50% Chance of Rain:

I began to follow the Too Cool for School Gang around in secret. These guys… I was just fascinated by them. They didn’t care about anything. These boys just did as they pleased. Everyone loved and hated them. In my weeks of following the boys, I began to notice something. The girls secretly found them attractive. Black or white—it didn’t matter. They all wanted a piece of the Too Cool for School Gang. Not in public, however. These boys were a guilty pleasure. Different times, Frida. Different times.

I wanted more than that, however. I wanted to be part of their gang. I knew it was impossible. But, I had to try anyway. Why? An escape. Yeah, I said it. I had grown to hate my old life back then. Everyone was so fake. That’s how the South is. Everyone only pretends to be nice. But, they aren’t are they? It’s all a lie. That will never change!

Anyway, I followed the boys around like I normally did. So far, nothing exciting happened. I didn’t give up, however. These boys never failed to deliver in the past. I just had to keep watching. My determination finally paid off.

On January 31st, I hit gold. I found the gang in their usual spot on the school yard. I hid behind the tree. I strained my ears to listen in. Bleh! They were talking in Jive-Ebonics again. I could pick up on a little bit now. But…

I managed to understand a little bit of what was going on. Bill, their leader as I assumed, did more of the talking.

“Check dis, yo,” he said. “My dawg, Dougy, is havin’ this crazy jam downtown, yo!”

“When?” I heard Jim ask.

“Saturday!”

“Sweet!” another boy cheered. There we go! Here’s some gold here. Sure, I went to a party of one of your grandfather’s friends before. But, I didn’t stay long. The Too Cool for School Gang had me interested now. I listened in for more details.

Your grandfather lit up another cigarette. “Who’s in?”

“Ah!” Bill replied. “All of the cats in the neighborhood!” I remember Bill perfectly well. This guy was an oak tree! He towered over the boys. I kid you not, that guy scared me. He looked like every black stereotype before the 60’s. I still shudder when I think about him. Bill and your grandfather got along well, though. I just didn’t get it. I probably won’t to this day.

I watched the boys from my tree. They all came to life with their chatter. I wanted in so badly.

Suddenly, Bill turned to my direction. I froze. Had he seen me?

He sighed and rolled his eyes. “Yes, white girl, you can come too!”

I stepped out with a blank stare. “H-How did…” Then, the bell rang to end lunch. Everyone walked right past me. I just stood there, blinking.

Jim tried to explain it all to me later while laughing.

“Face it, Star,” he said. “A tree isn’t going to hide you from us!”

I frowned at him with a red face. “Y’all knew?!?”

“Yeah, but we said nothing. We just pretended not see you.”

Oh, I wanted to scream then. “You weren’t going to say nothin’?!?”

Jim gave me that goofy grin of his as he shook his head. “No.”

“Why?”

“Cause.”

“Cause why?”

“Felt like!”

I hit your grandfather in the arm. He jerked up at me.

“Ow.”

“You deserved it!”

“Abusive.”

I only smirked at him. Nevertheless, the Too Cool for School Gang accepted me to humor your grandfather and I. As you can imagine, our wild adventures stemmed from my ties with Jim and his boys. Good and pretty much bad.

1984