The Queen Bee of Bridgeton by Leslie Dubois

Author:Leslie Dubois [DuBois, Leslie]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Teen & Young Adult, Literature & Fiction
Amazon: B004S7A9AM
Publisher: Little Prince Publishing
Published: 2011-03-09T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16:

Nowhere to Go

"Can I help you?" Will's sister asked when she opened the door. Actually, I just assumed it was his sister since we had never officially met. She looked just like Will except shorter and much, much older. Will told me she was 28 but she looked about 38. Maybe the alcohol abuse had aged her.

"Oh, I'm here for Will, I'm his…girlfriend." The word 'girlfriend' kind of got stuck in my throat. I had never used that word in reference to myself before.

I was so wrapped up in the word girlfriend that I almost didn't notice the change in Julia's face. She had opened the door with a pleasant smile, but as soon as I said the word 'girlfriend' her smile froze and her eyes bulged a little. I thought it was an odd reaction.

"Girlfriend?" she repeated with the same plastered smile. I nodded. "William!" She called, turning away from the door not even bothering to invite me in. "William Riley Maddox, may I talk to you please?"

I let myself in and took a seat on the couch. I looked at all the family portraits in the living room as I heard the muffled voices of Will and Julia from another room. As I picked up a picture of Will when he was probably about 9 years old, I thought about how different our worlds were at that time. He was living in a safe little cozy suburban home while I was being thrust into the ghetto. He probably came home every night to Stove Top stuffing and Little Debbie snack cakes while I ate saltines with catsup brought home from the hospital cafeteria.

I picked up another picture of Will with his father. It made me miss my father. He was the only one in my family that really understood my dancing dream. Every day after dance practice he'd let me demonstrate what I'd learned. Sometimes he'd even invite friends over and I'd have my own recital. I loved being the star of my own one woman show. But as I got older, I realized something wasn't right. Why was my father always home ready to watch my one woman show, while my mother worked two or three jobs in order to make ends meet? Apparently, my mother wondered the same thing.

"Did you buy the groceries?" she asked him one night when I was about twelve. She put her purse down and opened the refrigerator. It was empty.

"Baby, I had to use that money to pay back Curtis. I've been owein' him for a while. But don't worry, C.J. owes me $500. When he pays me, I'll pick up the groceries."

"My girls can't wait until C.J. decides to pay you back. What are they supposed to eat?" My mother tried to remain calm, but I could see she'd had enough.

"They're our girls and I'm sure you can find something in there to whip up for them. You're so good at that. You're like a miracle worker, Maxine." My father stood up and wrapped his arms around my mother as he kissed her neck.

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