Page 42 of Behind the Bars

“Night,Jazz.”

As Ray pulled away from the curb, he smiled over at me. “He’s a good kid. I hate him because he likes you, but he’s a goodkid.”

I nodded. “He asked me to perform with him when he does his Saturday shows on FrenchmenStreet.”

“Pop music orsoul?”

“Soul.”

“Well, shit, Snow White.” Ray pinched the bridge of his nose. “Now we’re gonna have to keep lying to your mom and setting up meetings for her to goto.”

My smile spread wide. “You’d do that forme?”

“Does soul music make youhappy?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s your duty to share that happiness with theworld.”

“Mama might be really mad at you if she finds out thetruth.”

He huffed. “Yeah, well, when isn’t your mother mad at me nowadays? Besides, I think once she sees how good you are and how happy it makes you, she’ll be happytoo.”

Ray picked Elliott and me up each Saturday, and he always stayed to watch our performances. He recorded every single one, too. I’d never seen him look excited when I sang pop songs, but when it came to the soul music, he always praised me. He didn’t know how much it meant to me, him showing up to watch meperform.

It was as if he was looking at me and saying I was good enough, no matterwhat.

“I’ve never seen you like this before, ya know.” Ray nudged me one night as we were drivinghome.

“Likewhat?”

“Happy.”

Ray and I made sure to make it home each night in time for dinner with Mama. She’d tell me how she was making connections with the most important players in the industry, going on and on about how I’d be discovered in no time, all thanks to her hardwork.

“This could’ve happened sooner if you weren’t so selfish with your contacts, Ray. Luckily, I found myown.”

“My apologies,” Ray replied, and he gave me a smile. “Snow White has been amazing in the studio. I think you’d be proud ofher.”

Mama scrolled through her emails on her cell phone. “Yes, well, I’ll hear soonenough.”

“I actually have some video of her,” he replied, taking out his cellphone.

“I don’t need to see it,” Mama said, cutting into her chicken. “I wasthere.”

“What?” Iasked.

She stabbed the meat with her fork and placed it in her mouth. “I said I saw it. I had a feeling you two were lying, so I followed you this afternoon. I saw Jasmine performing on the corner with that strangeboy.”

“He’s not strange,” Iwhispered.

She raised an eyebrow before cutting more chicken. “He’sstrange.”

“Okay, so…” Ray sat up straight and cleared his throat. “I know you’re probably upset, but…you saw her. Her music is amazing, Heather. She was meant to perform soul music, ya know? And Ithink—”

“Nothing,” she cutin.

“Huh?”

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