After lunch, the guys walk Nai and me to Mr. Gunderson’s class. We enter, and all eyes turn toward me. Everyone is studying my face, not sure what they expect to see.

“Ayo, it’s nice to see you back in class,” Mr. Gunderson says. “We all wish your mother a speedy recovery. And we’re sorry this happened to your family.”

I nod quickly, hoping that will be the end of it as we take our seats.

Please, God, let him just teach the class and not focus on me. Pleasepleaseplease.

“It looks like the more rallies See Us has, the more unstable the situation becomes. Do you think See Us is taking a more violent route? If so, do you agree with the new direction?” he asks me.

I must have sent my prayer to white Jesus, because it did not get answered. Nai reads the torn expression on my face. Her hand flies up in the air and she says, “Mr. Gunderson, can we go over the homework? I didn’t get it at all.”

He tries to put it off for later in the class, but Nai is insistent. Mr. Gunderson reluctantly has us take out our books and go over the homework from the night before. I squeeze Nai’s hand and mouth, “Thank you.”

I barely make it through all my classes, and when the bell rings, I’m weak with relief. But before we all gather in our spot—the small classroom across from the gym—I make a quick run to CVS. Nai, Shawn, and Dell have dropped everything to help me find the three keys, and the least I can do is provide the necessary fuel: junk food.

I would normally skip the CVS because of “Probing Finger” Donna, but I’m short on time, so I go in. One quick look inside tells me she’s not in today. Good. I grab the snacks and place them in the red basket. I’m standing on line when I feel someone’s hands digging into my Afro.

The next thing I know, I’m shaking the mess out of her, yelling, “Don’t you ever put your hands on me!”

The crowd is too stunned to make a move at first. By the time the crowd understands what’s going on, my hand is already at her throat. My rage has never been this clear and this present before. I don’t even see Donna’s face anymore. All I can see is the bright red haze that accompanies my rage. I’m going to choke the living hell out of this white woman if someone doesn’t stop me!