Page 95 of Pride and Protest

“This could be another invite to meet some people with money,” Bev said.

“Unlikely, with the way y’all acted in Philly,” Granny said.

Bev looked only slightly chastened. “Next time I won’t invite that tacky pastor.”

“Oh right, thepastorwas tacky,” Liza said.

“Excuse me?” Bev’s neck swiveled in Liza’s direction. Liza didn’t bother staring back and jumped for her letter.

“Deya, don’t you open my mail!” Liza jumped again for her letter.

“Too late, you little hobbit.” Deya easily held the letter out of Liza’s reach and read with a fake British accent.

The Filipino American Heritage organizing committee invites you to join as our honored guest in a three-day celebration of Filipino culture, heritage, and history during several events taking place at the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in the United States.

Thank you for using your platform to highlight and celebrate Filipino hip-hop and other cultural means of expression.

Among the scheduled activities are a film screening, lecture, Filipino studies conference, and a Barrio Fiesta! Also featured will be an ongoing exhibit showcasing Filipino Americans’ contributions to the Philippines.

“Boring.” LeDeya dropped the letter into Liza’s hands. The entire family’s shoulders seemed to sag. Even Granny had been hoping for something. She shuffled back into her room wordlessly.

“I got a better invitation!” LeDeya said. Bev smiled knowingly. “Tickets to a young entrepreneurs training.” Deya danced around Liza. “In New Jersey!”

“How much does it cost?” Liza asked.

“Ugh, do not start, Buzz Killington. Granny gave me her banking information so I can make a small withdrawal. It’s an investment in my future.”

“Oh,hellno,” Liza said vehemently.

“I wasn’t asking you,” LeDeya retorted.

“Momma, you’re gonna let this sixteen-year-old girl go to an MLM scheme conference in Jersey?”

“I’m not going to the whole conference, just this one training. And I have an opportunity to do some makeup there and make up Granny’s investment. This could bring in actual cash, not tomention followers,” Deya said haughtily. “Liza, you’re always trying to steal someone’s shine. If it is not about you, you don’t want anyone to do anything.”

“This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. No one in their right mind is going to let a sixteen-year-old go to a conference like this. Does Granny know what her money’s going to?”

“Liza, you’re just jealous. I happen to know for a fact that your boy WIC ain’t really feeling you that much anymore, and ever since then, you’ve been real sad. Posting emo songs and sucking the life out of every room you come into.”

“Don’t talk about what you don’t know, Deya,” Liza warned.

“You’d be surprised at what I know,” LeDeya shot back.

Liza pushed past LeDeya and her mother and knocked briskly on Granny’s door.

Granny answered with an annoyed raised eyebrow. Apparently, they had caught her right in the middle of anSVUmarathon, and she was not happy.

“Granny, Deya is trying to go to a multilevel marketing conference in Jersey. Did you give her your account info? That’s insane, right?”

“Granny, I’m just trying to get my makeup business running. I’m actually really good at it. Janae is sweet and good and always going to be pretty. Liza is smart, if extremely boring. Maurice has the entire Nation of Islam to fall back on. What do I have? What do I get to build? Liza just can’t stand to see someone be more of an influencer than her,” LeDeya whined.

“Granny—” Liza started.

“You gotta let me try at least,” LeDeya pleaded.

Granny pursed her lips. “Oh, Liza. What kind of trouble can she get into doing makeup? MLM—that’s like Avon, right?”

“Granny—”