The Black Queen by Jumata Emill
Author:Jumata Emill [Emill, Jumata]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2023-01-30T00:00:00+00:00
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
DUCHESS
OCTOBER 19
3:39 P.M.
I HAVE NO idea why Mrs. Barnett wants to see meâshe only said it was âsomething importantââbut sheâs over thirty minutes late. Iâd be pissed, but waiting here is better than being at home. Alone. The quiet makes it harder to ignore the void that has attached itself to my insides. Plus, Iâm being entertained at the moment by this sophomore whoâs waiting for her alongside me. Sheâs here for some disciplinary reason. I know that because sheâs been talking so loudly on her phone.
âYes, I caught that nigga at her house,â the girl announces to me, Mrs. Barnettâs secretary, and the person sheâs on the phone with. âYeah, guh. I downloaded Find My Phone onto his phone but linked the account to my computer. Then tracked his ass over there Saturday night without him knowing.â
I can hear whoeverâs on the other end howling with laughter. Mrs. Barnettâs secretary is glaring in this direction from behind her desk. Normally Iâd be annoyed too, but this girlâs lack of decorum is taking my mind off my grief.
âJaz, I was about to snatch that ho by her lace front in biology today,â the girl continues. âShe lucky Mr. Glasperâs crooked-eyed self held me back.â
Mrs. Barnett rushes through the double doors. âDuchess!â she says. âSo sorry Iâm late. Had to tie up a few loose ends, took longer than I expected.â
I stand up. âItâs cool.â
âLetâs step into my office,â she adds, gesturing to her door. She follows me inside, pausing in the doorway to look back at the sophomore, whoâs still on the phone. âTori, Iâll deal with you in a minute,â she tells her. âAnd get off the phone.â Then Mrs. Barnett shuts her office door.
âAgain, my apologies,â she says as sheâs rounding her desk. âHow have you been holding up?â
Concern is coated thicker on her face than her makeup. God, I wish everyone would stop asking me this. Itâs like a fresh reminder Novaâs gone.
âIâm goodâwell, not good,â I say, rubbing the back of my neck. âIâmâ¦here. That counts as good, right?â
âYes, of course,â she replies with a soft smile. Then she folds her hands on the desk in front of her. âIâll get right to the point. Weâre putting together a tribute to honor Nova at Fridayâs game. The community is in such mourning over this tragedy, I thought it fitting we set aside halftime for a memorial service in addition to parading out the court. Novaâs crowning was such a monumental step toward inclusion and diversity here, and I hate that it was tarnished like this.â
It feels like sheâs about to ask me for something. I brace myself for whatever it is and choose to let the insensitivity in her last remark slide. Nova was a person, not just this schoolâs diversity poster child.
âLining things up for this is why I was late. Iâve met with the band, the dance squad, and the cheerleaders, who all agreed to participate and put together a special performance.â
I sit up straighter.
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