Page 112 of When I Thug You Like That

Me: Hey. When you get a chance, can you give me a call? India just picked Jamison up early and mentioned that she plans on moving him to another school. Did I miss something? And if so, is there anything I can do to help?

I read my text over twice, checking for tone to ensure I wasn’t coming off like I was telling on his baby mama or even worse, like I was looking for him to handle her for me.

I purposely didn’t mention her attitude or any slick comments she threw my way. They were secondary to her announcement of removing Baby Jay. I really just wanted to know if this was a shared decision. Satisfied with what I’d written, I slipped my phone in my pocket and went back to work.

After school began not long after dismissal, leaving me no space to think about my interaction with India. Between getting the kids settled, setting up activities, and handling the million little things that came with caring for children, I was at capacity.

I hadn’t heard back from Jay yet, but I wasn’t tripping. I never expected him to be at my beck and call every hour on the hour. I also wasn’t the type of woman who waited around watching the clock to see how long a man would take to text back. I knew he’d get back to me when he could.

Taina, on the other hand, wasn’t hearing it. Once after school ended, I called her on my way home.

“So, let me get this straight. You texted him what was going on hours ago, he still hasn’t answered, and you on the phone with me?”

“Yes, Taina. What you want me to do, blow the man phone up?”

“Yes, bitch. Are you okay?” she asked sarcastically.

“I’m fine. That man has a life. I’m not about to blow his phone up.”

“You not crazy enough for me.”

“You’re crazy enough for the both of us.” I laughed.

“Clearly. But tell me what the bm said again.”

“I told you already, girl.”

“Well, tell me again. I wanna make sure when I see this ho and punch her dead in her shit that it’s about the right thing.”

“Bitch, you’re a looney tune.”

“And you’re too calm. Repeat please.”

I stopped at a red light and repeated the interaction with India, complete with the attitude she gave when speaking and my response.

“Yeah, she most definitely knows something is going on wit’ y’all. And she’s a hater.”

The light changed, and I continued toward home.

I couldn’t say Taina was wrong. The things India said were too indirect to be completely innocent. Especially the one about me talking like Jay. It was as if she were trying to get me to slip up and say something. However, there was a clear difference between suspecting that Jay and I were seeing each other and knowing.

And even if she did know, the possibility that she was allowing her adult feelings about me and Jay to influence decisions concerning Jamison’s education was wild. I explained that to Taina, who had finally stopped being mad long enough to let me speak. If India didn’t like me, I was fine with that. But my respect was non-negotiable. And that was both personally and professionally.

“You know what’s really bothering me besides her being a hating ass ho?” Taina asked.

“What?”

“The fact that she couldn’t even express to you what she felt was missing. I know you go beyond the extra mile for your students and wouldn’t hesitate to partner with her on whatever she felt her son needed.”

I nodded even though she couldn’t see me.

“That’s what’s blowing me ‘cause, bitch, don’t act like I’m not doing my job,” I said with an attitude.

“Right. ‘Cause you can fuck her baby daddy down to the ground one night and teach her son the phonetic sounds in the morning. You my muthafuckin’ best friend. You are every woman. It’s all in you!”

I burst out laughing. “You know the fuck what? I’m hanging up. I just pulled into the garage.”

“I’m just sayin’. That bitch betta know who she talkin’ to.”