Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz

Author:Ilyasah Shabazz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Sixteen

The weekend goes by fast and is mostly full of homework and volunteer work with Mrs. Malloy. It is Monday and the walk home from school was lonely because Suesetta is sick and Phyllis’s mom picked her up. Even though I just saw Shirley, Jimmie, and Juanita yesterday at church, they are taking turns on the phone telling me how much they miss me. I talk with Shirley last. She barely says hello before asking, “When are you coming back home, Betty?”

“I live here with the Malloys now.”

“But why? Why can’t you just visit the Malloys and live here with us?”

I think Shirley is crying but I’m not sure. I don’t know how to answer her question. I could just tell her the truth—tell her I’m not coming home because Ollie Mae doesn’t love me the way she loves them. But instead, I say, “I’m not sure when I’m coming back,” as if I plan on returning. I tell her, “We’ll see each other at church next Sunday.” And that part is true, so I don’t feel too much like a fibber.

“But Sunday is a long ways away,” Shirley says.

“Maybe the week will go by fast,” I tell Shirley.

I hear Ollie Mae calling Shirley, then Shirley says into the phone, “Betty, Momma wants to talk with you.”

Ollie Mae gets on the line. “Hello?”

“Hi, Ollie Mae.”

“Is everything okay? Sounds like you have a cold,” she says.

“Everything is fine,” I say even though my throat is hurting just a little. How did she know?

It is quiet for a while and I think I hear Arthur listening to the radio and the boys’ footsteps as they’re running around.

Ollie Mae clears her throat. “You know, you might want to tell Mrs. Malloy to put some honey, lemon, and eucalyptus oil in a jar. That will help your achy throat.”

“Okay, Ollie Mae, I will tell her.”

“And tell her to keep some Vernor’s Ginger Soda in the house. Tell her to warm it and put a little lemon in it if you get a bellyache, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Silence.

“And tea. Make sure you drink plenty of dandelion root tea,” she says.

“I will.”

“Good, good. Well, okay. I guess I should get going.”

“Okay,” I say. “Bye.”

“Bye.”

When I hang up the phone, all I can think about is how much I miss my sisters, how much I miss sitting around the dining room table together. I wish they could come spend the night here with me every now and then.

The doorbell rings. I look out the window and see Kay standing on the porch. I let her in. “Hi, Betty. I hope I didn’t interrupt dinner,” she says.

“It’s okay. I’m just here doing homework. Mr. Malloy is still at work and Mrs. Malloy is at a meeting.”

“My mother sent me over to ask Mrs. Malloy if she has any butter.”

I’m sure Mrs. Malloy wouldn’t mind, so I tell Kay to have a seat while I get it for her.

She follows me to the kitchen and sits at the table. I go to the icebox.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.