Choosing Sides by Treasure Hernandez Page A

the woman who had brought her only love into the world.
    â€œArrested?” Mrs. Johnson repeated. She looked at Halleigh, who had tears running down her face. Instead of feeling sorry for her, she felt angry. “I knew that you were bad news from the moment I laid eyes on you.”
    Mrs. Johnson’s words cut like a knife, but Halleigh had to agree with Malek’s mother’s perception of her.
    Mrs. Johnson began to pace back and forth. “I need to call his father.” She grabbed her cell phone. “No, wait, I need to get my baby,” she mumbled frantically as she grabbed her purse and keys. “I need to get my baby!” she screamed, just imagining what those Flint cops might be doing to her son.
    Halleigh followed Mrs. Johnson to the car. As Mrs. Johnson went to the driver’s side, Halleigh waited at the passenger side with her hand on the doorknob.
    Mrs. Johnson looked at her like she was crazy. “Where do you think you’re going?” .
    â€œMrs. Johnson, please . . . I love him,” Halleigh pleaded. “I need to go see about him. Please, Mrs. Johnson. After this, you never have to lay eyes on me again, but please . . . I just need to know that he’s okay.” Halleigh stood there biting down on her bottom lip in anticipation, her eyes begging Mrs. Johnson to just this once put her feeling for her aside.
    â€œListen to me, Halleigh. I don’t even know what took place to land my son in jail, but my spirit of discernment tells me that you have everything to do with it. If I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again—you are not good enough for my son. Malek has a future, and I am going to make sure that you’re not a part of it.” She paused then held her hand to her chest, as if overcome by so much emotion. She couldn’t go on. Finally she growled through clenched teeth, “Stay away from him and this house before I hurt you, little girl.” The look in Mrs. Johnson’s eyes showed that her threat was not an idle one.
    All of a sudden, Mrs. Johnson stormed around the car to the passenger side. Halleigh backed away from the car while putting her arms up, not knowing what this crazed woman was going to do to her.
    â€œAnd give me back my son’s jacket.” With that, Mrs. Johnson snatched the jacket off Halleigh’s back, pushed past her, and went and climbed into her vehicle. She backed out of the driveway, wheels squealing.
    â€œMrs. Johnson, please!” Halleigh begged as she ran after the car and pounded on the hood desperately. All she wanted to do was get to Malek, but Mrs. Johnson ignored her cries and sped away, leaving Halleigh behind.

    â€œWhat’s your name?” Officer Cornwell asked, a smug expression on his face. These street thugs coming in here with their diamond necklaces and their fancy cars. Cocky sons of bitches, I hope we lock all of their drug-dealing asses up. He watched Malek remove all of the personal items from his pockets. He tilted his head from left to right, getting a better look at Malek. He looks familiar. He must be a repeat offender.
    Malek didn’t respond to the officer. He’d barely heard a word that he had said. He couldn’t stop thinking about Halleigh. Where is she? I hope she’s all right, he thought. I should’ve never taken her home after the game. But how was I to know? I mean, I knew that her moms was fiended out, but I never thought she would stoop so low as to turn her daughter over as payment to get high. Even though he himself was in a bad position, Malek could only think about helping his Hal. He loved her that much. Her well-being came before his own.
    â€œName?” the white officer repeated loudly, pounding the top of the table to get the young kid’s attention.
    Malek looked up at the officer. “Malek Johnson.”
    â€œMalek Johnson?” It was at that moment that Officer Cornwell realized where he had seen the