“It’s okay.” Actually, it’s not, but this is for Nai, so I let it pass.

“She knew right away that Kingston was no good. But I didn’t see it. Or didn’t want to see it. She was right about keeping Nai with her. Maybe I shouldn’t change that.”

I can hear rage tapping on my door, demanding to be let in.

Ayo, stay calm.

“Your mother never would have made the mistake I made. I don’t know what I was thinking. But leaving her with you could be the best thing for her, right?”

Rage bangs louder and louder, demanding I let it inside me.

Ayo, do not go off!

“And besides, at your house she gets exposed to all that culture and book stuff. We don’t do that at my house. So maybe she belongs with you,” Ms. Harris says.

Think of Nai and how she would feel if you went off on her mom! And if your uncle finds out, you will be grounded for the rest of your life—after he beats your behind for telling off an adult.

Yes, but how can she think that anyone would be better off without their mom? Who says a thing like that? I’d give anything to have my mom back, any way I can get her. And here this woman is, just running away from the child that loves her more than anything. What is wrong with this lady?

Tension coils itself around my neck and shoulders. I begin to see a familiar red haze, and Ms. Harris’s words are fading into background noise. The rage is inside now, although I don’t remember letting it in. I look over at Dell, and to my surprise, he gets it. He places a hand on top of mine, signaling for me to chill the hell out.

“Ms. Harris, I don’t believe what you say’n,” Dell says. Just before she goes off on him, he stands up with his palms out. “I don’t mean any disrespect. I’m not saying that you’re lying. I’m saying I think you’re reading this thing all wrong.”

“Oh really, how am I wrong? You so grown, go ahead and tell me.”

He looks at me. I shrug. I’m still working on keeping my temper in check. I can’t bail him out. Dell takes a deep breath, swallows hard, and tries to salvage the situation.

“No one knows this about me, but . . .” He clears his throat. “I knit.”

What?

Dell reads my shocked expression. “Yeah, that’s right—I knit, and my poncho game is strong,” he replies proudly. “Anyway, knitting itself isn’t really that hard. The hard part is when you have to go back and fix a mistake in the pattern. It’s hard and frustrating. But when the work you did so far is that impressive, it’s worth going back to fix.