Money Hungry

Raspberry ultimately lends Ja’nae the money, and because of this Ja’nae offers to join Raspberry’s house cleaning business. At Ja’nae’s house, the girls go over the details and agree that any money Ja’nae makes will go back to Raspberry to cover the cost of the loan. Raspberry asks Ja’nae’s grandmother if she knows anyone who could use house cleaning services. Ja’nae laughs when her grandmother suggests their next-door neighbor, Ms. Neeta, whom Ja’nae’s grandmother describes as “just different” but who turns out to have hoarding tendencies.

Ja’nae’s grandfather drives Raspberry home and drops her off at the bottom of the hill leading to her neighborhood. She walks home and sees multiple neighbors, including Odd Job, a man in her neighborhood who is always doing something different to make money. Raspberry sits for a while with Sato’s cousin, Eva, and listens to Eva complain until Sato shows up and offers to walk Raspberry home.

Raspberry notices that Sato is quieter than normal and isn’t teasing her like he usually does. Raspberry is surprised to find herself attracted to Sato, but as he is about to say something, their moment is interrupted by Check and Shoe nearly spilling a cup of spit on them from above. Raspberry, now late to return home, runs inside to answer her mother’s check-in phone call.

Raspberry and Ja’nae arrive at Ms. Neeta’s place to clean. They are intimidated by years’ worth of clutter, mess, and Ms. Neeta’s warning that if they don’t do an adequate job there will be “no second chances. None” (59). The girls begin cleaning and after an hour and a half feel they haven’t made any progress. Ms. Neeta stops in often to chat, and Raspberry tells her that she needs to throw some of her things away. Ms. Neeta refuses but says she will see them next week and gives both Raspberry and Ja’nae $50 for their three hours of work. As they leave Raspberry realizes that they have in fact “done that place some good” (61): Their cleaning efforts have made a difference.

Immediately upon leaving Ms. Neeta’s, Raspberry demands Ja’nae hand over the money she made per their agreement. Ja’nae refuses, says she needs the money for something else, and promises that she isn’t trying to “get over” on Raspberry. Raspberry kicks their cleaning bucket in anger and refuses to speak to Ja’nae as they return to her grandparents’ house.

As Ja’nae and her grandmother go to the basement to retrieve a chicken from the freezer, Raspberry steals the $50 bill that Ja’nae left on the table. Raspberry tries to convince herself that it’s okay to steal the money because of their agreement and leaves without saying goodbye. As Raspberry heads home, she stops multiple times as she struggles with the guilt of her actions. She tries to rationalize her choice by remembering her time living on the streets with Momma and how they had to do whatever they needed to survive. She feels that she “can’t walk home and leave what’s mine behind” (66). She hears Ja’nae calling after her and resolves to run home.

Before she arrives, however, Raspberry recalls a time last year when Momma broke her ankle and Ja’nae’s grandmother offered support by making food and giving Momma a $10 bill. Raspberry decides to run back to Ja’nae’s house to return the money, even though she knows her mother will be angry with her for returning home late again.