Her voice cracked and Cressie took over, giving her time to collect herself.

CRESSIE

I hear you, sis. It’s mad derogatory. The FemFam has heard me speak a lot on how we get labeled with the most demeaning things for simply existing in the same space as men, doing the same things men do. Which brings me to a movement you started when trying to reclaim that horrible nickname. Can you tell the fam about #BabyGettersToo?

Taylor. Went. In.

It’s the stuff we’d all seen in her IG story, so not new to us. But Cressie made sure to edit in some of the original footage for the people in the UK, and Africa, and New Zealand. When Taylor finished, Cressie added her commentary.

CRESSIE

What I’m hearing: there’s a double standard at play. The school administration would rather have you disappear than protect you. And the boys who should be held equally responsible, aren’t. Not surprising. What are you hoping to accomplish with #BabyGettersToo?

TAYLOR

Everybody else was telling stories about me, and the other girls. I wanted to be heard. My words, my way.

CRESSIE

That, I can relate to. We already know we can count on a healthy number of critics to keep shunning you, blaming you, denigrating you. But know that the FemFam has your back. So, I’m sure there are people in my hometown watching this—I’m asking what can we do to protect these young women, and their children, from the continued scorn of the . . . well, I was going to say “community,” but is it really? The comments are open. Until next time.

The video ended, and I tugged out my earbud. Unsure what to think, I focused on my friend, because other phones were out too, and I felt a lot of eyes on me.

“Is this bad, Qwan?”

“I think for some. I don’t see Colossus being real happy someone in Ethiopia is probably calling him a deadbeat. But, that ain’t on you.”

“Could you inform the rest of the school?”

Jameer, the voice of reason, said, “Del, I believe you can keep your head down and this will blow over. It doesn’t really have anything to do with you.”

That was good advice. That’s what I’d do. It didn’t have anything to do with me.

School wrapped up, and I pulled a short shift at FISHto’s, pushing the Cressie/Taylor crossover episode from my mind. But that evening, before bed, I got some uncomfortable texts:

Cressie: Hey baby bro! My latest FemFam episode has been BLOWING UP. You should watch it if you haven’t already.

Cressie: Need to ask you something though.

Cressie: Got an anonymous comment from a girl saying that the faculty at Green Creek High canceled the sex ed class and I should do a show on it.

Cressie: Have you heard anything about that?

I didn’t respond.

And I muted my sister’s texts.

Chapter 19

AS JAMEER PREDICTED, in the days leading up to our road trip, the furor over my sister’s video died down. Or was snuffed out, depending on how you looked at it.