ready to handle Supreme. Of course, because I’m still a minor, I can’t sign anything without her permission. But I got myself into this, and I gotta figure it out.
I sit up some more. “It’s nothing. Just school stuff.”
“Well, whatever it is, you can tell me. You know I always got you.”
“I know,” I say. “I got you too.”
We pull into the parking lot of this tall brick building that seems like it’s been around since before my grandparents were born. It would look like a regular building, honestly, but there’s a barbed-wire fence around the back.
We leave our phones, watches, and anything else that could set off the metal detector in the car. Jay only takes her keys and ID. This is the routine we’ve always followed whenever we’ve visited Aunt Pooh in jail. It helps us see her quicker.
There’s a guy sitting on the curb near the entrance. His head rests between his knees, making it hard to see his face. But his hair is half braided, half Afro. If I didn’t know any better . . . “Scrap?” I say.
He looks up. It’s Scrap, all right.
“Boy.” Jay outstretches her arms. Scrap walks into them. “I thought they got you, too.”
“Nah. I wasn’t there when it happened. But everybody else . . .”
Is locked up. Word is, most of the Maple Grove Garden Disciples got busted.
Jay frames his face with her hands like he’s a little boy. I guess when you’ve known someone their entire life, you can still see them that way. Pooh and Scrap have been running together since diaper days. “Well, I’m glad you’re okay. You’re here to see P, huh?”
“Yeah. She asked me to come when y’all came. Hope that’s all right.”
“Of course it is. You’re family.” Jay takes his hand. “C’mon.”
Scrap follows her inside. Something’s off about him. I can’t put my finger on it. He doesn’t walk, he marches. His jaw ticks; his face is tight. It’s like he’s a bubble—one wrong move and he’ll burst at any second.
Pink and red streamers and a little Valentine’s Day banner decorate the sign-in desk, but if you’re coming in here to visit somebody, it’s hard to celebrate any holiday.
Curtis brought me a little bouquet of candy bars to school today. I gotta admit, it did make the day a little better. Boy’s got more game than I thought.
Jay gives the lady at the sign-in desk Aunt Pooh’s real name—Katricia Bordeaux. It’s always weird hearing it. She’s been Pooh my whole life. We fill out paperwork and go through security before we’re led to this small gray room. There are no windows, so no sunlight. Just stark bright lights that you see long after closing your eyes. A guard tells us to sit at the table and wait.
Scrap drums the table the whole time. After about twenty minutes, one of the guards brings Aunt Pooh in.
Jay hugs her the moment she can. Aunt Pooh and Scrap do their little handshake. Then Aunt Pooh looks at me.
I didn’t know that I’d wanna cry when I’d see her, but I swear I almost do. She holds her arms out, and I let her wrap me up in the biggest, tightest hug I didn’t know I needed.
She kisses the side of my head. “Missed you, Li’l Bit.”
“I missed you, too,” I murmur into her shoulder.
The four of us sit at the table. Aunt Pooh has to sit across from us though. Jail rules. It’s supposed to be so we won’t slip her any contraband, but it always feels like they’re saying she’s diseased or something. Jail seems isolating as hell, even when people visit you.
“I talked to your attorney this morning,” says Jay. “It’s one of those court-appointed ones. He thinks they’ll have you arraigned early next week.”
“Good,” says Aunt Pooh. “Sooner I can get outta here, sooner me and Bri can get our come up.” She holds her palm out to me across the table with a grin. I slap it. “I heard about your interview. I promise, I can handle that fool for you once I’m out. No question.”
Jay glances back and forth between us. “What interview? What fool?”
This definitely isn’t how I wanted her to find out. My leg suddenly won’t stay still.
“The DJ Hype interview, you know?” Pooh says.
Jay turns all the way toward me. “No. I don’t know.”
I stare straight ahead. If you look an angry black momma in her eyes, there’s a chance you will turn into a pillar of salt on