Free The Other Side Of the Game by Anita Doreen Diggs

the year she found hard to get through. Every trick-or-treater reminded her of the fetus who died six years ago. It was the day her demons danced.
    Did Mama do the right thing?
    Abortion, except in the case of rape or incest, is wrong. But I understand Mama’s fear. She was always preaching to us: Go to college, get established in a profession before you get married, don’t depend on the state, relatives or anyone else for money, and never have a baby until your act is together and the foundation of your life is strong. Mama was deathly afraid that one or both of us would turn out like her.
    The funny thing is that if mama was alive now, she would be proud of me for earning a bachelor’s degree, hate my holistic lifestyle and call me a fool for not chasing the almighty dollar.
    Asha has some education, a good job and money in the bank plus her friend Nick took her to a Caribbean resort last week. She called me to say that the place boasted a European spa, golf, scuba diving and eleven gourmet restaurants.
    Her cell phone broke a few weeks ago and Brent bought her a new one that makes mine look like a tin can. She said it is a Samsung A670 with both digital and video cameras plus high speed Internet access.
    Asha has light skin, a tiny body and small bones just like Mama, but if she were alive, Mama wouldn’t approve of Asha, either. The fact that Asha plans to stay single for the rest of her life and never have children would sadden her.
    Maybe we can never satisfy our parents.
    For example, Daddy has never said a word against Yero and is always kind to him, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he would be happier if I were getting married to someone with a more traditional job. A lawyer, a doctor, or banker.
    Maybe we just have to make ourselves happy and let the chips fall where they may.
    â€œSaundra!”
    It was Daddy, yelling from upstairs.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œCan you come to the phone?”
    â€œWho is it?”
    â€œYero.”
    My heart skipped a beat.
    â€œI’ll be right down.”
    I threw my robe on without bothering to dry off, ran down the stairs as fast as I could and picked up the receiver in the living room.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œHi, Saundra.” His voice sounded dull and tired.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?”
    â€œJoanne had a miscarriage.”
    â€œOh, my God!”
    He sighed. “Yeah. Khari just called from the hospital. He is really losing it so I’m going to run over there. Will you come, too?”
    I had planned to study all day but Yero needed me.

Chapter 18
    ASHA
    I woke up this morning feeling blissful until I remembered what day it was. Halloween. My baby had been dead six years. Saundra phoned as if on cue.
    â€œAre you all right?”
    â€œFine.”
    â€œI’ll be there in about an hour. Think of something fun to do.”
    She hung up before I could say “don’t bother” like I did every year.
    Aaargh! Am I going to be depressed every fucking Halloween for the rest of my goddamned stupid-ass miserable life?
    Think of something fun to do.
    Yes. It was Saturday so I didn’t have to go to work and Saundra had no classes, but SHIT there would be kids in costumes running up and down every street. Little human beings laughing gaily while dressed up as SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and the Power Puff Girls.
    It would be unbearable!
    The only reasonable thing to do was spend the day indoors. Shopping. I was an authorized user of Nick’s MasterCard. We would hire a limousine and I would lie down in the backseat as it cruised through the streets so I couldn’t see the kids in their finery. When the limo stopped in front of a fashionable clothing boutique or shoe store, Saundra could open the door, make sure that there were no tots in sight and we’d run in.
    Much to my surprise, Saundra agreed to the plan.
    Chloe. I chose a white, waist-length military jacket with navy stripes, oversized