Tyrell by Coe Booth Page A

is running out,” I tell her. “I gotta go ‘fore the phone cut off. Bye.” I flip the cell closed. How I’ma get through this week at Bennett and plan this party with only a hundred fifty? The party gonna hafta be this Saturday, ‘cause I need to make some money real fast.
    â€œCome set this table, Tyrell,” Ms. Jenkins say from the kitchen.
    I get up, kinda glad she making me do something besides just eat. She got four dishes set out like she still waiting for her ex-husband to show up. I start setting the table, but my mind is just thinking and planning.
    First thing I’ma hafta do is find a place for the party, and the cheaper the better. Then I’ma hafta find a way to get my pops equipment from the storage place. Maybe Andre or Greg can help me with that ‘cause they the only two niggas I know that got a license. Then I’ma hafta promote this party ‘cause Ineed the place to be packed with kids so I can make some real money.
    I finish setting the table and ask Ms. Jenkins if I can do something else to help out.
    â€œNo,” she say. “Just go wash up for dinner. Then come back, sit down, and eat.”
    I smile.
    â€œAnd don’t think I’m going to let you go back to those boys’ apartment, Tyrell. Not with what they’re up to. No. You’re staying right here. Case closed.”
    â€œYou sure, Ms. Jenkins? ‘Cause I know how you feel ‘bout having a boy here with Novisha.”
    She look me in the eye. “I trust you, Tyrell.”
    Damn. Now I’m feeling guilty.
    She laugh. “And I’m keeping Novisha in my bed with me, so don’t get any ideas!”
    â€œMom!” Novisha say. She still sitting at the computer. “You’re embarrassing me.”
    â€œGirl, I said I trust Tyrell, right? But I wasn’t born yesterday. I was a teenager once myself, you know, and I know what I would’ve gotten away with if my mother ever turned her back on me and your father. That woman was on me like white on rice, let me tell you. But she knew what she was doing.”
    Novisha roll her eyes. “I’m not you. And Tyrell’s not Daddy. Thank God.”
    Ms. Jenkins give Novisha one of them stares. “Turn that computer off and come eat dinner. You know they’re going to cancel school tomorrow anyway. You don’t need to sit there all night.”
    Me and Novisha look at each other for a couple seconds. Shedon’t say nothing, but I can tell she thinking what I’m thinking. Her moms is bugging.
    A couple hours later, I’m all full and satisfied, and me and Novisha is in her room. We s’posed to be putting clean sheets on her bed, but I’m trying to get some good long kisses from her before she gotta go sleep with her moms. Of course her moms make us keep the door open, so we can’t really do much of nothing.
    But that don’t stop me from trying. I’m grabbing her ass and trying to feel her up whenever she pass by me. And every chance I get, I’m kissing on her like I can’t help myself.
    â€œC’mon, Tyrell,” she say, checking to make sure her moms ain’t watching us. “My mom’s gonna wonder what we’re doing in here if she doesn’t see these sheets changed.” She start taking her blankets off the bed, but I stop her and put my arms ‘round her waist.
    â€œI wanna sleep on your sheets,” I tell her. “So I can smell you all night.”
    She make a face. “What do I smell like?”
    â€œYou know, that peach stuff you use in the shower. I love the way you smell.”
    â€œYou do?” She smile a little. “But, if you sleep on my sheets, are you gonna—?”
    â€œPro’ly,” I say, and laugh when she get all embarrassed and look away. “But I’ma be thinking ‘bout you when I do it. Like when we married, man, me and you gonna be doing all kinda wild things.”
    Now her