Myself and I

  MYSELF AND I

  Earl Sewell

  MYSELF AND I

  A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.

  —Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill

  Acknowledgments

  I am so proud of what my character Keysha has come to mean to so many young readers around the globe. For me as an author to receive e-mails about this series from fans in the United States, Canada, London and the Caribbean blows me away. What I have learned is that readers of this series feel an incredibly strong connection to Keysha and relate to her in the most profound of ways. Readers are inspired by her courage, her determination and her pursuit of a drama-free life. In this fifth installment I hope you come to appreciate the latest challenges Keysha and everyone who is close to her must deal with as well as share your thoughts and opinions with friends who are also reading the series.

  This particular installment holds a special place in my heart because something amazing happened during the production process. Through Facebook, after twenty-five years I was contacted by Julie Grant, a lifeguard who’d taught me how to swim when I was just twelve years old. She thought about me when her fifteen-year-old daughter found an old photo that I’d given her years ago. After explaining who I was, Julie decided to see if I had a Facebook page.

  When I was twelve my family moved from urban America to surburbia and were some of the first people of color to move to the neighborhood. When I learned that my new home had a community swimming pool I was excited beyond words. I’d never been in any body of water outside the bathtub, and to suddenly have access to a swimming pool was like hitting the lottery. It didn’t matter that I had no swimming skills at all. The only thing that mattered to me was getting in the water and having fun. When I finally got my opportunity to go for a swim, my parents were nervous about it and feared I would be met with racism and would return home upset and angry. I didn’t care about prejudice because I got along with everyone. When I arrived, a tall young woman with sandy-brown hair and a friendly smile asked if I knew how to swim. When I told her no, she immediately agreed to show me how. I thought for sure the lessons would be expensive, but she didn’t charge me a thing. That year, I went to the pool every day, and by the end of the summer I was able to do flips off the diving board. I have since gone on to use that skill in a number of ways. I was able to teach my cousins, my daughter and a few adult friends how to swim. So to Julie Grant, I say thank you.

  I have so many people to express gratitude to for my continuing success in this profession. I have to give a big thank-you to my editor Glenda Howard, who has stood with me and who has been a champion of my career and this series from the beginning.

  To Linda Wilson, who was my right arm during the production of this book. Thank you for always being available and for never complaining while I was running around with my hair on fire trying to complete it.

  To my family, Annette and Candice as always, thanks for putting up with me and my madness during the production of this novel.

  I have to send out an extra-special thank-you to Kim Boyd, who has worked tirelessly to provide copies of the Keysha’s Drama series to students who attend public schools in Chicago. I cannot thank you enough for your hard work and deep commitment to sharing this series with so many students.

  To Amy Cheney and countless other librarians who have discovered this series and have either shared it or recommended it to library patrons or students who attended your educational institutions. Thank you so much for helping me spread the word.

  Another very special thank-you goes out to a Hillcrest High School student named Corinthia Coleman. Thank you, Corinthia, for all your enthusiasm and thought-provoking comments during book club discussions.

  Finally, to all of you who love this series and have either talked about it or shared it with a friend, I say thank you for all the love and support you’ve given me.

  Please feel free to drop me a line at earl@earlsewell.com. Please put the title of my book in the subject line so that I know your message to me is not spam. Make sure you check out www.earlsewell.net and www.myspace.com/earlsewell. Also visit the fictional character Keysha at www.myspace.com/keyshasdrama. You can also hit me up at www.keyshasdrama.ning.com. And I’m on Facebook and Twitter. Just type in my name and you should be able to find me with little difficulty.

  Contents

  Chapter one

  Chapter two

  Chapter three

  Chapter four

  Chapter five

  Chapter six

  Chapter seven

  Chapter eight

  Chapter nine

  Chapter ten

  Chapter eleven

  Chapter twelve

  Chapter thirteen

  Chapter fourteen

  Chapter fifteen

  Chapter sixteen

  Chapter seventeen

  Chapter eighteen

  Chapter nineteen

  Chapter twenty

  Chapter twenty-one

  Chapter twenty-two

  Reading Guide Questions

  one

  Why do boys lie so much? Why won’t they listen, be attentive and above all, be truthful to their girlfriends? Why do they continually do idiotic things that ruin great relationships and then deny the truth when they get busted? I wish someone could explain the male ego to me, because I’d certainly like to know the answers to my questions. I swear I don’t understand why or how boys can be jackasses and egotistical all at the same time and think there is nothing wrong with that. Is that just the way it is with guys, or does their stupidity disappear as they get older? I briefly thought about Beyoncé’s song “If I Were A Boy” and the truthfulness of the words she sang.

  I searched my mind for answers to my questions while sitting on a soft brown leather sofa in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place hotel. With my face buried in the palms of my hands, masking my humiliation, I thought about how I’d gone to great lengths to find the perfect prom dress and matching accessories for what was supposed to be one of the best moments of my life. I’d even slept in an upright position so I wouldn’t wreck my hair. Needless to say, when morning came I had a nasty muscle cramp in my neck. I did all that only to have my jerk of a boyfriend and his needy ex-girlfriend screw it all up. For a moment I felt as if I were about to have an anxiety attack, but I held my emotions in check. Then I smeared away the angry tears streaming down my cheeks, smudging my makeup in the process. I thought about mean-spirited ways to get even with Antonio and Priscilla, his ex. I thought about posting my angry thoughts about him all over the Internet. I’d let everybody know just how much of a jerk he is. As much as I wanted to let go of my rage, I couldn’t, at least not just yet. I closed my eyes and allowed my mind to replay what had happened a few minutes ago.

  My best friend, Maya, and I had just set foot back inside the ballroom, where Thornwood High School students were jamming to the rhythm of the music. Across the crowded room, I spotted my boyfriend, Antonio, talking to his ex-girlfriend Priscilla. I rushed over to see why she was chatting with him. If truth be told, I thought she was trying to make him an offer he just couldn’t refuse. Boy, was I way off on that one. By the time I arrived, Priscilla was going off on him, so I stepped between them and confronted her. I asked her what the hell was her problem. Even though it was prom night and I had on an expensive dress, I was all set to kick her butt for old and new if she wanted to throw down. All during the school year she’d been on my back about my relationship with Antonio. At one point I seriously thought we were competing for the attention and affections of the same guy. But it was clear I’d won—Antonio was at prom with me and not her. I believed Priscilla was just a sore loser who couldn’t get over the fact that Antonio
had chosen me over her. At that moment I was intent on setting things straight. Then Priscilla dropped a bomb.

  “I’m pregnant with your baby, Antonio!” she screamed. Everyone near us stopped what they were doing and focused on the argument that I’d walked in the middle of. Honestly, when Pricilla first made the announcement I thought I didn’t hear her correctly, but then she repeated herself.

  “Oh, damn, Antonio! You’re a straight-up player. You’ve got one girl loaded and another chickenhead ready to beat her down,” some boy who was standing nearby said, as if Antonio was supermacho. I was so shocked and appalled by the announcement of the pregnancy that I ran out of the ballroom.

  I opened my small purse and searched for some tissues to dry my cheeks and blow my nose. I rose to my feet and headed toward the front door so I could step outside and get some fresh air. As soon as I stepped out of the air-conditioned hotel and into the warm night air, Maya seemed to appear out of nowhere.

  “Are you okay?” She moved around in front of me, then embraced me. I placed my forehead on her shoulder and sobbed.

  “It’s okay. Please don’t cry, Keysha. He isn’t worth the salt in your tears.”

  “Why do I have the worst luck with guys? Why do I keep falling for the jackasses and jerks?” I asked, not really expecting Maya to give me an answer.

  “My mom says that’s why it’s called dating. You meet someone and get to know them. If it works out, cool, but if it doesn’t you have the option of moving on,” Maya explained.

  “Well, I suck at dating, that’s for doggone sure,” I stated as I pushed away from her. “I’m going to ruin your pretty dress with my tears and slobber.” I inspected her dress, making sure I hadn’t left any wet spots on her.

  “I don’t care about the dress. I care about you,” Maya said as she rubbed my back in an effort to comfort me.

  “I’m cool,” I said. “But I don’t think I can go back in there. Not after what just happened.”

  “You shouldn’t let this ruin your evening, Keysha,” Maya said.

  “Are you serious? I know you’re not trying to say I should go back in there and give him another chance.” I searched Maya’s eyes for an answer.

  “All I’m saying is you should try to make the best of it. You can hang out with Misalo and me. I’ll even let you dance with him,” Maya said jokingly.

  “I do not want to dance with Misalo.” I glanced at traffic moving along Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.

  “What did Antonio say after I left?” I asked.

  “He said he wasn’t the father of Priscilla’s child. Then she slapped him and he was about to swing on her until some other guys started pulling him away.”

  “Where is he now?” I asked.

  “I don’t know, probably somewhere inside trying to figure out what to do next. Once Antonio was pulled away, I came out here to look for you.”

  “Well, I don’t want to go back in there. I just want to go home and sit in my room,” I said as I pulled out my cell phone and called the limousine driver. When he answered I told him to drive around to the front of the hotel so he could pick me up.

  “You’re serious, aren’t you. Are you sure you just want to leave? I mean, can’t you just put this behind you and let it go? After all, you’re not the one who’s expecting a baby.”

  “Do you think I’m making too much of a big deal out of this?” I asked. “I want your honest opinion.”

  “I can understand you being angry, but have you considered that Priscilla may be lying? Maybe she just did all this to be dramatic.”

  “Well, if she did, she should get an Oscar for her performance,” I snapped.

  “Speaking of drama, here comes Antonio.” Maya nodded in his direction. I turned and saw Antonio glance at me and then quicken his pace to reach me.

  “There you are,” he said as he tried to embrace me, but I moved away.

  He seemed exasperated by the fact that I’d pulled away from him. “I know you’re not going to let Pricilla’s crazy outburst screw up the night.” Antonio wasn’t taking my feelings about what had just happened seriously.

  “Antonio,” I said, making sure I held his gaze. “I’m going to ask you one question, and I want an honest answer from you.”

  “Come on, baby. Let’s just go back inside, have some fun and slow dance,” Antonio pleaded with me. He pouted as he tried to take my hand and lead me back into the ballroom, but I wasn’t about to budge. “No. Not until you answer my question.” I stood firm on my position.

  “I’ll give you guys a minute to talk this over.” Maya stepped away to give us a little privacy.

  “You don’t have to leave, Maya,” I assured her.

  “I’ll just be right over there,” Maya said, pointing to a nearby bench outside one of the hotel doors.

  “Keysha, stop tripping. Priscilla has mental issues. Everyone in the school knows that.” Antonio rubbed the palms of his hands up and down my arms. “Are you cold?” he asked.

  “No,” I said, as I tried to figure out what to do.

  “Come on. You know you’re my boo.” Antonio kissed me on the cheek and for a moment, like a lovesick fool, I allowed myself to forget everything that had just happened.

  “You can have him, Keysha! Because he’s nothing but a musty-smelling, double-crossing dirty dog!” Priscilla screeched as she exited the hotel.

  “Get your crazy butt away from us!” Antonio turned his attention to Priscilla.

  “I hate you, Antonio!” Priscilla screamed. “I can’t believe that you don’t even care about our baby!” All the tears that fell down her twisted face and even the veins that popped up in her neck convinced me she was emotionally wounded and possibly telling the truth about being pregnant.

  “You’re a liar. I don’t believe that’s my baby,” Antonio shouted.

  “It’s the truth and you know it.” The raw emotion in Priscilla’s voice was unmistakable and powerful. She shot Antonio a hateful look before running off.

  “I’m glad she’s gone,” Antonio said. I could tell he was extremely annoyed as he tugged at my arm to get me to come back inside with him.

  “Come on,” he insisted. When I didn’t budge, he turned to me, placed my cheeks in the palms of his hands and kissed me. “You’re my girl, Keysha. I’ve got so much love inside of me that’s just waiting for you and only you. Whatever you need or want me to do in order to prove it, I will.”

  “Antonio,” I whispered softly.

  “What?” he asked, removing a strand of my hair away from my eye.

  “I need the answer to my question,” I said.

  “If I answer it, will you come back inside?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I replied, not fully sure if I would go back with him.

  “Then what is it?” Antonio stepped back, folded his arms across his chest and waited for the question.

  I cut straight to the chase. “Have you had unprotected sex with Priscilla?”

  Antonio looked deep into my eyes and with a straight face answered, “No. I’ve never even had protected sex with Priscilla. She’s not my type and never has been. She’s been trying to hook up with me for as long as I can remember. She just can’t stand the fact that I like you instead of her.”

  “Really?” I asked, desperately wanting to believe every word that passed through his lips.

  “Yes. That’s the truth. You can’t let every crazy girl who has a thing for me try to tear us apart. Priscilla is a certified nutcase.”

  “Okay. I believe you.” I was torn, but gave in to my heart instead of the logic in my mind. I searched my purse once again for my cell phone. I was about to call the driver back and tell him I’d be staying a little longer after all. Just as I flipped up the phone and was about to press Redial, Priscilla ran toward us with a large crystal bowl filled with fruit punch and slung it at us.

  “I hate both of you!” she yelled, then dropped the bowl, which shattered into large pieces. As Priscilla rushed off, I was completely stunned. M
ost of the fruit punch had landed on me, ruining my hair, my dress and my expensive shoes. Fruit punch dripped from Antonio’s face. I think he’d seen Priscilla charging toward us and moved in the nick of time.

  “I don’t believe she just did that!” Maya said, rushing over to me in a panic. “I’m beating her down just for you the next time I see her.” A few adults exiting the hotel asked if I was all right, but all I felt was total humiliation.

  “I’m going to go and ask the front desk clerk for a few towels,” Antonio announced before rushing off.

  “Which way did she go, Maya?” I said, removing my shoes and glancing around the hotel lobby. I was about to chase her down. I didn’t even care about drying off first.

  “There she goes, right over there!” Maya pointed to Priscilla, who was running down the sidewalk toward the exit ramp of the parking garage.

  “Priscilla! Priscilla!” I shouted angrily. She stopped briefly to look back at me. At that very moment a speeding car came zooming out of the garage, narrowly missing her. The driver jammed on the brakes, then made a sharp turn onto King Drive and sped away. “Oh my God, Maya! That was Lori driving like a lunatic.” By the time I turned my attention back toward Priscilla, she was gone.

  “Damn! Can you believe that, Keysha?” Maya’s voice had risen to a high pitch.

  “Lori almost ran Priscilla down. That just goes to show you that God don’t like ugly,” I uttered. I knew my alcohol-addicted ex-boyfriend, Wesley, had to be in the car with her. Lori was another psychopath who went to my school. I’d seen both Wesley and Lori earlier—smelled them, too—they both reeked of alcohol.

  “I think you just saved Priscilla’s life. If she hadn’t stopped to look at you, she would’ve been a stain on the concrete.”