Get What You Give

  I had told myself he wasn’t gonna get any anymore, but at that moment I wanted more, and I wanted to give it to him far away from the palace before us.

  “Looking at this, no wonder you could have afforded all those beautiful campaign signs. Teddi and I could never have competed on your level. Covin, you live so modestly at school.”

  “Well, I just don’t want money clouding anyone’s view of me, is all. Besides, your handmade signs were really cute,” he said facetiously.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever,” I said, playfully punching him in the face.

  Before we could even make our way to the front entrance, a voice called out. “Son!” his mother said; she was in a lovely beaded gold dress. She looked disapprovingly at my gesture—she must have thought I was serious or for sure thought it was out of place.

  Covin gave his mom a big, heartfelt hug, and the cold stare she gave me let me know I was not really welcome. The intuition I’d had to be apprehensive here had been dead-on. She’d already sized me up, and her nose was way up, because I didn’t measure nowhere near up.

  “Mom, I want to introduce you to someone. This is Hailey Grant.”

  “Son, I didn’t know you were bringing someone with you,” she said, wishing I was not there.

  “Well, this is my birthday party.”

  “No, we’re honoring you on your birthday—this is your dad’s and my party for you. We paid for the meal, we invited the guests, and we want you to have a good time, our way, son. Trust me. So come on in and follow my lead. Your father and I have a surprise for you that is perfectly suited for you.”

  I so wanted to go vomit. I couldn’t say, “Thanks for having me” or “I’m glad to be here,” because that would be too fake. I was a little irritated. She too clearly let me know that I wasn’t good enough for her son. Seeing the kind of stock he came from, I could tell I wasn’t either.

  “I need to go to the bathroom,” I said to Covin under my breath.

  “The ladies’ room is down the hall, second door on your right,” his mom said to me in a condescending tone.

  There was so many people around—not that I wasn’t comfortable with them, but I felt so out of place. I mean, Covin had me right—I could charm anyone anytime—but these were highfalutin, you-better-be-somebody-to-talk-to-me people, and I didn’t have any of those credentials. Though my dad was an officer in the Navy, these were the kinds of people who were thankful for those who fought on the front line to protect them but could never befriend them.

  Finally, I got myself together. When I came back out I realized deep down that I could do this. My sorority empowered me to be strong and feel confident in shaky surroundings. Covin wanted me here, and I wanted to be with him. I could prove to his parents, at least his mom, that I was a great girl. I looked in a couple rooms and couldn’t spot him. Then I peeked in an open study to find him talking to his father. There was a young, semiattractive blond girl standing right beside him.

  “Son, you have to be excited to see Mary. She came back from Harvard just to be here for this event.”

  “Covin, I hear you got accepted into Harvard Law School,” she said as she gave him a big hug and a juicy kiss. Though it was on the cheek, it was a little seductive to me.

  He’d been accepted to Harvard Law? At that moment, I hated I hadn’t attempted to listen to all his messages. There was no way now that I could compete with Miss Blond America.

  Mrs. Randall called from across the room, “Mary, dear, come and let me introduce you to some people. Covin, let me spare her for a second, son.”

  Mary smiled at Covin, and I was livid. She reached for his hand. I realized when he didn’t reach for hers that maybe we had a chance. As she walked toward his mom, his dad’s disgruntled face told me he wasn’t pleased.

  “You need to let me arrange to take home whomever you brought here,” Covin’s father said and then pointed at Mary. “What’s standing over there is your future. You’re at a HBCU for résumé credits and not to deal with folks beneath us.”

  Tears rolled down my cheeks. It broke my heart to hear Covin’s father telling him, “That girl is not in your future plan.”

  16

  BEACONS

  Covin’s dad went on and on about the poor choice he was making by wanting to be with me. I couldn’t believe I was standing there quiet, still, numb, and taking in all the harsh words while the white chick was across the room with his mom, laughing and giggling like all was well with the world. Why was this happening?

  But when his dad said, “She might be a good lay, son, but she’s not going to get you into the White House,” I was furious.

  I just held my composure, walked into the room, and said, “You’re right, sir. I’m glad I get to see the true colors of the senator I voted for re-election. You talk the good talk about caring for all the good people of Arkansas, but you’re just an Uncle Tom.”

  “Son, are you going to let her talk to me like that?”

  “I’m through talking, sir,” Covin said, looking like he wanted to sock his dad.

  I turned to walk out of the room, and Covin grabbed my hand. “Wait, Hailey. Don’t go.”

  His mom came over and said, “What is going on here?”

  Mary followed behind her and asked the same question. “Yeah, what’s going on here? Covin, who is she?”

  “This is my girlfriend. Mary, thanks for coming to show your support. Yes, I did get accepted into Harvard, Yale, the University of Arkansas, and many other Ivy League schools to practice law, but I haven’t decided which one I’m going to attend yet. But I have decided that this girl right here—the one who hasn’t thrown in the towel after what she just witnessed tonight—I want her in my life. Western Smith College may not be an Ivy League school, but leading the student body there, I am extremely proud. We come from a rich heritage that teaches us we can overcome racism and ignorance, even if it comes from our parents. Mom, you gotta want your son to be happy. You gotta want a woman who’s gonna make me do better, like you always have. She has beauty on the outside, but there are a lot of brains to back that up. Don’t judge a book by its cover or lack thereof. She’s awesome.”

  Mary stepped up to Covin and said, “That’s beautiful.” She kissed him on the cheek. “I wanna find that. I’m happy for you guys.” She walked out, nodding at me approvingly.

  His dad quickly let us know Mary’s thoughts were not shared. “Son, you’re making a—”

  “You know what, Dad? It’s my life to live. I promise I’m gonna make you proud. Just trust my choices. No disrespect, but growing up, I’ve seen you and Mom around here, and y’all didn’t have all that romance. I don’t even know if y’all love each other. I want a little more than a certificate marriage.”

  “What’s love got to do with it?” his mom said as she looked at me with harsh eyes.

  “The same love you two have for me—your son. Let me have that real love all my life. You gotta take your hands off and let me go.”

  “You’re saying you’re in love? What are you two doing on campus? I hope no babies are on the way. If so, your life is going to be completely messed up! Where did I go wrong?” his mom yelled out before his parents exited the room and left us alone.

  Frustrated, I sank into a nearby chair. Covin and I had finally found our way back to each other. We were ready for a healthy relationship. And now there was a big roadblock that appeared to be a boulder we could not move.

  “I’m so sorry for all this,” he said to me. “I’ll let her know she won’t be a grandmom any time soon.”

  “I gotta go, Covin.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  “Yes, I do. I’m gonna ruin your life. Your parents have planned so much for you. Your mom’s right about love—we don’t even know if we’ll make it tomorrow as a couple. I don’t want you to give up your future for what’s uncertain with me.”

  “It doesn’t matter about tomorrow. Right now I’m not gonna let go of my spot of hope. Say you don’t car
e about me and I’ll make sure you get home safely.”

  “You know I care,” I said as my wet eyes got heavier.

  “And now you know where I stand. Can we give that up? My folks will come around sooner or later,” he said as he smiled. “We can’t give up on us. Not when it feels this right.”

  He kissed me so softly and tenderly, and all felt right with the world. He’d let me know how strongly he cared. I felt good deciding we’d give us a real chance to be something.

  “It’s a glorious Saturday, Hailey! Today we are gonna rake in the money,” Teddi said to me when she got off her cell phone.

  We didn’t even have to help the gents by ourselves. The alumni chapter had divided themselves into eight groups of three. Each group paired with a contestant and was holding different fund-raisers. One group had a bake sale. Two groups were doing a car wash. One was doing a barbecue. Another group held a fish fry. Three groups had a silent auction.

  “All the events are going great. We just have to stop by, peek our head in for a bit, and give them some moral support,” I said to Teddi.

  “I’m so excited that the alumni sorors are really showing us if we stick around here, we can join their chapter. They don’t just say they wanna work, Hailey. They are actually putting in work.”

  “Yeah, this is amazing,” I said, very thankful that things were coming together.

  We couldn’t go to eight events in one day, particularly when most of them were between the hours of three to seven. So Teddi and I partnered up and went to the fish fry, which was being held in a local youth soccer complex. There were tons of cars and tons of families, and everybody was hungry. The event sold out.

  The gent, whose name was Rashaun, came up to me and said, “Hailey, thank you for getting us help. I really needed some extra money for school next semester. And I do get forty percent of the funds, right?”

  “As long as the money is going toward school for your books, tuition, and housing, yes, you get forty percent of the money—if you raise at least twelve hundred dollars. Keep working because, remember, you get sixty percent of anything raised over twelve hundred.”

  “Well, the only thing they have to do is put back the cost of buying the fish. Everything else was donated. I might be able to pay for two semesters.”

  Teddi and I stopped by the car wash, which was being held in the parking lot of the local Walmart. Not only were they making money on the car wash, but they had a lemonade stand, and people were giving plenty of donations.

  “Hey, Hailey. I don’t know how much these ladies have raised for me, but I’m sure it’s enough,” Stoney Creek, one of the male contestants, said to me. “My mom got laid off, and they didn’t know how they were gonna keep me in school. This contest is a blessing. What can I do to thank these ladies for helping me out like they have?”

  “Just stay in school, get good grades, and get a great job. I’m sure they wouldn’t want you to pay them back.”

  “I have to do something. I mean, this gives me hope to do anything I want to, and I don’t know how to thank them.”

  We jetted off again and went to our third event, the silent auction. It was an actual art auction. One of the chapter sorors was an artist and was previewing her new collection. She was selling paintings from previous years, and some of the bids were kinda scary.

  Another gent, George, came over to me and said, “My dad got shot when I was eighteen. I had been living without my mom. She died from being strung out on drugs when I was a kid. If the pell grant hadn’t paid my tuition, I don’t know how I would have gotten here. Now I know I can make it.”

  Teddi’s eyes started tearing up. I then realized she and this guy had a lot in common. They were both orphans, for lack of a better word, but they had both worked things out to come out okay. They both exchanged numbers and shook hands. We walked to the car, and I couldn’t wait to clown her.

  “Oooo, somebody is on the prowl for some new meat!”

  “Whatever. We need to make sure we get all this money turned in tomorrow. That’s the only thing I’m worried about. We were so focused on helping Ms. Mayzee’s family that we rarely talk about the fact that these guys signed up and stayed with the program because they needed help themselves. This is really a good project, Hailey. Aren’t you proud you’re making a difference?”

  “I’m proud we’re making a difference, Teddi.”

  A hassle and a headache of putting on an event seem worth it when you were doing it for a justified cause. We were gonna be all right. Boy, did that feel good.

  We were just beginning the May chapter meeting, and before we could start, our adviser walked in with some dignitaries. Oooos and ahhhs went throughout the room. When I turned around I, too, was shocked to see the National President standing at the back door. We all rose as protocol dictated. She was escorted to the front and conducted the official opening of the chapter meeting ceremony.

  When she hit the gavel, and we sat down, she said, “Thank you all for welcoming me and allowing me to take part in this meeting. I came by because, as you know, Alpha chapter has been on probation, and I am pleased to tell you that the Panhellenic council for this university has not only decided to lift that ban, but that the chapter of the year is Beta Gamma Pi, Alpha chapter.”

  We all screamed across the room in amazement. This was so unbelievably untrue. The National President allowed us to bask in our excitement before she continued.

  “Okay, ladies. Now, you guys know this award is given based on academics, evidence of displayed bonding, and public service. Basically, it boils down to which chapter is most effective on this campus, and this year it was you guys. You all brought in a line the right way through this tough economy, endured such natural disasters that no other group of women could make it through and came out on top. And on top of everything, you ladies overcame it all and shone with bright colors. And that’s what Beta Gamma Pi is all about. We are light in the darkness. I’m not going to stay for your whole meeting, but I want to remind you to keep doing what you’re doing. Keep on being the example. Keep on showing others the way. This chapter got off track a couple years back, and I didn’t think Alpha chapter was going to make it, particularly when my daughter, Malloy, was in school. I’m about to go out of office, and I am so proud you guys have steered this chapter back in the right direction. Hats off to you all. Before I forget, I know about the young family you are all trying to help through your contest you have coming up in a few weeks. Please accept this five-hundred-dollar check from Grand Chapter to help them. I know the event will be pretty successful, and you will bless a lot of people.”

  The National President, along with our adviser, unveiled the Panhellenic trophy. It went alongside the many other awards the chapter had collected over its many years of existence. I was living history at that moment. Nothing could compare to me being a member of Beta Gamma Pi. We were truly the best, and that meant more than any trophy could certify.

  As the National President exited the building, I gave a report, and lots of girls had questions. I knew every time I presented, there was drama, so I was pretty sure of what was coming my way. I dug my heels deep and prepared for the bashing to come.

  “Why are we giving such a high percentage back to the gents and the family? Why aren’t we keeping the majority of the funds for the chapter?” Sam asked.

  “Because in the paperwork we gave to them it specified this way. We are trying to do good versus help ourselves,” I explained, hoping the President would not forget what we signed up for.

  “Well, if we have more money, we can help ourselves,” Connie said. “I told them that amount was high.”

  “Too bad, Connie, because that’s the way it’s gonna be,” Teddi said, speaking up as head of finances.

  “The alumnae chapter helped raise that money for the participants. Sorors wanted to help the guys and us. And quit tripping, there’s nothing in the documents we gave them that said they’d be disqualified if sorors helped them,” I remind
ed.

  People were going on and on and on about this money we had now raised. The bottom line looked to be about twenty thousand dollars, and of that we were projected to keep only four thousand. However, this was four thousand more than we’d had. I wasn’t too hung up on the money part. The fight about finances ended in no agreement, and then the meeting was adjourned.

  Afterward, Teddi came over to me and said, “You know we need to get the checks signed for the event.”

  “After that meeting, girl, I just need a break,” I said, wanting a warm bubble bath.

  Teddi grabbed my arm. “Girl, please! The President and Treasurer both have to sign, and are right over there. Let’s take care of this. Then we’ll have one thing done.”

  Heeding her point, Teddi and I went up to Sam. Before I could speak, Sam said, “I see there’s a lot of discussion and a lot of rambling. Sorry we haven’t been around your committee meetings too much lately, but we’ve been doing other projects for the chapter. Plus, I gotta make sure I graduate. I’m going to be honest—I don’t feel comfortable giving this big percentage, but like y’all said, this is what we told them, so I’m signing off on the checks.”

  Because Teddi was in charge of finances for the committee, I gave her the checks to hold. As we walked to our dorm, she said, “I can’t believe they’re tripping over money. None of them were even on board for this event. They didn’t help us raise a dime, ain’t sold one ticket, yet they wanna trip about how we spend the money. Oh, please!”

  “Don’t let none of that stress you out or get you down. The checks are signed. We got what we need, and we know what we have to do to help people. Our committee is still treading along like the little engine that could. Despite all the negativity, hope still beacons.”

  17

  GOLDEN

  “Come on, guys, this has got to be exciting,” I said to my line sisters the day before the Mr. Beta Gamma Pi contest.