“Who’s pregnant?” Janelle asks.

“Nobody now. It was Jade.”

“That preacher’s daughter?” Charlotte ask.

“Yes.”

“Them’s the one who give it up the most after being in church all day and locked up in the house all night,” Charlotte say. “But, anyway, you can call me for now on, you got that?”

“I got it.”

“I got a phone,” Lewis say. “And it won’t be getting cut off any time soon.”

“Okay,” Janelle says. “But I want to know if you still crave those things.”

“I have my moments.”

“Don’t give into it,” Lewis says. “It’s just a trick, believe me.”

“I won’t,” Paris say, and she look so relieved. That same softness seem to done spread across her face, too. When she lean back against the couch, her shoulders look like they just drop.

“Okay, I’m reading again!” Charlotte yell.

“I betcha you think you too smart for a whole lotta shit, don’t you, Paris? But let me tell you something you should know by now: ain’t no pill in the world can make you feel better from the inside. Ain’t no pill gon’ make you hurry up and live. Ain’t no pill gon’ stop you from feeling lonely or take the place of a good fucking orgasm neither. Yeah, I said it. And meant it. So stop fooling yourself. If you can’t throw them things in the trash and go on about your business, then go somewhere and let somebody help you get off ’em. And don’t be too proud. You ain’t done nothing wrong except be human. You are human, Paris, in case you don’t know it. I pray to God that you stop trying to be Superwoman. You can’t be everything to everybody. Can’t always be a perfect mother and perfect wife and perfect cook and perfect caterer and a perfect woman. This is something I been wanting to tell you for years: you ain’t gotta be perfect at every-damn-thing. Do something half-ass. Let the shit stick to the pan and burn. Being mediocre ain’t no crime. I been mediocre all my damn life and I think I did all right. Stop thinking you gotta save the whole goddamn world. Save your-damn-self. Lord knows I apologize for begging you to do that TV show. To hell with cooking meals on television can’t nobody but you make, no way. I just wanted to see you on TV, that’s all. Anyway, I’m sorry for expecting so much from you. You done did so much for me and right this minute I’m clicking my teeth together cause they fit perfect. Thank you for these dentures. Thank you for my condo and my car and my cruise. Did I get to go on my cruise? Even if I didn’t, I’m cruising now, baby, believe me. Oh! Do this for me. Sleep with somebody just cause the spirit move you. You ain’t gotta wait till you in love. Otherwise, you might dry up. Them days of waiting for the phone to ring is long gone. Act like a man. You see somebody you like, talk to him. Ask him out on a date, and even if he reject you, fuck him. Ask somebody else. And keep on asking. As for my grandson? Tell him my choice is USC or Stanford. But he can go wherever he wants to go, just as long as it’s a university. And when he throw that first touchdown pass on nationwide TV, tell him to look directly at that camera and blow his granny a big sloppy kiss and I’ll get it. Yes indeedy. I love you back to back. Know that.