“Diondra and her minions.”
It was my turn to roll my eyes. Diondra was probably the most popular girl in the school, and if you asked her, she wasthe prettiest. While she was gorgeous, the school was full of gorgeous young ladies, and Ramina was one of them.
“What do you think her problem is with you?”
“I don’t know. I peeped her attitude during the first week when I introduced myself, but I didn’t say anything and let it slide. Every day, her and her little raggedy friends have something slick to say. Today, it was about my hair not being real, and they asked who made my lace front. I ain’t got nothing against nobody for what they do with their hair, but my hair is real. When I said that, she put her hands in my hair and tried to pull it. I smacked her hand away and rushed to class, but next time, I’m gon’ smack her face.”
I took a deep breath because I almost responded like Noelani and not Ms. Townsend. If Ramina had whupped Diondra’s ass, it would’ve been a well-deserved ass whupping.
“Yes, that’s inappropriate and deserves to be addressed. Do you have an idea of where you want to move your locker? I’ll have to check to see if there are empty ones in that hallway.”
“Violet says there are some empty ones by her. I don’t know of anywhere else.”
“Okay. I’ll get right on that after I talk to Diondra.”
“I wasn’t trying to be a snitch, but?—”
“First of all, you’re not being a snitch. You’re being a responsible individual.”
“Yeah, I am, but I was gonna say I was trying to save Diondra from this beat down because these hands are lethal.”
This time, it was a little harder to maintain my professionalism, and I laughed.
“Girl, get outta my office. I’ll let you know when everything is taken care of.”
“Thank you. So . . . Are you and my brother serious?”
“Serious as in?”
“Like, are y’all boyfriend and girlfriend?”
“Why? Is he talking to somebody else?”
“Not that I know of, and I’d tell you if he was because he ain’t gon’ be doing my social worker like that.”
I laughed. “Thank you for having my back. As far as me and your brother, I’m not sure where it’s going, but I like him a lot.”
“Does that mean y’all are boyfriend and girlfriend?” she asked again.
“We’ve had that discussion and I’m comfortable saying he’s my man and I’m his woman.”
“Ayeee!” she cheered while dancing in her seat.
“Why are you so excited about us being an item?”
“First of all, he hasn’t had a real girlfriend since he was like twenty. Secondly, maybe being with you will stop him from . . . umm, I’m just happy he got a woman. I gotta go.”
She tried to stand, but there was no way in hell she was leaving my office after what she’d just said. I put my hand on her shoulder, forcing her to remain seated.
“Maybe being with me will stop him from what, Ramina?”
“It’s nothing, Ms. Townsend. Forget I said anything.”
“Absolutely not! Is your brother . . . doing something inappropriate to you?”
She looked confused and didn’t answer immediately. It was as if she was processing my question. The moment she realized what I’d asked, her eyes widened, and her mouth opened.
“Oh my God!No, Ms. Townsend. My brother isnotdoing anything inappropriate to me. That’s disgusting!”
