I was telling all these stories, going
on about everything Mlungisi and I
had been up to that week, and I
caught my mom giving me this
look, slowly shaking her head. It
was a different look than I had ever
seen her give before. It wasn’t “One
day, I’m going to catch you.” It
wasn’t anger or disapproval. It was
disappointment. She was hurt.
“What?” I said. “What is it?”
She said, “Boy, who do you
think paid your bail? Hmm? Who
do you think paid your lawyer? Do
you think I’m an idiot? Did you
think no one would tell me?”
The truth came spilling out. Of