Black-owned business of the day:
Simone The Brand:

Simone The Label offers a collection of beautiful pieces meant to add a touch of luxury to your wardrobe while remaining affordable. Each piece is handpicked and designed to be aesthetically pleasing and physically excellent. It's our goal to deliver positive emotions and lasting memories through each piece shared.

As a black woman-owned small business, we are excited to act as more than just a jewelry and accessories shop. Jewelry for Justice is Simone the Label's exciting initiative that makes each purchase meaningful through education, donation, and amplification of black voices.

50% of profits from the Jewelry for Justice collection are donated to the Equal Justice Initiative* These items have the phrase "fights for justice" in the description.

Website: www.simonelabel.com

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My grandma's house was full of leeches. We've been here for ten minutes and my cousin has already asked me to buy her a yacht. Mind you, she wouldn't let me borrow a pair of her shoes when we were sent to school with ripped pairs.

They gave us nothing but, they want the world from us.

I made sure to keep my distance by putting on my Gucci mask. I don't know, I don't have a reason why I'm wearing the mask but, it's comfortable. It hides my face whenever I'm giving people attitude.

If I can wear masks 25/8, I'll be grateful.

I'm giving a rich Auntie who divorced her husband and is now traveling the world.

Cassidy was with our cousins, chatting it up in the corner. The same cousins who used to publicly humiliate us for not having the latest clothes. She's forgiving because I will never voluntarily talk to them after what they have done to us.

She seems to have forgotten how they would cousins pushed her into the well at school for a quick laugh.

I was bored out of my mind when I was getting a FaceTime call. I looked down and it was Makayla. I haven't heard from her in days but I'm cool with that.

We can't be friends if you want to talk to me every day. I will need a five-day break from you so I can gather my thoughts. I can't sit on the phone with someone back to back, day after day.

"Hey bestieeee"

"Hey girl, what's up?"

Before I could even respond Cassidy got her fast ass up and walked to me. Cassidy and Makayla don't get along. That's why she's my best friend.

Ever since Makayla stood up for me when Cassidy was teasing me we've been attached to the hip. She often threatened to fight Cassidy every time she got too close to me. That was years ago but, Makayla holds a grudge.

"So you're acting like you didn't see my text?"

"Sorry I didn't text you back, I saw your text then I responded in my head. I forgot to actually type it and send it"

This happens all the time. Whenever someone texts I see it and answer in my head. If you don't double text me then your message isn't going to be answered.

As always, as I was in my world, Cassidy came to ruin it. She snatched my phone out of my hand and started to argue with Makayla.

"You must not have any other friends by the way you settled for Serenity. But then again, both of you guys are lame"

"Say that shit to my face"

Cassidy turned around and saw Makayla walking towards her. I've never seen her so mad before. Cassidy has a way of getting under people's skin like no other.

Before Makayla can swing on her my mom pulled her back. My mom treats her like family. She comes over every Christmas and thanksgiving since we became best friends.

She's always at my house eating all my food, using our water, and causing drama with Cassidy. I love it.  I don't feel like an only child when she's around.

Sometimes I think my mom likes Makayla more than her kids.

Before things can escalate, my grandma called everyone inside to eat. On our way inside Makayla purposely took a chunk of Cassidy's hair and dragged her to the back.

I looked like Beyoncé when Solange slapped Jay-Z in the elevator.

I made sure to save her a seat right next to me. I made sure to take the seat closest to the food so I wouldn't have to do too much work.

My cousin made sure to sit next to me for some reason. She's still talking about that yacht she showed me earlier. She must be choking on ass hair if she thinks I'll ever buy her a yacht.

"Everyone takes a seat, the dinner is about to start"

As if on cue, my aunt stumbled in. She came from her 'walk' with red, low eyes and a baggie sticking out of her pocket. Her walk left her dazed and confused. My grandma called someone to start the prayer while my aunt went to collect herself.

"Lord I'll like to say thank you for allowing us to reunite with family on this special day. Even though some of our family got rich and acted like they don't know nobody still protects them. Please allow them to share their wealth and buy us each a house. They also seem to have bought a new car ....."

"Amen"

My grandma said with anger. That wasn't a prayer for the food, she was praying for handouts. I quietly did a separate prayer for the food since I saw she wasn't going to do it.

"Dig in"

I grabbed the nearest plate and dived into the food. There were macaroni and cheese, Cajun pasta, loaded mashed potatoes, lobster tails, garlic bread, pork chops, and more.

That was only one table. We had a whole other table with just sweets. Without the desserts, Thanksgiving might as well be canceled.

My family doesn't focus on the turkey. It's not the most important thing to us. If they gave us the option of having turkey or glazed ham, we're all picking glazed ham.

Conversation flowed around the table but Makayla and I kept quiet. We were only on our first plate, we had to make room for two more plates. Talking only distracted us.

"Yeah, I've been investing in stocks. Pretty soon we'll be as rich as you"

I gave Makayla the side-eye and she gave me the same. If you and your best friend don't speak without actually speaking then I'm sorry. Somethings have to be said without actually being said.

"So Serenity, how has college been treating you?"

My annoying aunt asked. She's the aunt no one likes because she likes to gossip about everyone and stick her nose in business that's not hers. I know everyone does that but she takes it too far.

"Great." I said, keeping it short and to the point.

"No babies yet? I wouldn't be surprised if you dropped out like your sister"

And here we go. They always compare Cassidy and I as if we're the same person. One thing I hate is being compared to someone else. Before I could even answer my mom beat me to it.

"Let me stop you right there, Ms. girl. I'm proud of both of my daughters. Cassidy gave me my first granddaughter and Serenity is continuing the family's tradition of being an AKA. You're in no place to talk about my daughters when your children all moved away from your toxic ass"

She had nothing to say. Toxic parents always act shocked when their kids move away from them. My cousins made sure to pick colleges that were light years away from her. To this day she doesn't know the college they went to.

"Ok but, where's her boyfriend?"

She knows this is a sensitive topic for me but, she still brings it up. She finds pleasure in making everyone around her suffer.

And just like that, I lost my appetite. Makayla rubbed my back as she took a big bite out of her Pork chops.

"I'm right here" I heard someone say behind me.