One thing for certain, love doesn't come easy so when you find it it's vital that you hold onto it. Jelani and Amai were a match made in heaven. First they formed a friendship that everyone in their highschool believed to be unbreakable, and then they become a power couple that inspired more people than they could fathom. Yet their story started with a rocky situation.
March 13, 2010 (Ninth Grade)...
Amai walked hastily down the hallway in her beat up Air Force Ones that were beginning to look decripet, because they were covered in dirt and duct tape, and a hand-me-down jogging suit. But the story of wearing rags had just became her new reality after the passing of her mother which occurred only one year prior to her entering high school, and ever since her mother's untimely death she had been outcasted by her peers and removed from the only home she had ever known. Her parents weren't rich and they most certainly weren't perfect but they provided her with a nice home, clean clothes, and hot meals daily. So Amai felt a great deal of discomfort wearing other people's hand-me-downs and shoes that were holding onto a sole by a thread, literally.
Amai was placed in foster care three months after the death of her mother because her father decided that alcohol would become his coping mechanism and abuse would become its sidekick. Which filled Amai with a great deal of pain, but it also caused her to navigate throughout the world a different way. She walked through the halls of McKinney High as she always had; quick and bashfully. Which in part is due to the fact that one of her biggest struggles had become the ability to hold eye contact with others. Which caused her to always walk with her head down. Her spirit was defeated at a young age, and it had very little to do with Amai Wilder and everything to do with the evils of the world.
When I walk down the hallway I rarely look up to see who's around because people rarely ever speak to me, and when they do it's never to say anything nice. Instead people point at me and laugh or they make comments about the things that I have or don't furthermore. So I have consciously decided to make myself invisible, because these people have already formed their opinions about me. I have no friends, I sit by myself at lunch, and when I am assigned group projects my peers just assume I'll do all the work. In a way it feels that I have been punished for the death of my mother, and I have thoughts of ending my life so the punishment can end. However, I know that my Ako is out there and she is going to need me one day so I deal with the pain that I feel today to ensure that there will be no pain in the future.
People typically steer clear of my path in the same way that I steer clear of theirs, and I am very appreciative of that because I know that I could not accept being physically harmed any more than I already had. As I made my way out of the front doors of McKinney I bumped into a guy and fell down the steps, and I tried to get up quickly but I was in a great deal of pain. On the contrary, he along with the other five guys he was walking with decided that my tumble was humorous so they laughed, and began to walk away until I tried to get up again with little to no success. At this moment I figured that there may be something seriously wrong with my knee, and I guess the mystery man that I bumped into had the same thought process, so he began to walk back toward me. I immediately lowered my head and began to think of a way to apologize for bumping him, and to no avail I had nothing to give.
"Hey, you good?" he had got over here quicker than I imagined, and my thoughts were moving faster than my mouth so I stared blankly. "Alright I'll ask again... are. you. good?" and at that moment I was taken aback because he seemed to be being rude and I clearly lacked the tools to defend myself, so I spoke barely above of whisper and decided that I would prefer to tell the truth today, "No, its my left knee. I can't really move it."
He nodded and got closer to me and I began to feel uncomfortable because I am unaware of his motive, but he could sense my energy as well which caused him to introduce himself, "My bad... I'm Jelani but some people call me San because of my middle name and I'm a sophomore that just so happens to be on the varsity basketball team." He ended his statement with a sly smirk that caused me to slowly nod my head. "What's your name? I've never seen you around here before. Also where were you headed off to? I have a little time before practice so I could help you get there... if you'd like?" and that caused me to do a faint smile as I thought about how I would walk home on this sore knee. Unfortuantely, I do not ride the bus because the group home I stay in is only a 15 minute walk from school but today would've been a really good day for that. "Ugh, I'm Amai and I'm a freshman but I'm always pretty incognegro so I wouldn't expect you to have seen me... the plan was for me to walk home but the thought of that is painful."
He smirked after letting out a small chuckle and said, "incognegro huh? I can drive you to your spot if you'd like I just have to get the keys to my big brother's ride." So I immediately agreed and he went to retrieve the keys.
Getting in the car was a struggle in itself, but Jelani was very helpful and ensured that I felt comfortable every step of the way. The car ride to my house was no less than five minutes because I don't live really far, and he drives like a bat out of hell but I'm not complaining. As we pulled up he asked if I needed his help walking inside, and I did not oblige seeing as though the pain I am in is at an all-time high. Not only did this kind fellow help me to the door he helped me to my bed and propped my leg under pillows because of the RICE method, something I have never heard of but seems to be helpful. I was very grateful that the group home was empty at this time, because the other girls can be quite rowdy at all times and my caregiver is useless. He was gathering his stuff to leave before he reluctantly looked back and asked for my number. And I don't know why but I felt comfortable enough to give it to him despite the way our classmates treat me. So I shyly gave him my flip flop to lock himself in. He said, "you can call me if you need a ride tomorrow before class, or you know if you need someone to talk to... I really won't mind." I nodded in understanding, and I felt a great deal of comfort like I had finally made a friend for the first time since I've been attending McKinney. But I also felt oddly secure with a complete stranger for the first time in my life.
"MAAAAMAI! You ignoring me!?" I was immediately snapped out of my thoughts and I looked up to see Nyako standing in front of me with her phone showing me a gift she would like for her tenth birthday. I shook my head and let a full belly laugh that almost made my pregnant bladder explode, "I am sorry little girl. I wasn't ignoring you exactly my hearing was just a little selective" Which caused her to look at me as if I just said some bullshit. It could've been, but it wasn't, and to top off this conversation her birthday is in four whole months. We have plenty of time to talk about gifts and party ideas.
I jokingly said, "It's you thinking I'm getting you a unicorn for me, girl gone." and she huffed and walked off as a spoiled child does which caused me to shake my head and laugh once more. Jelani created a monster in that child, but I know if he were here she'd have that unicorn so I'll figure out. Even if that means I'll be hot gluing a horn on a pony... okay maybe not hot glue? The big ten will be special for my baby, because she unlike anyone I know deserves it. Holidays will never be the same of course, but it's my job to keep our traditions alive and create memories worth having.
Vote & Comment
