmine convinced the group to vote Seniyah out. One of the rules governing the group was that everyone had to participate, or else they’d be asked to leave the group.
    â€œIn any business there are people who work harder than others. However, DWAP’s goal is for every member to contribute to its success,” Paige told the girls. “That being said, instead of the regular production session on Saturday, I’m willing to attend and provide training and team-building skills.” She paused and turned to Seniyah. “Everyone must attend.” She faced the group again. “If any issues remain after that, then we’ll reevaluate and make any