Two Thin Dimes by Caleb Alexander Page B

it happens sometimes. He raised the hood, and then this lady passed by, and he got her to give us a jumper.”
    â€œYou mean a jump,” LaChina corrected.
    Jamaica quickly lifted her hand toward LaChina, silencing her.
    â€œWhatever!” Jamaica snapped fiercely. “I had to hold two greasy, grimy, oily, jumper connectors in my hands, while my date worked on his Korean thingy. He called it a Hi-un-day, or something. The doors were black, the hood was charcoal with streaks of orange, and the rest of the dented, coughing, dying thing was gray.”
    LaChina was unable to contain her laughter any longer. She chuckled heavily as she began to approach Jamaica, who again raised her hand sharply, staying her friend.
    â€œDon’t you touch me!” Jamaica shouted. Her voice made LaChina stop cold.
    Unhurried, Jamaica continued. “After we left the theater, he said that everything was okay, so I let him take me out to eat.”
    LaChina nodded understandingly, but it only made matters worse. Jamaica exploded.
    â€œHe took me inside of a place where they used heat lamps to warm the food! There was a giant, plastic clown standing at the entrance…”
    â€œMcDonald’s?” LaChina interrupted.
    Jamaica leaped the bed and pointed at her friend. “Yes! He took me to McDonald’s!”
    Jamaica’s head fell toward the floor and her tone quickly changed. “China, I hadn’t been there since I was a kid. They had this big, giant menu on the wall, and he asked me what I wanted, and I didn’t know.”
    Jamaica’s eyes became watery, and she began sniffling. “They had names like Super Mac, Big Deluxe, Half-Pounders…I was so confused.” Jamaica sat back down onto the bed and her head fell into her lap. “I ordered the happy one.”
    Jamaica’s tears began to fall, and she began sobbing heavily. “It came in a box…and…and it had a toy…people were staring at me…” Jamaica reached into the pocket of her baggy blue jeans, and pulled out a pink, plastic toy, with frizzy, green, spiked hair.
    LaChina Demitria Anderson used every bit of willpower that she could conjure from within, to keep from laughing. Her hands flew around her friend. “My sister! My dear, sweet, sister!”
    Jamaica leaned her head against LaChina’s shoulder and continued weeping. “I ate thin, greasy, potato sticks, and some ground-up meat, with domestic cheese, and it had round bread with tiny bird seeds on top.” Jamaica sniffled. “And the little girl in the booth behind Tameer kept picking her nose and trying to get my toy.”
    Jamaica began crying heavily again.
    â€œIt’s alright, Jai. It’s okay,” LaChina said, comforting her. “People eat those things all of the time. Those fried potato sticks were called French fries.”
    Jamaica sniffled, and slowly sat up. “French?”
    â€œYes.” LaChina smiled and nodded.
    â€œFrom France?” Jamaica asked weakly.
    â€œ Oui .”
    â€œChina.”
    â€œWhat?”
    Jamaica’s head fell back down upon her friend’s shoulder. “I hate you.”

Chapter Seven
    â€œHello?”
    â€œHi, T, this is China.”
    â€œYeah, I recognized the voice.” Tameer cleared his throat. “So, how are you?”
    â€œI’m fine, thanks.”
    â€œSo, how’s Jamaica? Is she around?”
    â€œAs a matter of fact, she stepped out for a moment. Actually, she went to the mall to grab some clothes. I think she’s buying something new to wear, in case you ask her out again.” This time is was LaChina who cleared her throat. “She really enjoyed your date last night.”
    Tameer’s voice perked up. “Really? Wow, she didn’t seem like she was enjoying herself. She didn’t really eat very much, either.”
    â€œYeah, I heard. Well, Tameer, Jai is kind of special.”
    â€œYou mean