Free Sweet Bye-Bye by Denise Michelle Harris Page B

four cards to win the game. The other two girls, who had been watching quietly, finally chimed in. “Chantell, you said yourself that if you’re not going to play fair by the rules, then don’t play. And our parents kiss in church all the time.”
    “Yep, sho’ do. And people even get married here, so you know they be kissin!” said that other little one with her head moving.
    I inhaled deeply and rolled my eyes. Stupid girls. Why were they in my business anyway? I got up, walked over to the pew, stepped over Ola Pearl, and went over to where Keith was and sat down next to him. He was quiet, looking at the preacher with his hands folded in his lap. I took a deep breath, leaned over, and pressed my lips into his cheek. Keith adjusted his glasses with his fingers and looked at me, but before he could say a word, I whispered, “Oh shut up, Frog Face.”
    I still remembered how that little kiss made me dizzy.
    I opened my eyes again. It was late, I was tired and groggy, but I was smiling. That was a memory that I had forgotten all about. I used to be so bold. I’d say whatever I wanted. I took nobody’s mess. Not now, though. Nowadays, I was always fearful, and miserable even though I pretended that I wasn’t. And when those weren’t my concerns, I was worried about what people thought of me. Where had that fearless little girl gone?
    I looked at the alarm clock. It said 3:37 a.m. I thought about the drama of work. I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep, but I couldn’t. Canun had set me up, but I decided right then that I wouldn’t be the fall girl for anyone anymore. I was sick of Mina, I was sick of Eric, and I was especially sick of Canun Ramsey! I must have dozed off for a few minutes, because when I looked at the clock again it read 4:10 a.m.
    I adjusted my goosedown pillow under my head and pulled my arms out from under my new mint green sheets. I wiped the sleep out of my eyes. All my life I’d been Miss Courageous. All my life I would say or do what I thought was right despite what anybody thought. Last year, I was the top sales rep in that office, and what did I get for it? Set up! That’s what.
    I reached for the phone and dialed the number to my office. Canun Ramsey’s voice mail picked up and I wondered if I should actually do this. The beep said it was my turn to talk.
    “Hello, Canun.” My voice sounded Macy Grayish raspy. It mattered not—I had some things to get off my chest. “Uhh, it’s Chantell. Look, I am not coming in today.” I was getting bolder by the moment. “No, I’m not coming in for a while. You knew that you didn’t have that Skyway deal, and when it fell through, you let me take the fall for it. You need to grow up!”
    I wondered if I had gone a bit too far. “Don’t look for me tomorrow. Bye!”
    There. I hung up the phone. I’d done some crazy stuff in my time, I admit, but I’d never quit my job without having another one. I was too mature for that. I had a townhouse payment and a new car! I should have been worried. In fact, I probably should have had an anxiety attack, right then and right there!
    But I didn’t. I just closed my eyes and went back to sleep.

13
    Getting Nowhere
    W hen I woke up at 7:30, I first thought that I had overslept, then I remembered that I probably didn’t have a job. I stepped out of the shower and put on my new camel-colored slacks. Lately I’d been eating even when I wasn’t hungry, and today I noticed that they were a little tight in the stomach area. I slid on a long-sleeved, cream-colored shirt. After I finished getting dressed, I grabbed my keys and left the house with absolutely nowhere to go.
    It was 8:43 a.m. and the sky looked dreary. I climbed into my black Jeep Wrangler, and tried not to think about its getting repossessed. My cellular phone started ringing as soon as the engine was warm. I grabbed the phone and looked at who was calling. It was Cameron, a cool white sister-girl who sat near me at work. Curious