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time. I found them cigars in your room. I know what that’s about, Jada. Don’t take me for a fool!”
    Jada laughed, wondering why she should think of her mother as anything but that. In Jada’s mind, her mother was just that—a fool.
    Edna continued her rant. “Your teacher called and said that you ain’t been to school in days. Now, you leave this house every day. So since you’re not going to school, I wanna know where you’ve been?”
    “I go to school.” Jada kept eating her cereal, hoping to provoke her mother into having a backbone. She almost wanted Edna to throw a fit, and to take charge for once. But she had no such luck.
    “Jada, you’re
not
going to school. That teacher has no reason to lie on you.
    “Well, I don’t know why she’s lying, then. But I’ve been in school. Maybe she made a mistake.” Jada shrugged.
    “She didn’t make a mistake, and you know that. She told me that you’re failing her class—”
    “So what?” Jada
bellowed, drowning out her mother’s voice. Edna fell silent, and was tempted to hit Jada. But she knew that if she did, Jada might just hit her back. She didn’t want to go toe-to-toe with her daughter.
    The doorbell interrupted them, and Edna stormed off to answer it.
    “Hi, Charlie,” she gushed, when she opened the door. “Come in. Excuse the mess. I was just about to straighten up.” Edna smoothed her shirt, making sure her outfit was perfect.
    Mr. Charlie was their neighbor. He was dapper at forty-nine years old, and had an old-school, buttery smooth demeanor. His style was reminiscent of Richard Roundtree’s Shaft, or a modern-day Samuel Jackson. He had a woman in his life, who no one saw very often. She didn’t live with him, but she did come around every now and then. Spent a couple of days at most with him, and then she’d leave. She never socialized with any of the neighbors, but Mr. Charlie sure did. He was like everybody’s super. All of them lived in Section 8 houses and rent-controlled apartments. Edna’s was a town house in the Markham homes on Wayne Court. It was humble, but it was home. Charlie’s apartment was across the street, in the projects. He lived at 240 Broadway, but he made himself known to all the people in the hood. He was the guy who fixed your toilet, helped you get a part for your car, and got you an air conditioner for cheaper than normal. He was the go-to guy. And everybody liked Charlie.
    Edna ushered him in, gushing all the while. Charlie smiled at Jada, and she barely returned the gesture. “I came to put in that air conditioner you wanted,” he explained.
    “Thank you,” Edna said, smiling. She seemed to almost forget that Jada was in the room. She seemed mesmerized by Charlie.
    Jada took her cue. She stood to leave, and carried her bowl to the sink. Edna turned toward her. She didn’t want her daughter to think she’d forgotten about her behavior. Edna turned back to Charlie. “Excuse me for a minute. I was just talking to Jada. You know how hardheaded these young girls are.” Edna’s voice took on the sweetest lilt whenever he was near. “Where are you going?” she asked Jada, sweetly.
    “Outside,” Jada answered flatly. She didn’t even glance at her mother. But she noticed Mr. Charlie looking at her from across the room.
    “Well, you better not come in here as late as you did last night.” Edna’s attempt at sounding authoritative was unconvincing to Jada. “I don’t want you over that boy Sean’s house, neither. His mother ain’t even home half the time. I ain’t stupid, Jada.” Edna shook her head. “That’s where you were last night, ain’t it?”
    Jada shook her head, preparing to lie and say that she hadn’t been. But to her surprise, Charlie did it for her. “Nah, Edna. I saw Jada last night in my building with her friend Shante. Shante lives in my building. I know her family. Her mother works every day. They good people. Her and Shante are good girls. They don’t be getting in