"So after you met my mother, did you guys immediately become friends?" Huelene asked Huey as he hesitated to answer that question.
"I wouldn't say we immediately became friends. I considered her as an associate because no offense to her, but your mother was very annoying," Huey boldly spoke as Huelene frowned at him.
"Annoying?" she said being offended her father said such a thing about her mother.
"It's the truth! I was annoyed by Jazmine on most occasions when we were little. When we got older she started to mature but majority of the time she was annoying," Huey truthfully spoke once again.
"Okay, name a couple of moments when my mother was being annoying?" Huelene had dared Huey.
My first day at Woodcrest Elementary School had come, and I was determined not to be an outcast there. Riley would be placed in the 4th grade, while I would be placed in the 5th grade. I wasn't encouraged to make friends because it was going to be my last year at that school, and I didn't want to waste any time trying to make friends.
When I came into the building, I realized I had failed in my attempt to avoid being an outsider. Only white kids and only white kids were at that school. I didn't notice any black students at that school. And for the first time in this race, I felt completely alone.
When I arrived at the class, I noticed that all of the students were white, and even my teacher was white. I felt like I was in the movie 'Get Out.'
I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible and avoid becoming connected with that white-washed community. I couldn't bear the stress of being the only black student in my class and in the hallways. I'd see Riley, but it wasn't enough because Riley would occasionally skip school and not show up at all.
When Jazmine walked into my classroom, all of my worries vanished. "Huey!" she said as she screamed my name. It drew my attention, and I was quickly enveloped in her warm embrace. Getting a random hug from a girl you just met, or from anyone, seemed weird at first. I would normally push her away since I dislike it when people touch me, but I didn't; receiving a hug was comforting.
It gave me a sense of belonging. And it wasn't an uncomfortable feeling. Just a minute ago, I wanted to flee this place, but I was encouraged to stay.
"I'm so glad to see you! I never thought we'd meet each other again," she said in her valley girl tone. Why the fuck did she sound like that? How does she sound like that?
We literally live across the street from each other, how would I not be able to see her?
"Yeah, you too, I guess," I said unsure of myself. I really didn't know how to respond to Jazmine's girly comments. It felt odd to hear them aloud.
"Do you have this class?" she asked me.
"I think so, the principal told me to come here," I answered as she started squealing.
"Oh my gosh, I can't believe we have the same class," she said clapping her hands. Is this something to really get excited about?
"Yay!" I said being sarcastic.
"Here let me show you to the perfect seat," she said looping her arm around mine.
She pulled me over to a seat by the window and there were some kids looking at us. It was mainly a group of girls that were looking in awe.
"Oh my gosh! Jazmine and the New Boy sitting in the tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first come love, then come marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage," her friends started to sing. I looked over at Jazmine to see her blushing and holding her head down.
I pinched the bridge of my nose because this could not be happening on my first day of school. Now I'm sure I'm an outcast here.
They all kept singing the song over and over again until the teacher made them be quiet.
Huelene began to giggle at how childish children could be. Her father was embarrassed, but she found it amusing.
"Wait, that's not her embarrassing you, that was just a bunch of kids being silly," Huelene said still laughing.
"That's more of her welcoming you to the school and making you feel comfortable. It's not as easy as you think being the only black kid," Huelene defended.
"Believe me, I know!" Huey agreed.
"But that still doesn't explain her being annoying," Huelene said.
I had returned to Chicago for a funeral at one point. We all went to pay our respects to my Grandfather's best friend, who had died. I had been away from Chicago for a bit and expected to be delighted to see everyone when I returned, but it was the exact opposite.
I was not looking forward to seeing everyone again. They all seem to have changed since we left.
Cairo was the only person I was looking forward to seeing. Cairo was my best friend at the time, and he was one of Chicago's few redeeming qualities. We shared the same outlook on life and aspired to grow up doing the same thing: assisting the black community. Finding your soul mate was quite rare in this world. And I felt like Cairo was my soulmate (nonblood: brotherly wise).
But, like my Grandfather, I had to face the harsh reality of friendships. Despite the fact that his friend died, it appeared like they did not part on good terms because his friend had done too much. My Grandfather had to let him go, and I had to do the same with Cairo not long after. I met one of Cairo's friends named Dewey when I went to meet him. I thought he was way over his head with things as well as the way he spoke, but I could deal with it.
I didn't like Dewey's arrogance and the fact that he implied Cairo had moved on from me as a friend. He or Cairo didn't say anything, but Cairo looked to be sending out a strong impression. That took me a while to notice till Riley pointed it out to Dewey at the funeral. I had confronted Cairo there, and he practically spilled everything he had been thinking about me since I had gone to Maryland.
I didn't like anything that had come out of his mouth. He was disrespecting me and my whole family for the decision we had to make. He acted as if I had a choice in all of this. I was just as against moving to Maryland as anyone else was. When he said something about my Grandad I didn't like I ended up throwing the first punch and we began fighting. Our neighbors had to break us up from the fight and he kept yelling at me and calling me a sellout.
I wanted to cry because I felt as if I had lost my friend right then and there. But I didn't want to cry because I didn't want anyone to notice how upset I was. My Granddad and Aunt Cookie wanted me to leave Chicago on good terms before returning to Maryland. They didn't want Cairo and me to grow up the same way my grandfather and his friend did.
So I tried to be the bigger man and apologize to Cairo, but he didn't accept my apology because he headbutted me in the nose and slammed the door in my face as I was on the ground with blood pouring out of my nose.
I cried in my room at Aunt Cookie's house that night. I cried so hard that my eyes turned crimson. I was hiding under the sheets, pretending to be asleep so no one could see me.
They were all in the living room watching tv while I was still in my room depressed. I heard my door open, "Huey," it was my Aunt Cookie. "Are you asleep?" Aunt Cookie asked me. I just didn't answer because I didn't really want her to check up on me and see me crying.
But what my Aunt Cookie had said next made a big influence on me as I grew older over the years. "Huey, I know you're awake and you're upset about what happened between you and Cairo, but you have to know that it will get better from here," she said trying to comfort me.
"You don't understand Aunt Cookie, that was not only my best friend, but my brother, and it felt like I just lost my brother," I sadly admitted. I wiped away a tear under the covers as I felt the bed shift a little bit. She was sitting at the end of the bed.
"I know, it hurts, but you'll be able to move on from this. A friend comes so rarely in life and sometimes we don't even know it, but a best friend stays forever in your soul. A best friend is like having a lover if you ask me," she said which caught my attention.
"How?" I asked out of curiosity.
" Friendship is when you fall down, someone will laugh at you, but will still help you up. It means knowing there's always someone to hug and someone who appreciates your strange quirks. It means having someone who complements your personality and helps you stay true to yourself. It means having someone who recognizes you, even if you're still trying to figure out who you are. Recognizing that another person has a significant impact on your life. It signifies that seeing their face makes you happy. It entails appreciating their laughter since it lifts your spirits. When you're too far apart to meet in person, it means making time to call them. It entails picking up where you left off, regardless of how time has passed by," she explained which caused my heart to beat.
It was so heartwarming! Those had really stuck with me for a long time.
But that was the thing, Cairo and I never talked over the phone when I left for Maryland. It wasn't like there was nothing stopping us. I think Cairo and I were only friends because we grew up together and we lived in the same area.
And now that I think about it, I don't ever remember Cairo and I being comfortable around each other to be silly. It's like whenever we would meet up or talk we always discussed serious business. Never actually had fun!
"Do you think I will ever find my best friend?" I asked wanting to hear her honest opinion.
"Yes, I think you will; I think anybody would be grateful to have you as a friend and for you to have them as a friend," she said as I felt a little bit of relief.
"When do you think it'll happen?" I asked her.
"Who knows! They can either be right in front of you or pop up out of nowhere. You just have to be patient Huey! But I honestly have to say if someone really enjoys your presence then you may have a shot with them because you're not as likable to everybody, but if someone likes you that's good," she said as I snickered a little.
"Thanks, Aunt Cookie!" I told her as she gave me a kiss before she left.
I returned to Maryland and went to my tranquil spot on the hill, where I met Jazmine, who was delighted to see me. Because of what I had said to her, I honestly didn't think she would miss me. She mistook me for her best friend, but I informed her that I already had one, leaving her with second-hand embarrassment.
She was concerned about me after seeing the bandages on my nose and asked what had happened. Except for the chat Aunt Cookie and I had, I told her everything that happened from the time I left Maryland until now.
At the end of all of it, she had laughed in my face. I was embarrassed because Jazmine was laughing at me. I didn't think Jazmine was the type of person to laugh at something like this. I thought she would at least feel sympathy for me, but she laughed with no restraint.
She told me I deserved it because of what I had said to her a couple of days ago. That was fair enough.
Then she pointed out my nose and started laughing even more. A minute ago she was concerned about it, but she was laughing at it. I covered my nose up and started to run away from Jazmine.
Of course, Jazmine ran after me trying to see it so she could get a better view of it. My Grandad was outside talking to Tom at the time so I ran into the house to my room thinking she wouldn't follow me.
Jazmine came to my room but she brought an ice pack with her. I was going to try running away from her again but she wasn't making fun of me. She was simply trying to help me out.
Jazmine gently was patting the ice pack around my nose area as I sat down on my bed relaxed.
"See Huey, this is what you get for underestimating your opponent," she joked again. I rolled my eyes because she was really starting to annoy me with the teasing. Who knew she could be this down bad?
Huelene was laughing at Huey's story and responded: "At least she was nice enough to help you out."
"Yeah, she was!" Huey spoke.
Huelene stopped laughing and asked: "Do you Cairo still talk or have you avoided him from that day on?"
"We don't talk anymore, but I remember we started back talking again because we worked at the same agency, and sometimes he helps me with my cases just as I do the same with his," Huey simply answered.
"Okay, that's good that you guys started back talking at that point in time. But with what Aunt Cookie said did it relate to my mother?" Huelene asked as Huey nodded.
"Very much, but in this case, she became more than my best friend," Huey answered.
"That's nice, I wish I had that type of experience to learn from an early age," Huelene yawend.
Huey shook his head because some stories had a good ending while others had a bad ending, and his story was definitely the bad ending.
Huey decided to put a bookmark on the stories about him and Jazmine. He was tired and Huelene was tired.
She was resting her eyes and Huey decided to go get a blanket so that way she'll stay warm for the night. He would have made her go to the guest room, but he didn't want to wake her. He covered her up and just gently rubbed her head before leaving.
He didn't think it was appropriate to kiss her on the head yet because they weren't that close.
Thank you for reading!