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She peered at him, a lazy smirk on her face. “How would we do that?”

“When we go to Barbados, we’ll make sure to pick an activity where you’re the boss, and I’m the student. Then, we’ll see how unbearable you are.”

Carla bit her lip. She had an activity, all right, but it was totally bearable.

Chapter Thirteen

“Oh, lawd…” Carla stared at her image in the mirror. Today was Monday, and she was headed to Academy College Preparatory High School with her Pam Grier afro bold and beautiful.

It was three years ago when Carla did the big chop for the first time. She was not happy about looking like a cute little boy then. Because of that reason, there was always a protective style covering her afro. But naturally, her hair had grown healthy, not for lack of upkeep.

Still, Carla hadn’t gotten used to her afro. She was stuck on her razor-sharp jet-black bob, which she often pressed and colored to maintain the look.

Today, she was making a point to show Sicily that her hair didn’t define her, and more than that, she was beautiful with her afro. If any one of her students said anything to refute that, she would immediately give them after-school detention.

“That’ll show ‘em.”

Checking her side profile once more, Carla left her vanity, grabbed her coat and purse, and headed across town.

High heels shoes echoed off the school floors as she walked to her class, and halfway there, she caught her colleague, Pricilla Benton, also headed to her algebra class.

“Good morning,” Pricilla sang.

“Hey girl, good morning. Oh…” Carla snapped her fingers. “Principal Sharp approved my anti-bullying campaign, and I would love it if you could step in and help out. We can include your students. However, if it’s too much to add to your plate, that’s fine, too. What do you say?”

“They would do anything to get out of doing algebra.”

They laughed, and Carla nodded in agreement.

“How much time would we have before the campaign begins?”

“Two weeks. And that’s to give the parents enough time to sign permission slips and waivers. Also, I’ve been thinking of a name to give the campaign without using anti-bullying. I want the kids to understand their differences are okay, and each one of them can reach for the stars the same as the next regardless of their financial position or status in life without letting them know this is anti-bullying.”

Pricilla nodded. “Because with the wordanti-bullying, they’ll kind of just go along with it to do it and be done with it when it’s over.”

“Learning nothing. Exactly.”

“Okay. I get it. What a great idea, by the way, and congratulations.”

“Thank you, girl.”

“Count me in. I’ll make the announcement when class starts this morning.”

“I’m doing the same.”

The bell rang, and simultaneously they began to walk away.

“See you at lunch,” Pricilla said.

“Okay.”

* * *

Inside her class,Carla gathered permission slips from the copier as her students entered, some assembling in the hallway.

Laughter resounded off the corridors, and she could hear Beverly’s voice from outside.

“Why the hell do you keep coming to school with your hair like that? How many times do we have to laugh in your face for you to get it?”