ONE ON ONE || D.SWING

8. Never Forget.

Katrina

March 17, 1978

2:14pm

"No I'm not okay Cassie. The principal is having Katrina suspended for three days and she didn't even start the fight! The girl who threw the first hit is only getting two days and a in school suspension, what kind of bull is that. I'm gonna talk to Richard about her transferring to the school in Bedstuy cause this one ain't cutting it. She needs to be around her own people more often anyways." my mom ranted to my aunt Cassie over the phone before glancing down at me.

While the two continued to talk over the phone, I looked around the Dairy Queen parking lot to see people coming in and out of the place. I looked down at my almost finished ice cream cone in sadness.

"Mommy, it's almost gone." I frowned, pushing the cone towards her face. She held the pay phone in between her neck and ear, gazing down at me, "I see that honey. I told you not to eat it so fast." she stated before focusing her attention back on her conversation.

"I can hear Richard now saying what makes you think the school in Bedstuy is better than the one here Jacqueline," rolling her eyes, she continued, "I know because Katrina wouldn't be getting harassed like she is now when going to that damn white school."

"Swear."

"Sorry Noon." she said my nickname.

My mom let out a sigh, "I just don't want my baby getting bullied anymore by these kids because of her race. It makes me mad just thinking about it."

I could hear my aunt saying that it's going to be okay, "Yeah, I hope so. Expect me and Noon for dinner tonight, I want to be around family before laying the news on Richard. Alright sis, we'll see you in a bit."

"Bye aunt Cassie!" I shouted.

Hanging the phone up, mommy held my hand until we got into the car and drove off to I don't know where.

We pulled up to a empty parking lot of a park, there wasn't anyone in sight, "Momma, why aren't there any people here?"

She pulled the small radio out of the trunk before slamming it, "Children are still in school."

I pulled on my pigtails as we began to walk to our secluded spot on top of the hill under a tree, my mom tapped my hand, "Stop touching your hair." she warned.

"It still hurts when the girl was pulling it. I thought she was going to pull it out." I frowned.

We both sat down on the grass, she turned on the radio and placed it on a station, "I know baby, I know," she kissed my forehead,"I'm sorry you had to go through that. But I'm glad you held your own, you defended yourself like I always taught you. I'm proud of you." she smiled brightly while caressing my hair.

"Thank God she didn't leave any scratches on you." she added analyzing my face.

Reasons by Earth, Wind & Fire played lowly. I looked up at my mom staring at the sky, her pinned up hair blew in the wind and her caramel skin glowed under the sun.

"What's a mutt?" I blurted out.

She looked down at me in confusion, "What?"

"That's what Emily and the other kids kept calling me. A mutt is a dog but I'm not a dog." I softly spoke. She stared at me in disbelief, it seemed like she was trying to find the words to say.