Page 100 of Grown

I describe her as best I could, wishing I’d printed at least one photo.

“Sorry, I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

My eyes narrow. “You’re lying.”

He stares through me. “What? Yo, do you even go here? Security check your ID?”

I back away, rushing out the door, straight to the Metro-North.

As soon as I’m on the next train home, a text from an unknown number buzzes:

Give me one night of you and this will all go away.

A stack of bricks piles onto my chest. He’ll never leave me alone. Ever.

Chapter 69

W&W Meeting Minutes

Minutes from Emergency W&W Mothers’ Meeting

Dr. Marcia Patrick (Sean’s mother):I think we all know what this is about.

LaToya Jones:I don’t, so why don’t you fill me in?

Dr. Patrick:There has been a lot of activity surrounding our chapter given this controversy with Korey Fields. The national board has concerns and thinks it’s best to... suspend your family’s membership for the time being.

Ms. Jones:Wow. Just like that?

Karen Evens (Malika’s mother):To be associatedwith this right now. It’s just not good for the children.

Ms. Jones:Hold up! Now when we first moved here, you all convinced us that we were family. And in times of crisis, family supposed to come together.

Ms. Evens:This... is different.

Nicole Woods (Aisha’s mother):I agree with LaToya. This is foolish, y’all! Come on! We’re supposed to be a group that cares and watches over our children. It takes a village to raise a child—that’s the motto.

Ms. Jones:Our daughter was stalked, preyed upon, and assaulted by a grown man. This is when we need our village the most.

Ms. Evens:Well... not so sure about all that.

Ms. Jones:Excuse me?

Ms. Woods:Oooo, Lawd.

Ms. Evens:She wasn’t exactly stalked, now was she? She walked right into his house.

Ms. Jones:She was brainwashed.

Ms. Evens:Girls are smart. They know what they doing.

Ms. Jones:Girls may THINK they know what they’re doing, but he’s an adult. He knew better than her.

Dr. Patrick:I agree. Adultlike decisions don’t make them adults.

Tonia Stevens (Creighton’s mother):Then, might I ask, why did you let her go?

Ms. Jones:We were made promises. None of those he came through with. But she’s not an adult. She’s just a child. My daughter.