The Perfect Present Read Online Free Page A

and went back to reading her book. Later, I told Tionna that I thought Jayla had taken the money, but she just rolled her eyes and told me, “Don’t start.”
    I got my momma to pay back the money, but I stopped coming to the weekly book club meeting. I heard that they elected Jayla to be treasurer. I cried when I heard the news and wondered if this Jayla nightmare would ever end.
    Our ministry leader entered the room, jolting me out of the past and back to the present. She greeted me with a warm smile.
    â€œI see someone is anxious to start,” she said.
    Mrs. Jones was a tall woman. She always wore her hair in a nice, short cut. She also wore cute outfits. All of the kids thought she looked like Rihanna.
    I laughed and kept stretching.
    â€œWhere is your cousin?” she asked.
    â€œShe is with the twins.” I sighed. “I guess they’re coming. I don’t know.”
    Mrs. Jones noticed the attitude in my words, but kept unpacking her bags. When she found the charger she was looking for, she walked over to me.
    You know if you need to talk, I am here for you.”
    I looked up and said, “I know. I just feel some kind of way right now. Nothing is going right.”
    â€œSometimes life has obstacles. You just need to learn to wait on The Lord for instruction.”
    â€œI have been waiting, but nothing is getting better. It seems like everything is getting worse. I feel like I will never get my life back. I mean, I’m not even excited about Christmas. A Grinch stole my Christmas joy.”
    She continued smiling. “Well, the way you have that scowl on your face, have you ever thought that maybe you’re the Grinch?”
    Me? “Umm, no,” I said.
    â€œNo one should ever be able to steal your joy. Don’t give them that power.”
    Before I could say anything else, the huge doors swung open and Tionna, the twins and Jayla came in. They were all laughing and talking. Mrs. Jones rubbed my arm and gave me a smile. She turned around to the girls.
    â€œGirls, glad to see you all in such a good mood. Who do we have here?” she asked, looking at Jayla.
    Vanessa spoke up first. “This is our new friend, Jayla. She is Mrs. Lois’s niece.”
    Jayla put out her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Ma ’am.”
    â€œBaby, we hug around here,” Mrs. Jackson said, pulling her into a big embrace.
    â€œI would love to be on the praise dance team,” Jayla said.
    I rolled my eyes.
    â€œI will have to ask the deacon in charge of our ministry, but since your aunt is a member of the church, I don’t see an issue.”
    The girls started squealing and jumping. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Jayla was ruining my life! She was fooling everyone! First it was my grandma and mom. Next, it was my cousin and friends. Now it was my place of peace.
    â€œJayla, you can watch the girls practice,” Mrs. Jones said.
    Then, do you know Jayla had the nerve to sit beside me as everyone else started stretching?
    I tried to be cool, but I was so mad. This girl was all up in my life. When would this craziness end?
    I didn’t say a word: I just moved to the other side of the room. Jayla gave me a mean look as other members of the dance ministry started rolling into practice.
    The other girls started talking to me, but I was so mad that I could hardly say anything. I knew that I shouldn’t be so foul to everyone, but Jayla had completely stolen my joy and happiness.
    â€œJasmine, I want you to teach Jayla the first part of our dance,” Mrs. Jones said after we’d been practicing for twenty minutes.
    My mouth dropped open. Tionna and the twins looked nervous.
    â€œMrs. Jones, I will show her the first part of the dance,” Tionna said, stepping in. “I can even practice with her after school.”
    Mrs. Jones continued smiling. “Thank you, Tionna, but I need Jasmine to show her the dance.”
    There was a lot of