Coco's Story: Be Cool, I'm Fasting

Big Rube: Coco did you see the list?

Fatimah: Take a deep breath habibti. He’s just trying to bother you.

Coco: Yes Rube, I saw the list.

Big Rube: You don’t have anything to say?

Coco: No, I don’t have anything to say.

Big Rube: You’re probably used to seeing your name at the top.

Coco: Third isn’t bad.

Fatimah: I know we’re annoyed right now, but don’t let him get to you. It will ruin our entire day.

Big Rube: Oh, you’re THIRD! I just noticed your name under mine, I wasn’t even paying attention to the fact that you sunk so low. (bragging)

Coco: You know, I would entertain this little conversation you are attempting to have with me, but I’m fasting.

Fatimah: Fasting, why did we say that? He doesn’t even know what you’re talking about.

Big Rube: What’s that mean?

Fatimah: See, now we have to explain.

Coco: It means I’m not eating or drinking or entertaining my nafs.

Big Rube: So, you can’t conversate with me without breakin yo’ fast? (looking puzzled, long pause) What are nafs?

Coco: I can converse with you. I’m not going to be baited into a petty back and forth. Part of my fasting is taming that petty side of me. My nafs tend to show up as petty.

Big Rube: Ok, so explain to me what your nafs are. I mean is it a woman thing? Do I have nafs?

Coco: My nafs are like unchecked inner desires or wants. They can be good and bad. For instance, when you tried me about getting a better performance grade on your project, I wanted to clap back. But that would hurt your tiny little feelings and huge male ego, so I decided not to indulge. That desire to clap back when you were being disrespectful…. That is my nafs. Get it?

Fatimah: Ok, we handled that well. We probably could have left out the male ego thing, but not bad.

Big Rube: Oh, so you tryin’ to control your nasty little attitude.

Fatimah: It’s Ramadan. We’re fasting. Be cool.

Coco: (saying to herself) Be cool, breathe.

Big Rube: You keep telling yourself that. I bet you won’t make it through the day.

Coco: If I were the type to bet, I’d say you’re on! I’m gonna keep my cool. You’ll see.

Ms. May: Class, class

Class: Yes, yes

After some mindful meditation and a mood check in, Ms. May begins a call and response to open class.

Ms. May: We are…

Class: Descendents of very great people

Ms. May: I promise…

Class: To use each day to the fullest creating and celebrating our own successes while also learning the lessons of our failures.

The class sat down and Ms. May posed a question about mental real estate and choosing how they occupy their minds. As the class began to engage in a heated debate about how music and videos don’t hold real estate in their brains, Coco’s eyes began to get heavy and she found herself drifting off in the middle of class.

Fatimah: We gotta wake up! We’re just so sleepy. Up early in the morning to start fasting, then late at night for homework and prayer. That’s the assignment though. Just keep your eyes open. Maybe close them for a second, ok a minute, ok …..

Big Rube: I gotta get a pic of this. She makin’ history today.

Neicey: Ooo! You violatin’! You know you wrong.

Big Rube: What you mean? The next time Ms. Straight A’s wants to get on my case about class, I can remind her with this.

Dez: (laughing) Is that a snore I hear? You should record a video.

Big Rube: You shole right! (Rube changes the setting to video and gets out of his seat for a better angle)

Ms. May: Put that away (she says sharply). Have some compassion. (changing her tone to soften her approach)

Big Rube: Ms. May, you gettin on me!? I’m not the one sleepin’ in yo class.

Malcolm: She must be tired; I’ve never seen her like this.

Neicey: Coco! Coco! (she says a little louder) FATIMAH!! (calling her by her government name)

Coco raises her head looking dazed, confused, and disoriented.

Coco: What’s goin on? Huh?

The whole class begins laughing.

Big Rube: Little Ms. Perfect, you got drool on your shirt.

Coco: What!? (embarrassed and still confused)

Ms. May: Settle down class. Meet me at the door Coco.(She says assertively)

Coco slowly walks to the door sunken and nervous.

Ms. May: What are you doing? (scornfully whispering as to only be heard by Coco) I’ve never seen you behave like this. I’m a bit shocked and a bit disappointed, but I want to hear what you have to say. What’s going on Coco?

Coco: I’m sorry Ms. May. It won’t happen again.

Fatimah: Just tell her we’re fasting. She’ll understand. Plus we were up all night at the masjid. Ms. May is cool; she’ll get it.

Coco: Ms. May, I’m sorry. I’m fasting and I was up all night, so I’ma lil sleepy.

Ms. May: I understand that you’re tired, but if fasting makes you act like this, maybe you should eat something.

Fatimah: You know what! I thought she would understand, but clearly she don’t. I mean, break our fast! What kinda muslim does that? For what? Cuz we tired? Would we tell her not to, I don’t know, not teach cuz it's kinda hard? It’s ok. Calm down, Coco. Just be cool. We’ll be aight.

Coco: Yes, ma’am. I can’t break my fast, but I won’t fall asleep in your class again.

Ms. May: Well next time this happens, I will have to call your parents.

Fatimah: Call my parents! I wish you would. Tell’em we sleepy. You must not know my parents. My daddy might tell you a few things bout yoself, while you playin. On second thought, they’ll probably tell me about how Khairy Irving fast during the season so I shouldn’t have a reason to sleep during my class. I’m so tired. I just want this day to be over and it's only morning.

Coco: (Deep breath) Yes ma’am.

By the time Ms. May finished talking to Coco, it was time to go to lunch. As the rest of her class goes to the cafeteria, she heads to the library.

Fatimah: I can take a lil nap and be straight for math.

Ms. Medea: Hey Coco, how you doin?

Coco: I’m good Ms. Medea. A lil sleepy.

Ms. Medea: Oh, I see. Where’s your pass?

Coco: I didn’t get one. We’re supposed to be at lunch, but I thought I could come in here instead. I’m not eatin lunch today.

Ms. Medea: Without a pass, you can’t be here. See if you can get a pass or go to lunch.

Coco: But Ms…

Ms. Medea: Now, Coco I love the fact that you wanna come to the media center. I wish more kids came in here, but I can’t let you stay here without a pass. Even if you are at lunch.

Coco: Yes, ma’am.

Fatimah: We can’t catcha break. It’s aight. The day’s almost over. Be cool.

Coco walks to the cafeteria and finds a table by herself so that she can put her head down.The cafeteria buzzes with energy. The chatter echoes against the wall making it even louder. As Coco tries to get some peace, Sasha sits beside her.

Sasha: Sup

Coco: Sup, I’m trying to sleep

Sasha: Girl, you is not bout to get no sleep in here.

Coco: Bruh, can I just get a moment. Why did you come over here?

Sasha: I was really lookin out for you, but I guess you aint checked the gram since this mornin.

Coco: Im not tryin to get into no mess, please just leave me alone.

Sasha: Dang bih! I was tryin to put you on. I’m not the one who put you snoring on the gram. You should be thankful. You try to be nice to uppity bihs and they act like this! So dis-re-spectful!

Fatimah: You know what, we can make up our fast. We been tried all day and folks jus wanna keep tryin. She got the nerve to call us out our name. I mean how much more we supposed to take. We not gon let people disrespect.

Coco: First of all, noone ask you to bring this mess to me so I don’t know what favors you think you passin out. Second of all, call me a b….

Before she could get the word out Big Rube jumps in.

Big Rube: What's goin’ on, what's goin’ on? Coco, let me holla at you for a minute.

Fatimah: What now!!! You’re the reason we are in this mess to begin with.

Sasha: Yeah, go talk to her cuz I ain’t got no more words.

Sasha begins tying up her hair as to prepare herself. Big Rube steps directly in front of Coco, blocking her from looking in Sasha’s direction.

Coco: You win!! I can’t take it!!! I’m trying to be patient and people just keep messin’ with me.

Big Rube: Calm down. (Rube says in a low voice, trying to bring the energy down)

Big Rube walks Coco to the downstairs door of the cafeteria that leads to the outside stairwell. He walks with her outside. As he opens the door, a burst of sun changes the milieu completely and Coco takes a deep breath. Coco sits down on a step a few steps from the bottom as Rube stands up. Coco looks up at him slightly relieved now that they are outside but still frustrated by today’s events.

Big Rube: You aight?

Coco: I honestly don’t know. I feel like every time I try to keep my cool and grab some peace of mind, something or someone tries to get my peace of mind. I'm tryin’ to grab my peace! And on top of dat, y'all posted a video!!! That's not cool.

Big Rube: Actually, it's a video of a video. I would never post anything like that of you even if you are a little annoying at times. Someone recorded my phone. That part is on me.

Fatimah: Wait a minute, why is he being so nice to us?

Coco: Why are you being so nice to me? (looking puzzled)

Big Rube: I mean, I might like to get under ya skin a lil bit, but you was about to get yo self in alota trouble messin wit Sasha. You aint even got it in you.

Coco: I woulda held my own.

Big Rube: And you aint eat nutin. I know you tied.

Coco: You right bout dat. I'm tied af.

Big Rube: I mean why is this whole fasting thing important anyway, you can just be regular ole Coco. You know, the one that cuss me out in the mornin for messin around in class.

Coco: Fasting is a part of my religion. This is the month of Ramadan and people of my faith use this time to really check our own behaviors and get close to God. I don’t mean to sound preachy or nuthin but it means a lot to me. It may not be the most popular thing to be into religion these days but it's a part of who I am. You get it?

Big Rube: I mean, I feel you. It's a lil different. E’erbody not gon match yo energy, but You gotta do you. So you can’t eat, drink, and you just trying to be better.

Coco: Exxxxactly!!

Big Rube: My bad den, I didn’t realize it was so important.

Fatimah: Awe

Coco: You good, I preciate the apology.

Big Rube: You think you aight now to go back to lunch?

Coco: Lunch! Lunch is over. We gotta get to class!

Big Rube: Oh, can I walk you to class?

Fatimah: Awe

Coco: You so lame, of course you can walk me to class. We have the same class.