Lady J by L. Divine

What women will do for their hair. But this isn’t why I’m looking through this book, and my oven’s steaming, so I need to cut to the chase. I want to know how to stop Esmeralda, and fast.
    Hmm, now this is interesting. The last entry is two years later and is accompanied by a recipe for a tea called “Things Fall Apart.” I wonder if she made it up herself or got it from the spirit book. I better read up and take notes on this entire section so I can compare the two when I get home.

    June 17, Saturday
    Yesterday I graduated from high school and I’m done with this house. Tomorrow I’m moving in with my man and we’re getting married in Vegas next weekend, even though Mama and Daddy don’t know it yet. Mama can’t stand him, but he’s not that bad. Besides, it’ll get me out of this house a lot faster than if I did it alone. Esmeralda has gone too far this time, trying to get with my man. I know, I should blame him for going over there in the first place, but she lured him in with those damn cats and I’ve got something for her ass before I leave. With all the shit in this tea, her life should fall apart very quickly, and I don’t intend to be here to witness it. Mama already got her good, making sure she’ll never have any children of her own after what she did to that girl around the corner. I know she’s going to be screwed up for life after that one.
    I’m also done with this spirit work. I’m leaving all of this shit behind too. This is Mama’s legacy, not mine. Once I get married, I’ll change my name and start my own legacy, leaving all the craziness behind me for good. I don’t care if Esmeralda and Mama go way back and she has it out for us. I can’t stand that woman or her evil-ass eyes. I feel like a little part of me dies every time I look into them. Mama already put up a stone shield with rocks on the four corners of our property to keep that witch away from me, but nothing can stop her eyes and I’m sick of it all. I just want it to be all over and this tea should do the trick.

    That’s the last of my mom’s neat cursive writing on the page. From the date, it was around this time she moved in with my dad and things really did fall apart for her after that. The spirit book warns against doing works to harm other people; they could backfire and harm you as well. But I can see why my mom ignored the warning with Esmeralda. I’ll have to ask her if the tea worked. It’ll have to be tomorrow because I know she won’t be back before I go to bed, even though I’ll be up for a while doing my hair and schoolwork. But I do need to get some sleep in order to deal with work tomorrow.
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    â€œExcuse me,” this uppity-looking girl says to me from her seat in the restaurant while her two equally snobbish friends snicker. “Are you going to take our order anytime soon?” Where does she think she is, Red Lobster?
    â€œUh, no. You have to place your order at the counter and we’ll bring it to you when it comes up.” These St. Benedict chicks work my nerves more than the broads from Westingle. They all live in Baldwin Hills, View Park, and the surrounding beach areas, thinking that they’re better than those of us on the south side of the city. But they’re just a stone’s throw away from the hood themselves.
    â€œOh,” the snooty girl in their school’s letterman jacket says, rolling her well-made-up eyes at me. “Well, can’t you just take it from here instead of making me walk all the way back up?” Before I can comment, Sarah steps up front from the kitchen, ready to go off. Marty stuck her in the back as punishment for Sarah sassing her this morning. I’m glad it’s almost time to get off. Rah should be here soon and I’m more than ready to leave this place.
    â€œListen, she already told you that you have to order from the counter. So,