Devonne Brown

Celia made a decent living as the head sales person at the Mercedes dealership downtown. She’d just come from a dinner party at Jolene’s, her best friend from high school, where there were doctors, lawyers, and teachers in an exquisite home in the most elite neighborhood. 

Jolene had gone to college, earned a teaching degree, got her masters, and become a principal of an elementary school. She’d married very well.

Although Celia’s neighborhood was nice enough, it was nothing like the one Jolene lived in. Celia felt totally inferior. She thought that everyone was an intellectual, and had nothing in common with anyone but Jolene.

 They all had that crucial university education, the lowest degree in the room was a masters. She had a GED and figured she could reclaim some of her dignity if she had her degree. Whenever she thought about going back to school, she cringed. The thought of student loans, spending long hours studying, or driving back and forth to class was too daunting. She was fine away from these people, at home or work she was Okay. 

At the party, she wanted to crawl under the rug and stay there for the duration. She looked at her watch. Had she been there long enough to leave? 

“Don’t even think about a quick exit. I saw you look at your watch. I need you here for moral support. These are Dan’s friends not mine. I need to hang with a friend.” said Jolene. “These folks make me uncomfortable.”

Celia laughed. “I thought it was just me.”

“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t gotten pregnant in high school. You know that. I’ve been lucky. If you want to call it that.”