Heads of the Colored People(13)
And tell Fatima to stop pinning notes to the inside of Chrissy’s bookbag when she’s not looking. Chrissy could injure herself on a dirty safety pin, knowing you people, and end up with hepatitis A, B, or C, or worse. And tell her to stop harassing Chrissy with pitiful insults about her appearance and “dark-skinded self.”
I’ve tried to resolve our differences by working directly and exclusively with you and Mrs. Watson, but I will have no choice but to contact Principal Lee—in addition to the police—if this persists.
—Lucinda
? ? ?
OCTOBER 14, 1991
Lucinda,
Only you would suggest something so disgusting as intentionally injuring a child with a dirty safety pin, but then again, it was Christinia who put that tack on Renee Potts’s chair last year and caused her to need a tetanus shot. Perverse minds think alike, apparently.
I can say with complete assurance that Fatima would never make fun of someone for being too dark, nor would she use the word “skinded” in a sentence. In fact, she came home crying last year when Christinia called her blacky, but I told her to forgive Christinia.
Jordan and I have never raised Fatima or any of our children to be color struck, and that’s part of why we would never participate in an organization such as Jack and Jill. We only applied because we thought we might find like-minded black friends here, but if you are their representative, we’ll pass. The paper-bag test may be long gone, but the slave mentalities are not. And your Chrissy is baldheaded because you don’t know how to do your own hair, let alone hers. Don’t blame the Mami Wata for any of that.
Now I see that Christinia is blaming Fatima for many of the things she (Christinia) is doing herself. You probably haven’t read that Shirley Jackson story “Charles,” have you? I would imagine it’s too difficult for you to process, but sometimes children—especially those who don’t get enough support at home—do these things.
Lose my number and address, and stop making your kid do your dirty work, M
? ? ?
OCTOBER 14, 1991
Monica,
Turn blue.
Turn blue.
Turn blue, blue, blue.
Look, I’ve written a poem. Perhaps I should send it to Ladybug magazine.
Love,
Lucinda
? ? ?
OCTOBER 15, 1991
Lucinda,
You need Jesus. Do not write to me again, or I will contact my lawyer.
I’ve asked Mrs. Watson to check Fatima’s backpack for correspondence from you, and I have made it clear that I do not want further contact from you or Christinia. You are not to speak to Fatima either.
Monica
Jack and Jill
Claremont Chapter
1402 Wedgewood Ave, Claremont, CA 91711
? ? ?
Drs. Jordan and Monica Willis
730 N. Briarwood Ave
Claremont, CA 91711
OCTOBER 15, 1991
Dear Drs. Willis,
We would like to formally invite you and yours to our annual Jack and Jill Gala, October 25, 1991. Attire is black tie. Please respond using the enclosed notecard. We hope to see you there.
If you have received this invitation, it is in error.
Anonymous
? ? ?
OCTOBER 18, 1991
Lucinda,
I’m beginning to think you are insane. There is absolutely no way that Fatima called Christinia’s grandmother (may she rest in peace) the “b” word, nor did she call her a “batch.” And I’m sure she never said, “I’m glad she’s dead.” We don’t expose Fatima to bad language. Our child is not the one who brags about killing hamsters and putting them on roller coasters to see if their eyes pop out.
It’s a shame you and Christinia have so much trouble writing and reading, because these stories could rival the best of any true-crime stories out there. And that fact should scare you, because it’s the ones who start out with rodents who eventually graduate to the babies and the grandparents, may they rest in peace (!). Where will Christinia be in ten years, and do you want to see her get to that point?
I’m requesting a meeting with Principal Lee, Mrs. Watson, and you and Mr. Johnston so that we can nip this crazy mess in the bud once and for all.
Monica
Drs. Jordan and Monica Willis
730 N. Briarwood Ave
Claremont, CA 91711
? ? ?
OCTOBER 21, 1991
CC: Michelle Watson
Dear Mrs. Johnston and Mrs. Willis:
It has come to my attention that your respective daughters, Christinia and Fatima, engaged in a brutal fistfight at school. As you know, this behavior violates not only the Westwood code of conduct, but also our core values as a school, and is punishable by expulsion.
I am sending this letter as a follow-up to the discussion I had with each of you over the phone. I would like to meet with the two of you and Mrs. Watson ASAP. My secretary will schedule.
Sincerely,
Principal Lee
Albert Lee, Principal
Westwood Primary and Secondary School
201 Highland Hills, Claremont, CA 91711
? ? ?
Drs. Jordan and Monica Willis
730 N. Briarwood Ave
Claremont, CA 91711
OCTOBER 25, 1991
Dear Drs. Willis:
The school’s board and I thank you for your generous donation and for agreeing to serve on the Westwood Welcome Wagon. Given the sharp improvement of your child’s behavior, we can agree to rescind our threat of Fatima’s expulsion from school.