The Perfect Present Read Online Free Page B

tension in the air. Mrs. Jones made me and Jayla go to the back of the church to work on the dance. I was not happy about it, but I was raised to respect my elders, so I kept my mouth closed.
    â€œOkay, Jayla, I am going to make this short and sweet. Pay attention because I’m not going to keep going over this,” I said with an attitude. I didn’t even give her a chance to reply as I showed her the first eight steps of the dance.
    â€œDo you have any questions?” I asked.
    All she said was, “So it looks you are not as cool as you think. Your friends and cousin think I am cooler than you.”
    â€œMay the Lord forgive them for their poor taste,” I said with a smile.
    Jayla stepped in my face and whispered. “Mess with me and I will show you poor taste.”
    I counted to ten. I was not about to let this girl get to me. Plus, I needed to remember where I was. God wouldn’t like me beating somebody down in church. I could not make my family or God look bad. I closed my eyes and wished this big head girl would go away. But when I opened my eyes, she was still there.
    â€œI wish you would just go away,” I finally said. “I wish you would have never come to this town. Take your sneaky self back to your abusive momma and daddy so they can beat some class into you!”
    Oh, snap. Did I just say that out loud?
    Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared our way. Jayla played it up and started crying. I’m talking, like seriously boo-hooing. And then my friends, make that my former friends, and Tionna (can you disown cousins?), came over and hugged Jayla while mean-mugging me.
    â€œJasmine, I can’t believe you,” Mrs. Jones said, taking my arm and leading me outside. She didn’t say a word as she marched me straight over to my momma.
    She told my Momma and Grandma Bessie what I did and, just like everyone else, they were shocked and looked like they could fall through the floor.
    â€œMrs. Jones, I apologize for her behavior. I don’t know what has gotten into her,” Grandma Bessie said.
    My mom was too busy shaking her head and giving me the ‘you know you are in trouble’ look.
    â€œJasmine, maybe you need to sit out of the Christmas play,” Mrs. Jones said.
    â€œSit out of the show?” I cried. “But I’ve been practicing so hard!”
    â€œWhat you did back there was truly mean,” Mrs. Jones said. “Take some time and cool down and think about your actions.”
    â€œI couldn’t agree more,” Momma said, glaring at me.
    It was my turn to cry. But no one seemed to care. Now, I had really lost everything. Everyone was either mad at me or disappointed in me. Even my own mother had turned on me.
    Momma and Grandma literally dragged me out the church.
    â€œI’m so disappointed in your behavior.”
    â€œYou’re grounded for two weeks.”
    â€œHow could you shame us like that?”
    â€œI didn’t raise you to be so cruel.”
    They went back and forth all the way home. My life was getting on my nerves.

Chapter 4
    I was finally off punishment! That had been the longest two weeks of my life. The first thing I did was text my friends on Kik.
    Jasmine: WYD.
    Teresa: We r going to the mall later. Last minute Christmas Shopping for the Angel Tree
    Jasmine: I will meet u there.
    Teresa: J. is going. I don’t think it is cool 4 u to come. Luv.
    I fell back on my bed. Tears were falling down my cheeks. It was funny how an outsider can come and make you feel so alone. Tionna had gone over to Jayla’s to spend the night. That traitor was even sleeping over at the enemy’s.
    My bedroom door slowly opened and my dad walked in. He was 6’2 inches tall, with a small mustache. He had light brown eyes that never missed a thing.
    My daddy didn’t play with people or words. He helped a lot of people, but he did not have time for mess. When I got in trouble at church, he