Lacey and the African Grandmothers Read Online Free

It’s crazy, and I can’t think with all that noise. I hate wrestling night.
    At Kahasi’s house, the sounds are different. Usually she doesn’t watch TV or listen to the radio. “It’s just bad news,” she says, “and it makes me feel sad. If it’s something I need to know, someone will tell me.”
    At her house there is just the clock ticking quietly, the kettle coming to a boil, and her soft voice patiently telling me things.

Chapter 3
Kelvin the Bully
    M y little brothers – Joseph, Colton, Raine, and Davis – were watching cartoons and pretending to be superheroes in the living room while I tried to write a poem for school. It was useless – I need quiet time to write poetry.
    I went to the kitchen to start supper. Mum and Dad were next door. Mum was visiting with Auntie Michelle, and Dad and his brother, Uncle Douglas, were planning a road trip for their band, Red Lightning. The night before, they’d had a big map spread on the table, and they talked about traveling all over southern Alberta in my uncle’s old green van. They were excited about their new idea to drum up some business, instead of just waiting for people to call them. I was kind of mad about the idea. When Dad and my oldest brothers are away, it means more work for me, and they were talking about being gone for two weeks. Red Lightning had been gone for two or three days before, but never for two weeks. That would be far too long.
    When I got to the kitchen, Kelvin was sitting at our kitchen table, holding Kayden on his lap and giving her sips from his can of pop.
    â€œYou shouldn’t give her that. It’s not healthy,” I told him.
    â€œHa ha. She loves this,” he said, grinning and shifting the hair from his eyes. “Look how she messes up her face and then wants more.” I just shook my head and gave up. I knew he wouldn’t listen to me.
    I was running water into a pot when Angel came in.“Kelvin! What are you doing? You can’t give her pop! She’s a baby.”
    â€œWhy not? She loves it. Watch.” He held the can to the baby’s lips and tipped it slightly. Kayden squinted her eyes, grimaced, then licked her lips.
    â€œThat’s horrible – it’s bad for her,” said Angel, reaching for Kayden. “I want her to grow up healthy. Pop will rot her teeth.”
    â€œHa! She’s only got two teeth. A lot you know.” He gave the baby another sip.
    â€œStop it!” cried Angel. “Stop! Now!” She tried to reach for Kayden, but Kelvin held the baby tightly against his body.
    â€œI’ll give her pop if I want to. I’m the man! I get to decide things. You listen to me!” Kelvin yelled. “That’s how it goes. Remember that in your thick head. Whatever I want to give her is good for her, and that’s that!”
    Kayden doesn’t like loud voices. She started whimpering, then bawling.
    â€œHere, you take her. I hate it when she yells like that.” Kelvin pushed the baby into Angel’s arms, lifted the pop can to his lips, and drained it. He threw the can across the room and into the sink. On his way out of the kitchen, he grabbed Angel’s chin. The anger was in his eyes. “You remember that I’m the boss,” he snarled.
    I put the pot on the stove and glared at Kelvin, waiting to see what would happen next. I didn’t know what I could do, but I was ready to try anything to help Angel. Kelvin was using his loud voice that meant he wanted to fight. The raised voices brought my little brothers running to the kitchen, and they looked ready to fight, too. Five-year-old Colton was carrying a sword made of wood and black tape, waving it over his head as if he meant to hit Kelvin with it.
    â€œYou remember that, too,” Kelvin said, staring and jabbing his finger at me. “I’m the boss !” I was glad to hear the door slam behind him.
    Angel had tears in