” It was you. The day you got your first period. Your father didn’t know what to do. So he called your mother.” Melvin exclaimed. Tina still a little confused by the whole situation could only manage a few words ” What? So you’re telling me that me getting my first period stopped my mother from killing herself?” ” In a way yes. She knew that, that was the beginning you becoming a woman, and she didn’t want to miss out anything else. She was already upset that she missed the beginning of your teenage years. I can’t tell you whether or not she was actually going to do it, but it was you who took the visions away from her. Don’t you see baby, this whole trip is all about redemption. She needs it, from you and from herself. I’m not telling you to forgive her tonight or even next week, but please allow her story to touch your heart, your forgiving heart. Believe me when I say forgiveness saves people.” Tina only sat on the couch staring into nothing thinking for only a minute before Melvin said ” I know that this is a lot hit you with in one night so please try to get some sleep. There’s an empty bedroom here in the back.” Melvin led Tina down the hall to a room completely empty of any existence. The only thing in the room was a bed and an empty dresser.





” I’ll get you something to sleep in.” he said while walking into the hall. Tina sat on the bed thinking when Melvin returned and handed her some sweats and a t shirt ” I’m sorry it’s not much..” ” oh, no please this more than enough thank you.” she said. ” we can talk some more when you’re ready, but right now try to get some sleep. Good night, baby.” Melvin said as he closed the door. Tina slipped into the clothes and let her head hit the pillow she fell asleep almost instantly. Feeling so sleepy Bette’s loud pipes and Melvin’s phone call briefly woke her up. Melvin was screaming on the phone ” I’m not sending her back to you. Right now you both need to breath… I know she’s your daughter… you know what that was un-*****-necessary… you know what that’s the end of this ***** conversation” he said as he slammed down the receiver. But Tina was so sleepy that she just went back to sleep.




It was around noon when Tina woke up to hear Bette singing outside as she was hanging up clothes. She moved her body so naturally to th e rhythm. It was almost as if the drums were moving through her hips so sensually and beautifully. It made Tina feel good knowing that someone so beautiful would want Tina the Bette did. Bete turned to see Tina standing in the window watching her, she smiled at her and headed towards the back door. Tina made her way to the hallway but not before flipping her hair to give it that “I just woke up this *****” look. They met on the sun porch. ” Hi” Bette said as ran her hand through her hair. ” Hi” Tina responded a little nervous about the whole situation. ” are you hungry? I made you some breakfast.” Bette said as took Tina”s hand and led her into the kitchen.” yeah but it’s not like I need to eat” she said jokingly.




Bette laughed, handed her, her plate from overhead and kissed her head in response. ” hmm lucky me I found a southern girl who can cook and dance” she said taking the first bite. ” you like I? I didn’t know what you would like I made what I knew best. ” Bette with her eyes excited to see Tina’s reaction. ” oh please this is delicious, it’s been a while since anyone’s cooked for me. Where’s your dad?” Tina asked. ” he’s at the center today and my brother’s still at school. So I’m all yours again today.” Bette said as kissed Tina. ” so are you feeling alright, I know …” ” so what school does your brother go to?” Tina interrupted trying to avoid another emotional breakdown. ” he”s in the fifth grade at Roosevelt elementary.” Bette responded. ” oh so you have two brothers?” ” Uhh, yeah my other brother is back in Cuba.” Bette said a little reluctantly.




” we’ve got some extra toothbrushes in the back, they’re brand new so don’t worry.” Bette said taking Tina’s plate. ” is it okay if I stay here a while. Can’t go home to my dad without any answers and I can’t really look at my mom right now.” Tina asked hoping for an answer of yes. ” I talked to my dad about that this morning and he said that you should stay here a while.” Bette said as she couldn’t sop the smile from forming on her face at the idea of Tina staying with her. ” my only problem is that I need my clothes.” ” David’s working today and today is Vanessa’s day for counseling. So the house should be empty we can go and get your clothes when you’re ready.” Tina went into the bathroom opened up the medicine cabinet and grabbed a toothbrush she closed and was shocked. She saw her face for the first time in the light of day. She became so angry thinking about what her mother did to her , but Bette’s voice came through the door and grounded Tina again ” are you okay?” ” I’m fine.” she said knowing that she was lying, because not only was she upset , but it also hurt to brush her teeth on the left side.




As they were heading out the door the phone rang, but Tina noticed Bette was still continuing to lock the door. ” aren’t you goin to answer that?” Tina asked. ” no, I know who that is and I’m not ready for that yet.” Bette said as she was getting in the car. But what they didn’t know was that it was Melvin asking them if they had heard from or seen Vanessa, because she wasn’t at counseling. By the time Melvin finished with his message they had already pulled off. Bette popped in CD of old school mixes they sat and sang the songs. Bette drove fast figuring the faster she got Tina there the sooner they could hang out. They pulled up at David’s, as Bette was turning off the car she looked at Tina who was looking both scared and a little angry. ” are you ready?” she asked Tina as they approached the door. ” yeah. I think” she said. She took a deep breath opened the door and to her surprise no one was home. “I kinda thought they would be here.” she said a little disappointed. Bette rubbed her back and said ” come on lets go get your stuff.”




They headed upstairs, by the time they mid way up the stairs they heard the back screen door close and Vanessa’s voice . ” Tina? Tina baby is that you?” ” yeah it’s me .” she responded. ” baby I think we need to talk?”Vanessa said approaching the bottom of the stairs. ” well you know what I don’t really feel like talking to you right now.” Tina yelled. ” I think if we just sat down.. .” ” you just don’t get it do you? Look at my ***** face Look at what you did to my mothafucking face ” she screamed as she pointed to the obvious bruise. ” I know I had no right to…” ” ain’t that a *****. That’s a ***** understatement. You know what your apology right now is unwanted right now. I’m getting my stuff and I’m goin to go stay with Bette.” she said . ” you’re staying with Melvin?” she said looking up at Bette with disbelief and disapproval.” well yeah, it’s not like i had an emergency place to stay in case my mother went ***** psychotic!” Tina turned around and headed up to her room, with Bette who just followed. Vanessa seeing that there was nothing to say, just sat down in the living room looking out the window. Bette and Tina packed her clothes and her music, which was the real reason why came to get her things so fast.




Coming down the stairs Vanessa saw Tina, but Tina did everything not to look at her. It wasn’t until they were in the car and Tina saw Vanessa rush to the doorway that she even looked at her. Tina began to cry, ” do you want me to turn around?” Bette asked. ” no, please just keep going.” she sobbingly said. Bette drove fast figuring that she could just put Tina to bed, in the meantime she just held Tina’s hand and kissed it. They got home and Tina went to her room and just sat on the bed just thinking of how in the ***** she would begin to forgive her mother or whether or not she could. She put on her favorite CD ” the very best of Otis Redding”. She subconsciously turned straight to her favorite sad song ” I’ve got dreams to remember” Tina began to sob uncontrollably as Otis sang ” I’ve got dreams, dreams to remember.” Bette could hear Tina weeping through the door. She opened it to see Tina look up at her with tears streaming. Otis: ” I still want you to stay. I still love you anyway . I don’t ever want you to leave.” Almost as second nature Bette sat beside Tina holding her whispering in her ear ” I know, I’m here, shhh.” . She laid down with Tina and held onto her tighter and let Tina cry until she couldn’t cry anymore.