Free Second Chance by L. Divine

changes into her multicolored housedress. Mama looks tired and worn down, like she’s had one hell of a day filling client prescriptions.
    â€œNellie and Mickey were just teasing me about Jeremy, that’s all. Mama, you feeling all right?” I ask her as I walk into the room. I place my backpack by my bed and sit down on the foot of her bed. “You don’t look so good. Have you been taking your herbs,” I ask, getting up to get a closer look at her. I worry about Mama sometimes. She works too hard and frets too much, not a good combination.
    â€œJayd, get away from me. I’m fine, just a little tired, that’s all. Have you seen Bryan today?” Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him since Monday afternoon, and he’s usually my morning companion. He must have a new woman. When any of my uncles—or my grandfather, for that matter—have a new girlfriend, we don’t see them for a couple of days straight. Maybe even a week or two, if it’s serious.
    â€œNo, Mama. I don’t know where he is. Knowing him, he’s fine, though. He’s bound to check in sooner or later.”
    â€œWhy do boys have to trouble you so? You never know what they’re doing or the company they keep,” Mama says, picking up her Bible and opening it to the Twenty-third Psalm.
    â€œThe Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want ... ,” she reads aloud, holding her brass Rosary in her right hand and the Bible in her left.
    â€œHe leads me beside the still waters ... ,” Mama continues in a trancelike state. Maybe I should be praying with Mama for Jeremy. He’s in some serious shit. And I don’t think his charming smile or irresistible wit is going to be enough to get him out of this mess. South Bay High has a “zero tolerance” policy about weapons, drugs, sexual harassment. You name it. I don’t think Jeremy’s White skin or money will be enough to get him out of this.
    â€œYea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me ...” I join Mama, praying for both Jeremy and Bryan. I wonder if I could make a charm bag for Jeremy that would help with his situation, but first I need to talk to him and see what’s really going on.
    â€œSurely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life ... ,” Mama says.
    I rejoin her with an “Amen.”
    â€œI’ve been out back all day doing work for other people and haven’t done any work for myself. I hate when Bryan stays gone like this. All the boy has to do is call and let me know he’s okay,” Mama says, taking a bag of loose herbs from the nightstand and putting them in her empty water glass.
    â€œJayd, could you please get Mama some water?” she says, handing me the glass.
    â€œSure, Mama. I’ll be right back.” On the way out the room, I grab my cell from my backpack so I can call Jeremy while I have a free moment.
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    â€œHello,” Jeremy says.
    â€œHey, it’s Jayd. Are you okay?”
    â€œHey, Jayd. Yeah, I’m cool. Are you good? Hope you didn’t get too scared. I was just about to call you,” Jeremy says, sounding genuinely concerned about me.
    â€œYes, I’m fine. How are you? What did they do to you?” I ask.
    â€œThey just said I have to appear at some stupid hearing on Friday with the principal and the Special Circumstances counselor to see if they want to file charges against me.”
    â€œYou mean to tell me they didn’t arrest you?” I ask, filling up Mama’s water glass as slowly as possible. Unbelievable. If he’d been KJ or Del or some other Black boy, his ass would’ve been in jail already. I place the glass full of the thick herbal concoction on the kitchen counter while I catch up with Jeremy. By now Mama’s probably watching the news or something.
    â€œNaw, Jayd. I only