Janell Has An Attitude

By Teresa D. Patterson

Janell Henderson, Robyn Lee and Phoebe Lopez have been best friends since elementary school. They vow that nothing will come between their friendship, and nothing has—until Phoebe and Robyn develop a crush on the same boy, Valdez Green.

Janell can care less about boys. She is angry because her mother, Janet, seems to be man-crazy. Without telling Janell, Janet has moved a man into their home. Janell instantly dislikes Derrick, but her mother doesn’t care. She feels as though her privacy has been threatened, but there’s nothing she can do about it.

Between her best friends fighting, her home problems, and her increasing fears, she doesn’t know who to turn to. She hides her emotions behind a mask of anger. Now even her teachers think that Janell has an attitude. When the truth of what’s really going on is revealed, Janell will need the support of her mother and her best friends more than ever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Teresa D. Patterson
• Release date: Aug 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476446585

Teresa D. Patterson

Teresa D. Patterson came onto the literary scene with her debut novel, Project Queen, which was published by a small independent publishing company. It wasn't long before she realized having complete control over the creation and distribution of her books suited her better, compelling her to publish her own future works.Her first independent published novel was Ex-boyfriend. She went on to write several novels in multiple genres, which includes contemporary fiction, erotica, inspirational fiction, juvenile fiction, romance, and urban lit. She has written twenty-eight novels and co-authored one.

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Janell Has An Attitude

Teresa D. Patterson

Copyright 2012 by Teresa D. Patterson

Published by Edit Again Publications at Smashwords

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical or photocopying or stored in a retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages to be included in a review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, character, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Chapter One

Janell Henderson didn't feel like laughing and joking around with her friends. She headed to the library instead of joining them at their regular table for lunch period. She knew they were going to ask questions about why she didn't come to Stacy's party on Saturday, and she didn't feel like explaining herself. She liked Stacy and had wanted to attend her birthday bash, but she wasn’t allowed. She had gotten grounded for sassing her mom’s new boyfriend, Derrick. She already didn’t like him. Being put on punishment made her hate Derrick even more.

She found a table in the back of the library tucked away from everyone's watchful eyes and sat down. She folded her arms in front of her on the table and placed her head down. She felt like crying and didn't really know why. Maybe she did know why. It was because of Derrick. She really didn’t like him. There was just something about him that made her skin crawl. She didn’t dislike him just because he was taking all of her mom’s attention away from her. It was more than that.

She and her mom wasn’t all that close because her mom always placed the man in her life over her daughter. It had always been like that. Her mom was the type to always seem to need a man around. Over the years, Janell had seen her share of men, and she was sick and tired of them.

It probably wouldn’t be so bad if the men were nice or had something going for them. Most of the time, they didn’t even have a job and her mom spent her hard-earned money to get them what they wanted. That usually consisted of clothes, jewelry, liquor, cigarettes and sometimes marijuana.

It was no secret to Janell that her mother smoked weed. She’d even told Janell that she could smoke if she wanted to. Janell had declined. No way was she going to smoke that junk and burn up her brain cells. She was too smart for that. Besides, she didn’t understand why people smoked marijuana anyway. When they did all it made them do was act stupid.

She sat at the table thinking about how much she hated her life. She wanted to disappear. If she had enough nerve, she’d just run away from home. She wouldn’t have to put up with her mom’s attitude, and the creepy looks Derrick gave her when her mother wasn’t looking.

She remembered the incident the other day that had caused her to get grounded. She’d been watching her favorite soap opera in the living room and Derrick had walked right in and changed the station. It was very rude and she didn’t like it.

Why did you change the station? I was watching that, Janell complained.

Girl, I ain’t gonna sit here and watch no damn soap opera. That’s for women, Derrick said. I want to watch CNN.

But I was watching that. Why can’t you watch CNN in mom’s room?

Because I want to look at whatever I decide to watch on the big-screened television, Derrick snapped. Why am I even arguing back and forth with you? You shouldn’t have nothing to say. Do you pay the bills around here?

You don’t pay any bills around here either, Janell sassed. How can you when you don’t even have a job?

Janell, shut up and go to your room, Janet said from the kitchen.

But ma—

But ma, nothing. I said go to your room. You are getting too grown for your own good. You know not to talk back to adults.

He don’t act like an adult, she muttered.

And you don’t act like a child, Derrick bellowed. When I was a child, I was taught to stay in a child’s place. Janet, who runs this house, you or your fifteen year old daughter? Seems like she’s running it to me, he said sarcastically.

That comment made Janet hot. She put her hands on her hips and rolled her neck.

Janell, do like I said, go to your room. You have a television in there. But, since you want to be so flippant at the mouth, you can’t watch it. As a matter of fact, that party that you wanted to go to this Saturday, tell your friends that you won’t be able to make it.

That’s not fair, Janell yelled. I didn’t even do nothing.

I guess it will teach you to keep ya mouth closed instead of giving Derrick word for word. You are not grown. And contrary to popular beliefs, you do not run things around here.

Janell glared from Derrick to her mother, feeling the rage creep into her bones. I hate Derrick, Janell screamed and ran into her room, slamming the door behind her.

She still hated Derrick and things had only gotten worse since that day. She didn’t know how much longer she could deal with her home life. It was making her miserable and it showed. He stomach was constantly in knots. She snapped on her friends and teachers at the drop of a dime. She just wanted to be left alone.

Girl, I’ve been searching all over for you. Why are you hiding in the library? She looked up. It was one of her best friends, Phoebe Lopez.

Janell sighed aloud. There was no use pretending that she hadn’t been avoiding her friend. I just don’t feel good today. I’m cramping, she told Phoebe. I’m not good company to be around.

Oh. Well, I have some Midol in my purse if you need it. Ignoring her moodiness, Phoebe took a seat in a chair opposite Janell.

No. I’m okay. Besides, I just have a lot on my mind.

What’s wrong? Do you want to talk about it? Phoebe stared at her with her big round brown eyes. Phoebe was fifteen, Hispanic, five feet even with curly hair, and she was cute as a button. Everyone loved Phoebe. Not only was she pretty, she was really nice.

Nothing, Janell lied. I’m just worried about failing French again. I do not want to take that class over in my junior year.

You’ll do fine. Just don’t stress so much. Too bad you didn’t take Spanish, I could help you, Phoebe said. You know, they have tutoring after school if you get too far behind and need help.

I might have to get a tutor. She sighed with frustration. I’m hopeless when it comes to foreign languages.

Girl, you speak Ebonics just fine. Isn’t that a foreign language? Phoebe joked, making her laugh even though she really didn’t want to.

Her mood cheered up. Phoebe always managed to make her feel better when she was down. That’s why she loved her as a friend.

So, what’s up? Where’s your shadow, Robyn? Janell asked. She was referring to their other best friend, Robyn Lee.

Phoebe frowned slightly, a gesture Janell didn’t miss.

She’s eating lunch with Valdez, she said almost angrily.