Family Lies 2

Everything is Everything

Mahzya

"Miss Johnson," I jumped awake in the middle of class embarrassed as all hell! I just knew I was blushing bad!

"Miss Johnson, do you have an answer for the class?"

"Could you repeat the question, please?" I asked nervously and watched my professor shake her head.

"What kind of evidence is used to establish the occurrence of an actual crime?" Professor Walker asked.

"Corpus Delicti Evidence," I responded as I flipped to a fresh page to pick up on the notes I was supposed to be taking. At the end of class I called myself packing my shit up to skate out the door with the rest of my classmates. But just like I had a feeling she would, Professor Walker decided to call my name, "Mahzya, may I see you at my desk please?" She said just as I was about to hit the door.

My eyes flew to the ceiling before I turned back to see Professor Walker taking a seat. I approached her desk and hopped up onto the table opposite her so we could talk.

"What's up Professor?"

"What's up? I can tell you what ain't up. Your grade in my class," she said while sitting back in her seat and folding her arms across her chest.

"What's going on with that? I had such hope for you at the beginning of the semester. You're one of my brightest. And I can tell you're still doing the work even though you've been missing assignments."

"You're right. I am still doing the work."

"Then why aren't you passing my class?"

I huffed and shook my head. Wishing this wasn't a conversation I had to have. I was always ahead of my class and on top of anything that had my name attached to it. Part of me didn't want to believe that I'd let myself fall so far behind. But since Professor Walker decided to bring this up now I guess there's no use in continuing to lie to myself.

"I got a lot going on at home that I'm struggling to juggle," I said as I broke eye contact.

"Care to talk about any of it?"

My shoulders rose and fell softly. "Not really. It's just hard to take care of everybody and still find time to do me too. I'm trynna get my mother clean. Don't nobody want anything to do with her but me so I ain't getting no help. I got this baby now... my man, my job. I know none of that is an excuse for not doing well... I'm just spread a lil thin.

"I really wish you felt comfortable enough to have been up front about the things you're dealing with Mahzya. I'm not a monster, I expect you guys to tell me these things. I can be understanding."

"Um... I apologize?" I responded awkwardly and Professor Walker laughed while sitting up and turning on her computer.

"In an effort to accommodate you, I'm going to give you two extra weeks to turn in the assignments you missed. Okay? Your deadline is April 20th at the end of class."

"Thank you so much Professor! You have no idea how much I appreciate it!" I said as I hopped off the desk to hug her.

"You're welcome. I'm counting on you to do your best, hear? Don't make me regret it," she advised while walking me to the door.

"I give you my word— I won't."

Dottie

"Hello?" Donna answered the phone groggily and I looked at the clock on the wall to see that it was well past noon back home. My sister was never one to sleep in so I knew that baby was kicking her ass! That's what her petty ass gets for even trying to hide this pregnancy from me. Donna's little sister knew this was her version of pay back for keeping the twins and Divine a secret all those years ago. But shit I still feel like I have the right to feel away about Donna trying to play get back with me. "That lil muthafucka wearin' yo ass out, huh?" I asked.