Lady J by L. Divine Page A

either get up or don’t eat. Simple as that,” Sarah says. Her deep Kingston accent gives the words more power than if I’d delivered them. I’m glad she’s on my side.
    â€œWho was talking to you?” the third friend says, but she sounds scared, like she’s trying to save face in front of her girls. These broads are too silly for me to deal with right now and not worth the trouble.
    â€œYou know, all of this isn’t necessary,” I say, trying to defuse the situation before Marty walks in from the storehouse in the parking lot. “Do you want to order or not?” Sarah, still ready to charge, retreats to the back and leaves me to deal with the shrews.
    â€œWe’re still deciding,” the lead broad says, symbolically waving her white flag and allowing things to cool down. These pseudo-rich chicks are too much for me. I’m glad I don’t have to deal with them on a daily basis. They remind me of that new TV show, Baldwin Hills , where I know they are frontin’ about having hella cash, unlike in Redondo Beach where the wealth is all real. Before I can begin my clock-out routine, Marty walks in and she’s headed my way.
    â€œJayd, you can go ahead and clean the tables. I’ll clock-out your register,” she says. Now she’s gotten too used to getting her way around here. I hate that she’s up in my money like this. But what can I do? Shahid and Summer are too busy planning their not-so-secret vacation to care about what’s going on here. I liked it better when they were on the low with their relationship. It seems like they were more cognizant of what’s going on in the store than they are now.
    â€œHow many times do I have to remind you that it’s my job to clock my own register out?” I say, taking the cloth from the counter and wiping down the juice bar.
    â€œJayd, it’s that type of insubordinate attitude that has resulted in your reduced hours,” Marty says, laying down a heavy blow in an eye blink. This chick is ruthless if she’s messing with my money—and stupid.
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” Summer has always made the schedules around here and mine has been steady for well over a year. I get my sixteen hours on the weekends and double that during the holidays. I know Marty doesn’t have the power to change that.
    â€œI made the new schedule and, in light of your lackadaisical attitude in the afternoons, decided you were only needed in the morning, through the lunch rush.” Oh hell, no, this broad isn’t serious. What was in that tea my mom made again? If I had all of the ingredients here, this chick would be down for the count.
    â€œWhat? You have no right to change Summer’s schedules,” I say, causing the snooty customers and employees alike to stop and pay attention to the scene I’m causing.
    â€œI have every right. She asked me to make changes for the better and I did,” Marty says. And, as usual, Summer and Shahid are not around to help a sistah out these days. What’s really going on here?
    â€œLook at it this way, Jayd. Now you can get off earlier and have the rest of the day to yourself,” she says smugly while stepping in front of me at the register and cashing it out.
    â€œI don’t need to get off earlier. I need to get a car,” I say, grabbing my things from one of the hooks on the wall and storming out just as Rah pulls up. Thank God for kismet timing. One more minute and they would be calling the police on my ass.
    â€œThat’s it, I’ve had it,” I scream as I get in the shiny red Acura and slam the passenger’s door. His car feels so comfortable, especially with Sade bumping in the background.
    â€œWell, hello to you, too,” Rah says, pulling out of the circular driveway and heading to my mom’s.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, Jayd?” Kamal asks, touching my shoulder from the seat in the back.