One day, when I arrived home from school, Mrs. Grady handed me the phone. As usual, Mama asked if I turned in all my homework. And as usual, I answered yes, though that wasn’t really true. But then the conversation took a different turn. Mama told me to leave the kids with Mrs. Grady and go to the corner market to pick up a few items she’d pre-ordered at the grocery store. I couldn’t believe my luck! I hung up the phone, raced upstairs, and changed out of my uniform. I loved walking outside—alone—without any responsibility for my brother and sister. This was my personal time when I could let my mind go wild. It was the time I imagined living in a big, beautiful house with summer barbeques in the backyard and an ebony piano in the living room, just like the one at Aunt Ada’s. The first part of my trip went smoothly and before long, I was on my way home, holding Mama’s big sack of groceries. But as I neared the house, my stomach sank. Billy June was playing craps on the curb. At the sight of him, I recalled the day at the skating rink last month. Billy and his goon surprised me and my best friend, Veronica. While his goon taunted Veronica, Billy yanked me close and began licking my cheeks. I yelled for him to stop. In response, Billy shoved me against a wall and pushed me onto the ground. Somehow I managed to thrust my skates straight into his privates. Billy howled, and grabbing me around my neck, he began to squeeze. Luckily, an attendant pulled him off, threatening to beat him to a pulp if he ever returned to the rink. Billy slunk off, muttering that one day, I would pay. Well it seems that day had come—and much faster than I’d hoped. I picked up my pace, hoping Billy wouldn’t see me. It was too late. “Hey Billy, look over there,” his friend yelled. “It’s her! That girl from the rink!” Billy dashed across the street. “Hey you high yellow heifer, where you think you goin’?” Clutching the grocery bags closer, I ran down the street as fast as my legs would take me. “You think you gonna get away from me?” Billy yelled. “No, Bitch, today you die!” He caught up with me easily. And darting ahead, he stuck out his leg, causing me to topple forward. As I did the eggs, Spam, Wonder Bread, flour, powdered milk, beans, oatmeal, oranges, and bacon flew through the air and sprawled across the sidewalk. My face slammed straight into the crushed eggs. From across the street, I heard a woman yell, “Stop it! Leave her alone! What’s wrong with you?” “Mind your own business!” Billy called back. The woman shouted, “I’m calling the police.” Bullies like Billy had no fear of the police. Ignoring the threat, he yanked my head up and slapped me. His hand was like fire on my cheek. “Look at you! Who’s gonna help you now?” he sneered. Scarcely able to breathe, I thought, “He’s right, who’s going to help me?” Mama and Greg are at work. Daddy’s gone. Jessica and Kevin are too little. And I’d given up on God long ago. Billy then swung his leg backwards, preparing to strike. I threw my arms over my head and crouched down, preparing for the worst. But to my surprise, he suddenly withdrew. Seeing my fear, he bent down over me. He pushed his face inches from mine. Holding my breath, I squeezed my eyes shut. Then, just like at the skating rink, I felt his tongue slither across my cheek. The stench of his foul breath and nasty saliva dripping on my skin was nauseating. As he backed off of me, proclaiming victory, I felt ready to vomit. “That’s your lesson for the day,” he said. “It’ll teach you to never mess with me again.” I realized I wasn’t going to die. Not now. Not on this day. But when Billy started laughing and kicking Mama’s groceries into the street, my relief suddenly turned into raw rage. I bolted after Billy and jumping on his back, I dragged my fingernails across his pimply face. Howling, he threw me off. I charged into him again, this time tackling him so hard we both fell to the ground. I wrapped my arms around his neck, determined to choke the life out of him. He coughed and gasped for air as he struggled to pry my arms apart. I bit him on his ear making him squeal like a pig. His friend drew near. “Billy…man…your face. It’s bleeding!” I slid quickly off his back, scrambled to my feet, and ran. I heard Billy shout, “Shut up! Go catch her! Bring her back!” Like a dog eager to obey his master, his friend sprinted after me. Though my legs were trembling, I just kept running and running until all of a sudden I heard a horn blare and the acrid smell of burning rubber filled my nose. Next thing I knew, I was spinning through the air…
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