???
In the morning, he tried to slip out without waking anyone, but he found Uncle T and Memaw in the kitchen. Memaw was pouring him a cup of coffee, her gnarled hands shaking with age. T had stacks of bags and money lined up on the kitchen table, counting.
“Morning,” Devon muttered.
“Hush up, now, you made me lose count.” T shot him a glare, went back to the stacks.
Memaw kissed his head and motioned to the counter. She looked happy.
“Your Uncle T brought doughnuts. Help yourself, sugar.”
“No, thanks, Memaw. I’m not hungry.”
T brought a fist down on the table. “Too good for doughnuts now, boy? That’s straight-up whack. This the thanks I get for showin’ up, trying to take care of my family? What’re they teachin’ you down at that school?”
Devon watched Memaw lay a gentle hand on T’s shoulder.
“Now, Terrence, Devon’s said he’s not hungry—”
“How can a person not be hungry for a doughnut. You feel me? It’s a dang doughnut, forg—”
“They feed us at school, Uncle T.” Devon slipped his backpack on, gave Memaw a peck on the cheek. “See you tonight.”
“Got the Friday Night Giveaway tonight, Devon?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You be safe now.”
Uncle T’s voice, going on and on about church and the giveaway, faded as Devon crunched down the driveway. Left it all behind.
He paused at Mama’s memory garden as he went, kissed his fingers and touched the smooth wooden cross. He blinked hard as he gazed at the cross, at the tiny heart that used to be red and was now a faded brown, painted into the center. Miss you, Mama. Miss you like mad. Carefully, he tugged at some of the thicker plants at the edge of the memory garden, the ones threatening to move in and overwhelm the others. The bigger plants were like bullies, growing wild and fast during the hot months, trying to exert their might and power over the smaller ones. But unlike bullies, these plants you couldn’t ignore and they’d get bored, go away. You had to deal with these, rip them out at the root, or they’d take over.
He tossed the scraps into the trees, brushed his hands on his shorts, then headed for the bus stop.
“Uncle T’s bringin’ you into the family business, huh.” Marquis pursed his lips and jostled him as Devon approached.
Devon ignored him, crossed the street to stand by CJ and Shenise and her friend, the Latina girl with the braids and the skull and crossbones pin on her backpack.
“What’s that for?” he asked her, pointed to the pin.
She shrugged. “My tio gave it to me when we moved here. Don’t mean nothin’.”
“Just asking. You going to the enrichment program this summer?”
She gave him a look like he was crazy. “What enrichment program?”
Shenise rolled her eyes. “You know, Gabby. The thing I was telling you about yesterday. It’s free, right Devon?”
“Yeah. Rev Bryant set it all up with the town. Starts the Monday after school lets out. Free lunch, free everything.”
“Oh, that.” Gabby let her tongue loll out of her mouth. “Who wants to go to school for the summer?”
“Hey mamasita, careful with that tongue,” one of Marquis’ friends called out, laughing. Gabby held up a fist, and they laughed harder.
“Come on, Gab. Everyone’s going. I mean, what else are we gonna do? Beats hanging out with them all summer.” Shenise shot a glance at the trio on the corner.
CJ looked at Devon. “I’ll be there.”
