I Know I've Been Changed by Reshonda Tate Billingsley Page B

Little yellow girl who thinks she can break into this business because of her looks. She’s in for a rude awakening and I’m just trying to prepare her.” I had been where Simone was, bright-eyed and ready to conquer the world. She had to be tough to make it, and believe it or not, I was really trying to toughen her up.
    “But you have to admit, the girl is good,” Shereen said.
    “I don’t have to admit anything. Even if she is that good, which she’s not, she doesn’t need to get a big head.”
    “Like you?” Shereen smiled slyly.
    “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. Look, I used to be Simone. Cute, thought I was full of talent, and ready to take on the world. I got to Tyler and reality hit me smack dead in the face. I was the only black person working there, and those people treated me like dirt. I was nice and people ran over me left and right.”
    “You don’t seem like you were ever nice.”
    “Shut up and let me finish.”
    Shereen shrugged.
    “As I was saying, I cried myself to sleep so many nights. I turned to the only other black person in the business and she was mean to me, too. But you know what? It made me a stronger person. That’s all I’m trying to do.”
    “You’re doing it well.”
    “Whatever.”
    “It just seems to me that as people of color, we should be more supportive of one another, not fighting like crabs in a bucket,” Shereen said matter-of-factly.
    “I’m no crab,” I protested.
    “Hmph. If you say so.”
    “That little Miss Thang has nothing that I want. She’s the one who wants my job.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m sure that eventually she’d like to have your job. But I doubt very seriously she wants to take your job from you right now.”
    “Not that she even could.”
    “Exactly. So why do you feel threatened?”
    “Shereen, no offense, but you work in promotions. The news business is a different creature. I don’t feel threatened from that little wannabe. But all my life, no one has given me anything. I have had to work for everything, twice as hard. So, I’m just trying to prepare that girl for the hard days ahead.”
    “Oh, so this is all about you caring for her?”
    “Something like that.”
    “Yeah, okay. Tell that to someone who doesn’t know you like I do.” Shereen got up and walked toward the door. “You don’t care about nobody but yourself.”
    I resented that comment. And why was my so-called friend going off on me?
    Shereen stopped in the doorway. “Oh, yeah, you care about me, too.” She smiled. “I don’t know why, and even though you try and act hard, I really think you care about our friendship, which is why I’m still hanging around. So, stop pouting at me for being real with you. And don’t forget, you’re going to church with me Sunday.”
    “I never said anything about going to church with you Sunday.”
    “Ummm, yes, you did. I told you last month I wanted you to come with me on the twenty-first because my niece was singing a solo. You promised.”
    I raised my eyebrows. I remembered making that promise, I just never thought Shereen would hold me to it. She knew I seldom went to church.
    “If you don’t go with me, you can forget about me being your friend,” Shereen playfully threatened. “I’m always there when you call. Maya is your biggest fan and I told her you’d be there. So do this one thing for me. Okay? Thanks, you’re a doll.” Shereen blew me a kiss, then sashayed out.
    I reluctantly smiled. Shereen was my girl. Even though I didn’t agree with some of the stuff she’d said earlier, I knew she was frank. She loved me despite my faults and I couldn’t help but love her as well. If she wanted me there for her niece, I’d be there.

Chapter 9
    I studied the numbers in my checkbook register once again. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why I kept coming up short $200. I eased out my calculator and tried to balance the numbers again.
    Shereen leaned over toward me and hissed,