Miss C

Part 1

"Ma, we gotta go," Breon yelled up the stairs.  No matter how early he got up his ma was always running around like crazy.  He could hear her stomping around while gathering up all her stuff for the day.

"I'm coming.  Sorry, I really should start getting all this stuff together before bed," she said kissing him on the cheek.  

"Yo, you say that every morning," he said while walking to the door.

"Yeah, and one night I'll remember."

They made their way out the front door stopping long enough to engage the multiple locks on the door.  Living on the south side of Chicago made such things necessary.  The house that Liliana Castellano owned had once belonged to her grandparents and then her parents and now her.  It wasn't in the best area but definitely not that worst Chicago had to offer.  She had spent her whole life living in the neighborhood.  Not too many people ever left.  

Terrence, who lived next door, had been her best friend since they were kids.  He didn't make an honest living, like a lot of the neighborhood, but it never bothered her.  He had always kept an eye on her, defended her when they had been at school and kept the gangsters away from Breon.  

"What up Lil?  You and Bre ready for Thursday?" Terrence yelled while bounding down his front steps.

"Yeah T, we have everything ready to go," she said and smiled at him.  "You gonna be able to make it?"

"Haven't I every year since you started?" he said cocking his eyebrow.

"Yeah, yeah I know," she said while getting the car unlocked.  "We gotta pick up Deedra this morning?" she asked Breon.  He shook his head yes.  "T, we gotta go, see you later."  He nodded his head and went back up his stairs.

They made their way couple of blocks over and pulled up to the curb in front of a rundown apartment building.  Deedra was already on the step with her headphones in and a notebook opened on her lap.  Her head was swaying as she wrote.  Liliana honked to get her attention. She backed the notebook away and made her way to the car.

"Hey Miss C, thanks for the ride," Deedra said slipping into the backseat.  "What up loser?" she said while flicking the back of Breon's head, something that annoyed him more than anything. He swatted her hand away.  Breon and Deedra had been friends since they met in Miss C's after school program when they were 10.  They had both been really angry kids and gravitated towards each other right away.

"You been practicing for Thursday?" Liliana asked her.

"Only got like half an hour in yesterday.  My dad had a party.  I spent most of the night on the roof finishing my essay for Mr. Roberts class," Deedra answered.  Liliana sighed.

"Why don't you stay with us tonight and you can use the piano all night?"  Liliana asked.

"Don't ya got a date tonight with that guy you met at the Sox game?" Breon asked his ma.

"Ha, I've been trying to back out but he wont take no for an answer.  I told him I was busy getting ready for the showcase.  He asked when it was and like an idiot I told him.  He wants to come," she said sounding a little exasperated. 

"I don't like him," Deedra said.  "He was a real smooth talker, don't like guys like that."

"I know me neither," she laughed at herself.  "I figured when he sees me with a teenage son he won't want anything to do with me."

"What were ya thinkin givin that guy your number anyway?" Breon asked her.

"I blame the beer and the sun," she said and they all laughed.  They were pulling into the school faculty lot.  "You guys gonna pass the flyers this afternoon?"

"Yup, we are gonna head out and hit a few spots," Deedra answered.

"Ok, I'll see you both at home for dinner," Liliana said and took off towards the front doors.

"Man I am so jealous of you.  Your moms is so cool," Deedra told him for the thousandth time.

"Yeah I know, I got lucky," he responded while shoving her shoulder and running away before she could punch him.