Page 5 of Grown

It’s rare that Shea watches the Littles alone. I still consider her one of them.

“Daddy’s picking up baby girl from day care before his shift. Where’s the twins?”

“They’re Kung Fu Panda-ing in the living room.”

“Hi, Mommy!” they scream in the background.

“Hi, babies! How are my munchkins? What’s the best thing that happened to you today?”

Mom is always multitasking, her mind working like several browser tabs opened at once. She gives Shea her last set of directions before hanging up.

“So what is this? A special meet or something?”

“Um, yes. Coach recommended me. College recruiters are going to be there and everything.”

“Really?” She brightens, a grin growing across her face, and presses the gas a little harder. I turn up the volume on 107.5 WBLS, an oldies R&B station. Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love for You” plays, and I hum along.

It’s good practice.

“I don’t understand how she got the times mixed up.” Mom huffs as we scuffle across campus.

“Honest mistake,” I say, checking the time just as a text from Gab pops up.

What up! How’s it going?

Not there yet.

Girl! The line closes in thirty minutes. Move ur ass!

“A whole week early, though?” Mom carries on. “Doesn’t she know some of us have jobs? Why are you walking so fast? Slow down!”

As she drags behind me, digging in her giant purse for her keys, I casually stroke into the next phase of my plan.

“Hey, Mom. Since we have some time, I mean, while we’re here... can we stop at another tryout?”

“What kind of swim meet would be this late?”

“Well, it’s actually a singing competition. A friend told me about it... today. It’s just a little thing.”

Mom’s head pops up, eyes narrow. “Oh, really now?”

Torn between coming clean and pressing on, I dive deeper.

“Please! It’ll be real quick. It’s only fifteen minutes from here.”

“Oh, and how would you know that?”

“I, uh, googled it on the way. I thought maybe if we finished up early, we could stop by. Not that I expected to, just, you know, being... proactive. Like you always tell me, right? Looks good for college recommendations.”

Mom blows out some air. “Chanty, we talked about this. School, then activities, then homework, then housework, andthensinging. That’s what’s going to get you into college!”

She’s been beating this horse to death for years.

“I know! And we did, see? School, check. Activities, check. I did my homework during lunch. Shea has us covered at home, so...”

Mom shakes her head. “Oh, all right. You got one hour.”

I smile. That’s all I need.