𝑳𝒊𝒍 𝑴𝒔. 𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈
𝑭𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒉 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔
I’m not sure what’s worse— waking up at the crack of dawn everyday for school, or my grandmother blowing my phone up nonstop for the past few hours.
I hope she knows she has to pay to text.
Mimi: Why the fuck is the school calling me saying you’ve been absent?
Mimi: You ain’t slick lil’ girl.
Mimi: If you don’t walk across that stage next month, don’t bother coming to my doorstep. Find somewhere else to lay yo’ big ass head at.
Everyone’s head lifted from their notes as my phone’s ringer echoed through the classroom again for the fiftieth time.
Mimi: Did you apply to any colleges yet?
Mimi: No, you didn’t. I already know. Keep playing with your future, Farah. You ain’t too old to get yo’ ass whooped.
Alright, she must be on something.
I held the red button down until the screen went dark and flipped my phone shut. She’s distracting me, and I can’t afford to fail this final. I slacked off all year and now it’s coming back to bite me in the ass.
“Once you’ve finished with this problem, you may relax for the last five minutes of class,” Mrs. Johnson sat down in her rolling chair, typing on her computer. “Uhm— I just got an email about a college fair in the Auxiliary gym... It’s kind of late in the year for college fairs to me, but that’s Gwinnett County for you,” she shrugged her shoulders. “If you signed up for it, then go straight to the gym once the bell rings.”
God. Has. Blessed. Me. I mean... I didn’t sign up for it— but I’m still going. Anything to get out of Language Arts.
The bell chimed throughout the classroom as I grabbed my bookbag and walked straight into the narrow cramped hallway. Maneuvering my way through the crowd, unread messages from Mimi piled up like a stack of cards as I powered my phone back on.
Mimi: Call me. NOW!
I let out a deep sigh as Mimi answered the phone after one ring.
“Why are you ignoring my messages?” She huffed.
“Mimi, you do realize I’m at school right now?” I whispered, trying to avoid any unnecessary attention. “You can’t be calling me.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” she spat, her Atlanta accent coming out thick. “I paid for that mothafucking phone, I’m gon’ call you when I wanna call you— have you applied to any colleges?”
My silence answered her question for me. “I fucking knew it,” she laughed arrogantly, I could tell she was shaking her head in disappointment. “You must think I’m playing with you lil’ girl. Listen, I don’t care where you go. Apply somewhere, or don’t think about coming to my house tonight. Find somewhere else to wash yo’ ass .”
“Did you even go to c—”
“Don’t matter,” she cut me off. “I’m trying to make sure you have a solid future, baby. Do you wanna keep living in our lil’ run-down Section 8 apartment?”
“Whatever Mimi,” I smacked my teeth. “I’m about to go to this college fair, so I’ll talk to you later.” I hung up before she could say another word.
The auxiliary gym carried a stale smell of posters and teenage boys. Bodies of students poured into the gym and surrounded each table as everyone got their first glances at their new expensive education. For it to be this late in the school year, so many colleges showed up. The floors squeaked as I made my way around the gym. FAMU, NCAT, Fort Valley. Every school here is out of my— well, out of Gigi’s price range.
“Oh, I’m going to this school right here, TRUST.” A boy yelled, frantically pointing at the table in front of him. From a simple look, I could tell he wasn’t going anyway besides in front of a damn cash register, I’m not judging though...
A shiver trickled down my spine— that feeling when you know someone is staring at you. I turned my head to see a tall man, the shade of caramel, across the gym. He stood behind a small foldable table with a cream colored poster on top and a navy blue flag with the cream letters “CM” stamped on it. His hair was cut low with a few silky waves that looked freshly brushed down. He wore a baggy navy suit with one gold stud earring hanging from his left ear. His black dress shirt was partially buttoned up while his navy tie hung low, like he got dressed in less than three minutes. He stared at me with a blank expression. Curiously, I walked over to the mystery man, avoiding eye contact.
Once I got closer, I could see his dark, soulless brown eyes. His skin showed no signs of aging, but if I had to guess, he was probably in his late forties. I gave him an awkward smile and wave that he didn’t react do.
I turned my attention to the flyers on the table that had “Carter Memorial State University” printed at the very top of the page.I never heard of this school before.
I grabbed one of the flyers. “Elite prestige HBCU” was written in a small font on the corner of the page with a navy wildcat growling right next to it. I looked back up at the mystery man.Nothing looked prestigious about him— minus his face.He just continued to stare at me, nothing but stare—
After our little staring contest I finally spoke, “How do I app—”
“Don’t waste your time,” he grumbled.Bitch?
“Whatchu mean?” I questioned. “I don’t see anyone else coming up here.”
“If you read the flyer you picked up,” he pointed to the corner of the paper. “It says, ‘Elite prestige HBCU,’ meaning we only acceptgiftedstudents.”
“I’m surprised they hired you,” I folded my arms. “Walking around here looking like last night.”
He waved me off, his eyes darting to my shoes then back to my face. “Man, go somewhere with all that shit. Look,” he pointed to the tables not a single student stood at. “They got community colleges you can apply to over there... Broke ass.” He mumbled the last part.
“Ohh,” I chuckled, “So, you got jokes... Okay Bernie Mac.” I rolled my eyes, before looking back at the flyer. “It says it’s located in Vine City. Ain’t nothingprestigiousabout the hood, Bernie.”
A small chuckle escaped through his lips, “I can guarantee you, not a single student at this school isgiftedenough to get accepted here.”
“I don’t give a damn about beinggifted," I mocked him. “Just tell me how to apply.”
He smacked his teeth as he handed me an application paper. “I knew I shouldn’t have came here. You young ass kids don’t got no manners, no respect for your elders. Back in my day, my people ain’t play that shit; smack the shit out of you with the closest item in the vicinity.”
Aye man, you came at me hot.Wife probably don’t love you, but that don’t mean you gotta be mean.
I quickly filled out the application before leaving it on the table and walking away. His attitude left a sour taste in my mouth. I went to a few other tables before my phone started going off again.
Mimi: Why is the school calling me again about you missing 7th period?
Farah: I told you I went to the college fair.
Mimi: I don’t give a fuck. Take yo’ ass back to class.
Farah: You told me to apply to colleges.
I smacked my teeth as my phone started vibrating from Gigi calling me.
“Oh my god, what does she want?” I walked out of the gym and found the closest bathroom to answer the phone. A group of three girls were standing by the mirror. Their conversation came to an end as soon as I walked into the bathroom. I ignored their eyes piercing through my head as I walked into one of the stalls.
“What?” I said, answering Mimi’s call.
“Uh— Lil’ girl, you better watch your mouth, the fuck,” she snapped. “You need to stop skipping class.”
“I’m not skipping,” I pleaded.
“Where are you right now?” she questioned.
“In the bathroom.”
“Exactly, You ain’t in class. You ain’t ever in class, and these people keep calling my phone telling me the same shit over and over again. You have less than a month of school left, and you haven’t been accepted into any colleges. Hell, you’ve barely even tried to apply to any. All you do is smoke all day—”
I tuned out the lecture she was about to give. When she gets like this, the best thing to do is agree with her.
“Okay, I’m sorry.” I sighed.
“Yeah, yeah.” She blew me off, “Now get yo’ ass in that classroom.” Beep.
When I opened the stall, the group of girls were now in the corner of the bathroom— staring at me. They all wore several layers of tank tops with a pair of skinny jeans. I continued to ignore them as I washed my hands.
“Stop!” The blond-haired girl, Sydney, giggled. Her lips were stained with red lipstick. “You know her family is poor.”
“Does she even have a family?” The brunette, Julie, snickered. “I heard she lives in Section 8.”
“Guys, stop. I feel bad,” the third girl, May, faked her sympathy. “Didn’t her parents d—”
“Is something funny?” I interrupted them, walking closer. “I like to laugh.”
“Yeah,” Sydney titled her head. “But— if I wanted you to know, I would’ve told you.”
The girls broke out into laughter as they looked at each other.
“Sydney, don’t start that.” I said, tiredly. “Not today, because I’m really not in the mood.”
“Oh!” they all sang in unison, like an off-brand Mean Girls cast.
“Girl, we were just joking,” Julie waved me off.
“Yeah,” I turned around to walk away. “That’s what I thought.”
“Now why would I,” Sydney whispered, giggling through each word. “Be scared of a fucking orphan. She has bigger fish to fry than me, obviously.”
Heat coursed through my body, fast and violent. Usually I would’ve ignored them and walk away, but honestly— fuck that.
I turned back around and strided towards Sydney.
“Say it again,” I shoved her shoulders. “I’m a what?” A popping noise came from behind the wall, but I ignored it.
Sydney scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You’re being—”
My right fist grazed the side of her jaw causing her back to hit the wall. The girls screeched in unison, hands cupping their mouths. I got into my fighting stance as the two other girls rushed towards me. The air in the bathroom shifted from calm to heavy; thick, and a little familiar. My foot slammed into May’s stomach, causing her to lean forward. Stepping up, I hit her with my right cross. Once Julie got closer to me, I punched her with my left jab before she could even get her hands up. She held her nose as a little bit of red blood trickled down her face onto her shirt.
Sydney clutched her stomach. “You bitch!” She cried out, “We were literally just j—”
The ringing in my ears cut whatever the hell she was saying short. A tingling sensation ran through my palms. Fog coated the mirrors, even though it wasn’t hot. I took one step closer to Sydney, the sound of screaming metal stopped me in my tracks. Suddenly, a loud bang came from one of the stalls. A toilet exploded. I stepped away from the water that was spilling out onto the floor, and lifted my hand to shield me from the liquid spraying forward. The faucets flew off the sinks and hit May and Julie, causing me to flinch on impact.
“Oh my god!” The two girls screamed.
The metal pipes above Sydney groaned. Another toilet exploded. Simultaneously, the ceiling caved in and drenched Sydney from head to toe.
I took a step back from the girls. The bathroom was turning into an indoor water park, and I wasn’t fucking with it. That’s when I remembered...
Did I just do this?
There’s no way— I could barely make sink water move on a good day. But this? This was insane.
“What the fuck!” Sydney screamed, makeup melting off of her face.
I didn’t answer, instead I ran out of the bathroom, almost slipping. The girls followed behind me shortly after.
I darted towards my classroom until I stopped in shock. The black and white tile floors flooded while students and teachers exited their classrooms abruptly.
“Students and staff,” the intercom announced, “Due to unsafe and unsanitary circumstances, please evacuate the building and go to your designated fire drill locations.”
I splashed through the puddles, water soaking through my shoes.
“Yo, is this toilet water?” A boy yelled across the hall, causing everyone to quicken their paces.
A big splash hit some of the other students when a boy slipped and fell into the water.
“Euh! Kaiden,” another boy screamed.
Water poured from out of the school onto the cement when teachers opened the doors to let everyone out of that disaster. The sun beamed on my skin like it always did in the summertime. My heart slowed and my hearing was normal.
“How aren’t you wet?” A random girl questioned me, squeezing the water out of her shirt before walking away. “Fuck!”
The bottoms of my jeans and sneakers were damp, but other than that I managed to keep myself dry. The entire student body of three-thousand kids stood outside. Teachers attempted to round up their classes and take roll calls.
“You did this,” a man’s voice echoed behind me. I turned around to see the same rude college rep from before. He slipped his hands into his completely dry suit.
“No, I didn’t.” I said, the lie coming out smoothly.
“Yes, you did,” he smiled. “I guess I was wrong about what I said before.”
He took out a card from his pocket. “Orientation is today at four pm,” he said. “You should come.”
“No thanks,” I looked at the card in disgust. “I need to be home by a certain time, and I can’t go to an orientation for a school that I haven’t been accepted into.”
“You have been accepted, Farah.” He held the card back out, “This is the last orientation for the upcoming semester. If you don’t go, fine. Find another school to go to. But, if you do decide to go, the location is on the card.”
I lowered my eyebrows in confusion, “Where is this even coming from? I thought I wasn’tqualified orprestigiousenough.” I mimicked his earlier accusations.
He leaned in towards my ear, “Your powers.”
“What?” I froze before masking it with a laugh. Surely he isn’t talking about the fact that I can cause my bath water to float in the air for less than ten seconds. That same trick that I haven’t tried since ninth grade.
“Are you high?” I asked.
“Are you?” He pointed to the building, the lines in the corners of his eyes folding from smiling. “Every pipe in that building exploded. Look around for a second.”
There wasn’t much to see besides the same faces I had seen everyday for the past four years.
“What am I looking at exactly?” I asked.
“Why is everyone drenched besides you... and me?” He questioned.
“Uhm...” I looked around, trying to find the best excuse possible. “Luck, I don’t know.”
“No,” he shook his head, his eyes squinting. “Luck doesn’t exist.”
“Whatever.” I scanned the card, brushing off his allegations.
“I don’t have a car,” I narrowed my eyes. “How am I supposed to even get all the way to Vine City?”
“MARTA,” he shrugged. “Take the buses, then get on MARTA. You should make it there in time if you go after school ends.”
“Who even are you?” I asked.
“I’m TK,” he put his hands back in his pockets. “The admissions officer at Carter Memorial. Well, I’m off. See you at orientation, Farah Banks.”
He walked off, swaggy with each step like a pimp.
I guess I should go to this orientation. This is the only college that has accepted me.
“I understand you’re getting older and wanna hang with them bad ass kids, but I’m gon’ tell you one thing... If you ever get on MARTA by yourself, I promise you Farah, I’m gon’ put lil’ ass six feet in the dirt. Think I’m playin’...”An old memory of Mimi popped in my head.
At this point, I’m playing a losing game.
Fuck it.
