The River and Me

It’s Personal

On Sunday, Evette meets Maritza and Makena at the Riverfront Community Center. Maritza waves her over, but Makena barely manages a smile, and Evette immediately senses something is wrong.

Makena explains that the day before, she and a male friend were in their neighborhood helping a lost, crying three-year-old find her mom. A White woman spotted them and started yelling, accusing them of hurting the girl and refusing to believe Black kids could simply be helping a White child. When the girl’s mom showed up, she was grateful, but the yelling woman never apologized. She ignored Makena and treated her friend like he was dangerous.

Evette thinks of Bud, who has brown skin, darker than her own. The idea of someone calling him dangerous horrifies her. She can picture it all too easily, especially once Bud grows up to be a man, even though she knows he wouldn’t hurt a worm. It reminds her of yesterday’s conversation with Grandma Peeters: White people making assumptions about people of color.

Makena calls it discrimination, adding that it doesn’t just happen between strangers. Evette mumbles that it can happen in families, too. When Makena asks what she means, Evette hesitates. Mom said it wasn’t her business, but she needs to talk about it with someone her own age who will understand.

Finally, Evette opens up about how Grandma Peeters said horrible things to Gran E years ago, making assumptions about her just because she is Black. Maritza and Makena hug Evette, who admits she wants to do something to change things between them.

That gives Evette an idea. Earlier, at the water fountain, she noticed a flyer about restoring the Anacostia River, with a number to call. She digs out the flyer and dials the number, reaching a man or older teenager named Kasey, who explains he’s part of a group that works to restore the river.

Evette explains she’s calling about a specific spot on the river, one of its tributaries. Kasey is thrilled, telling her he can arrange a cleanup day if she can find some volunteers. She’ll need at least two adults. Evette says she can bring plenty. Kasey responds that next Saturday he’ll have the equipment and a crew of volunteers, and they’ll meet at nine o’clock in the morning. He notes that she sounds dedicated, and she says it’s personal.

When Evette gets off the phone, she tells Maritza and Makena about Gran E’s favorite swimming spot and how polluted it is now. They both want to participate. Makena asks if Evette plans to invite both grandmothers. If they’re both there, Evette realizes, they’ll have to talk. This could work.

That night, Evette tells her family about the cleanup. Mom has to work, but Dad says he and Bud will be there. After dinner, Evette makes flyers and posts about the cleanup on social media, then calls Grandma and Grandpa Peeters. Grandpa is glad to lend a hand, and Grandma says she’ll be there, though she cannot promise Gran E will talk to her. Then she calls Gran E, who is delighted. Evette never fails to amaze her; when Evette decides something, she just goes for it, and wild horses could not keep her away.

On Monday, Evette hangs flyers around school. Outside the lunchroom, she spots Ashlyn reading one taped to the wall. Evette has been avoiding Ashlyn since school started, but now realizes she has been judging her unfairly.

Evette walks over and says hello. Ashlyn has noticed the flyers around school, and when Evette asks if she wants to come, Ashlyn says sure. The girls smile at each other; Ashlyn’s pink hair even starts to look kind of cool. Evette asks if they’re still friends, and Ashlyn says of course, and can Gia and Ziggy come to the cleanup, too?

Evette doesn’t even blink. “The more the merrier.”

Ashlyn smiles, and Evette watches her rush off. So maybe Evette isn’t Ashlyn’s only BFF, and she still doesn’t get Ziggy and Gia, but help is help, and the river needs all the help it can get.