"Eli! Get your ass down here now!" Mama screams from the bottom of the stairs. I hop off of the bed and run down the stairs to see Mama and Lena struggling to bring in groceries. I quickly grab the milk that is just about to slip out of Lena's grip and she looks at me like it was a rough trip. Shopping with mama can be difficult. You see mama doesn't really like having to deal with people and everyone knows that Walter's Grocery has no shortage of people. Right as I am about to ask Lena just exactly happened at the grocery store mama walks back through the front door.

"What in the hell have you been doing? Go get the rest of the food from the car!" I rush out the front door and start to gather the last couple of bags from the back of our car. As I walk back through the front door I over hear Lena asking mama not to ask me about something. My stomach begins to sink and I start to worry that mama might know something I'm not prepared to discuss with her.

"Eli, was Elise here today," mama asks.

"Yes ma'am, is everything okay?"

"I ran into her mother today, she seems to think that Elise is lying about her whereabouts. She thinks Elise has been hanging out with some white boy," I stare at her as if she is speaking a foreign language.

"Why would her mama think that?" I always knew Elise's parents were overbearing but I never expected them to not trust her enough when she says she's with me. I make a mental note to ask Elise about this later.

"I don't know, Elise is such a sweet little girl," mama says as she starts to empty the bags and I head back up to my room.