Choices by Skyy Page A

can you take me to my gran’s house?”
    â€œOf course, anything.”
    They headed to Mema’s house in complete silence. Denise stared out the window the whole time. Lena didn’t know what to say, so she just drove.
    They pulled up into the neighborhood. Mema’s street was one of the few well-maintained streets in the neighborhood. The rest were very run-down. The only reason that street looked decent was because nothing but older people who had owned the houses for years lived on the block.
    The house was very small; it was smaller than the guest house at Lena’s parents’ home in the Hamptons.
    â€œJust give me a few minutes,” Denise said as she opened the front door.
    The inside was very neat. It hadn’t been dusted in a long time, but you could tell the house usually was very neat.
    Lena sat down on the plastic-covered couch. She had never actually sat on a couch with plastic on it; she smiled when she thought about the jokes that were made by comedians about plastic on the furniture.
    Suddenly Lena heard a loud bang. She ran to the back to find Denise on the ground, picking up boxes that had fallen out of a closet. Lena started to help her.
    â€œNo, I got it. I got to do it myself.” Denise was shaking.
    Lena felt helpless. “Denise, please just let me help you.” She grabbed Denise’s hands and put her arms around her.
    â€œNo, I got to be strong, I got to be.” Denise started to cry, and went limp in Lena’s arms just like a little child.
    â€œIt’s okay. You are not weak, you are very strong, and you deserve to cry, so just let it out.”
    Denise continued to cry.
    Lena helped her up and walked her over to the bed. She pulled the covers back and had Denise lay down. She pulled Denise’s shoes off of her; she had done that plenty of times for Brandon when he was too drunk to do it for himself. She covered her up and turned the light off to go into the other room.
    â€œLena,” Denise called out.
    â€œI’m not going anywhere. Just into the other room to lie on the couch.”
    â€œNo. Please, don’t leave me alone in here.” Denise pulled the other half of the covers back.
    Lena took her shoes off and climbed into the bed.
    Denise put her arm around Lena and pulled her close. They cuddled and fell asleep.
    Lena couldn’t believe it, but she actually felt good in Denise’s arms. She was glad to be there to help her through her time of need.

Chapter 9
    Emotions were high the day of Mema’s funeral. Not only did Denise lose her grandmother, Cooley and Carmen felt as though they lost theirs as well.
    Carmen looked at herself in the mirror; her eyes were puffy and red. She couldn’t believe she was going to Mema’s funeral. What a way to end the semester.
    Cooley put her hand on Carmen’s shoulder. Mema meant a lot to both of them. Cooley considered Mema her grandmother too.
    Carmen was from Jackson, Mississippi. Mema opened her arms and home to both her and Cooley, and instantly both felt like family. Mema taught Carmen how to cook and clean. She came from a pampering mother who always did everything for her, including her laundry and ironing. Now Carmen could do everything herself, and she owed that to Denise’s grandmother.
    â€œAre you okay, boo?” Cooley asked Carmen, wiping a tear that fell from her face.
    â€œI’ll be fine. I have to be strong for Dee . . .” She was interrupted by the sound of “My Little Secret” by Xscape playing on her phone. She quickly tried to press ignore, but Cooley had already noticed the song choice.
    â€œWho’s your little secret?” Cooley knew that Carmen always picked ring tones that matched the personality of the person. At the moment Carmen used P.I.M.P. by 50 Cent for Cooley.
    â€œNo one special.” Carmen turned away; she knew Cooley could read her like a book.
    â€œMan, whatever. You’re lying, but we got to