I left the Harlem about a year ago. Shit was getting too crazy out there and my mom didn't want me to stay there for school. So here I am, in Atlanta, 20 years old, with a story to tell.
I gotta catch this hair appointment! I woke up late, rushing. I played the messages on my voice machine. Of course, all from mami. I've been meaning to call her back but with school, work and all, I had no time.
"Goodmorning, Miss Bonnie!" Mrs. Bellmay waved to me. My next door neighbor. Sweetest old woman I ever met.
"Goodmorning, Mrs. Bellmay!" I waved back. I got in my black Lexus and drove to Vivian's salon.
"Am I late? Please don't tell me I'm late!" I hurried in the salon.
"Child sit down. If anything, you early."
I took a seat and grabbed a magazine when a girl came in yelling back at her man that was still outside. "Whateva nigga! Get the fuck outta here! Did that bitch just call you daddy? Oh hell no! Not in front of me she ain't! Get ya baldheaded ass back here, bitch! You got the wrong one!" The girl ran back outside and practically grabbed the girl by her scalp, ragging her while her boyfriend got out the car, trying to pull her off. These girls were crazy out here. I seen girls act like that back in Harlem when I was in high school but not me. You would never catch me outta character in public!
"It never gets old, do it girl?" The girl next to me said laughing.
"No, it really don't." I said laughing back.
The girl next to me was pretty. She was slim, with straight hair down to half her back and full bangs. She had a nice shade of brown skin.
"Hi, I'm Sasha." She put her hand out.
Which I thought was weird because girls around here ain't really speak to other girls they don't know like that. It was usually stank looks and quiet whispers.
"Bonnie." I shook her hand. I felt a big scar on her palm while shaking her hand. As curious as I was, I knew it would be rude to ask.
"I lived here all my life and this is my first time meeting you. We should go out some time."
That day I met my best friend, Sasha.
Two years later
It's graduation day and I'm too excited to walk that stage. My palms are sweating and shaky.
"Bonnie Shepperd." My name was called and as I walked the stage, I looked down to see Sasha there with her man Dimez and my parents. Everything was perfect.
"I missed you guys so much!" I hugged both of my parents tightly.
"Bonnie, I can't stay but I'm so proud of you baby girl." My dad said handing me a gift.
"But why not?" My smile quickly turned into a frown.
"I gotta get back to LA. Too much business." My father replied. "I wish I could stay too, Bonnie, but I gotta get back to Harlem tonight. You know I can't leave your brother with Aunt Sylva for more than a day." My mother added.
This wasn't anything really new. My parents have been split up since I was 11. I only seen my dad on special occasions. I'm upset I couldn't see my baby brother but I knew he still had school going on. My mom was always strict about school.
"It's okay girl, we gonna be live tonight and you gonna have a smile back on ya face!" Sasha screamed in the car.
"Yes baby, we out tonight! I heard there's gonna be a poppin party on the south side so you know we in there!" I screamed back.
