Jaleah didn't have much growing up. For as long as she's known, her family lived paycheck to paycheck, making ends meet with what they had. But, Jaleah always wanted to get out of that life. She always knew that one day, she would make it out.
Before you guys read this story, I would like to have a quick word with everyone. As a black author, I feel as though we have to speak up about things going on in our community and what happened with George Floyd, as well as every other unarmed black person that has been killed by a racist police officer, is a disgrace. If you are going to protest, please take the proper precautions and be very safe. Bring water and snacks, cover your faces, wear all black and any other precautions you think are necessary during this time. If you cannot protest or don't feel safe to do so, please donate to your cities bail funds and any other organizations that will help the black community during this time. And make sure you're sharing links to donate to your friends, family, and followers to raise more awareness. Everyone stay safe out here. I love you all💕
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philadelphia, pa. june 17th, 2:30am. amaiya's perspective.
I sit on the curb, my hands handcuffed behind my back, with my head hanging low. I'm not even ashamed that I'm sitting here, beside Tory, being arrested by police. What I'm upset about and afraid of is the fact that my parents have to be the ones to come get me, and I know they're going to ground me forever. No phone, no TV, no fun for the rest of my life. Damn, I really fucked up.
"Your parents will be here in 15 minutes." The officer tells me. I don't respond, though, because I know I fucked up.
"What do you think your parents are gonna do to you?" Tory asks.
"Kill me, probably. Just make sure you wear something nice to my funeral." I joke.
"Girl, same. I guess it'll be a double funeral. My mom is gonna be even more pissed because she had to leave work to come get me from this bullshit."
"I just can't believe they shut the party down." I tell her.
After a few minutes, my family's car pulls up. My mom gets out of the passenger seat, raging and basically runs over to me. My dad quietly walks behind her.
"What were you thinking?! You're out here at 2 in the morning in handcuffs?! They said you were drinking?!" My mom snatches me up off of the curb, alarming the cops.
"Woah, woah, ma'am. Can we talk to you before we take off the handcuffs? You can take her home once we're done. We're letting her go with a warning." The police officer explained.
"What was she doing?" My father asks, calmly.
"We got a call about a house party, and when we arrived, she was among the group of young people inside drinking. We suspect there may have been drugs on the premises but we did not find any. We just would like to warn her that teen drinking is illegal and very dangerous."
The police officer takes the handcuffs off of me. "Please stay safe young lady. No more parties and drinking. You're too young."
I remain silent. I don't want to say anything because I'm embarrassed. Of course everyone else here is in the same position as me, but, still it's embarrassing. I know my parents are going to literally murder me when I get home.
My mom basically drags me to the car and forces me into the backseat. "Can we take Tory home?" I ask my parents.
"You want me to take her home?! She's a bad influence! I let you stay out with her one night and this is how you and her repay us?! She can wait for her mother. I don't want you hanging out with her anymore." My mom snaps.
"Mom, please-" She cuts me off.
"Shut up, Amaiya! I can not believe you! You've embarrassed me and embarrassed yourself! We did not raise you this way!"
I quietly sit in the back seat and did not respond to my mom. I don't want to antagonize her too much because then she would be more upset and I would have a worse punishment, so I just roll my eyes and shut up.
"Give me your phone." My mom says, now in a more calm tone.
"Dad!" I whine. My dad always tries to play devils advocate and take up for me. Not this time, though.
"Amaiya, I'm disappointed in you. Your mother is right in her anger. Do as she says."
I take my phone out of my pocket and hand it over to my mom. She snatches it out of my hand and shoves it into her purse. "And when we get home, don't turn on that tv. Go in your room, throw those clothes you have on in the trash and stay in that room. You won't be having fun at all this summer."
"Mommy that's not fair! My birthday is next month I'm turning 16! You promised that if I did good my sophomore year, I could have a party for my birthday. You gave Jaleah a 16th birthday party!"
"Well Jaleah doesn't give us any issues."
"I swear I hate this fucking house." I say, under my breath.
"And you're cursing in my presence?! You're not having a party and that's that. I don't want to hear anything else out of you."
The rest of the ride home is silent. I know my mom is going to talk my dad's ear off when they get into the comfort of their own bedroom, but, in front of me she's not going to say much.
I hate that they compare me to Jaleah. It's like Jaleah is their angel child, like she's a God send and I'm the problem child. They need to realize I'm a different person than her. Jaleah likes to follow the rules and be a good girl and I like to do me. I don't like rules, I don't like the whole religion thing, and I especially don't like the idea of my parents trying to make me just like their other child.
Once we get home, I run up to my room, closing and locking my door. I don't even want to speak to my parents or anyone for that matter right now. I change out of my clothes, throwing them into the dirty clothes hamper, and put on an oversized t-shirt to sleep in. I turn off my lights and drift off to sleep.
june 18th, 11am.
A knock on my door wakes me out of my sleep. I rub my eyes and get up out of bed, realizing that the sun is already fully out. I unlock my door and open it, and Jaleah stands there with a tray. On the tray is a plate of breakfast; pancakes, bacon and eggs, and a glass of apple juice.
"Good morning sleepyhead." Jaleah says, walking into my room. "I heard about last night."
She places the tray on my bed and sits down beside it. I close my door behind her and climb into the bed as well, picking up the tray. I begin eating the pancakes.
"So what happened?" She asks me.
"Tory and I snuck out to go to a party and the cops busted us. I didn't even get in trouble with the cops, they let me go on a warning but of course your mom had to take it overboard. I hate living with her. I wish dad would leave her so I could go live with him."
Jaleah sighs. "Yeah mom told me that you were mouthing off and she canceled your birthday."
"Fuck her. I'm having a birthday whether she likes it or not. I'm tired of listening to her and following her rules. She just wanna feel some control over somebody and it's not gonna be me."
"Well if you need me I'm in my room. Please just be good so she can chill and maybe you can get out of the house this summer." Jaleah tries to reason with me.
Little does she know, I'm going to have fun regardless.
