ALYSE
We all sat at the table, getting ready to eat dinner, when the thought of what my father was trying to do and what Colby had done played in my mind. I dropped my fork and crossed my arms over my chest. “How long have you been planning this?” I blurted out.
Both my parents looked at me curiously. “What are you talking about?” My father asked as he ate a piece of turkey.
I sat up. “This whole Hillsdale thing? You know, I find it funny that you hate me being at the very same HBCU you graduated from. I can’t understand why a man who had so much Blue Hawk pride hates it now.”
“No, I have the right to know. Sounds to me like Daddy owes the white man and is using me to pay up.”
“Now goddamnit, Alyse, watch how you talk to me!” my father shouted.
I raised my brow. My mother reached out to me. Her face softened. “Alyse, you will stay at TSU. Your father will be fine.”
He looked at her like she was crazy. “You don’t speak for me.”
Her head snapped his way. “And you don’t speak for her.
She is a growing girl, and we should be happy that she’s in college.
Let her explore and enjoy the Black excellence we as a people don’t have much to call our own as is.
Allow her to enjoy those moments with her people.
You sure did, or did you forget? Or is it that you don’t want her to run across a man who was much like you back then?
The rebel, the jock, the ladies’ man,” she paused.
“You met me there, so what does that say? Huh?”
To hear my mother say those things made me happy. All this time, I didn’t think she was on my side, but she was. “I want to audition for an on-stage play. It’ll be for the summer. Which means it wouldn’t affect school.”
My mother smiled. “I think you should do it.”
“What the fuck is happening?!” my father said.
Alice and Brice covered their mouths as they snickered while Brennon sat there clueless. I got up from the table. “I’m going to a friend's. I will be back later.”
I grabbed my things to head out the door when I felt a tug.
I want to go with you, please. Brennon asked.
I glanced up to see my mother. “He misses you. Only if you want.”
I looked back down at my brother, only if you promise to be on your best behavior.
A wide smile appeared on his face as he snatched his coat and rushed out the door. Brennon’s coming would be good because his meeting with Jalen would show him that he wasn’t the only one.