"Baby, it's gonna get better. Everything gonna get a little easier."
_
Since the day before, Mama and I had been communicating. The talks hadn't been exceptionally long nor deep conversations, but at least it was a start. On this particular day, the two of us had joined one another for a movie, one that Mr. Omar had lent her from the store.
Just as we were laying upon our bed, consuming buttered popcorn and storing our stomachs with orange juice, a sound formed at our apartment's door.
"Hey, I gotta use the bathroom. You get it," Mama said. She got up from the bed, paused the movie, then walked over into the restroom.
I sighed before answering the door. Opening it, my eyes enlarged at the soul who stood before me. It was Courtney who had been knocking on the other side. Her hair was different from the last time I had seen her. It had been cut and colored blonde. Her lips were enhanced with a plum-purple colored lipstick, while huge spiraling earrings dangled from both of her ears.
I waved. "Hey, Courtney."
"Hey." She greeted me back, smacking on a deformed piece of gum. "You busy?"
"Well, my Mama and I was just watching a movie. Why do you ask?" I looked at her with curiosity. "Did you hear back from your boss?"
"You bet I did." The woman before me shook her head in an up and down fashion. "Listen, he says he's down, and he wants to hire you. But, he says he wants to meet you first."
"Already? Why?" I was surprised, I hadn't known it'd be that easy.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe to get to know you and see what you are like, don't ya think?" She said, sarcastically.
"Well," my arms crossed above my chest. "When does he wanna meet me?"
"If you ain't busy, I can take you to him right now. Just grab whatever you gonna get, and come on. I don't have all day."
"Are you always this mad?" I asked her, my eyes narrowed.
"Are ya coming or not? Cause I got some place to be. I don't have time to sit here and wait for you to decide if you're coming with me or not." Courtney's neck rolled. "If you are, let's go. If not, I'll be back some otha' day." She continued, as she incessantly smacked on the gum she had been chewing.
"I really do want to come, but---"
"Jayme, who is it at the door?" Mama cut me off, as she made her way to the door, exiting the bathroom.
"Janis?!" Courtney called out, after examining my mother. She looked as if the two had some sort of history.
"I'm sorry." An expression of confusion rode Mama's face. "Do I know you?!"
"Really? You gone act like you don't know me?" Courtney pointed to herself.
I stood between the two in astonishment. I hadn't known Mama knew a girl like Courtney, I hadn't known at all.
"That's because I don't. Who are you again?"
The gum chewing woman smiled, ironically. "Janis don't act like you don't know me. 'Cause you know me. You know you know me."
"Mama, how do you know Courtney?" I asked, breaking my own silence.
"I don't know her. I don't know anybody named Courtney." Mama glowered her.
"Really, Janis? You gonna pretend like you don't know me?" Courtney's voice rose before she pointed a finger in my direction. "This yo' daughter?!"
