Money Hungry

Raspberry meets up with Ja’nae and Mai. A classmate, Kevin, tries to flirt with Mai, but she ignores him. Rebuffed, he begins making racist comments towards Mai because she is biracial. Mai stands up for herself and argues that she is Black, like Kevin, but he reiterates, “I seen your parents. That’s why I know what you ain’t, no matter what you say you is” (45). Ja’nae finally ends the altercation by asking Kevin if the police were at his house last week because they were fighting on the front porch.

At lunch, Ja’nae asks Raspberry if she can borrow $200. She reveals that someone asked her for the money with the promise to pay her back and, to cover that up, Ja’nae stole from her grandfather. Ming, Ja’nae’s crush and Mai’s brother, joins them at the lunch table sporting a brand-new leather jacket. Raspberry is angered because she assumes that Ja’nae stole the money from her grandfather to buy Ming the jacket and storms out of the lunchroom.

Raspberry ultimately lends Ja’nae the money, and because of this Ja’nae offers to join Raspberry’s house cleaning business.