Page 31 of My Brother's Keeper
Yes.
“Alice, Brice,” my mother called out to them.
Brice signed to Brennon, and the trio ran over to my mother as my father was walking up to me. “Hi, Daddy.”
His brows raised. “Had I known all those games I was taking you to. All of those debates, all of the volunteering events, you would choose this as a way of representation of our family.”
I knew the down-talking was coming. “Would it be better if I were a part of a chess club? What about fencing? Or maybe lacrosse?”
He moved closer. “Alyse Nicole Maverick, watch how you talk to me.”
“I go to a HBCU, Daddy, for theBlacks,or did you forget. The luxury of doing the things you want me to do isn’t here. It was okay for you to do the things you did when you went here, but not okay for me?”
I could see I had him stumped. My father was a hypocrite, and it only made me mad. He pointed around. “You are afforded a lifestyle in which your expectations should be high. You use your powers for the greater good, not to fit in. We pay for education, not shaking what your momma gave—”
Jalen came up on my side. He glanced at my father, then back at me.
Is everything straight?He asked me.
My father’s face frowned.My daughter is fine.
Jalen dropped his head.With all due respect, sir. I asked her.
I cleared my throat and stepped in front of Jalen and in front of my father. “Daddy, this is—”
“Alyse, I don’t need an introduction. Dinner tomorrow at six. Be there,” he finished as he walked off.
I knew that seeing Jalen would make him assume the worst, but this wasn’t about who my father saw fit for me; it was about who I liked and what made me happy. When my parents and the trio walked off, Jalen grabbed my hand. He closed his eyes and then opened them slowly. “A-a-are you o-okay?”
My lips curled into a wide smile because he had said it so well and out in the open. “Yes. I’m ok. You did good.”
He winked.Thank you. I saw you doing your thang out there. Pretty ass.
I started cheesing, swinging side to side.Well, thank you, and thank you for coming.
The sound of Morgan screaming caught my attention. “Yass!You were fucking it up, Alyse!” she squealed as she dove forward, hugging me tightly.
When she let me go, I saw Flex walking up. “I told you, girl, you got it in you. I’m proud of you, Alyse.”
“Thank you, guys, for coming. The support was appreciated.”
Flex turned to Jalen as her eyes bounced between the two of us. I laughed. “Flex, this is Jalen, Jalen, this is my ballet teacher, Flex, and Morgan, whom you met at the mall.”
Morgan leaned in. “You got another brother?” she tried mumbling.
Jalen ran his hand around the back of his neck nervously. I turned to Morgan, swatting her, “Morgan!”
She shrugged. “I mean.” She laughed.
Flex’s face turned serious. “I think you should do the audition. Whether your parents like it or not. Alyse, this is your future, not theirs. I will help you if you need it, but I think you should do it. Don’t be like me and miss out on a chance to follow your dreams.”
I gave her a tight-lipped smile. I knew I was already on Daddy’s shit list for saying what I said. It was easy for everyone to tell me what was best for me, but no one had to deal with the ridicule I did. “I will think about it,” I told her.
She glanced at me and Jalen again. “Yeah, do that. Come on, Morgan.”
Morgan gave me one last hug before she started following Flex. “Nigga take care of my girl. Alyse, I will see you soon. Call me.”
I turned to Jalen and smiled.Sorry about Morgan.
