Page 12 of Player
Pia hesitates for a moment before pointing to a brown leather strap with two small khaki fabric pouches hanging from it. Sonam's gaze brightens when he smiles, and says, "It's a protection charm made by my grandma. Bene gris-gris."
I notice Keri's movement of interest, but it's Saphya who asks, "Do things like that still exist?"
There's no condescension in her voice, just genuine curiosity.
"Voodoo still has followers," Keri comments simply.
She's always very serious. Actually, I haven't heard her laugh since we moved in here. Saphya continues, "Oh, I know, it's just that I'm surprised people still believe these kinds of trinkets have power. No offense, Sonam."
"No problem," he replies. "To each theirown beliefs."
Pia's curiosity is piqued, as she asks him, "What exactly does this charm do?"
Sonam looks at the bracelets with a thoughtful expression before answering, "Where I'm from, we believe that the spirits of the dead surround us, that they live in our world, but we're separated by a kind of veil. Some spirits are able to cross it to haunt the living. This charm is supposed to protect me from the dead who might be tempted to cling to me."
No one makes any comment as Sonam continues, "Grandma is known for her protection spells, and as far back as I can remember, I've always had one or more on my wrists or neck. They're such a part of me that I can't imagine ever being without them."
"You seem very close to your grandmother," Pia remarks.
Sonam nods, a tender smile on his lips. "She raised me after my mother died."
My heart tightens at the thought of what he must have gone through. Losing a parent is truly horrible.
"Grandpa and she are the people dearest to me."
"It must be hard being so far from them," Pia sympathizes.
"I'd be lying if I said otherwise, but I have goals in life, so I chose OMU for my studies. As soon as I graduate, I'll go back to New Orleans."
A silence follows this declaration, but Saphya has a question for everyone. "Do you all want to go back and work close to home after you graduate?"
"No way," Keri retorts. "I left that backwater town for good, and I don't plan on setting foot there again."
Pia's tone is dreamy when she responds, "Well, I love my hometown, but I hope my career takes me traveling around the world. I'd like to visit as many countries as possible and meet differentpeople..."
Seeing her so shy and fragile, I wouldn't have thought she aspired to move around.
"I'll go wherever they'll have me," Emery comments. "You don't turn down a position in the NFL. Or fuck, the CFL even."
"I'm going to build my career in Washington DC," Saphya declares. "The White House better watch out!"
Nobody contradicts her, and my roommate's attention turns to me:
"What about you, Dixie? Will you want to go back to Alabama later?"
"Alabama?" calls a male voice from the entrance of the room. All heads turn toward Player who just arrived. His gaze locks onto mine and doesn't let go. There's a fiery gleam in his brown irises that makes me fear the worst. "Dixie from Alabama, is that some kind of bad joke?" he sneers. "What's next? Don't tell me that you like to ‘Roll Tide’ or maybe scream ‘War Eagle’ while drinkin’ a Zima at the ol’ Greenbow waterin’ hole!"
I tense up, as if he'd caught me doing something wrong, but it's Keri who answers him in a level tone, "You could also reference country music and pickup trucks, but I don't see what bigoted stereotypes have to do with anything."
Emery stands up just as Player is about to say something really stupid, declaring, "Come on, I think it's time to get some sleep."
Pia and Sonam get up and start clearing the table, while Keri heads to our room without saying a word to any of us. Only Saphya stays near me. I try not to let myself be intimidated by Player who's still glaring at me.
"Good thing you're here," Emery adds, "I wanted to talk to you about practice..."
The rest of his words are lost when he manages to push Player into his room.
"What's his problem?" Saphya wonders.
