Like Vanessa by Tami Charles

Author:Tami Charles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Published: 2018-03-13T04:00:00+00:00

November 30, 1983

Empty Promises

Wonderful things happen

when your complexion is clear.

Bright.

Sol-Glo light…

Dear Darlene,

I’ve been using this stuff all week. And so far, nada. My skin seems blacker than the skin I started with. Each day I ask why the heck I’m doing this. To look like Vanessa Williams? To look like Mama? Or maybe to fix what’s on the outside, hoping the Sol-Glo will take care of what’s left inside too?

—Nessy

New Friend, Old Problems

My gear’s been decked out for school every day since I went shopping with Mrs. Walton. Today I’m wearing my gray Guess jeans with a blue-and-orange argyle polo and a pair of shiny brown penny loafers TJ got me from school. My outfit is tucked in all the right places, showing off curves that I ain’t never had before.

From the stares I’ve been getting all week, I can’t tell if people think I’m looking fly or think I’m new to the school, because I definitely don’t look like the nerd they’re used to seeing in the back of the class.

Right before lunch I change books for the last periods of the day. Curtis and his boys walk toward the cafeteria, right near my locker. Curtis winks at me and blows a kiss, and I just about throw up in my mouth. Then one of his boys slaps him in the ribs and says, “Yoooo, that’s Vanessa Martin!”

Curtis does a double take and says, “What the heck? She ain’t look like that last week!”

I just roll my eyes and keep packing my books. Idiots.

Tanisha comes out of the bathroom and heads toward my locker.

“Well, hello, stranger. So nice to be in your royal presence. You know you ditched choir rehearsal Saturday.” She’s got this stank-attitude, eye-roll look smeared all over her face.

“I know. I went shopping for the pageant with Mrs. Walton.

“You hung out…with a teacher?” Tanisha’s voice is loud, so I hush her so no one else hears.

“Guess you forgot we had plans to go roller skating. My mom was going to take us as an early birthday present for you, remember?”

Shoot! I did forget! I was too busy hanging out with Mrs. Walton. And Beatriz. Suddenly I feel sick. “Tanisha, I’m sorry. There’s so much going—”

“Look,” she cuts me off. “I get that the pageant is coming up and all. And you know I got your back in all of this, but—”

Just then Beatriz strolls up with her crew, all of them wearing red jeans and white button-down shirts like they’re some type of R&B group. Beatriz smiles at me and looks me up and down.

“Nice outfit, chica. You wanna sit with us at lunch?”

Well, this is awkward. Does she mean both me and Tanisha or just me? “Nah. I gotta go to the library and finish up my lab report.”

Tanisha crosses her arms and sucks her teeth.

“Wanna come over my house again after practice?” Beatriz asks.

“Um, I’ll let you know.”

Fire shoots out of Tanisha’s ears, scorching my face.

Beatriz winks at me, rolls her eyes at Tanisha, and struts with her crew to the cafeteria.

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