1.The story takes place at one place it takes place in school the get put out the house are on the street
2.Their mom is on drugs and they don’t get anything for Christmas and other holidays.
3.The central character faces having to take care of her little sisters and brothers and she cannot have a child life like she wanted. Her mom is on drugs and now she and her sister and brother is on the street.
4. The story is not done yet.
5. There is no ending yet.
6. I cant because she is not finish yet.
7.First is the main and she is a little girl who has to take care of her sisters and brothers and she is only 9. Then there is her mom she is a crack head and does not take care of her kids. Then there’s the sister and brother and they are homeless
8.I can’t really suggest anything because the story is not done yet.
9. The main character is loving but alone and cannot enjoy her life.
10. The main character is not loved by her mom and needs to be acknowledged for her intensions to take care of her siblings.
11. The story is not finished yet.
{{sharnise dozier}}
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
THE SHOWDOWN AT THE PLAYGROUND
November 28, 2007 ````` Kyle Sanders
Creative Writing
The Show Down at the Playground!
“This is our park!” yelled a gang of small black kids. “No it is not!” Screamed the funny looking Asians kids, “This playground belong to use, we been here since……since…… since I don’t know, but we was here before yall was. Screaming little Tonyeta Ikea in a fierce voice, No! We always been here cried out little Ken Sue. The two side were heated and ready to fight, but Little Tonyeta Ikea said, “No, we should handle this type of problem by having fun and winning at the same time” explained Tonyeta.
The first challenge was to see who could swing the highest. Little Ken Sue decided that she would take the challenge and represent for her team and little Tonyeta Ikea said she would take the challenge and represent for her team. They both Tonyeta Ikea and Little Ken Sue was pump and ready, they had sparks flying when they jump on the set of swings and waited for Ken Sue cousin Baby Jackie aka B.J. to say go. On your mark, get set……………..GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They was off kicking they feet into the air, it look like Ken Sue was the highest, but Tonyeta Ikea just had more leg power and overcame little Ken Sue in the challenge.
The next show down was the pull-up test, the pull-up test was a piece of cake thought little Ken Sue. It was flaming hot outside and was made it very hotter was the groups of kids yelling and jumping around. The two girls was under the monkey bars getting ready to pull for they’re life. Once again B.J. who was Ken Sue little brother came out and ON YOUR MARK……….GET SET……….GO! AND THAT WAS IT THE TWO WAS BACK AT IT TRYING TO BEAT EACH OTHER. Tonyeta Ikea didn’t have upper body strength like Ken Sue, which gave Ken Sue the upper hand and leaving Tonyeta Ikea in the dust. Believe it or not, but I was almost wrong Tonyeta Ikea almost beat Ken Sue. Ken Sue did 15 pull-ups and Tonyeta had done 13 pull-ups surprisingly because she got tired at 5.
The last Showdown was indeed the hardest showdown so for help both Ken Sue and Tonyeta Ikea was given a partner of they’re choice Ken Sue picks B.J. and Tonyeta Ikea got her little brother Kareem Abdul. “So want again it on; let get it poppin” said an older kid who was watching. ON YOUR MARK GET SET GO! Little Ken Sue went running up the sliding board like a ninja I guess she must have been watching them karate movies Little Tonyeta Ikea and her brother grabbed Ken Sue legs and drags her off the sliding board. B.G, tripped Kareem making Kareem hit is face on the metal sliding board leaving him hurt, everything got quiet leaving everybody speechless even the old men playing chess. Next thing you know it was a all out war, until the older kid who was watching scream out and said “LOOK AT YA’LL FIGHTING OVER A PARK, A PARK THAT DOSEN’T EVEN BELONG TO YA’LL.” He paused then he went on saying, “how dumb it was fighting each other when we should be playing with each other. Everybody agree and decided that it was dumb to fight over something so petite; and that how the showdown at the playground ended.
Creative Writing
The Show Down at the Playground!
“This is our park!” yelled a gang of small black kids. “No it is not!” Screamed the funny looking Asians kids, “This playground belong to use, we been here since……since…… since I don’t know, but we was here before yall was. Screaming little Tonyeta Ikea in a fierce voice, No! We always been here cried out little Ken Sue. The two side were heated and ready to fight, but Little Tonyeta Ikea said, “No, we should handle this type of problem by having fun and winning at the same time” explained Tonyeta.
The first challenge was to see who could swing the highest. Little Ken Sue decided that she would take the challenge and represent for her team and little Tonyeta Ikea said she would take the challenge and represent for her team. They both Tonyeta Ikea and Little Ken Sue was pump and ready, they had sparks flying when they jump on the set of swings and waited for Ken Sue cousin Baby Jackie aka B.J. to say go. On your mark, get set……………..GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They was off kicking they feet into the air, it look like Ken Sue was the highest, but Tonyeta Ikea just had more leg power and overcame little Ken Sue in the challenge.
The next show down was the pull-up test, the pull-up test was a piece of cake thought little Ken Sue. It was flaming hot outside and was made it very hotter was the groups of kids yelling and jumping around. The two girls was under the monkey bars getting ready to pull for they’re life. Once again B.J. who was Ken Sue little brother came out and ON YOUR MARK……….GET SET……….GO! AND THAT WAS IT THE TWO WAS BACK AT IT TRYING TO BEAT EACH OTHER. Tonyeta Ikea didn’t have upper body strength like Ken Sue, which gave Ken Sue the upper hand and leaving Tonyeta Ikea in the dust. Believe it or not, but I was almost wrong Tonyeta Ikea almost beat Ken Sue. Ken Sue did 15 pull-ups and Tonyeta had done 13 pull-ups surprisingly because she got tired at 5.
The last Showdown was indeed the hardest showdown so for help both Ken Sue and Tonyeta Ikea was given a partner of they’re choice Ken Sue picks B.J. and Tonyeta Ikea got her little brother Kareem Abdul. “So want again it on; let get it poppin” said an older kid who was watching. ON YOUR MARK GET SET GO! Little Ken Sue went running up the sliding board like a ninja I guess she must have been watching them karate movies Little Tonyeta Ikea and her brother grabbed Ken Sue legs and drags her off the sliding board. B.G, tripped Kareem making Kareem hit is face on the metal sliding board leaving him hurt, everything got quiet leaving everybody speechless even the old men playing chess. Next thing you know it was a all out war, until the older kid who was watching scream out and said “LOOK AT YA’LL FIGHTING OVER A PARK, A PARK THAT DOSEN’T EVEN BELONG TO YA’LL.” He paused then he went on saying, “how dumb it was fighting each other when we should be playing with each other. Everybody agree and decided that it was dumb to fight over something so petite; and that how the showdown at the playground ended.
briana poteat period6 DRAFT
What I Call Life
Boom,boom,boom Ahhhhhh! Nay-Nay, Day-Day, Poodie, come on run get the baby, Motherf*****,get out my f****ing house now!my mother screamed as me and my brothers and sisters headed out the door crying;crying because their scared, sad and alone.The only one they can depend on is me Shaquetta Johnson. I’m ten years old and I live with my 2 brothers and 2 sisters and one on the way I don’t know why we don’t need it she doesn’t take care of the ones she has now. We live in a rathole on a ghetto neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland. We never had a father or seen him, in fact I wouldn’t say I had a mother neither, she was here in spirit not person. She was on dem drugs bad everyone called her Runny because she would run for and run drugs all through her body in the craziest ways. She also was a prostitute who owed everyone in the neighborhood money and because of this we have to live in fear everyday thinking someones gon kill my mom or maybe us. But I didn’t want to believe it at all I knew is that we loved her so much and if something happened to her my brother and sisters would be hurt. Basically I take care of everyone because I’m the oldest and most mature but it not easy I’m not able to be a child instead I have to play the role of a mother and this is what I call my life.
It all started, well every since I could remember she was like this I have never seen her any other way. She constantly lies about where she is going but she always said the store the older I got the more I understood and knew she wasn’t going to the store.It started with me then along came all the others all by different men and I don’t think she knows who the fathers are she just a whore to me. Christmas would come and she wouldn’t get us nothing she would just always say “you better be glad you live to see another year so go upstairs and pray to your lord”. At the time I didn’t know how to pray but somehow I learned and knows he answers prayers. So I hoping God answers my prayers to this thing I call life.
I am now 9 years old and struggling to surive I am faced with many challenges everyday but the most one I am worried about happening is my mother dieing and my siblings being heartbroken. Today is December 21, which is currently the first day of Winter, which also means that this is when all the trouble and hardship comes. My mom struggles to pay the bills because of it being so cold. She borrows money from everyone and never pays them back.We digged in the trash cans looking for food sometimes when my mom spent our money on drugs.
The day I thought would never happen came the death of my mother the day was March 31, a cold winter day.At first we were in school trying to learn anyway when the teacher got a phone "Hello good afternoon Ms. Brown's class",Hi yes I calling to tell u about one of your students named Shaquetta Johnson,"yes" Hmmm!She has an early dismissal,she was told to come straight home, with her brothers and sisters,Okay Thank u,Have a nice day.The teacher hung up the phone and told me the message.I got up and left in shock that this day had finally came I didnt think it would be this soon.I didnt tell my brothers and sisters I just told them to come on dont worry about it.We got home and seen everything from the blood,the destruction and my mother I didnt have to tell them what happened they were mad at me because I didnt tell them.Everyone asked question but the question everyone asked is HOW DID SHEW DIE?After everything settled down we got put in a foster home and my mother got cremated.My brothers and sisters now realize how much I did for them and because of this they consider my their mom but the youngest one call me mom.Only I know the truth of how my mom died.The truth is a man who she has owed money to for the longest time finally got tired of it and Broke in our house, raped my mom and then shoot her because she refused to come get me out of school so he can rape me, I would of never thought she would have done something like that that for me but you never know the truth until a person dies.I am now 16 and still in contact with my sisters and brothers and I realized that in life we go throught things and at the same time we are being taught something and learn from these mistakes there you have it My Life by Shaquetta Johnson.R.I.P. MOM I LOVE U!
Boom,boom,boom Ahhhhhh! Nay-Nay, Day-Day, Poodie, come on run get the baby, Motherf*****,get out my f****ing house now!my mother screamed as me and my brothers and sisters headed out the door crying;crying because their scared, sad and alone.The only one they can depend on is me Shaquetta Johnson. I’m ten years old and I live with my 2 brothers and 2 sisters and one on the way I don’t know why we don’t need it she doesn’t take care of the ones she has now. We live in a rathole on a ghetto neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland. We never had a father or seen him, in fact I wouldn’t say I had a mother neither, she was here in spirit not person. She was on dem drugs bad everyone called her Runny because she would run for and run drugs all through her body in the craziest ways. She also was a prostitute who owed everyone in the neighborhood money and because of this we have to live in fear everyday thinking someones gon kill my mom or maybe us. But I didn’t want to believe it at all I knew is that we loved her so much and if something happened to her my brother and sisters would be hurt. Basically I take care of everyone because I’m the oldest and most mature but it not easy I’m not able to be a child instead I have to play the role of a mother and this is what I call my life.
It all started, well every since I could remember she was like this I have never seen her any other way. She constantly lies about where she is going but she always said the store the older I got the more I understood and knew she wasn’t going to the store.It started with me then along came all the others all by different men and I don’t think she knows who the fathers are she just a whore to me. Christmas would come and she wouldn’t get us nothing she would just always say “you better be glad you live to see another year so go upstairs and pray to your lord”. At the time I didn’t know how to pray but somehow I learned and knows he answers prayers. So I hoping God answers my prayers to this thing I call life.
I am now 9 years old and struggling to surive I am faced with many challenges everyday but the most one I am worried about happening is my mother dieing and my siblings being heartbroken. Today is December 21, which is currently the first day of Winter, which also means that this is when all the trouble and hardship comes. My mom struggles to pay the bills because of it being so cold. She borrows money from everyone and never pays them back.We digged in the trash cans looking for food sometimes when my mom spent our money on drugs.
The day I thought would never happen came the death of my mother the day was March 31, a cold winter day.At first we were in school trying to learn anyway when the teacher got a phone "Hello good afternoon Ms. Brown's class",Hi yes I calling to tell u about one of your students named Shaquetta Johnson,"yes" Hmmm!She has an early dismissal,she was told to come straight home, with her brothers and sisters,Okay Thank u,Have a nice day.The teacher hung up the phone and told me the message.I got up and left in shock that this day had finally came I didnt think it would be this soon.I didnt tell my brothers and sisters I just told them to come on dont worry about it.We got home and seen everything from the blood,the destruction and my mother I didnt have to tell them what happened they were mad at me because I didnt tell them.Everyone asked question but the question everyone asked is HOW DID SHEW DIE?After everything settled down we got put in a foster home and my mother got cremated.My brothers and sisters now realize how much I did for them and because of this they consider my their mom but the youngest one call me mom.Only I know the truth of how my mom died.The truth is a man who she has owed money to for the longest time finally got tired of it and Broke in our house, raped my mom and then shoot her because she refused to come get me out of school so he can rape me, I would of never thought she would have done something like that that for me but you never know the truth until a person dies.I am now 16 and still in contact with my sisters and brothers and I realized that in life we go throught things and at the same time we are being taught something and learn from these mistakes there you have it My Life by Shaquetta Johnson.R.I.P. MOM I LOVE U!
Kevin Forge 6th period
I’m Just A Kid
It was like the end of December when it all happened. Where all my friends and family were having fun, but of course I am the only one who have to suffer. While all my friends get brand new clothing and cool toys, for Christmas, while I just get crappy hand me downs and old stuff . Well I guess that’s how life started for me in a small house in Louisville, Kentucky, living with a brother, a sister, and two parents who feel like I do not even exist. My name is Archie and here is my story……..
It was like two days away till Christmas and I knew what I was going to get this year; another crappy gifts from my parents and nothing from my siblings even though they have a job to afford a months worth of food. However, my sister Jill gets me really pissed off. She’s like fifteen and she gets what ever she wants. It feels like the world revolves around her. Next my older brother Austin, he can be a good person though, but he is a real pain. It’s surprising because I’m the only kid I know that doesn’t want to have a Christmas this year. Nevertheless, when it comes, I just hang around with the family, but it is as if the family does not want to hang around me. Anyway, of there actions I have been feeling very depressed lately and I am still a little kid. The only thing that could solve my problems is to runaway.
As I plan to runaway I think about the consequence I might face. Leaving my family and living alone. I said to myself, “how am I going to eat, sleep, and how am I going to take a shower.” But I had a motive, it may have been childish, but it was worth it. My motive was to go to the biggest toy store there is, and live in it. My plan my have been crazy, but it was my dream. I wanted to have all the brand new toys there is, and nobody could share, touch, and play with my brand new toys. The good thing about it is that when every body is gone, I could play all night long. The next day comes, and I told my parents where’s the biggest toy store located at. My mom replied the big apple of course in New York, New York. Then I said, isn’t that where Uncle Charlie lives. My mom said yes, you’re exactly right. The next day rolls by and I realized that I needed some money to get anywhere. So when I had the chance, I go to the bank with my mom and try to remember what buttons she press because I was planning to take her credit card. Also from the recent years, I have notice when she go shopping she always say something like “put it on my card” or something like that. Furthermore, for me to get from Louisville, Kentucky to New York, New York it was either on a plane, car, or train. We do not live far from a train station; in addition I remember that once my family and I went to go see Uncle Charlie in New York. That made me think that I rather go on a train since I had more experience on a train rather on a car or plane. As I plan my escape on a day when everybody was either at work or shopping, I figure that it was the perfect time for me to take action. The next morning comes, and knew it was the day. So before anyone was awake, I rushed to take moms’ credit card. Like around nine o’ clock, I stated to eat my last breakfast with my family. And that really made me happy that day. When I got out the shower, everybody had already left. So I toke one of my dads suit cases and I put the most important things I needed like clothes, deodorant, toothbrush, and lotion. As a got to the train station, I looked up on a bored and realized that my train was not going to leave until fifteen minutes from now. So I rushed to pay an attendant and then boarded on the train. I was relief until I have realized I might not ever see my relatives again. I don’t know why but, I would be worried because on another day I would be ecstatic to find out that I would never see my siblings again. So as I think I said to myself that I would just stay at my Uncle Charlie’s house. But I knew so little about how to get there. The loud speaker came on and announced that we were a couple minutes away from Grand Central Station. Luckily from my research I knew that I had to get off here. After what felt like a fifty hour ride I knew that it was worth it. I got my entire luggage and made sure that I got off first of how I really couldn’t afford to get left behind. As I see so many bright yellow taxies out side I just randomly chose one. I told an old mean looking guy, who looked like the Grinch, to take me to Toys “R” Us. As he takes his time in the congested freeways and streets, my eyes where glued to the window of how I nevered seen so many people, buildings, and cars in my life.
As we stop at my destination, I swiped my credit card and went along. I ran, rolling the heaviest luggage ever, to see the toy store and explored the inside. As I got into the building I looked as if I died and went to heaven. First, I said to myself that I needed to hide my luggage somewhere safe. And then next thing you knew it I saw a door that said janitors closet. I knew that it was the perfect place to hide my luggage. After I store my luggage there I rushed to play with toys, video games, and I rushed to go on a big Ferris wheel that went threw the whole toy store. In the middle of my game playing I thought to my self that my family doesn’t even think I’m gone yet. But deep down I think I still miss them. After that I went to play more games for nobody could tell me when to stop playing. I told my self that if this store is great I can’t imagine the rest of the stores in the city. So I left Toys “R” Us to explore the rest of the city. I saw the biggest McDonalds there is. It was like three stories tall. After all, I had nothing to eat since breakfast. So I got a number one which was the best sandwich, fries, and drink, I had in my lifetime. Next, I saw an arcade and that’s what really surprised me. As I played for three hours straight, I realized that I knew this was the best place to be. Then, I remembered that I had to go back to the toy store before it closes. As I dip and dodge my way through Manhattan, I didn’t remember where it was. After seeing the great and almighty McDonalds I knew my way from there. As I ran to the door it was around ten o’ clock and the doors was sealed shut. I started to burst out crying for I had no home. When that happen, I regretted every moment of this experience. I ran to the nearest pay phone and tried to call my parents but no answer. I guess I was in this world alone.
I called 911, for it was my last choice, and told them what happen. They told me to stay put and we would come and pick you up. I stood there for five minutes and a cop car came and toke me in. As we get to the police station they asked me varies of questions, like where you from, how did you get here, do you know your parents number, and more stuff like that. After answering those questions they told me that I had a place to stay for the night. In addition, they said that we would try to contact your parents. In the meanwhile you should get some rest. As I watched them make calls after calls I got tired and dozed off.
The next morning comes by and as I woke up all I saw was my beloved, caring, and all so sweet family. As I hugged them as tight as I could I wished that I would never let them go. They told me a million times that I missed me and why did you go and all. I told my mom that I tried to call her like ten times but no answer. Then my mom said that she was to busy looking for me. Then I finally answered the question of why I ran away. I replied because I always get crappy gifts and you guys never recognized me. Then my mom said is this all about the gifts. I was like no no no. The gifts are symbols of what I think how you treat me. While my mom started to cry and kept saying sorry and sorry my dad came over and started to talk to me. He was like I promise that your mom and I would treat you better for know on. I replied that’s all I asked for. As my family and I started to walk back to the train station I told my parents that if I was in trouble. My dad said as long as your safe and protected you’ll never be in trouble.
It was like the end of December when it all happened. Where all my friends and family were having fun, but of course I am the only one who have to suffer. While all my friends get brand new clothing and cool toys, for Christmas, while I just get crappy hand me downs and old stuff . Well I guess that’s how life started for me in a small house in Louisville, Kentucky, living with a brother, a sister, and two parents who feel like I do not even exist. My name is Archie and here is my story……..
It was like two days away till Christmas and I knew what I was going to get this year; another crappy gifts from my parents and nothing from my siblings even though they have a job to afford a months worth of food. However, my sister Jill gets me really pissed off. She’s like fifteen and she gets what ever she wants. It feels like the world revolves around her. Next my older brother Austin, he can be a good person though, but he is a real pain. It’s surprising because I’m the only kid I know that doesn’t want to have a Christmas this year. Nevertheless, when it comes, I just hang around with the family, but it is as if the family does not want to hang around me. Anyway, of there actions I have been feeling very depressed lately and I am still a little kid. The only thing that could solve my problems is to runaway.
As I plan to runaway I think about the consequence I might face. Leaving my family and living alone. I said to myself, “how am I going to eat, sleep, and how am I going to take a shower.” But I had a motive, it may have been childish, but it was worth it. My motive was to go to the biggest toy store there is, and live in it. My plan my have been crazy, but it was my dream. I wanted to have all the brand new toys there is, and nobody could share, touch, and play with my brand new toys. The good thing about it is that when every body is gone, I could play all night long. The next day comes, and I told my parents where’s the biggest toy store located at. My mom replied the big apple of course in New York, New York. Then I said, isn’t that where Uncle Charlie lives. My mom said yes, you’re exactly right. The next day rolls by and I realized that I needed some money to get anywhere. So when I had the chance, I go to the bank with my mom and try to remember what buttons she press because I was planning to take her credit card. Also from the recent years, I have notice when she go shopping she always say something like “put it on my card” or something like that. Furthermore, for me to get from Louisville, Kentucky to New York, New York it was either on a plane, car, or train. We do not live far from a train station; in addition I remember that once my family and I went to go see Uncle Charlie in New York. That made me think that I rather go on a train since I had more experience on a train rather on a car or plane. As I plan my escape on a day when everybody was either at work or shopping, I figure that it was the perfect time for me to take action. The next morning comes, and knew it was the day. So before anyone was awake, I rushed to take moms’ credit card. Like around nine o’ clock, I stated to eat my last breakfast with my family. And that really made me happy that day. When I got out the shower, everybody had already left. So I toke one of my dads suit cases and I put the most important things I needed like clothes, deodorant, toothbrush, and lotion. As a got to the train station, I looked up on a bored and realized that my train was not going to leave until fifteen minutes from now. So I rushed to pay an attendant and then boarded on the train. I was relief until I have realized I might not ever see my relatives again. I don’t know why but, I would be worried because on another day I would be ecstatic to find out that I would never see my siblings again. So as I think I said to myself that I would just stay at my Uncle Charlie’s house. But I knew so little about how to get there. The loud speaker came on and announced that we were a couple minutes away from Grand Central Station. Luckily from my research I knew that I had to get off here. After what felt like a fifty hour ride I knew that it was worth it. I got my entire luggage and made sure that I got off first of how I really couldn’t afford to get left behind. As I see so many bright yellow taxies out side I just randomly chose one. I told an old mean looking guy, who looked like the Grinch, to take me to Toys “R” Us. As he takes his time in the congested freeways and streets, my eyes where glued to the window of how I nevered seen so many people, buildings, and cars in my life.
As we stop at my destination, I swiped my credit card and went along. I ran, rolling the heaviest luggage ever, to see the toy store and explored the inside. As I got into the building I looked as if I died and went to heaven. First, I said to myself that I needed to hide my luggage somewhere safe. And then next thing you knew it I saw a door that said janitors closet. I knew that it was the perfect place to hide my luggage. After I store my luggage there I rushed to play with toys, video games, and I rushed to go on a big Ferris wheel that went threw the whole toy store. In the middle of my game playing I thought to my self that my family doesn’t even think I’m gone yet. But deep down I think I still miss them. After that I went to play more games for nobody could tell me when to stop playing. I told my self that if this store is great I can’t imagine the rest of the stores in the city. So I left Toys “R” Us to explore the rest of the city. I saw the biggest McDonalds there is. It was like three stories tall. After all, I had nothing to eat since breakfast. So I got a number one which was the best sandwich, fries, and drink, I had in my lifetime. Next, I saw an arcade and that’s what really surprised me. As I played for three hours straight, I realized that I knew this was the best place to be. Then, I remembered that I had to go back to the toy store before it closes. As I dip and dodge my way through Manhattan, I didn’t remember where it was. After seeing the great and almighty McDonalds I knew my way from there. As I ran to the door it was around ten o’ clock and the doors was sealed shut. I started to burst out crying for I had no home. When that happen, I regretted every moment of this experience. I ran to the nearest pay phone and tried to call my parents but no answer. I guess I was in this world alone.
I called 911, for it was my last choice, and told them what happen. They told me to stay put and we would come and pick you up. I stood there for five minutes and a cop car came and toke me in. As we get to the police station they asked me varies of questions, like where you from, how did you get here, do you know your parents number, and more stuff like that. After answering those questions they told me that I had a place to stay for the night. In addition, they said that we would try to contact your parents. In the meanwhile you should get some rest. As I watched them make calls after calls I got tired and dozed off.
The next morning comes by and as I woke up all I saw was my beloved, caring, and all so sweet family. As I hugged them as tight as I could I wished that I would never let them go. They told me a million times that I missed me and why did you go and all. I told my mom that I tried to call her like ten times but no answer. Then my mom said that she was to busy looking for me. Then I finally answered the question of why I ran away. I replied because I always get crappy gifts and you guys never recognized me. Then my mom said is this all about the gifts. I was like no no no. The gifts are symbols of what I think how you treat me. While my mom started to cry and kept saying sorry and sorry my dad came over and started to talk to me. He was like I promise that your mom and I would treat you better for know on. I replied that’s all I asked for. As my family and I started to walk back to the train station I told my parents that if I was in trouble. My dad said as long as your safe and protected you’ll never be in trouble.
Lost N Found Final Copy
Chardae Jenkins
Lost N Found
Final Copy
She stood in the bathroom, barely tall enough to see herself in the mirror. While looking into the mirror she started to brush her long wavy hair into a ponytail. Today was the day she turned eight years old. Marissa couldn’t wait until this day and now it was finally here. She waited impatiently for the remainder of her friends and family to arrive to her house. Marissa and her mother were ready. The food was already packed as well as their belongings. When her friends and family arrived about fifteen minutes later they were all ready to go. There were about three cars filled of children, each car containing two adults. The ride there took about an hour and fifteen minutes. “We are finally here”, yelled Marissa. “I can’t wait to ride all the rides,” screamed Marissa’s best friend Tina. “Okay were going to split up” Marissa’s mom said, “six children in a group”. Once they were arranged into groups, the children were ready to have fun. They entered the amusement park nothing but smiles upon their faces. First they took a picture, and now they were ready to ride the rides. They decided to ride the wet rides first and the dry rides last, then they would play games. Once in line, they waited impatiently while the line moved extra slow due to Dorney Park being so extra crowded. Not wanting to wait Marissa took it upon herself to try and pass her way closer to the front of the line. While doing so she lost contact with her group. Marissa didn’t think much of it because she thought “ I’ll just meet them at the exit when the ride is over.” Once the ride was over she waited to see her friends and mom. A half an hour passed by and she still hadn’t seen them. Now she started to panic. “Where are they?” she cried out loud. She walked around the park for what seemed like an hour and still didn’t see anyone she came to the park with. Now she was becoming angry, scared, and frustrated, and she was only eight years old, this was becoming very scary. She thought she saw her group front of her she yelled “Mom!” the lady turned around and to her surprise it wasn’t her mother. Marissa searched everywhere the ladies bathroom, food stands and still hadn’t seen her mother. Soon she started to ask people had they seen a woman who fit her mother’s description, everyone she asked replied no. She continued to look for her mother and friends for about twenty more minutes. Finally she heard a women cry out “Marissa” and at last she was relived.
Lost N Found
Final Copy
She stood in the bathroom, barely tall enough to see herself in the mirror. While looking into the mirror she started to brush her long wavy hair into a ponytail. Today was the day she turned eight years old. Marissa couldn’t wait until this day and now it was finally here. She waited impatiently for the remainder of her friends and family to arrive to her house. Marissa and her mother were ready. The food was already packed as well as their belongings. When her friends and family arrived about fifteen minutes later they were all ready to go. There were about three cars filled of children, each car containing two adults. The ride there took about an hour and fifteen minutes. “We are finally here”, yelled Marissa. “I can’t wait to ride all the rides,” screamed Marissa’s best friend Tina. “Okay were going to split up” Marissa’s mom said, “six children in a group”. Once they were arranged into groups, the children were ready to have fun. They entered the amusement park nothing but smiles upon their faces. First they took a picture, and now they were ready to ride the rides. They decided to ride the wet rides first and the dry rides last, then they would play games. Once in line, they waited impatiently while the line moved extra slow due to Dorney Park being so extra crowded. Not wanting to wait Marissa took it upon herself to try and pass her way closer to the front of the line. While doing so she lost contact with her group. Marissa didn’t think much of it because she thought “ I’ll just meet them at the exit when the ride is over.” Once the ride was over she waited to see her friends and mom. A half an hour passed by and she still hadn’t seen them. Now she started to panic. “Where are they?” she cried out loud. She walked around the park for what seemed like an hour and still didn’t see anyone she came to the park with. Now she was becoming angry, scared, and frustrated, and she was only eight years old, this was becoming very scary. She thought she saw her group front of her she yelled “Mom!” the lady turned around and to her surprise it wasn’t her mother. Marissa searched everywhere the ladies bathroom, food stands and still hadn’t seen her mother. Soon she started to ask people had they seen a woman who fit her mother’s description, everyone she asked replied no. She continued to look for her mother and friends for about twenty more minutes. Finally she heard a women cry out “Marissa” and at last she was relived.
Exposition
1.This story takes place in school
2.nothing really did not happened.
Conflict and Climax
1.The problems that the central character face was not knowing what happened before the police arrived at their house, also James sister Tina face the same thing.
2. When I learned how the problem was worked was at the end of the story.
Denouement
1.When James found out that DJ killed his mother he was upset and crushed as he held his and cried.
2. The beginning can be more grabbing towards the reader.
Characterization
1.James, Tina, the grandmother, and DJ...I would describe their roles ok...but could be more better about their characters
2.The story tells us that James is a very nice boy who is shy and lives in his own world.
3. I really don’t learn much indirect about the character.
4. Making the story more detail. I also believe you should add more drama in the story in the beginning like talk about the story then introduce the reader about james
1.This story takes place in school
2.nothing really did not happened.
Conflict and Climax
1.The problems that the central character face was not knowing what happened before the police arrived at their house, also James sister Tina face the same thing.
2. When I learned how the problem was worked was at the end of the story.
Denouement
1.When James found out that DJ killed his mother he was upset and crushed as he held his and cried.
2. The beginning can be more grabbing towards the reader.
Characterization
1.James, Tina, the grandmother, and DJ...I would describe their roles ok...but could be more better about their characters
2.The story tells us that James is a very nice boy who is shy and lives in his own world.
3. I really don’t learn much indirect about the character.
4. Making the story more detail. I also believe you should add more drama in the story in the beginning like talk about the story then introduce the reader about james
Exposition
1.This story takes place in school
2.nothing really did not happened.
Conflict and Climax
1.The problems that the central character face was not knowing what happened before the police arrived at their house, also James sister Tina face the same thing.
2. When I learned how the problem was worked was at the end of the story.
Denouement
1.When James found out that DJ killed his mother he was upset and crushed as he held his and cried.
2. The beginning can be more grabbing towards the reader.
Characterization
1.James, Tina, the grandmother, and DJ...I would describe their roles ok...but could be more better about their characters
2.The story tells us that James is a very nice boy who is shy and lives in his own world.
3. I really don’t learn much indirect about the character.
4. Making the story more detail. I also believe you should add more drama in the story in the beginning like talk about the story then introduce the reader about james
1.This story takes place in school
2.nothing really did not happened.
Conflict and Climax
1.The problems that the central character face was not knowing what happened before the police arrived at their house, also James sister Tina face the same thing.
2. When I learned how the problem was worked was at the end of the story.
Denouement
1.When James found out that DJ killed his mother he was upset and crushed as he held his and cried.
2. The beginning can be more grabbing towards the reader.
Characterization
1.James, Tina, the grandmother, and DJ...I would describe their roles ok...but could be more better about their characters
2.The story tells us that James is a very nice boy who is shy and lives in his own world.
3. I really don’t learn much indirect about the character.
4. Making the story more detail. I also believe you should add more drama in the story in the beginning like talk about the story then introduce the reader about james
Monday, November 26, 2007
Augustus Johnson/ when things go wrong
You ever had a day when it seems like everything is going right… then suddenly goes wrong well that’s what happen to me on july,9.2006. I was having the best day of my life with him at the fantastic shopping mall downtown in Miami. He had just got his paycheck so that meant that we were going to shop till we drop at our favorite mall. We were buying things out of every store like sneakers our favorite, then clothes, shoes, basketball jerseys, video games for me and dress suits for him. We were having the most fun we had in a long time so we were going to make it last forever.
Then the time had almost come for us to leave but before we left we had to eat our favorite food in the whole wide world… pizza! Umm the smell of pizza can open our nose no matter how far it was. The sent of the smell was like a magnet to our nostrils. Our favorite was pepperoni. The taste of pepperoni on our taste buds could never taste better when that cheese and that hot and spicy pepperoni pizza hit our tongues.
The whole time while eating we had a conversation on all the things we bought and how we couldn’t wait till we got home to check them out. When we were finally done eating it just that time for the fun to be over and call it a day. While leaving the mall all I could do was say thanks and this was the best time ever to him until he finally told me no problem, no problem, i'm glad you a nice time and you know will do it again sometime. When we got to the car we put all our bags in the trunk and got in. Soon as I got in the car I put in our favorite old school cd the temptations and we listened to that until we were almost home. Then I suddenly had a feeling to listen to another cd. Then looking through the cd’s I found the one I wanted to listen to and just as I was putting it in that’s when it happen…
He slammed the breaks as hard as he could but there is nothing you can do when a car is getting chased by the cops and going ninety in the rain and coming full force towards you. He turned the car right but then we started sliding straight towards the car and all I could say was dad!!!
Keep your head down!
He yelled.
That’s when I went into the air bag and he went through the win shield landing face first on the concrete smashing his face leaving his funeral a closed cascade. Cuts, scares, bruises, and life long marks on my face and body that will never go away but it’s ok though I’ve learned my lesson of pain and heartache. Now that’s was just round one of my life line that I beat lets see if I can take on round two but this time I’m wearing a seat belt.
Then the time had almost come for us to leave but before we left we had to eat our favorite food in the whole wide world… pizza! Umm the smell of pizza can open our nose no matter how far it was. The sent of the smell was like a magnet to our nostrils. Our favorite was pepperoni. The taste of pepperoni on our taste buds could never taste better when that cheese and that hot and spicy pepperoni pizza hit our tongues.
The whole time while eating we had a conversation on all the things we bought and how we couldn’t wait till we got home to check them out. When we were finally done eating it just that time for the fun to be over and call it a day. While leaving the mall all I could do was say thanks and this was the best time ever to him until he finally told me no problem, no problem, i'm glad you a nice time and you know will do it again sometime. When we got to the car we put all our bags in the trunk and got in. Soon as I got in the car I put in our favorite old school cd the temptations and we listened to that until we were almost home. Then I suddenly had a feeling to listen to another cd. Then looking through the cd’s I found the one I wanted to listen to and just as I was putting it in that’s when it happen…
He slammed the breaks as hard as he could but there is nothing you can do when a car is getting chased by the cops and going ninety in the rain and coming full force towards you. He turned the car right but then we started sliding straight towards the car and all I could say was dad!!!
Keep your head down!
He yelled.
That’s when I went into the air bag and he went through the win shield landing face first on the concrete smashing his face leaving his funeral a closed cascade. Cuts, scares, bruises, and life long marks on my face and body that will never go away but it’s ok though I’ve learned my lesson of pain and heartache. Now that’s was just round one of my life line that I beat lets see if I can take on round two but this time I’m wearing a seat belt.
***New Post By Nelson Hollerway**** Revised Rough Draft
“Good mornin’ DJ,” said James.
“What’s up youngin’ you gonna be late for school you betta hurry up,” replied DJ.
“Aight DJ Imma hurry up,” James muttered back.
James lived alone with no one but his mother and sister. His mother had been raising him and his sister for a long time by herself and she was raising her two children with a lot of success.
“Wake up, Jaz, wake up!!” yelled James at his younger sister.
“I’m up stop James I’m up, Imma tell mommy…”
“No you not she ain’t here!”
“Shut up I’m awake.” Jaz was only six but she thought she was grown with enough attitude to kill ya. So James woke up his sister and continued to get ready for school wondering where his mother was. James was used to her not being home all the time but she always saw him before he went to school. James was in the second grade and his sister was in kindergarten.
“DJ where’s my mom?” asked Jaz.
“She ain’t here you midget, just get ready for school so you don’t miss da bus okay,” DJ answered with aggravation he didn’t want to be bothered by Diane’s kids. Diane was out late the night before and she came home and got into an argument with her boyfriend. The argument got heated as Diane’s boyfriend DJ was in a bad mood because he didn’t have any hash.
Well James got him and his sister ready for school and they got outside with just enough time to run for the bus out of there “middle class” housing development, they lived in the projects, they best they’d ever seen anyway. James ran out the door with a paco jeans jump suit and his sister was as cute as could be when they left the house. She was wearing a pair of jeans and shirt with her favorite person all over them. The Barbi clothes and bookbag she had was sporting was a perfect reflection of her young attitude. She was spoiled but just as much as James was.
After a seemingly normal friday in school Jaz and James waited in their bus lines to get on the school bus and go home. Most of the time if their mom wasn’t home to see them off to school she would pick them up from school right off the bus. No one could tell her she couldn’t stop the bus to get her kids off the bus, shit they were her kids. Both Jaz and James knew she was probably going to come get them but strangely she didn’t. As young as the two kids were they thought nothing of her not showing up. James walked his little sister up to the front door of their project building and rung the door bell. No one from their apartment buzzed them in, James buzzed it again. Still no reply, so Jaz and James both rang the bell for one of their friend’s houses. Just as the pair walked into the building the police pulled up and ran into the main hallway right passed the kids. The kids followed behind them slowly as the cops happened to be running down their hall. “James, James! Come here. Jaz,” yelled their Aunty. Their mother’s only sister had come over to them and told them that when they went into the apart to run to their rooms and pack their bags because their mom told her to pick them up for the weekend. The kids did exactly as she said.
They didn’t go her house often but when they did they had fun. They were excited. “Aunty ma mom at ya house?” asked James
“No she’s not J but you’ll talk to her soon okay.” Aunty didn’t want to lie to him but she had to. James nodded and said okay. James was a momma’s boy but not in the “in love with his mom” way but his mom was his dog. He and his mom had a lot of fun together, playing videogames and play fighting. His sister and his mom always went out together so it was like his mom’s was of making quality time with her son. “I wanna talk to ma mom now!” said Jaz. Her Aunty told her she would talk to her tonight or tomorrow. Aunty didn’t really know when they would talk to their mom. James and Jaz asked about their mom every time they had an unoccupied second. Early one morning before school James flipped on the TV and his Aunty always told him not to turn on the TV but he did anyway. On the screen, what he saw changed his life for ever, he saw on the screen that his mom was a missing person and that they had a suspect in custody for the possible murder of his mom Diane. The anchorman read, “Next today a missing woman, Diane Fosse, from Maple Shade, New Jersey has today been announced dead after 45 days on the missing person list for our area. Police have a suspect in custody for the murder of New Jersey mother of two, a little boy and girl, ages seven and six now living with their Aunt of Mt. Holly. James wasn’t the only person in his family watching the news at that time in the morning, his aunt was to and she new he was watching it when she came into the living room to drive him to school.
James didn’t go to school that day or any day for the next week neither did his sister. James was so shocked he had no reaction and perhaps everything he had gone through in his life he couldn’t cry because his anger was too large. He sat quiet and spoke a word to no one. Jaz was an innocent little girl and she knew what death was but she didn’t completely understand. She cried and cried in her Aunty’s arms for hours at her shrink’s office. James sat in the same chair everyday for two months, same time everyday, and didn’t speak one word. James didn’t react to anything he didn’t talk for months. He was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, depression, and the shrink thought he was dangerous to himself and everyone around him because at any minute could just explode and do anything even though he was only seven. James sat and colored and painted for almost a year without saying anything. One day his psychiatrist just stopped talking to him and he reacted.
“What the f(BEEP)k is your problem you got tired of pissin’ me off with your b(BEEP)l s(BEEP)t questions huh??”
“NO I am not going to talk to you because you don’t talk to me…You’ve sat in my office for eleven months wasting my paper, paint, pens , markers and all of my pencils and I am tired of it.”
“O well f(BEEP)k you then, Bye,” said James. James left the office and killed his little sister and Aunty and grew to be the most notorious serial killer of the world.
“What’s up youngin’ you gonna be late for school you betta hurry up,” replied DJ.
“Aight DJ Imma hurry up,” James muttered back.
James lived alone with no one but his mother and sister. His mother had been raising him and his sister for a long time by herself and she was raising her two children with a lot of success.
“Wake up, Jaz, wake up!!” yelled James at his younger sister.
“I’m up stop James I’m up, Imma tell mommy…”
“No you not she ain’t here!”
“Shut up I’m awake.” Jaz was only six but she thought she was grown with enough attitude to kill ya. So James woke up his sister and continued to get ready for school wondering where his mother was. James was used to her not being home all the time but she always saw him before he went to school. James was in the second grade and his sister was in kindergarten.
“DJ where’s my mom?” asked Jaz.
“She ain’t here you midget, just get ready for school so you don’t miss da bus okay,” DJ answered with aggravation he didn’t want to be bothered by Diane’s kids. Diane was out late the night before and she came home and got into an argument with her boyfriend. The argument got heated as Diane’s boyfriend DJ was in a bad mood because he didn’t have any hash.
Well James got him and his sister ready for school and they got outside with just enough time to run for the bus out of there “middle class” housing development, they lived in the projects, they best they’d ever seen anyway. James ran out the door with a paco jeans jump suit and his sister was as cute as could be when they left the house. She was wearing a pair of jeans and shirt with her favorite person all over them. The Barbi clothes and bookbag she had was sporting was a perfect reflection of her young attitude. She was spoiled but just as much as James was.
After a seemingly normal friday in school Jaz and James waited in their bus lines to get on the school bus and go home. Most of the time if their mom wasn’t home to see them off to school she would pick them up from school right off the bus. No one could tell her she couldn’t stop the bus to get her kids off the bus, shit they were her kids. Both Jaz and James knew she was probably going to come get them but strangely she didn’t. As young as the two kids were they thought nothing of her not showing up. James walked his little sister up to the front door of their project building and rung the door bell. No one from their apartment buzzed them in, James buzzed it again. Still no reply, so Jaz and James both rang the bell for one of their friend’s houses. Just as the pair walked into the building the police pulled up and ran into the main hallway right passed the kids. The kids followed behind them slowly as the cops happened to be running down their hall. “James, James! Come here. Jaz,” yelled their Aunty. Their mother’s only sister had come over to them and told them that when they went into the apart to run to their rooms and pack their bags because their mom told her to pick them up for the weekend. The kids did exactly as she said.
They didn’t go her house often but when they did they had fun. They were excited. “Aunty ma mom at ya house?” asked James
“No she’s not J but you’ll talk to her soon okay.” Aunty didn’t want to lie to him but she had to. James nodded and said okay. James was a momma’s boy but not in the “in love with his mom” way but his mom was his dog. He and his mom had a lot of fun together, playing videogames and play fighting. His sister and his mom always went out together so it was like his mom’s was of making quality time with her son. “I wanna talk to ma mom now!” said Jaz. Her Aunty told her she would talk to her tonight or tomorrow. Aunty didn’t really know when they would talk to their mom. James and Jaz asked about their mom every time they had an unoccupied second. Early one morning before school James flipped on the TV and his Aunty always told him not to turn on the TV but he did anyway. On the screen, what he saw changed his life for ever, he saw on the screen that his mom was a missing person and that they had a suspect in custody for the possible murder of his mom Diane. The anchorman read, “Next today a missing woman, Diane Fosse, from Maple Shade, New Jersey has today been announced dead after 45 days on the missing person list for our area. Police have a suspect in custody for the murder of New Jersey mother of two, a little boy and girl, ages seven and six now living with their Aunt of Mt. Holly. James wasn’t the only person in his family watching the news at that time in the morning, his aunt was to and she new he was watching it when she came into the living room to drive him to school.
James didn’t go to school that day or any day for the next week neither did his sister. James was so shocked he had no reaction and perhaps everything he had gone through in his life he couldn’t cry because his anger was too large. He sat quiet and spoke a word to no one. Jaz was an innocent little girl and she knew what death was but she didn’t completely understand. She cried and cried in her Aunty’s arms for hours at her shrink’s office. James sat in the same chair everyday for two months, same time everyday, and didn’t speak one word. James didn’t react to anything he didn’t talk for months. He was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, depression, and the shrink thought he was dangerous to himself and everyone around him because at any minute could just explode and do anything even though he was only seven. James sat and colored and painted for almost a year without saying anything. One day his psychiatrist just stopped talking to him and he reacted.
“What the f(BEEP)k is your problem you got tired of pissin’ me off with your b(BEEP)l s(BEEP)t questions huh??”
“NO I am not going to talk to you because you don’t talk to me…You’ve sat in my office for eleven months wasting my paper, paint, pens , markers and all of my pencils and I am tired of it.”
“O well f(BEEP)k you then, Bye,” said James. James left the office and killed his little sister and Aunty and grew to be the most notorious serial killer of the world.
~*ASMIRA.L.TULL*~ 6 PERIOD
One after noon on a hot sunning day in atl there was these 6 kids named king, sholeah, tiheed, meosha, Bruce, and Brittany. They thought that they would go outside to enjoy the day. So while they were outside Bruce said “ don’t ya’ll want to play hiding go seek.”
Then they all said “ yeah sholeah your it” sholeah said “that’s not fear how I always gotta be it when we play why can’t king be it.” So then everyone was like ok cry baby you don’t have to be it tiheed is going to be it. While they were playing everything was going fine everybody was soooo excited and having a wonderful time.
The next thing you know Brittany comes running down the street saying that some crazy man is chasing her. So we all are looking but we still don’t see anybody chasing her, nobody is even in sight. Then we ask her “why are you playing you should not play like that because that kind of thing is not the kind of thing that you play about”
After she stop crying and listening to what we were saying she say “I’m not lying that man was really chasing me, at first he was in his car then he got out an started following me, I started walking faster and then started running an then he started running after me an that’s when I came here to tell ya’ll.”
Then the next thing you no a big giant greenish van came around the corner. She started screaming and crying again saying there he is and now he got more men with him he gone get us.
All we no is when she said that we thought she was going crazy until they got out that car and started to run after us. King was like ya’ll stay there if ya’ll want but I’m running. King, sholeah, and Bruce were the first peoples to start running. They are still running they here meosha, tiheed, and Brittany scaring help help help ya’ll they got us they got us, but run cause they coming for go get help. As they are still running not knowing where they to. We turn the corner an the men a right there. We try to run away but they caught us. The men throw us in the back of the truck with the others. All we saying what’s going happen to us, what do they want with us.
Then a couple of hours go past and Bruce and Brittany mom calls
Then they all said “ yeah sholeah your it” sholeah said “that’s not fear how I always gotta be it when we play why can’t king be it.” So then everyone was like ok cry baby you don’t have to be it tiheed is going to be it. While they were playing everything was going fine everybody was soooo excited and having a wonderful time.
The next thing you know Brittany comes running down the street saying that some crazy man is chasing her. So we all are looking but we still don’t see anybody chasing her, nobody is even in sight. Then we ask her “why are you playing you should not play like that because that kind of thing is not the kind of thing that you play about”
After she stop crying and listening to what we were saying she say “I’m not lying that man was really chasing me, at first he was in his car then he got out an started following me, I started walking faster and then started running an then he started running after me an that’s when I came here to tell ya’ll.”
Then the next thing you no a big giant greenish van came around the corner. She started screaming and crying again saying there he is and now he got more men with him he gone get us.
All we no is when she said that we thought she was going crazy until they got out that car and started to run after us. King was like ya’ll stay there if ya’ll want but I’m running. King, sholeah, and Bruce were the first peoples to start running. They are still running they here meosha, tiheed, and Brittany scaring help help help ya’ll they got us they got us, but run cause they coming for go get help. As they are still running not knowing where they to. We turn the corner an the men a right there. We try to run away but they caught us. The men throw us in the back of the truck with the others. All we saying what’s going happen to us, what do they want with us.
Then a couple of hours go past and Bruce and Brittany mom calls
michelle baxter
I’m so happy were friends again cause with out yall
My life was hard. Not being able to call and say
what’s up or conversate in the halls at schoolman
dat was killing me softly. Oh was up my name Payton
let me tell u some things about me I’m 14 and I’m
in the 9th grade my school is in the Bronx I go to
Christopher Brown high school. One day a few
friends and I was at Shellski Park. Me and the girl Sassshay (we call her
sassy) was arguing because she said that she went
all these wonderful places so I said u always lying
so we began to argue we was about to fight when my
boyfriend Brandon came up and said chill and I left
wit him I told him what happen and he said you need
to cool that out for I get my feelings hurt. After
that I started saying all this stuff about sassy
like how she can’t fight and how they on welfare
and how she is the biggest fraud I know. I know I
should not have said those things to anyone cause
it might get out but I was mad so I said it. The
next day at school everything was fine I was cussing
out as usual and saying hi to every one I know
when I spoke to sassy and she aint say nothing back
so I let it go and said forget her. After school we
was all chilling outside talking then sassy said
Erin , Jordan , Chris , Brandon , Marquise , and
Trevor if they wanted to go to studio 93 so I was
thinking why she aint ask me so I said maybe she
gone ask me later so we keep laughing and she say
so yall going and Trevor says I don’t know if I
want to don’t the cops be out there cause of fights
and stuff and I don’t want to get in no trouble so
they say all u a punk u never do nothing fun so he
say ard I’ll go . We laugh. I say I’m wearing my
cut up jeans my A&F shirt wit my raspberry ice
creams what u wearing sassy I don’t remember
inviting u so I say well I thought u was gone ask
me later why would I do that we aint cool no more
why not u was talking bout me to Jordan I aint say
nothing to Jordan about you well she told me u said
dat i'm poor and im on welfare. You lucky I don’t
beat u up right now but like u cant fight. I can
beat you. That’s the same thing you said in the 3rd grade and I still tore you up in the sandbox
remember. I was little then my hands is crazy now
you should ask about me . That’s when Brandon came
over and said lets go I don’t want this girl to get
beat up .Then Chris was like now u know ya jawn
cant fight she could beat you and so can I .Doubt
it. That’s when we all walked away later on at
studio 93 sassy was dancing with my boyfriend so I
started dancing with Chris and she came over all
loud in my face so just 2pieced her she stood there
probably thinking no this high yellow heffa didn’t
just hit me then she just hit me and we started
fighting. The cops were called and we were taking
to the police station I aint remember nothing she
hit me so hard. So I went t school the next day and
kids are like yo why was yall fighting on youtube .
youtube I said that fight on there . I was sitting
in my 5th period science class when the counselor
called me on the loud speaker on the double. I
said this got to have something to do with the
fight. So I got in there and sassy was in there so the counselor what is the problem. I said sassy is
a fraud and she sweet and I don’t like that about
her and she said she was jealous of Brandon and me
so we did some steps to work out are problems. we
apologized to each other and we friends again now
me, sassy, Brandon, and Chris I’m so I got all my
friends back.
Payton Strawberry
My life was hard. Not being able to call and say
what’s up or conversate in the halls at schoolman
dat was killing me softly. Oh was up my name Payton
let me tell u some things about me I’m 14 and I’m
in the 9th grade my school is in the Bronx I go to
Christopher Brown high school. One day a few
friends and I was at Shellski Park. Me and the girl Sassshay (we call her
sassy) was arguing because she said that she went
all these wonderful places so I said u always lying
so we began to argue we was about to fight when my
boyfriend Brandon came up and said chill and I left
wit him I told him what happen and he said you need
to cool that out for I get my feelings hurt. After
that I started saying all this stuff about sassy
like how she can’t fight and how they on welfare
and how she is the biggest fraud I know. I know I
should not have said those things to anyone cause
it might get out but I was mad so I said it. The
next day at school everything was fine I was cussing
out as usual and saying hi to every one I know
when I spoke to sassy and she aint say nothing back
so I let it go and said forget her. After school we
was all chilling outside talking then sassy said
Erin , Jordan , Chris , Brandon , Marquise , and
Trevor if they wanted to go to studio 93 so I was
thinking why she aint ask me so I said maybe she
gone ask me later so we keep laughing and she say
so yall going and Trevor says I don’t know if I
want to don’t the cops be out there cause of fights
and stuff and I don’t want to get in no trouble so
they say all u a punk u never do nothing fun so he
say ard I’ll go . We laugh. I say I’m wearing my
cut up jeans my A&F shirt wit my raspberry ice
creams what u wearing sassy I don’t remember
inviting u so I say well I thought u was gone ask
me later why would I do that we aint cool no more
why not u was talking bout me to Jordan I aint say
nothing to Jordan about you well she told me u said
dat i'm poor and im on welfare. You lucky I don’t
beat u up right now but like u cant fight. I can
beat you. That’s the same thing you said in the 3rd grade and I still tore you up in the sandbox
remember. I was little then my hands is crazy now
you should ask about me . That’s when Brandon came
over and said lets go I don’t want this girl to get
beat up .Then Chris was like now u know ya jawn
cant fight she could beat you and so can I .Doubt
it. That’s when we all walked away later on at
studio 93 sassy was dancing with my boyfriend so I
started dancing with Chris and she came over all
loud in my face so just 2pieced her she stood there
probably thinking no this high yellow heffa didn’t
just hit me then she just hit me and we started
fighting. The cops were called and we were taking
to the police station I aint remember nothing she
hit me so hard. So I went t school the next day and
kids are like yo why was yall fighting on youtube .
youtube I said that fight on there . I was sitting
in my 5th period science class when the counselor
called me on the loud speaker on the double. I
said this got to have something to do with the
fight. So I got in there and sassy was in there so the counselor what is the problem. I said sassy is
a fraud and she sweet and I don’t like that about
her and she said she was jealous of Brandon and me
so we did some steps to work out are problems. we
apologized to each other and we friends again now
me, sassy, Brandon, and Chris I’m so I got all my
friends back.
Payton Strawberry
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Diamond Rosario,Period 6
DEAD END
"Oh,no.Here she go again",said Amber to her best friend Lisa.Amber and Lisa were watching America's Next Top Model on a twelve inch screen in Amber's small bedroom."Why she gotta do dat?Now she know she gon get...",Amber stopped."Did you hear a door slam?",asked Amber. "No,why?",replied Lisa."Just come downstairs with me".Lisa cautiously followed her down the steps.Before Amber reached the last step, she stopped as if frozen in shock.Standing in the middle of the living room,looking through her purse was Amber's mom Danielle. Danielle turned toward Lisa and Amber with her face full of confusion."Amber,what's wrong.You look like you just seen a ghost.""It's just that...I'm kinda surprised you're home early",said Amber still hit by shock."What do you mean?",asked Danielle still confused."Well ,you usually are out till three in the morning with 'friends'".Amber and her mother knew what she meant about "friends".See,a while back Danielle has been doing speed,crack,weed and every other drug out there.She has been going out meeting up with her drug buddies and shooting, snorting,and inhaling things into her body.Now she has no job and the bills are way past due."Amber,I told you once and I'm gon tell you again.Don't worry about where I've been and what I been doing.It's none of your business.I take care of this family,not you"! Amber felt as if someone has shot a bullet through her soul."It is my business.It's not my fault you're hooked on drugs and you can't even buy food to support your family.I'm the one knocking on neighbors doors at night just ta get some cold leftovers that we have to split"!Danielle stormed across the room and smacked Amber in her face.Tears streamed down Amber's face as she looked at her mother with an angry look on her face.She turned toward the stairs and ran up towards her room while Lisa followed after her.
"Oh,no.Here she go again",said Amber to her best friend Lisa.Amber and Lisa were watching America's Next Top Model on a twelve inch screen in Amber's small bedroom."Why she gotta do dat?Now she know she gon get...",Amber stopped."Did you hear a door slam?",asked Amber. "No,why?",replied Lisa."Just come downstairs with me".Lisa cautiously followed her down the steps.Before Amber reached the last step, she stopped as if frozen in shock.Standing in the middle of the living room,looking through her purse was Amber's mom Danielle. Danielle turned toward Lisa and Amber with her face full of confusion."Amber,what's wrong.You look like you just seen a ghost.""It's just that...I'm kinda surprised you're home early",said Amber still hit by shock."What do you mean?",asked Danielle still confused."Well ,you usually are out till three in the morning with 'friends'".Amber and her mother knew what she meant about "friends".See,a while back Danielle has been doing speed,crack,weed and every other drug out there.She has been going out meeting up with her drug buddies and shooting, snorting,and inhaling things into her body.Now she has no job and the bills are way past due."Amber,I told you once and I'm gon tell you again.Don't worry about where I've been and what I been doing.It's none of your business.I take care of this family,not you"! Amber felt as if someone has shot a bullet through her soul."It is my business.It's not my fault you're hooked on drugs and you can't even buy food to support your family.I'm the one knocking on neighbors doors at night just ta get some cold leftovers that we have to split"!Danielle stormed across the room and smacked Amber in her face.Tears streamed down Amber's face as she looked at her mother with an angry look on her face.She turned toward the stairs and ran up towards her room while Lisa followed after her.
When Lisa finally caught up with her,Amber was laying face down on her pillow,crying her eyes out."Ay Amber.Why you always on ya mom case?Lately you've been starting a lot of arguments and you're always the one getting hurt",said Lisa."I don't need another critic,okay.I got enough problems as it is"."Amber,I understand that but-you are not the only one with problems.My life ain't perfect as you think it is.I have no mother, my sister's three months pregnant ,she still don't know the father ,and doesn't know whether she should keep it or not"."That's not the point.You say you understand,but you haven't been through the problems I have experienced.Maybe I shouldn't be wasting my breath right now.You'll never get it",said Amber."Maybe I'm just wasting my time trying to comfort you.I gotta get home anyway.Good luck feeling sorry for yaself and ya crackheaded mom!".Lisa grabbed her bag and slammed the door.
The next day at Charles R.Drew Elementary,in Amber's eighth grade homeroom,Amber sat in her seat quietly, isolating herself from the entire classroom."Amber may I please have a chat with you?",asked her teacher,Ms.Jones.Amber slowly got out of her seat and went towards her teacher's desk."What did I do this time Ms.Jones?",asked Amber ,sounding annoyed."Amber,I just recieved a note ,which I was told,that you will be leaving soon"."Ms.Jones,I know this is your way of getting me back.I'm sorry I cracked on you two days ago.We both know that nobody wears penny loafers anymore.And you had ta know somebody was gon say something",said Amber feeling positive that this surely was a prank."Amber,I'm serious.Just read it yourself.I think it's important".Amber walked back to her seat quickly,hoping no one she knows has died.When she finally reached her seat,she tore open the envelope as if her life depended on it.Scanning the letter,Amber face changed expressions."No!This has to be a joke"!Amber had a feeling someone close to her had something to do with the letter.But who?Amber quickly turned around towards Lisa who was in the back chatting with a couple of girls."You"!Lisa stopped talking and turned around,recognizing Amber's voice.Amber who was still looking at Lisa,repeated herself."You"!"Me what?",asked Lisa."You are the reason why I got to leave home and go stay with a bunch of strangers"!Lisa responded,"What are you talking bout?I haven't told anyone anything and why would I do a thing like that?I could never seperate a child and mother just because I got angry at them".Now the whole class was listening in on the conversation."Then who else could it be?",asked Amber."I don't know.Maybe your mom called child services herself cause she knew she needed help",said Lisa."My mom wouldn't do dat to me.Would she"? The more Amber thought about it.The sooner she found out.Her mom did call child services.
On Friday ,while Amber was packing up ,she took one more glance at the picture of her and her mom before going downstairs to say goodbye.She grabbed her last bag and met her mom near the front door.She gave her mom a hug and took the picture out of her bag."Mom-don't forget me".She hugged again and walked out to the car where a woman was waiting.When the car drove off Amber wanted to cry.But she didn't.She wanted to be strong.Strong for her and her mother.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Randy Shuler 6th Period
Randy Shuler
11/21/07
Period 6
Mr. Mullen
The Hat
There was a boy from North Philly and his
name was Paul. He loved music and his favorite rapper
was Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne throws his hat to Paul at the
concert and when he put it on he feels like the
greatest rapper alive.
“Can I go to the Lil Wayne concert with
John and Jermaine mom this is the last day he’s in
Philly?” said Paul. “Yeah, you can go but why he’s
ugly and he can’t even rap,” said Paul’s mom. “But
please mom,” said Paul “fine I still say he’s ugly and
he can’t rap, we’ll get the tickets tomorrow,” said
Paul’s mom. “YES, YES, YES thank you mom, thank you
mom, thank you mom,” said Paul.
It was the next day and Paul and his
friends got the last three tickets. After they got
their tickets they ran to the stage, they had third
row seats. “These tickets are the best,” said Jermaine
“I know were really close,” said Paul. Then all the
lights went off and everyone started screaming like
someone was trying to kill them. All you could hear
was AWWWWWWW and WEEZY. Then Lil Wayne came out
sitting on a throne then he jump up and started to
rap. The concert was hot then the last song came on,
when Lil Wayne sat back on the throne he put on a
fitted golden Washington Nationals. Paul wanted that
hat, that’s all he was looking at.” Yall see that
hat,” said Paul “WHAT,” said Jermaine “I SAID, YOU SEE
THAT HAT,” yelled Paul. “YEAH IT’S OK,” yelled
Jermaine. When the song was over Lil Wayne threw the
hat into the crowd and it landed perfectly on Paul’s
head. “Oh my god,” screamed Paul then he fainted for
the rest of the concert. When Paul woke up he thought
he was dreaming then he felt his head and the hat was
still there. “ It wasn’t a dream,” said Paul “Nope its
real, how you feel you just fainted out in the middle
of the concert ” said John “forget that, I still got
the hat,” said Paul. All the way home Paul was
bragging on how he got the hat. Paul loved that hat he
eat with his hat, sleep with his hat, he even took
showers with his hat.
It was Monday, and it was ten minutes left of
school. Paul started going on about the hat. “Lil
Wayne gave me this hat at the concert,” said Paul
“No he didn’t, stop lying,” said Maurice. Maurice
and Paul hated each other they would always
competed with each other to see who had the best
stuff. “Yes he did,” said Paul “let me see it
then,” said Maurice. As soon as Paul gave the hat
to Maurice, Maurice snatched the hat and ran.
Maurice hopped over two desks to get to the door.
“What in the world,” said Mrs. Fisher. Paul ran
after Him through the halls, “hey come back,”
said Paul. Maurice was running faster than
lighting and Maurice bust threw the front doors
and then Paul gave up and just looked up at the
sky like he wanted to scream his head off. “Not my
hat,” said Paul. Paul never saw Maurice again he
must of transfered schools because we never saw
him again. Paul never been the same after that day
he lost his favorite hat.
11/21/07
Period 6
Mr. Mullen
The Hat
There was a boy from North Philly and his
name was Paul. He loved music and his favorite rapper
was Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne throws his hat to Paul at the
concert and when he put it on he feels like the
greatest rapper alive.
“Can I go to the Lil Wayne concert with
John and Jermaine mom this is the last day he’s in
Philly?” said Paul. “Yeah, you can go but why he’s
ugly and he can’t even rap,” said Paul’s mom. “But
please mom,” said Paul “fine I still say he’s ugly and
he can’t rap, we’ll get the tickets tomorrow,” said
Paul’s mom. “YES, YES, YES thank you mom, thank you
mom, thank you mom,” said Paul.
It was the next day and Paul and his
friends got the last three tickets. After they got
their tickets they ran to the stage, they had third
row seats. “These tickets are the best,” said Jermaine
“I know were really close,” said Paul. Then all the
lights went off and everyone started screaming like
someone was trying to kill them. All you could hear
was AWWWWWWW and WEEZY. Then Lil Wayne came out
sitting on a throne then he jump up and started to
rap. The concert was hot then the last song came on,
when Lil Wayne sat back on the throne he put on a
fitted golden Washington Nationals. Paul wanted that
hat, that’s all he was looking at.” Yall see that
hat,” said Paul “WHAT,” said Jermaine “I SAID, YOU SEE
THAT HAT,” yelled Paul. “YEAH IT’S OK,” yelled
Jermaine. When the song was over Lil Wayne threw the
hat into the crowd and it landed perfectly on Paul’s
head. “Oh my god,” screamed Paul then he fainted for
the rest of the concert. When Paul woke up he thought
he was dreaming then he felt his head and the hat was
still there. “ It wasn’t a dream,” said Paul “Nope its
real, how you feel you just fainted out in the middle
of the concert ” said John “forget that, I still got
the hat,” said Paul. All the way home Paul was
bragging on how he got the hat. Paul loved that hat he
eat with his hat, sleep with his hat, he even took
showers with his hat.
It was Monday, and it was ten minutes left of
school. Paul started going on about the hat. “Lil
Wayne gave me this hat at the concert,” said Paul
“No he didn’t, stop lying,” said Maurice. Maurice
and Paul hated each other they would always
competed with each other to see who had the best
stuff. “Yes he did,” said Paul “let me see it
then,” said Maurice. As soon as Paul gave the hat
to Maurice, Maurice snatched the hat and ran.
Maurice hopped over two desks to get to the door.
“What in the world,” said Mrs. Fisher. Paul ran
after Him through the halls, “hey come back,”
said Paul. Maurice was running faster than
lighting and Maurice bust threw the front doors
and then Paul gave up and just looked up at the
sky like he wanted to scream his head off. “Not my
hat,” said Paul. Paul never saw Maurice again he
must of transfered schools because we never saw
him again. Paul never been the same after that day
he lost his favorite hat.
Cassandra Thomas
Come on, come on, Keisha and Saniyah let’s go! My sister and I rushed and grabbed our luggage excitedly when we heard our mother call because we knew that it was finally time to go. When Keisha and I got outside I could not help but feel like I had for got something. That’s when it hit me, and I thought to my self, Spike. Spike is the name of my dog. He is not that big nor is he that small. He is all brown and has pretty brown eyes. Spike is very friendly and happens to be my best friend. Which is why I felt the need to bring him on all of our family vacations. Now normally my parents would not allow me to bring Spike on any family vacations, but this time I refused to let them say no, so I begged and pleaded until they finally gave in. When I returned back outside with spike in my hands I noticed that my parents had already put the luggage in the car and were just waiting on me. I got in the car full of excitement because I enjoy going on family trips. This trip was a little different from the rest because this time we were going camping. Which my parents say is more like a trip than a vacation. That is probably why they allowed Spike to come this time. The ride to where ever we were going was a bit long, but not as long as our vacations. When we finally arrived there my family and I immediately began to put up our sleeping tents. My parents shared a tent while Keisha, Spike, and I shared a tent. We were all pretty much exhausted from the drive so after putting out tents up we decided to go to sleep and wake up early tomorrow to begin our first camping adventure together. The next morning we woke up at eight o’ clock and made something to eat. Making something to eat where we were at was different because everything we made to eat was made by us holding it over fire; therefore there was not a variety of things for us to eat. After eating I decided to take Spike for a little walk, but I was so busy looking around and talking to Spike that I did not realize that I walked a little further then planned. I looked back and noticed that I did not realize where I was. When I looked ahead two large lions and a huge black bear greeted me. My heart dropped to my feet when I noticed the vicious animals. The black bear was the first to start his attack. He looked at me with his devious eyes, “what are you doing in our turf?” With my hands trembling I replied I was just walking my dog, I did not mean any harm. The two loins answered in unison “ well offense token”. The animals began to close in on me. That’s when Spike hopped out my arms and jumped to my defense. He took his first claw at the bear and from there on I knew that the worst was about to take place. I knew that my and little Spike could not take the three vicious animals. When the bear clawed back at Spike I knew that my assumption was correct. I looked over and saw a huge tree branch. I ran over a got the tree branch so that I could use it against the two lions. I began swing the tree branch as quick as I can considering all the weight on the branch. Suddenly I realized that Spike and I were not fighting alone. I looked and saw Keisha and my two parents swinging there own little weapons that they must have found. My father helped me fight off the two lions while my mother, Keisha, and Spike fought of the bear. I noticed that the bear was down and could tell that the bear was not getting back up because he was not breathing. So Spike, Keisha, and my mother came and joined my father and I. The two lions were putting up a good fight. My mother began to choke one of the lions with all of her might forcing the lion to fall to the ground. We were all swinging our weapons with much force. You could hear our weapons hitting the lion and in matter of time we sent the lion crashing to the ground. We were exhausted after the battle. We all hugged, happy that we were all okay. I could not help but wonder how they knew where to find me so I asked. “ How did yall know where to find me”? Keisha answered because my twin senses kicked in and I knew that you were in harm. I told mommy and daddy and we rushed to save you. Thank you I replied with tear in my eyes. At that point I was very happy and for the first time I appreciated the fact that I was a twin. This family trip will be one that I will always remember. Two large tigers interrupted my thoughts. My family and I all looked at the two hungry looking tigers and almost fainted….
Come on, come on, Keisha and Saniyah let’s go! My sister and I rushed and grabbed our luggage excitedly when we heard our mother call because we knew that it was finally time to go. When Keisha and I got outside I could not help but feel like I had for got something. That’s when it hit me, and I thought to my self, Spike. Spike is the name of my dog. He is not that big nor is he that small. He is all brown and has pretty brown eyes. Spike is very friendly and happens to be my best friend. Which is why I felt the need to bring him on all of our family vacations. Now normally my parents would not allow me to bring Spike on any family vacations, but this time I refused to let them say no, so I begged and pleaded until they finally gave in. When I returned back outside with spike in my hands I noticed that my parents had already put the luggage in the car and were just waiting on me. I got in the car full of excitement because I enjoy going on family trips. This trip was a little different from the rest because this time we were going camping. Which my parents say is more like a trip than a vacation. That is probably why they allowed Spike to come this time. The ride to where ever we were going was a bit long, but not as long as our vacations. When we finally arrived there my family and I immediately began to put up our sleeping tents. My parents shared a tent while Keisha, Spike, and I shared a tent. We were all pretty much exhausted from the drive so after putting out tents up we decided to go to sleep and wake up early tomorrow to begin our first camping adventure together. The next morning we woke up at eight o’ clock and made something to eat. Making something to eat where we were at was different because everything we made to eat was made by us holding it over fire; therefore there was not a variety of things for us to eat. After eating I decided to take Spike for a little walk, but I was so busy looking around and talking to Spike that I did not realize that I walked a little further then planned. I looked back and noticed that I did not realize where I was. When I looked ahead two large lions and a huge black bear greeted me. My heart dropped to my feet when I noticed the vicious animals. The black bear was the first to start his attack. He looked at me with his devious eyes, “what are you doing in our turf?” With my hands trembling I replied I was just walking my dog, I did not mean any harm. The two loins answered in unison “ well offense token”. The animals began to close in on me. That’s when Spike hopped out my arms and jumped to my defense. He took his first claw at the bear and from there on I knew that the worst was about to take place. I knew that my and little Spike could not take the three vicious animals. When the bear clawed back at Spike I knew that my assumption was correct. I looked over and saw a huge tree branch. I ran over a got the tree branch so that I could use it against the two lions. I began swing the tree branch as quick as I can considering all the weight on the branch. Suddenly I realized that Spike and I were not fighting alone. I looked and saw Keisha and my two parents swinging there own little weapons that they must have found. My father helped me fight off the two lions while my mother, Keisha, and Spike fought of the bear. I noticed that the bear was down and could tell that the bear was not getting back up because he was not breathing. So Spike, Keisha, and my mother came and joined my father and I. The two lions were putting up a good fight. My mother began to choke one of the lions with all of her might forcing the lion to fall to the ground. We were all swinging our weapons with much force. You could hear our weapons hitting the lion and in matter of time we sent the lion crashing to the ground. We were exhausted after the battle. We all hugged, happy that we were all okay. I could not help but wonder how they knew where to find me so I asked. “ How did yall know where to find me”? Keisha answered because my twin senses kicked in and I knew that you were in harm. I told mommy and daddy and we rushed to save you. Thank you I replied with tear in my eyes. At that point I was very happy and for the first time I appreciated the fact that I was a twin. This family trip will be one that I will always remember. Two large tigers interrupted my thoughts. My family and I all looked at the two hungry looking tigers and almost fainted….
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Happy Birthday Rachel!! By Charnice Barrett 6th Period
“Happy Birthday Rachel!” that was the sound of my whole class screaming to me. It was December 5 2001 and I Rachel Marie Joseph was turning eleven I couldn’t believe I was finally eleven. Something happened that day that made me wish I could have stayed in school that whole day.
When I went home my block was on lock down apparently someone was shot several times in the face nobody could recognize this lost soul. I entered my row home on the corner of 9th and Somerset there I saw my father sitting on the couch so drunk he was nearly unconscious. “Isn’t it my birthday” I thought to myself “ I should be the one having the party”. My father was always like this it made no difference if it was my birthday or Jesus’ he laid in that same spot curled up in a ball as if to say he was safe from all the misery the world brought. The only time I ever really seen him active was when well… I don’t really like talking about the other problems my father contained. You see me and my 2 other sisters weren’t the wealthiest children in the world we lost our mother to an unknown cause of cancer 2 years ago I was only 9 so I didn’t understand it. Daddy started this “PROBLEM” with my older sister Kerrienne and when she finally realized that what he was doing was wrong she tried to turn him in but it didn’t urn out the way we expected. Kerrienne ended up being sent to a group home. I was hoping today would be different but I guess it wasn’t.
5 minutes after my father noticed I was home he started yelling at me for no reason so I just went into my room where I thought everything was going to be okay. I waited until I heard all the ruckus outside my door began to die down and then I stuck my head out the door “Dad” I whispered “are you”— I was cut off by the weight that was forced in my direction. My dad pushed me in my room and threw me on my bed. I started kicking and screaming trying to pull away from him but I couldn’t his grip was strong. I wanted to cry but I knew it wouldn’t make the situation better only cause more conflict. He began to strip me of not only my clothes, but also my dignity I again tried to pull away from him but his hold was even stronger. “Why me daddy?” I asked tears streaming down my face. “Shut up hoe” he replied, “ you give it to them little nasty boys in the streets” and then he thrust himself inside of me, I let out I dieing yell.
This continued for about 3 weeks until I was unable to take it anymore.I didn't tell anyone about it for fear of being teased or judged. At age eleven I had seen many things little ones shouldn’t know. I waited until the sun tucked itself beneath the quilt of the horizon before my journey took action. I quickly packed my things and tiptoed quietly into the living room where my father was in a deep drunken sleep. I made sure to be very quiet in making my way out the door. When I left I headed towards the avenue. “hey momma” strange men from alley ways called out to me I was afraid but I couldn't let them know that would only give them a chance to take my weakness for granted.As I began to think where da hell was I goin' I had never thought I'd make it this far so i didn't plan beyond here.There I was eleven years old wandering the streets at nearly midnight. I overheard the sounds of two men speaking. One was tall and built like Debo from Friday he was threatening the other man "Nigga you keep comin' up short imma have to do something you gon regret" The other man was standing there with his eyes stuck on the other mans right hand."Ard man I got chu I dont kno whats been going on with me lately",then he walked away.
I started to cross the street to remove myself from that side and when I stepped out to cross I heard a schreeching noise and when I turned around... BOOM!! I was hit,I was down and I wasn't getting up.I cried, boy did I cry not only because of the injury done to my right leg but because I was afraid that my father would find out, only God knew what I was in for. I fell asleep and when I awoke their was a strangely dressed women standing above me. She sat down and explained to me that she would be taken me to a new home one where I might be seperated from my family. She told me that my father was found to be the murderer of John Ulysses Grant, the man killed on my birthday, I wasnt suprised. I heard that name before my father never spoke very nicely of him. My leg was decapitated and I was sent to a Group home. Being here was an amazing experience I love all of you from the bottom of my heart. "awwwwwww Rach" my new brothers and sisters replied. "That story was..... was....ummm something" Tonya said with tears in her eyes.
Its been nearly 7 years since this incident and i still remember every detail I loved my father but it seemed he didn;t love me enough to know when to draw the line....
The End
When I went home my block was on lock down apparently someone was shot several times in the face nobody could recognize this lost soul. I entered my row home on the corner of 9th and Somerset there I saw my father sitting on the couch so drunk he was nearly unconscious. “Isn’t it my birthday” I thought to myself “ I should be the one having the party”. My father was always like this it made no difference if it was my birthday or Jesus’ he laid in that same spot curled up in a ball as if to say he was safe from all the misery the world brought. The only time I ever really seen him active was when well… I don’t really like talking about the other problems my father contained. You see me and my 2 other sisters weren’t the wealthiest children in the world we lost our mother to an unknown cause of cancer 2 years ago I was only 9 so I didn’t understand it. Daddy started this “PROBLEM” with my older sister Kerrienne and when she finally realized that what he was doing was wrong she tried to turn him in but it didn’t urn out the way we expected. Kerrienne ended up being sent to a group home. I was hoping today would be different but I guess it wasn’t.
5 minutes after my father noticed I was home he started yelling at me for no reason so I just went into my room where I thought everything was going to be okay. I waited until I heard all the ruckus outside my door began to die down and then I stuck my head out the door “Dad” I whispered “are you”— I was cut off by the weight that was forced in my direction. My dad pushed me in my room and threw me on my bed. I started kicking and screaming trying to pull away from him but I couldn’t his grip was strong. I wanted to cry but I knew it wouldn’t make the situation better only cause more conflict. He began to strip me of not only my clothes, but also my dignity I again tried to pull away from him but his hold was even stronger. “Why me daddy?” I asked tears streaming down my face. “Shut up hoe” he replied, “ you give it to them little nasty boys in the streets” and then he thrust himself inside of me, I let out I dieing yell.
This continued for about 3 weeks until I was unable to take it anymore.I didn't tell anyone about it for fear of being teased or judged. At age eleven I had seen many things little ones shouldn’t know. I waited until the sun tucked itself beneath the quilt of the horizon before my journey took action. I quickly packed my things and tiptoed quietly into the living room where my father was in a deep drunken sleep. I made sure to be very quiet in making my way out the door. When I left I headed towards the avenue. “hey momma” strange men from alley ways called out to me I was afraid but I couldn't let them know that would only give them a chance to take my weakness for granted.As I began to think where da hell was I goin' I had never thought I'd make it this far so i didn't plan beyond here.There I was eleven years old wandering the streets at nearly midnight. I overheard the sounds of two men speaking. One was tall and built like Debo from Friday he was threatening the other man "Nigga you keep comin' up short imma have to do something you gon regret" The other man was standing there with his eyes stuck on the other mans right hand."Ard man I got chu I dont kno whats been going on with me lately",then he walked away.
I started to cross the street to remove myself from that side and when I stepped out to cross I heard a schreeching noise and when I turned around... BOOM!! I was hit,I was down and I wasn't getting up.I cried, boy did I cry not only because of the injury done to my right leg but because I was afraid that my father would find out, only God knew what I was in for. I fell asleep and when I awoke their was a strangely dressed women standing above me. She sat down and explained to me that she would be taken me to a new home one where I might be seperated from my family. She told me that my father was found to be the murderer of John Ulysses Grant, the man killed on my birthday, I wasnt suprised. I heard that name before my father never spoke very nicely of him. My leg was decapitated and I was sent to a Group home. Being here was an amazing experience I love all of you from the bottom of my heart. "awwwwwww Rach" my new brothers and sisters replied. "That story was..... was....ummm something" Tonya said with tears in her eyes.
Its been nearly 7 years since this incident and i still remember every detail I loved my father but it seemed he didn;t love me enough to know when to draw the line....
The End
Sheree Page, 6th period
Lost Locked
One Dark and gloomy Friday morning the school’s electricity went out. So everyone got out of school early except for two people, Cherri and me, Shayne. It was dark and cold inside and no way out.
BOOM! Every one jumped. “The storm’s getting really bad,” our teacher Mrs. Smith said. “I’m surprised the trees didn’t fall!” Mrs. Smith was our reading teacher with broken glasses at the tip of her pointy nose and a bad taste of fashion. She had on green capris with a purple shirt and white stripes in it. She had on a shawl with dark colors and it looked like it was hand made Cherri looked at her outfit in a nasty way, stuck her tongue out and pointed at it. “Cherri!” I said, “Don’t make fun of her. It ain’t her fault she can’t dress!” Then Cherri replied, “She ain’t only bad in fashion but she blind too. That’s probably why it looks like she got dressed in the dark.” We both laughed. The lights started to flicker. “You should be use to the dark James. There’s no electricity in a trashcan” William said. These class clowns have been best friends since the third grade.
It was suppose to be a tornado coming so the school district told us to go home early. “Every get up p…push your chairs in, come on lets go” the teacher said in a shaky voice. She was the most scared person in the room, and she was the teacher. “Is a tornado coming?” William asked. “No, your mom is,” replied James. “Well we all know your house is gonna be the first to go cause you live in a trashcan and what not,” William said. “Don’t be jealous,” James said with a straight face.
Everyone quickly made their way out of the room. As soon as we all got to the front door, I realized something. “Aww, I left my jacket in the classroom” Then I looked up at Cherri with a puppy dog face. “That’s messed up,” Cherri said. “Bye.” “Cherri, your moneys in it.” “To the classroom!” So we both raced to the classroom, thank goodness the door was unlocked. I ran quickly to my desk and, as soon as I touched my jacket, it went as black night. “AHH!” Cherri screamed in horror. “What!” I asked her hoping nothing happened to her. “Nothing, I just felt like doing that.” As we walked down the dark hallway side by side, we heard a thud. BOOM! “What was that?” Cherri whispered. “I don’t know. Let me get my cell phone out for light.” “Try calling someone.” “I’m not getting any service.” Then the phone cut off. “Aww I forgot to charge it” We stood there for a moment. “Oh yeah,” Cherri said. “I forgot I have on a glow in the dark shirt under this sweater. Hehe” “Only you,” I said. Cherri and I walked closely together as her shirt glowed dully. Then I tripped over something. It sounded hard. “What is it?” Cherri asked. “It’s a….a knife.” I dropped it on the floor. We walked a little more and saw dark red writing on the wall. It read, “I’m gonna get you.” Cherri and I started shaking. “Let’s go,” I ordered.
When we finally reached the front door, it was locked. “Come on let’s go out through the back door.” We quietly tip toed to the back door. Then we tripped over something else and fell to the floor. “Ahh! Oh my goodness! Oh crap! Oh crap! Oh crap!” Cherri yelled. It was a dead body! We screamed and yelled all the way to the back door finding or way through the dark. All these thoughts were going through my head. Who was that? Why was she here? Where’d she come from? Who was the killer?! Then we both bumped into two people. I couldn’t believe who it was. It was William and James! “Ha, ha, ha you should have heard you guys.” William barley said because he was laughing so hard. “What was that?” Cherri yelled. “You mean the doll I got from the Halloween store?” James said. “I never took it out of my locker. “How’d yall get stuck in here?” I asked them. “James had to go to the bathroom. “Okay? You got a cell phone on you?” I asked. “I do,” William said. “I already called the cops. They told me to wait at the back door. Did you know you don’t get good service in here?” “Wait, wait,” Cherri said cutting William off. “So, you’re the ones who scared me to death with the fake writing on the wall?” “What you talkin’ bout?” James said. “The writings….on the wall….in the dark red that said ‘I’m gonna get you’. It kinda looked like blood.” “Naw, we ain’t do that.” James replied. “Then who did?” I said.
BANG! The cops bashed through the door. “Come on everybody the tornado’s coming!” the cop said. We all tried out best to get to the police car while we struggled against the wind. It was like being on a lifesaver in water. You try to go a certain way but it pulls you the way it wants you to go. We finally reached the police car and it took it to my house which was safe and a few blocks away. After the cop car called Cherri, James, And William’s parents to tell them they were safe, we started to talk about the incident that happen in school. It was alls o weird. William and James said the dummy they scared us with was a guy. Cherri and I swore we saw a girl. The hallway we saw the writing on, well William and James didn’t even go near that hall. They couldn’t of had brought a knife to school because of the metal detectors. It was all so strange.
That Monday was a beautiful day. Everyone was talking about Friday and what they saw on the news. A girl that goes to this school was murdered. No one knows why but the police said at the crime scene they found two clues. They found a dark colored shawl and broken glasses.
One Dark and gloomy Friday morning the school’s electricity went out. So everyone got out of school early except for two people, Cherri and me, Shayne. It was dark and cold inside and no way out.
BOOM! Every one jumped. “The storm’s getting really bad,” our teacher Mrs. Smith said. “I’m surprised the trees didn’t fall!” Mrs. Smith was our reading teacher with broken glasses at the tip of her pointy nose and a bad taste of fashion. She had on green capris with a purple shirt and white stripes in it. She had on a shawl with dark colors and it looked like it was hand made Cherri looked at her outfit in a nasty way, stuck her tongue out and pointed at it. “Cherri!” I said, “Don’t make fun of her. It ain’t her fault she can’t dress!” Then Cherri replied, “She ain’t only bad in fashion but she blind too. That’s probably why it looks like she got dressed in the dark.” We both laughed. The lights started to flicker. “You should be use to the dark James. There’s no electricity in a trashcan” William said. These class clowns have been best friends since the third grade.
It was suppose to be a tornado coming so the school district told us to go home early. “Every get up p…push your chairs in, come on lets go” the teacher said in a shaky voice. She was the most scared person in the room, and she was the teacher. “Is a tornado coming?” William asked. “No, your mom is,” replied James. “Well we all know your house is gonna be the first to go cause you live in a trashcan and what not,” William said. “Don’t be jealous,” James said with a straight face.
Everyone quickly made their way out of the room. As soon as we all got to the front door, I realized something. “Aww, I left my jacket in the classroom” Then I looked up at Cherri with a puppy dog face. “That’s messed up,” Cherri said. “Bye.” “Cherri, your moneys in it.” “To the classroom!” So we both raced to the classroom, thank goodness the door was unlocked. I ran quickly to my desk and, as soon as I touched my jacket, it went as black night. “AHH!” Cherri screamed in horror. “What!” I asked her hoping nothing happened to her. “Nothing, I just felt like doing that.” As we walked down the dark hallway side by side, we heard a thud. BOOM! “What was that?” Cherri whispered. “I don’t know. Let me get my cell phone out for light.” “Try calling someone.” “I’m not getting any service.” Then the phone cut off. “Aww I forgot to charge it” We stood there for a moment. “Oh yeah,” Cherri said. “I forgot I have on a glow in the dark shirt under this sweater. Hehe” “Only you,” I said. Cherri and I walked closely together as her shirt glowed dully. Then I tripped over something. It sounded hard. “What is it?” Cherri asked. “It’s a….a knife.” I dropped it on the floor. We walked a little more and saw dark red writing on the wall. It read, “I’m gonna get you.” Cherri and I started shaking. “Let’s go,” I ordered.
When we finally reached the front door, it was locked. “Come on let’s go out through the back door.” We quietly tip toed to the back door. Then we tripped over something else and fell to the floor. “Ahh! Oh my goodness! Oh crap! Oh crap! Oh crap!” Cherri yelled. It was a dead body! We screamed and yelled all the way to the back door finding or way through the dark. All these thoughts were going through my head. Who was that? Why was she here? Where’d she come from? Who was the killer?! Then we both bumped into two people. I couldn’t believe who it was. It was William and James! “Ha, ha, ha you should have heard you guys.” William barley said because he was laughing so hard. “What was that?” Cherri yelled. “You mean the doll I got from the Halloween store?” James said. “I never took it out of my locker. “How’d yall get stuck in here?” I asked them. “James had to go to the bathroom. “Okay? You got a cell phone on you?” I asked. “I do,” William said. “I already called the cops. They told me to wait at the back door. Did you know you don’t get good service in here?” “Wait, wait,” Cherri said cutting William off. “So, you’re the ones who scared me to death with the fake writing on the wall?” “What you talkin’ bout?” James said. “The writings….on the wall….in the dark red that said ‘I’m gonna get you’. It kinda looked like blood.” “Naw, we ain’t do that.” James replied. “Then who did?” I said.
BANG! The cops bashed through the door. “Come on everybody the tornado’s coming!” the cop said. We all tried out best to get to the police car while we struggled against the wind. It was like being on a lifesaver in water. You try to go a certain way but it pulls you the way it wants you to go. We finally reached the police car and it took it to my house which was safe and a few blocks away. After the cop car called Cherri, James, And William’s parents to tell them they were safe, we started to talk about the incident that happen in school. It was alls o weird. William and James said the dummy they scared us with was a guy. Cherri and I swore we saw a girl. The hallway we saw the writing on, well William and James didn’t even go near that hall. They couldn’t of had brought a knife to school because of the metal detectors. It was all so strange.
That Monday was a beautiful day. Everyone was talking about Friday and what they saw on the news. A girl that goes to this school was murdered. No one knows why but the police said at the crime scene they found two clues. They found a dark colored shawl and broken glasses.
***ATTENTION*** PEER RESPONSE ACTIVITY*** DUE THURSDAY, NOV. 29TH***
BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REVISION BY EXAMINING THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR STORY. THE FOLLOWING PEER RESPONSE ACTIVITY CAN HELP YOU ANALYZE AND RESPOND TO A STORY'S PLOT. HAVE EACH PERSON IN YOUR GROUP RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN YOUR "COMMENTS" SECTION.
EXPOSITION
1. WHEN/WHERE DOES THIS STORY TAKE PLACE?
2. WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE?
CONFLICT AND CLIMAX
1. WHAT PROBLEMS DOES THE CENTRAL CHARACTER FACE?
2. WHEN DO YOU LEARN HOW THE PROBLEM IS WORKED OUT?
DENOUEMENT
1. HOW DOES THE STORY END?
2. SUGGEST AN EXTRA SCENE TO STRENGTHEN THE PLOT.
CHARACTERIZATION
1. WHO ARE THE CHARACTERS INVOLVED IN THE STORY? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THEIR ROLES?
2. DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION: WHAT DOES THE AUTHOR TELL US "DIRECTLY" ABOUT THE PROTAGONIST (MAIN CHARACTER) FROM HIS OR HER PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AND PERSONALITY?
3. INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION: WHAT DO WE LEARN "INDIRECTLY" ABOUT THE PROTAGONIST FROM WHAT HE OR SHE SAYS (DOES)? WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT THE PROTAGONIST FROM WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT HIM OR HER?
4. SUGGEST AN ADDED DETAIL TO STRENGTHEN THE DESCRIPTION OF ONE MAJOR OR MINOR CHARACTER.
EXPOSITION
1. WHEN/WHERE DOES THIS STORY TAKE PLACE?
2. WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE?
CONFLICT AND CLIMAX
1. WHAT PROBLEMS DOES THE CENTRAL CHARACTER FACE?
2. WHEN DO YOU LEARN HOW THE PROBLEM IS WORKED OUT?
DENOUEMENT
1. HOW DOES THE STORY END?
2. SUGGEST AN EXTRA SCENE TO STRENGTHEN THE PLOT.
CHARACTERIZATION
1. WHO ARE THE CHARACTERS INVOLVED IN THE STORY? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THEIR ROLES?
2. DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION: WHAT DOES THE AUTHOR TELL US "DIRECTLY" ABOUT THE PROTAGONIST (MAIN CHARACTER) FROM HIS OR HER PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AND PERSONALITY?
3. INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION: WHAT DO WE LEARN "INDIRECTLY" ABOUT THE PROTAGONIST FROM WHAT HE OR SHE SAYS (DOES)? WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT THE PROTAGONIST FROM WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT HIM OR HER?
4. SUGGEST AN ADDED DETAIL TO STRENGTHEN THE DESCRIPTION OF ONE MAJOR OR MINOR CHARACTER.
By Kiara Cofer, Creative Writing 2nd Period
The Heartbreaks of love....
Kiara Cofer
We have been together for a while now but recently he left me for her. I have been seeing them around all smiles and no frowns, but I don’t understand why I am the one that has to suffer? What have I done to deserve this type of treatment? I mean he hasn’t done any thing to me besides flaunt her around like she is a golden prize. But I am the one who has to see it. I used to be his number one I am the one that had his heart. I showed him how to love and now he’ s showing some one else what I taught him. My name is Deja and this is my story.
I grew up in a house full of women no male testosterone. I was the youngest of my mother’s three daughters and very spoiled. I am usually the one that gets every thing that I want and more then what I ask for. My father has been in and out of jail since I was five years old and I am now eighteen. Not a good look right? He’s in there for the usual drug related reasons. I just don’t understand why the feds insist on knocking a black mans hustle. All he was trying to do was support his family. Unlike other men, in or out of jail my dad was a good father and a great asset to our family. He showed us right from wrong and he loved us unconditionally so that we would never have to look for any man to fill the position in which he lacked. But some times I do wish he were home so that he could help me with my boy problems and the insecurities that I have. I mean I am beautiful and have always been beautiful but situations like the one that I am in made me just wonder am I really beautiful?
Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of Kiar and his new fling Sianni; it just really gets under my skin to see him with her. Yeah she’s a pretty girl you know the average mixed female. She was half black and half Indian. Caramel skin, hazel eyes, long thick jet black hair I mean she is beautiful but what can she do for him that I already haven’t done? I invested all of my time into him; I have no friends because of him. I believe that I deserve more then what he is dishing out to me. But I guess that’ s what I get for being the best girlfriend that I can be.
“Hey Kiar, I see you gone front now cause you got yourself a new little mutt.” I said to Kiar as him and Sianni began to walk pass me as if I wasn’t even there. “Mutt! Girl you just mad cause I got what you want and what you aint gone get back. At least I know how to hold on to mines you thirsty trick.” Sianni said to me nastily. When she said that I was furious I don’t know what came over me I just lashed out. Next thing I knew Sianni and I was rolling around on the ground. She was pulling my hair while I was beating her face in. Just like your average ghetto girl I whopped her a** but that didn’t make Kiar want to take me back. “Deja why did you do that?” He said to me, furious that his old girlfriend had just beaten up his new one. “She called me out of my name Kiar and all you can think of is her?” “Deja you started it, you came up to us and if I can recall you did call her a mutt.” I was just standing there stuck with nothing to say.
Later on that night I called Kiar to apologize for my actions But like an average nigga he said, “Don’t worry about it Deja maybe you can just come over my house a little later so we can talk about it.” So me being me I didn’t have a doubt in my mind about going. I arrived at his house around 8:00 pm. Once I got there we chilled for a little while then he began to play in my hair and kiss me on my neck. Being curious I asked him, “Kiar why must you d this to me? Why do you treat me as if nothing that I do is good enough for you? I was the best girlfriend that I could be and you gave me you’re a** to kiss. I tried so hard to make you happy, to give you what you needed and deserved and you repay me by flashing your new girlfriend around like I never existed .Why?” “Deja you know I would never do any thing to hurt you.” “So Kiar you just think that you have done no wrong? Like you are just picture perfect? Well news flash Kiar you aren’t and neither am I and I don’t try to be but I do give my all when ever it’s needed but I guess you don’t even care huh?” Deja I love you and you know that. “ “So why are you with her?” I asked. “Maybe I wanted to see if what we had was real.” “Well is it Kiar?” He turned his head. “Is it Kiar? Answer me. Now is not the time for the games. To you this is just a little phase in life but this is my heart you’re playing with.” Kiar then looked me in my eyes and said, “I mean at this point Deja I honestly don’t know. I guess that’s a question that I will never know the answer to.” “So why am I hear then? Don’t you have a girlfriend or since I beat her up you don’t want to see her until she looks back to normal?” “Deja don’t go there.” “Don’t go there? What do you mean don’t go there? You have a girlfriend but you asked me to come see you tonight. But you saying don’t go there. Even though I don’t like her and she may have stolen my boyfriend, my heart, my love, the man I’ve been with for four years, the person that brought me from a little girl to a woman I will not allow you to do her the way you did.” Hysterical and confused on what to do I just got up and began to leave. “Deja don’t walk away like that. I don’t want you to hate me.” “Kiar you did this to yourself.” With tears in my eyes I walked out of his apartment. Not knowing what tomorrow may lead to.
With that thought in my mind in a poem I wrote to him…
It only took one phrase for you to say that made my eye light up like they used to always. Then it took only one thought of us together as one to make me change my mind, as I realized everyday that we are not meant for each other. It took many years for this thought to come about but it took another female for me to realize the truth. I’ve always allowed you back into my heart with no harm, no questions, and no reasons. Just you with open arms. It’s sad that I have to let you go but I’m happy that I’ve found my self. I saw the present without you in it. I saw the past that left me with tears cried all the time. But I’ve finally seen a future of happiness that I’ve built for my self. Honesty lies in a place beneath us and my eyes have been open to new surroundings. My life used to revolve around you. I used to not be able to see myself without you. I used to need you in a way that I needed no one else. But now that’s all beyond me I am a women beyond all measures a beauty that made it in life through love of all others and the intelligence in every area. You think you made me nut I made myself. You know you lied to me but you made me stronger. You wish you still had me and I’m glad I found a way. But one thing is for sure without experiencing you in my life I wouldn’t be the goddess I am today.
It has been years since I have seen Kiar. I’ve heard that he and Sianni are still together hopefully he treats her right. I mean I’ve grown over time and I have learned that she has done nothing to me. She didn’t take my boyfriend out of spite he went to her. I mean you like who you like and that’s it. All I asked for him to do was to love and respect me and he could do neither and with that I learned a valuable lesson. Never go beyond, always meet them half way because if you do they will take advantage of it. Like I said before name is Deja and this is my story.
Kiara Cofer
We have been together for a while now but recently he left me for her. I have been seeing them around all smiles and no frowns, but I don’t understand why I am the one that has to suffer? What have I done to deserve this type of treatment? I mean he hasn’t done any thing to me besides flaunt her around like she is a golden prize. But I am the one who has to see it. I used to be his number one I am the one that had his heart. I showed him how to love and now he’ s showing some one else what I taught him. My name is Deja and this is my story.
I grew up in a house full of women no male testosterone. I was the youngest of my mother’s three daughters and very spoiled. I am usually the one that gets every thing that I want and more then what I ask for. My father has been in and out of jail since I was five years old and I am now eighteen. Not a good look right? He’s in there for the usual drug related reasons. I just don’t understand why the feds insist on knocking a black mans hustle. All he was trying to do was support his family. Unlike other men, in or out of jail my dad was a good father and a great asset to our family. He showed us right from wrong and he loved us unconditionally so that we would never have to look for any man to fill the position in which he lacked. But some times I do wish he were home so that he could help me with my boy problems and the insecurities that I have. I mean I am beautiful and have always been beautiful but situations like the one that I am in made me just wonder am I really beautiful?
Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of Kiar and his new fling Sianni; it just really gets under my skin to see him with her. Yeah she’s a pretty girl you know the average mixed female. She was half black and half Indian. Caramel skin, hazel eyes, long thick jet black hair I mean she is beautiful but what can she do for him that I already haven’t done? I invested all of my time into him; I have no friends because of him. I believe that I deserve more then what he is dishing out to me. But I guess that’ s what I get for being the best girlfriend that I can be.
“Hey Kiar, I see you gone front now cause you got yourself a new little mutt.” I said to Kiar as him and Sianni began to walk pass me as if I wasn’t even there. “Mutt! Girl you just mad cause I got what you want and what you aint gone get back. At least I know how to hold on to mines you thirsty trick.” Sianni said to me nastily. When she said that I was furious I don’t know what came over me I just lashed out. Next thing I knew Sianni and I was rolling around on the ground. She was pulling my hair while I was beating her face in. Just like your average ghetto girl I whopped her a** but that didn’t make Kiar want to take me back. “Deja why did you do that?” He said to me, furious that his old girlfriend had just beaten up his new one. “She called me out of my name Kiar and all you can think of is her?” “Deja you started it, you came up to us and if I can recall you did call her a mutt.” I was just standing there stuck with nothing to say.
Later on that night I called Kiar to apologize for my actions But like an average nigga he said, “Don’t worry about it Deja maybe you can just come over my house a little later so we can talk about it.” So me being me I didn’t have a doubt in my mind about going. I arrived at his house around 8:00 pm. Once I got there we chilled for a little while then he began to play in my hair and kiss me on my neck. Being curious I asked him, “Kiar why must you d this to me? Why do you treat me as if nothing that I do is good enough for you? I was the best girlfriend that I could be and you gave me you’re a** to kiss. I tried so hard to make you happy, to give you what you needed and deserved and you repay me by flashing your new girlfriend around like I never existed .Why?” “Deja you know I would never do any thing to hurt you.” “So Kiar you just think that you have done no wrong? Like you are just picture perfect? Well news flash Kiar you aren’t and neither am I and I don’t try to be but I do give my all when ever it’s needed but I guess you don’t even care huh?” Deja I love you and you know that. “ “So why are you with her?” I asked. “Maybe I wanted to see if what we had was real.” “Well is it Kiar?” He turned his head. “Is it Kiar? Answer me. Now is not the time for the games. To you this is just a little phase in life but this is my heart you’re playing with.” Kiar then looked me in my eyes and said, “I mean at this point Deja I honestly don’t know. I guess that’s a question that I will never know the answer to.” “So why am I hear then? Don’t you have a girlfriend or since I beat her up you don’t want to see her until she looks back to normal?” “Deja don’t go there.” “Don’t go there? What do you mean don’t go there? You have a girlfriend but you asked me to come see you tonight. But you saying don’t go there. Even though I don’t like her and she may have stolen my boyfriend, my heart, my love, the man I’ve been with for four years, the person that brought me from a little girl to a woman I will not allow you to do her the way you did.” Hysterical and confused on what to do I just got up and began to leave. “Deja don’t walk away like that. I don’t want you to hate me.” “Kiar you did this to yourself.” With tears in my eyes I walked out of his apartment. Not knowing what tomorrow may lead to.
With that thought in my mind in a poem I wrote to him…
It only took one phrase for you to say that made my eye light up like they used to always. Then it took only one thought of us together as one to make me change my mind, as I realized everyday that we are not meant for each other. It took many years for this thought to come about but it took another female for me to realize the truth. I’ve always allowed you back into my heart with no harm, no questions, and no reasons. Just you with open arms. It’s sad that I have to let you go but I’m happy that I’ve found my self. I saw the present without you in it. I saw the past that left me with tears cried all the time. But I’ve finally seen a future of happiness that I’ve built for my self. Honesty lies in a place beneath us and my eyes have been open to new surroundings. My life used to revolve around you. I used to not be able to see myself without you. I used to need you in a way that I needed no one else. But now that’s all beyond me I am a women beyond all measures a beauty that made it in life through love of all others and the intelligence in every area. You think you made me nut I made myself. You know you lied to me but you made me stronger. You wish you still had me and I’m glad I found a way. But one thing is for sure without experiencing you in my life I wouldn’t be the goddess I am today.
It has been years since I have seen Kiar. I’ve heard that he and Sianni are still together hopefully he treats her right. I mean I’ve grown over time and I have learned that she has done nothing to me. She didn’t take my boyfriend out of spite he went to her. I mean you like who you like and that’s it. All I asked for him to do was to love and respect me and he could do neither and with that I learned a valuable lesson. Never go beyond, always meet them half way because if you do they will take advantage of it. Like I said before name is Deja and this is my story.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Maribel Moreno 6th period
The Notes
“Hi, what are you doing are you asleep yet Athena?” ask Menel. “No Menel I’m not sleeping yet, why, did you want anything? No it’s just that I’m really nervous for tomorrow’s event and the fact that Axel is going to be there, and just watching me perform I just wish that I didn’t get this much nervous, because its not really helping me. What do you think about it, Athena? But Athena did not answer me, she had falling asleep. In that night I could not sleep and so many thoughts came to my mine, and even my conductor’s face show in my dream. Then around 3 in the morning I finally felt asleep.
In the morning my sister Athena was taking to my mom about me having trouble sleeping that night. “Why do you think she’s acting this way? My mom asked warily. When I heard that I wanted the floor to just open up and to eat me, because my sister was going to tell my mom not just that I was nervous because of the fact that I was going to be performing in front of a lot of people, but also because Axel was going to be there, and so my mom was going to find out that I like Axel. So just when Athena was about to tell my mom the reason why I was so nervous the door bell rang, it was my friend Armand. I was so happy when I saw him, because that meant that it was time for us to go to school. So I pull my sister and ran out the house. “What’s going on, Menel is everything okay?” asked Armand. I told him what was going on. I mean after all he already knew that I had a big crush for Axel, the “FOOTBALL PLAYER.” And well almost everyone in school new about it! But back to my topic, I told Armand what my sister was about to say to my mom. “Are you cereous?” Armand with a mouth looking like he was about to drop it exclaim. I said, “Yes I’m cereous!” But once we got to school I felt better, but I felt even better when I got inside the music room and stared to warm up. I love playing my clarinet; it always helps me feel so calm.
Also that same day I had to meet with all the band kids, “The all city band”. Every time that I knew that I had to meet them and do rehearsals with the entire band, I got so excited. We took the school bus to get to Meham Middle school, where we all got together to show what we could do best! But to my surprise when we were all seated they gave us another piece of music.” Why are these people giving us another piece of music when the concert is in two weeks and we are only going to meet one more time as a whole? “I asked the girl next to me with a big surprise. “ I don’t know but this piece looks very hard and especially if we have to memorize it!” said the girl. I got really worried about it. What I didn’t realize was that I was the only one with that paper at the time. So my teacher said that I was going to be the only one playing that piece in the clarinet section, and that’s how my problem began!
I thought I was able to do it, so I accepted. I did my best to learn it but it was just too hard! So when I practice I got use to playing but looking at the notes. So when I went back for rehearsals the next week, the conductor asked me if I could play the piece of music. “Yes”, I said, but I thought I could just look at the notes while playing it. Of curse that was not going to work for her, so she asked if I could get of stage. I was so sad because I thought she was going to kick me of the show. But all she said to me was that I was going to pretend like I was playing the actual instrument. Because after all I did know the music, just not by hard!
So finally the big day came and, I wasn’t nervous any more and I did what I had to do. I was really happy about it. And Axel brought me flowers!
“Hi, what are you doing are you asleep yet Athena?” ask Menel. “No Menel I’m not sleeping yet, why, did you want anything? No it’s just that I’m really nervous for tomorrow’s event and the fact that Axel is going to be there, and just watching me perform I just wish that I didn’t get this much nervous, because its not really helping me. What do you think about it, Athena? But Athena did not answer me, she had falling asleep. In that night I could not sleep and so many thoughts came to my mine, and even my conductor’s face show in my dream. Then around 3 in the morning I finally felt asleep.
In the morning my sister Athena was taking to my mom about me having trouble sleeping that night. “Why do you think she’s acting this way? My mom asked warily. When I heard that I wanted the floor to just open up and to eat me, because my sister was going to tell my mom not just that I was nervous because of the fact that I was going to be performing in front of a lot of people, but also because Axel was going to be there, and so my mom was going to find out that I like Axel. So just when Athena was about to tell my mom the reason why I was so nervous the door bell rang, it was my friend Armand. I was so happy when I saw him, because that meant that it was time for us to go to school. So I pull my sister and ran out the house. “What’s going on, Menel is everything okay?” asked Armand. I told him what was going on. I mean after all he already knew that I had a big crush for Axel, the “FOOTBALL PLAYER.” And well almost everyone in school new about it! But back to my topic, I told Armand what my sister was about to say to my mom. “Are you cereous?” Armand with a mouth looking like he was about to drop it exclaim. I said, “Yes I’m cereous!” But once we got to school I felt better, but I felt even better when I got inside the music room and stared to warm up. I love playing my clarinet; it always helps me feel so calm.
Also that same day I had to meet with all the band kids, “The all city band”. Every time that I knew that I had to meet them and do rehearsals with the entire band, I got so excited. We took the school bus to get to Meham Middle school, where we all got together to show what we could do best! But to my surprise when we were all seated they gave us another piece of music.” Why are these people giving us another piece of music when the concert is in two weeks and we are only going to meet one more time as a whole? “I asked the girl next to me with a big surprise. “ I don’t know but this piece looks very hard and especially if we have to memorize it!” said the girl. I got really worried about it. What I didn’t realize was that I was the only one with that paper at the time. So my teacher said that I was going to be the only one playing that piece in the clarinet section, and that’s how my problem began!
I thought I was able to do it, so I accepted. I did my best to learn it but it was just too hard! So when I practice I got use to playing but looking at the notes. So when I went back for rehearsals the next week, the conductor asked me if I could play the piece of music. “Yes”, I said, but I thought I could just look at the notes while playing it. Of curse that was not going to work for her, so she asked if I could get of stage. I was so sad because I thought she was going to kick me of the show. But all she said to me was that I was going to pretend like I was playing the actual instrument. Because after all I did know the music, just not by hard!
So finally the big day came and, I wasn’t nervous any more and I did what I had to do. I was really happy about it. And Axel brought me flowers!
APARTMENT CRiSiS- Jasmone` Townes[(2ndPeriod)]
In the city of Philadelphia, there lived a young woman named Maria. Maria is 20 years old and gave birth to her daughter Hailey at the age of 18. When Maria discovered she was pregnant the summer after she graduated high school, her mother disowned her, kicked Maria out of the house, and left Maria to live on her own. She moved in with her boyfriend, Michael, for a while so she could get a job and save money for her own place. When Maria turned 19 years old, she had a 6 month year old baby girl and moved in her new apartment.
Maria couldn’t be any happier. She lived on her own and was working while taking care of her baby girl. But one day, the happiness came to a holt. One weekend, she was on her way taking Hailey to Michael’s house. Michael was Hailey’s father, so the normal routine was to watch her every weekend while Maria worked. On her way to the house, Maria had a bad feeling about something, but couldn’t figure out what it was. As she arrived at the house, she lifted Hailey in her arms and walked inside. To her surprise, she found Michael cheating on her with another woman. She grabbed her things and quickly ran out of the house, hoping to never return there again. Maria was devastated. She thought things couldn’t get any worse.
One night, when Maria and Hailey was sound asleep in their apartment, Maria was awakened by an alarm. Maria thought it was the sound of the alarm clock waking her up in the morning for work, so she slammed her hand on the snooze button and fell back to sleep. About 10 minutes later, Maria awakened by the banging of someone at her door. As she slowly got out of bed, she smelled a sent of burning wood coming from the hallway. When she walked closer to the door, she heard someone yelling her name, telling her to come quick. As Maria open the door, she was greeted by a fog of smoke and a terrified neighbor from across the hall. “Maria! What took you so long? The building’s on fire! Grab Hailey and get out of here now!” she said. Maria couldn’t believe it. She immediately ran into her room and grabbed her sleeping daughter. She turned around, grabbed her phone, her money, a blanket out of the crib, and dashed out into the hallway.
As Maria walked down the hall, she saw nothing but smoke at the stairwell. She took the blanket and covered Hailey’s face, took a deep breath, and ran quickly down the steps. Maria only lived on the second floor so it was a pretty easy escape. When Maria got to the lobby, she saw people from the other side of the building also running to get out. The smoke looked even blacker on that side then her side. She ran outside and across the street where others where standing around looking up at the building. Fire trucks swarmed around the corner and in front of the building. They were yelling for people to move down the block and out dangerous areas. Maria sat on the steps with Hailey wrapped up in the blanket and waited for an answer. They sat and watched the firemen put out the fire. The fire spread and destroyed the entire apartment. Everything Maria had was gone.
The police and ambulance came to tend to people who were hurt and had nowhere to go. The escorted everyone to the Red Cross close by so people could stay there until they found a place to stay. As they arrived, everyone was told to go inside a 2 rooms and settle down for the night. It was hectic. Everyone was bunched together like a pack of animals. When it came time to sleep, they had cotts for everyone. Maria didn’t like this at all. She took Hailey and her things and headed to the front desk. Maria walked up to the receptionist at the front and told her she wanted to leave. She explained to her that no one was to leave until they found somewhere to go. Maria had 3 people in her mind; her mother, her best friend, and her cheating boyfriend. She told the lady she had a place to stay, took her belongings and left. Even if she wasn’t too sure about where to stay that night, she knew she didn’t want to stay at the Red Cross any longer.
Walking out of the Red Cross, Maria picked up her phone and called her mother. She wasn’t sure if her mother was still mad at her from getting pregnant and having a baby about 2 years ago, but it was worth a try. She explained to her mother about everything that happened on that horrible night. “Oh, so you think you can come to me when you have no one else, huh? What about your boyfriend?” she said, “You were so quick so go to his house when you got pregnant. You thought you were grown then. Well, now you are grown, Maria. I don’t have anything to do with you and your troubles. Go run to his house like you did last time.” Click. She spoke her harsh words and hung up the phone with out taking a breath. Maria sat on the cold, cement steps outside the Red Cross and cried her eyes out with Hailey in her arms. Out of all people she thought her mother would be there for her. She had to come up with Plan B. She thought of calling her best friend, Marla, but then she remembered the controlling boyfriend. Maria never liked him. They always used to argue about how he treated Marla. Marla of course would be on his side and Maria would be the losing defendant. Maria called her, but her boyfriend answered the phone and they got into an argument about Maria staying for a while. Marla insisted to her boyfriend to give Maria some money for a motel, but her boyfriend refused. Maria knew she had no hope.
Last but not least, Maria gave in and called her boyfriend. She intended on never speaking to him again but she had no other choice. He told her that he was on his way to pick her up from the Red Cross and to stay there. As she waited on the dark corner with her baby, two older guys came up to Maria trying to get her purse. With Hailey in her hands, Maria pulled and pulled on her purse but didn’t want to risk her life and especially her daughters. She fell to the ground, while the thieves ran off with all she had. When Michael pulled up in the car, Maria ran to the car hysterical. She told Michael what happened and he was furious. He wanted to go look for the guys who attacked her but Maria insisted not to. She had already gone through enough for the night and she just wanted to sleep. When they arrived home, Maria put Hailey to bed and fell asleep next to her without a word.
The next morning, Michael gave Maria money to go get things she wanted from the store. While Maria was standing in line, she found a lottery ticket at her feet. She picked it up wondering who it belonged to but it was no one in sight. As she was walking back to the house, Maria took a penny and scratched off the plays. To her surprise, the ticket read, “$1,000,000 WINNER!” Maria stopped in her tracks. She couldn’t believe after all that happened she won 1,000,000 dollars. She quickly ran home to tell Michael. As she explained to him what happened, he couldn’t believe his ears. He was happy that everything was finally turning around for her.
Later on that day, Michael took Maria to cash her prize. He insisted Maria not give him any money for the help he gave her, but Maria couldn’t refuse. After all, he was Hailey’s father and he has done so much for them unlike everyone else. Maria and Michael never got back together, but they remained good friends. He helped her get a new apartment and stayed by her side. Maria helped her best friend Marla get out of her controlling relationship, and never spoke to her mother again. From then on, Maria’s life was the best she ever asked for.
Maria couldn’t be any happier. She lived on her own and was working while taking care of her baby girl. But one day, the happiness came to a holt. One weekend, she was on her way taking Hailey to Michael’s house. Michael was Hailey’s father, so the normal routine was to watch her every weekend while Maria worked. On her way to the house, Maria had a bad feeling about something, but couldn’t figure out what it was. As she arrived at the house, she lifted Hailey in her arms and walked inside. To her surprise, she found Michael cheating on her with another woman. She grabbed her things and quickly ran out of the house, hoping to never return there again. Maria was devastated. She thought things couldn’t get any worse.
One night, when Maria and Hailey was sound asleep in their apartment, Maria was awakened by an alarm. Maria thought it was the sound of the alarm clock waking her up in the morning for work, so she slammed her hand on the snooze button and fell back to sleep. About 10 minutes later, Maria awakened by the banging of someone at her door. As she slowly got out of bed, she smelled a sent of burning wood coming from the hallway. When she walked closer to the door, she heard someone yelling her name, telling her to come quick. As Maria open the door, she was greeted by a fog of smoke and a terrified neighbor from across the hall. “Maria! What took you so long? The building’s on fire! Grab Hailey and get out of here now!” she said. Maria couldn’t believe it. She immediately ran into her room and grabbed her sleeping daughter. She turned around, grabbed her phone, her money, a blanket out of the crib, and dashed out into the hallway.
As Maria walked down the hall, she saw nothing but smoke at the stairwell. She took the blanket and covered Hailey’s face, took a deep breath, and ran quickly down the steps. Maria only lived on the second floor so it was a pretty easy escape. When Maria got to the lobby, she saw people from the other side of the building also running to get out. The smoke looked even blacker on that side then her side. She ran outside and across the street where others where standing around looking up at the building. Fire trucks swarmed around the corner and in front of the building. They were yelling for people to move down the block and out dangerous areas. Maria sat on the steps with Hailey wrapped up in the blanket and waited for an answer. They sat and watched the firemen put out the fire. The fire spread and destroyed the entire apartment. Everything Maria had was gone.
The police and ambulance came to tend to people who were hurt and had nowhere to go. The escorted everyone to the Red Cross close by so people could stay there until they found a place to stay. As they arrived, everyone was told to go inside a 2 rooms and settle down for the night. It was hectic. Everyone was bunched together like a pack of animals. When it came time to sleep, they had cotts for everyone. Maria didn’t like this at all. She took Hailey and her things and headed to the front desk. Maria walked up to the receptionist at the front and told her she wanted to leave. She explained to her that no one was to leave until they found somewhere to go. Maria had 3 people in her mind; her mother, her best friend, and her cheating boyfriend. She told the lady she had a place to stay, took her belongings and left. Even if she wasn’t too sure about where to stay that night, she knew she didn’t want to stay at the Red Cross any longer.
Walking out of the Red Cross, Maria picked up her phone and called her mother. She wasn’t sure if her mother was still mad at her from getting pregnant and having a baby about 2 years ago, but it was worth a try. She explained to her mother about everything that happened on that horrible night. “Oh, so you think you can come to me when you have no one else, huh? What about your boyfriend?” she said, “You were so quick so go to his house when you got pregnant. You thought you were grown then. Well, now you are grown, Maria. I don’t have anything to do with you and your troubles. Go run to his house like you did last time.” Click. She spoke her harsh words and hung up the phone with out taking a breath. Maria sat on the cold, cement steps outside the Red Cross and cried her eyes out with Hailey in her arms. Out of all people she thought her mother would be there for her. She had to come up with Plan B. She thought of calling her best friend, Marla, but then she remembered the controlling boyfriend. Maria never liked him. They always used to argue about how he treated Marla. Marla of course would be on his side and Maria would be the losing defendant. Maria called her, but her boyfriend answered the phone and they got into an argument about Maria staying for a while. Marla insisted to her boyfriend to give Maria some money for a motel, but her boyfriend refused. Maria knew she had no hope.
Last but not least, Maria gave in and called her boyfriend. She intended on never speaking to him again but she had no other choice. He told her that he was on his way to pick her up from the Red Cross and to stay there. As she waited on the dark corner with her baby, two older guys came up to Maria trying to get her purse. With Hailey in her hands, Maria pulled and pulled on her purse but didn’t want to risk her life and especially her daughters. She fell to the ground, while the thieves ran off with all she had. When Michael pulled up in the car, Maria ran to the car hysterical. She told Michael what happened and he was furious. He wanted to go look for the guys who attacked her but Maria insisted not to. She had already gone through enough for the night and she just wanted to sleep. When they arrived home, Maria put Hailey to bed and fell asleep next to her without a word.
The next morning, Michael gave Maria money to go get things she wanted from the store. While Maria was standing in line, she found a lottery ticket at her feet. She picked it up wondering who it belonged to but it was no one in sight. As she was walking back to the house, Maria took a penny and scratched off the plays. To her surprise, the ticket read, “$1,000,000 WINNER!” Maria stopped in her tracks. She couldn’t believe after all that happened she won 1,000,000 dollars. She quickly ran home to tell Michael. As she explained to him what happened, he couldn’t believe his ears. He was happy that everything was finally turning around for her.
Later on that day, Michael took Maria to cash her prize. He insisted Maria not give him any money for the help he gave her, but Maria couldn’t refuse. After all, he was Hailey’s father and he has done so much for them unlike everyone else. Maria and Michael never got back together, but they remained good friends. He helped her get a new apartment and stayed by her side. Maria helped her best friend Marla get out of her controlling relationship, and never spoke to her mother again. From then on, Maria’s life was the best she ever asked for.
Melinda Gibson 2nd Period
Damn...
When Cedez' and Day arrived at the game it was already half time. "Life's Menaces", which was their home squad, was balling against "Da Generals" tonight. Upon entry into the Rec. Center they converted from a quiet calm surrounding into one of loudness and intense chaos. Crowds were gathered around the court, bleachers were full, and the ball squads were warming up for the next half.
"Damn, I wish we had come on time" Day says to Cedez’ as they found their way into the crowd.
"Yeah me too, we should've called your mom and just bought Mir and Zay with us. They would've had fun” Cedez’ replied.
"Yeah but you know how she is "that environment is not suitable for my grandchildren; they're way too young” says Day, mimicking her mom.
"Yeah true. Let’s go find Meenz and Niyah, they called me earlier asking when we were coming."
"Aiight I'm going to call them to see where they at, it's too crowded."
[Phone]
Ring...Ring...
"Yeah where ya’ll at? This game nice as hell, everybody and they moms is here” says Meenz yelling into the phone, over the noise in the gym.
"Yeah we see, but yeah we just came in, where ya'll at?” Cedez’ asks barely able to hear.
"O aiight I'm gon come get you and tell Niyah to watch the spot"
"Aiight yo." Cedez’ replies before ending the call.
[Hangs up]
A few seconds later they could see Meenz little ass squeezing through the crowd and coming towards them.
"Damn man, these people ain’t got no manners, I must said excuse me like a thousand times and I ain’t finna’ say it no mo" Meenz’ says, finally having made her way through the crowd.
"If you don’t calm your lil’ country ass down" Day says laughing.
"Shut up, but yeah come on fo' I have to beat somebody ass tonight" Meenz replies smiling.
"Whatever, come on." Meenz holds Day's hand, as does Cedez’, not trying to get separated and leads them to their spot in the bleachers. When they got there they saw Niyah on her cell phone as usual.
"Bye!" Niyah says in a harsh tone, hanging up her Sidekick.
"Who was that?" Meenz asks her.
"Ty dumbass, tawkin’ bout some him and his squad bout to come up here"
"Why he always finna’ start?"
"I don't know but something finna happen by the end of the night"
"Let's just watch the game" Meenz’ says to the group. The second half had just began, Life's Menaces were up by 10. The game was over within the next 45 minutes. Home won by 24 points. Everyone was escorted outside by security; no one could stay in the building, even if they were waiting for someone. As the girls approached the doors to exit they spotted Ty and his boys waiting in the parking lot, as promised.
"Oh my God, this boy needs to stop" says Niyah as they continue on.
"Mom Dukes told you he was crazy" Meenz replied. Niyah and Meenz were twins, but Niyah was older by a couple minutes. They were known for they country accents, dress game, and their hands. When you seen one, you seen the other. Some say they were "locked at the hips". Although they came off as the types that you'd think were loud mouthed they weren't, they kept to themselves and their friends, but when they felt intimidated or disrespected, they were sure to set their competition back in their “places”, whether it be just by talking or if they had to "throw on the gloves".
"Let me go tawk to this boy for a minute see what they finna do" says Niyah.
"Aiight, we gon' wait up here for Buttah and them to come out" Meenz says back.
"Aiight, I be back then" Niyah said as she walked down the steps and toward Ty. Shortly after Buttah, Reese, Cam and the rest of the ball squad come out. Buttah was Meenz’s dude; he played point for the team. They’d been together for a while and didn’t plan on parting anytime soon. Far as everyone else was concerned they were married and no one dared trying to break them up. Reese was Cedez’ younger brother, but only by a year, and Cam was Day’s little brother, they played as Buttah’s right hand boys. They all were star players, not necessarily needing one another, but when all three were in the game they couldn’t be stopped. Recruiters came from all over watching the games. After everyone greeted each other they all headed down to where Niyah, Ty, and the rest were located in the lot. Just as they approached the group Ty let out a loud shout towards someone exiting the building. It was Redz. Redz and Ty were having some problems for about a year now after Redz tried to talk to Niyah, when he and Niyah had broken up for a while. Redz didn’t see exactly what he’d done wrong, besides he and Niyah had talked before and they both established that there were feelings still there. Redz wasn’t into fighting and Ty knew it, so he used that against him every chance he got. What Ty didn’t know was that Redz had “hands” and had previously been sent away for engaging in a fight and almost killing one of his mom’s previous boyfriends. Ty and Redz had been friends before but ever since that day their friendship had become fairly distant, but when things came down to it Ty would fight for Redz any day, and vice versa, he just hadn’t got over the situation yet. Just as everyone was getting in the cars, they heard shouting coming from the other side of the lot. Some dude from the other ball squad was starting with Redz. Without any hesitation Ty hopped out the car and ran towards them, Buttah, Cam, and Reese followed quickly behind him. By the time they arrived, the dude had pulled out a shank from the inside of his jacket. Ty ran up on him and snuck him from the back and the others followed up, by the time they had stopped there was blood everywhere and he laid coughing blood and groaning in the middle of the street. Ty looked around for Redz and spotted him leaning on his car close by. He instantly ran over to check on him and found that he had been stabbed in his right side and was covered with blood.
“Yo help me!!” Ty screamed to the others. They rushed over and put Redz in the back seat of his car. Cam sat in the back trying to stop the blood as Ty jumped in the driver’s seat and started the car. Reese rushed back to Ty’s car where the twins, Day, and Cedez’ had been waiting, observing what had just taken place and had millions of questions. Ignoring them Reese started the car and waited for Ty to pull off so he could trail them. Ty wasted no time getting Redz to the hospital and wouldn’t leave his side. The hospital guards had to intervene in order for Ty to give in and wait in the waiting room. During the wait Ty couldn’t stay still and paced continuously until the doctor who attended to Redz came back out to speak with them. Ty could tell by the doctor’s expression there was bad news ahead.
“I’m sorry” was all the doctor said. Ty stared at him cluelessly.
“Excuse me, what are you trying to say?” Niyah asked sadly, asking everyone’s question at once.
“Tramaine Hall passed ten minutes ago in surgery.” He replied sympathetically. Ty collapsed in a chair facing toward the window and hung his head toward the shiny hospital floor. He looked around the floor aimlessly as though searching for unspoken answers. He pushed away all attempts of comforting and remained in that semi-unconscious state for the next couple days. The funeral arrangements had been made for that next weekend. Since that day Ty hadn’t spoken too much and often stayed to himself, staring out of the window most of the days. The day of the funeral he tried his best to hold in his tears but by the time the burial was over the pain had become overwhelming and the tears just came flowing out uncontrollably. He remained at the burial site until the graveyard closing and wept over the grave. Before leaving he made a promise.
“I’m going to get him back for this lil’ brotha, I’m going to get him back….”
When Cedez' and Day arrived at the game it was already half time. "Life's Menaces", which was their home squad, was balling against "Da Generals" tonight. Upon entry into the Rec. Center they converted from a quiet calm surrounding into one of loudness and intense chaos. Crowds were gathered around the court, bleachers were full, and the ball squads were warming up for the next half.
"Damn, I wish we had come on time" Day says to Cedez’ as they found their way into the crowd.
"Yeah me too, we should've called your mom and just bought Mir and Zay with us. They would've had fun” Cedez’ replied.
"Yeah but you know how she is "that environment is not suitable for my grandchildren; they're way too young” says Day, mimicking her mom.
"Yeah true. Let’s go find Meenz and Niyah, they called me earlier asking when we were coming."
"Aiight I'm going to call them to see where they at, it's too crowded."
[Phone]
Ring...Ring...
"Yeah where ya’ll at? This game nice as hell, everybody and they moms is here” says Meenz yelling into the phone, over the noise in the gym.
"Yeah we see, but yeah we just came in, where ya'll at?” Cedez’ asks barely able to hear.
"O aiight I'm gon come get you and tell Niyah to watch the spot"
"Aiight yo." Cedez’ replies before ending the call.
[Hangs up]
A few seconds later they could see Meenz little ass squeezing through the crowd and coming towards them.
"Damn man, these people ain’t got no manners, I must said excuse me like a thousand times and I ain’t finna’ say it no mo" Meenz’ says, finally having made her way through the crowd.
"If you don’t calm your lil’ country ass down" Day says laughing.
"Shut up, but yeah come on fo' I have to beat somebody ass tonight" Meenz replies smiling.
"Whatever, come on." Meenz holds Day's hand, as does Cedez’, not trying to get separated and leads them to their spot in the bleachers. When they got there they saw Niyah on her cell phone as usual.
"Bye!" Niyah says in a harsh tone, hanging up her Sidekick.
"Who was that?" Meenz asks her.
"Ty dumbass, tawkin’ bout some him and his squad bout to come up here"
"Why he always finna’ start?"
"I don't know but something finna happen by the end of the night"
"Let's just watch the game" Meenz’ says to the group. The second half had just began, Life's Menaces were up by 10. The game was over within the next 45 minutes. Home won by 24 points. Everyone was escorted outside by security; no one could stay in the building, even if they were waiting for someone. As the girls approached the doors to exit they spotted Ty and his boys waiting in the parking lot, as promised.
"Oh my God, this boy needs to stop" says Niyah as they continue on.
"Mom Dukes told you he was crazy" Meenz replied. Niyah and Meenz were twins, but Niyah was older by a couple minutes. They were known for they country accents, dress game, and their hands. When you seen one, you seen the other. Some say they were "locked at the hips". Although they came off as the types that you'd think were loud mouthed they weren't, they kept to themselves and their friends, but when they felt intimidated or disrespected, they were sure to set their competition back in their “places”, whether it be just by talking or if they had to "throw on the gloves".
"Let me go tawk to this boy for a minute see what they finna do" says Niyah.
"Aiight, we gon' wait up here for Buttah and them to come out" Meenz says back.
"Aiight, I be back then" Niyah said as she walked down the steps and toward Ty. Shortly after Buttah, Reese, Cam and the rest of the ball squad come out. Buttah was Meenz’s dude; he played point for the team. They’d been together for a while and didn’t plan on parting anytime soon. Far as everyone else was concerned they were married and no one dared trying to break them up. Reese was Cedez’ younger brother, but only by a year, and Cam was Day’s little brother, they played as Buttah’s right hand boys. They all were star players, not necessarily needing one another, but when all three were in the game they couldn’t be stopped. Recruiters came from all over watching the games. After everyone greeted each other they all headed down to where Niyah, Ty, and the rest were located in the lot. Just as they approached the group Ty let out a loud shout towards someone exiting the building. It was Redz. Redz and Ty were having some problems for about a year now after Redz tried to talk to Niyah, when he and Niyah had broken up for a while. Redz didn’t see exactly what he’d done wrong, besides he and Niyah had talked before and they both established that there were feelings still there. Redz wasn’t into fighting and Ty knew it, so he used that against him every chance he got. What Ty didn’t know was that Redz had “hands” and had previously been sent away for engaging in a fight and almost killing one of his mom’s previous boyfriends. Ty and Redz had been friends before but ever since that day their friendship had become fairly distant, but when things came down to it Ty would fight for Redz any day, and vice versa, he just hadn’t got over the situation yet. Just as everyone was getting in the cars, they heard shouting coming from the other side of the lot. Some dude from the other ball squad was starting with Redz. Without any hesitation Ty hopped out the car and ran towards them, Buttah, Cam, and Reese followed quickly behind him. By the time they arrived, the dude had pulled out a shank from the inside of his jacket. Ty ran up on him and snuck him from the back and the others followed up, by the time they had stopped there was blood everywhere and he laid coughing blood and groaning in the middle of the street. Ty looked around for Redz and spotted him leaning on his car close by. He instantly ran over to check on him and found that he had been stabbed in his right side and was covered with blood.
“Yo help me!!” Ty screamed to the others. They rushed over and put Redz in the back seat of his car. Cam sat in the back trying to stop the blood as Ty jumped in the driver’s seat and started the car. Reese rushed back to Ty’s car where the twins, Day, and Cedez’ had been waiting, observing what had just taken place and had millions of questions. Ignoring them Reese started the car and waited for Ty to pull off so he could trail them. Ty wasted no time getting Redz to the hospital and wouldn’t leave his side. The hospital guards had to intervene in order for Ty to give in and wait in the waiting room. During the wait Ty couldn’t stay still and paced continuously until the doctor who attended to Redz came back out to speak with them. Ty could tell by the doctor’s expression there was bad news ahead.
“I’m sorry” was all the doctor said. Ty stared at him cluelessly.
“Excuse me, what are you trying to say?” Niyah asked sadly, asking everyone’s question at once.
“Tramaine Hall passed ten minutes ago in surgery.” He replied sympathetically. Ty collapsed in a chair facing toward the window and hung his head toward the shiny hospital floor. He looked around the floor aimlessly as though searching for unspoken answers. He pushed away all attempts of comforting and remained in that semi-unconscious state for the next couple days. The funeral arrangements had been made for that next weekend. Since that day Ty hadn’t spoken too much and often stayed to himself, staring out of the window most of the days. The day of the funeral he tried his best to hold in his tears but by the time the burial was over the pain had become overwhelming and the tears just came flowing out uncontrollably. He remained at the burial site until the graveyard closing and wept over the grave. Before leaving he made a promise.
“I’m going to get him back for this lil’ brotha, I’m going to get him back….”
This Is Where I Wanna Be - Shaniqua Rudd 2nd Period
Shaniqua Rudd
2nd Period
Creative Writing
“Now Asia, you need to decide. Remember that your family is behind you, no matter what decision you make, but you wouldn’t want to be the one to end your family legacy.” Those were the words of my mother. We were having our daily family dinner when my mother and I started to discuss my future. It was February of 2008 and my family was already cracking down on me about college matters. My name is Asia Johnson I’m a senior at Central Valley High School. I come from a wealthy family in a small town in Georgia. My father is the owner of a popular law firm in College Park and my mother works beside him. You see, my family is thought very highly of, so it is in their best interest that I become just as successful. I maintain a 3.8 GPA and take college courses outside of school. I am salutatorian and captain of the Cheerleading squad. I am also a member of the Honors Society, The Young National Black Lawyers Association, and a member of the Young Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. I know it sounds like a lot, but it is easy to maintain when you know there are consequences if you don’t keep up with these kinds of things. But, let me give you a brief history of my parents. My father attended Morehouse College and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice, then went on to complete Law School at Harvard. My father was a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity, so that put him in an easy position to land his job at the firm, alongside with his college degree. My mother attended Spellman University and also graduated with a Bachelors Degree in law, but she completed law school at Howard University. She was also a member of a Greek family, the AKA’s. Now, you would probably better understand why it is important for me to become the epitome of a Johnson.
In the fall, I completed my undergraduate applications for Hampton University, Howard University, Florida A&M, Clark Atlanta, and Spellman University. Because I applied early action, I received most of my acceptance notifications around December. I was accepted to all and received a great number of scholarships. All of the universities I applied to gave me something good to offer. But of course, I was only left with one choice. My mother was putting a lot of pressure on me to attend Spellman, but that was not where I wanted to be. After my mother said that to me at the dinner table, I couldn’t sleep at all that night. The next morning, I headed off to school on the usual 7:10 neighborhood cheese bus. I always sat in the seat on the right side, third row, next to the window. The first 5 rows were taken by mostly all girls including my two best friends Ashley and Stacy. “Did you remember that this weekend was the college trip?” said Ashley. “Who could forget? We are going to have a blast I can’t wait to even step foot on a college campus!” replied Stacy, anxiously. But for some reason, I wasn’t that excited. Ashley noticed my facial expression. “What’s wrong Asia, aren’t you excited?” “It’s not as exciting when you know your parents are deciding everything for you” I replied. “Aww come on! You can’t let them get you down. College is going to be the most important part of your life. They cannot decide for you! You’re coming on this trip and you’re going to have fun!” exclaimed Stacy. You see, Stacy was the outgoing one. If she wanted something, she wouldn’t let anyone stand in her way. She was the one who got me through every obstacle I ever had to face by myself. “You’re right girl. We’re going to go to this tour and have fun”. Friday morning came and everyone had to meet at the front lawn of our school. We were going to be touring for a whole week, visiting different schools. As we boarded the bus, I knew this trip was going to be something to remember forever.
Everyone loaded the bus with the look of excitement on their faces. After Stacy gave me words of comfort, I didn’t feel so bad about going on the trip after all. Our counselor boarded the bus with tons of paperwork in her hand. “Okay seniors, this is going to be a long ride so please try to respect the adults on the bus. No cursing, you may eat but throw your trash away in your own bags! Keep the volume low and please no profanity. This is going to be a long drive to Virginia.” I was excited about the trip but dreaded the long drive. Ashley, who was sitting in front of me, turned around and sighed. “You guys, this is going to be our last year together. I can’t believe this all came so fast”. “I know, pretty soon we’re going to have to be in the real world alone”, I replied. “In a way...I am scared to face things alone. But I have been told what to do all my life and I am ready to make my own decisions.” “Well how come you never talked to your parents about what you want to do. You always discuss things with us, but do your parents know how you feel?” questioned Ashley. I couldn’t even find the right words to answer her. I simply replied “I just don’t have the courage to.”
Everyone on the bus was doing anything to keep themselves occupied. Some of the guys were debating on which rappers were better than others and the hottest video vixens. Some girls were discussing what they brought on the trip to wear. Then most others were talking about the latest gossip at our school. Hours passed and we took a pit stop in Carolina. Everyone went to eat, used the restroom and say outside. Shortly after that we were back on the bus and everyone was sleep including the counselor. Finally I awoke to the sounds of various voices, and I wondered what everyone was so excited about. I looked out the window and seen the signs “HAMPTON UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS”. This was the first time I had ever visited a college campus besides the campuses the mother took me to see. It was a good feel to finally get away from hot Georgia. Once everyone loaded off the bus and dragged their luggage on the sidewalk. Everyone who walked around the campus looked so diverse. Everyone dressed different, had different hairstyles, and sounded different.
Later on during the campus tour, we visited the Greek House of Hampton University. The sororities and fraternities were performing a special segment just for us. I stared at the walls with all Greek lettering and pictures of each Greek department. It was now time for the show to begin. First up were the Que Dogs. I was surprised that most of the guys, who usually have short attention span, were into the steps. They were all very precise with their barks and active movements. It made you want to jump on the stage and join along. The crowd was going wild. Following the Que Dogs was a performance by the Delta Sigma Thetas. The stage was all black and flashed with red lights. Soon you heard the screams of the fellow Deltas in the crowd. This was the first time I ever seen a sorority do a show, besides the AKA’s. The girls on the stage yelled with all their heart their Greek history. Their swift movements and color coordination’s were together. I couldn’t help but stare at the expression on all the girls faces. They looked like an actual sisterhood. They smiled at each other and gave each other a nod as if to say “ok...ready” when starting a new step. They were new, they were hip, and they were everything I wanted to be. After the show, I went up to one of the girls and greeted myself. “Hi, my name is Asia Johnson. I’m visiting this weekend and I really enjoyed your show.” “Hey how are you? Are you enjoying yourself? We put together this show just for you guys. If you want, I can tell you more about our sorority?” replied the girl. I looked to Ashley and Ashley gave me the thumbs up. “By the way my name is Maya” replied the young Delta. Maya took me along with her to greet some more of the other sisters of the sorority and explained to me the things that they do and the process of pledging. I never found myself so wrapped up and interested in something like this before. From here on out, I knew I wanted to be a Delta. I never got to see what was out there, but then I knew my heart was at Hampton.
The whole ride back I couldn’t get my mind off of Hampton. When I got home, I reported what I learned about Hampton to my mother. “That was a nice trip, but you know you are not going!” “But why not?” “Because I said so Asia!! You are not to go against the family and become something you know nothing about!” “But Mom!” I exclaimed. “But nothing, now go upstairs and get ready for school tomorrow”. I cried myself to sleep all that night. I couldn’t believe that my mom wouldn’t let me get a say in my future. For the next couple of weeks I did things on my own. I used the little bit of money I saved from fundraising to pay for housing to Hampton. I sent the check from my school counselor so my parents wouldn’t know. Weeks went by and I kept everything a secret from my mother. I stopped going to my sorority get together, but continued to strive in school. About 4 weeks later I got a confirmation letter in the mail with my undergraduate information regarding my position as a student. My mother was furious and she couldn’t believe I chose the school to go to without her. “Asia, I am so disappointed in you. I only wanted the best for you and this is how you go about things.” I couldn’t understand why she was so angry. I went to go talk to my father. “Asia, I think there is something that you need to know.” I knew I had to sit down for this one. I sat down and my father explained to me that Hampton was my mother’s dream school, but she didn’t get in. She was very disappointed and couldn’t understand why she wasn’t accepted. Now everything became clear to me.
Later that night I knocked on my mother’s door. “Mom may I come in?” “Yes. Asia”. “Mom, daddy told me about what happened to you with Hampton.” My mom’s face looked furious. “But wait mom before you get mad I just want you to know I am very sorry for your past. I know it hurt you very bad, but you can’t decide where I am going just because you had a bad experience. I want to go to college and know that what ever happens is because I made the decision. I don’t want to go on to college wondering what would’ve or could’ve happened.” My mother sighed with a tear down her face. “Asia”, she said, “I just wanted you to go where I went and follow in my footsteps. I was so proud of myself that I became successful at Spellman, that I wanted to show Hampton what they missed out on for not accepting me.” I could tell that this was a topic that my mother didn’t often speak of. My mother and I talked all night about everything we’ve been missing out on and what I wanted to do when I got older. After that night, my mother listened to what I had to say and supported me in all my decisions. By the time graduation came my mom was flaunting around my full scholarship to Hampton to all of her friends. I graduated with honors and my AKA flag. After my mother and I talked, I decided I was going to finish what I started. This is what made my mother and I as close as we are today. Of course I followed the Johnson family tuition, graduating with a degree in Criminal Justice. On May 13th 2012, I walked down the isle with my degree in my hand waving it around. Except this time, I was wearing the proud colors of red and white on my cap and gown.
2nd Period
Creative Writing
“Now Asia, you need to decide. Remember that your family is behind you, no matter what decision you make, but you wouldn’t want to be the one to end your family legacy.” Those were the words of my mother. We were having our daily family dinner when my mother and I started to discuss my future. It was February of 2008 and my family was already cracking down on me about college matters. My name is Asia Johnson I’m a senior at Central Valley High School. I come from a wealthy family in a small town in Georgia. My father is the owner of a popular law firm in College Park and my mother works beside him. You see, my family is thought very highly of, so it is in their best interest that I become just as successful. I maintain a 3.8 GPA and take college courses outside of school. I am salutatorian and captain of the Cheerleading squad. I am also a member of the Honors Society, The Young National Black Lawyers Association, and a member of the Young Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. I know it sounds like a lot, but it is easy to maintain when you know there are consequences if you don’t keep up with these kinds of things. But, let me give you a brief history of my parents. My father attended Morehouse College and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice, then went on to complete Law School at Harvard. My father was a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity, so that put him in an easy position to land his job at the firm, alongside with his college degree. My mother attended Spellman University and also graduated with a Bachelors Degree in law, but she completed law school at Howard University. She was also a member of a Greek family, the AKA’s. Now, you would probably better understand why it is important for me to become the epitome of a Johnson.
In the fall, I completed my undergraduate applications for Hampton University, Howard University, Florida A&M, Clark Atlanta, and Spellman University. Because I applied early action, I received most of my acceptance notifications around December. I was accepted to all and received a great number of scholarships. All of the universities I applied to gave me something good to offer. But of course, I was only left with one choice. My mother was putting a lot of pressure on me to attend Spellman, but that was not where I wanted to be. After my mother said that to me at the dinner table, I couldn’t sleep at all that night. The next morning, I headed off to school on the usual 7:10 neighborhood cheese bus. I always sat in the seat on the right side, third row, next to the window. The first 5 rows were taken by mostly all girls including my two best friends Ashley and Stacy. “Did you remember that this weekend was the college trip?” said Ashley. “Who could forget? We are going to have a blast I can’t wait to even step foot on a college campus!” replied Stacy, anxiously. But for some reason, I wasn’t that excited. Ashley noticed my facial expression. “What’s wrong Asia, aren’t you excited?” “It’s not as exciting when you know your parents are deciding everything for you” I replied. “Aww come on! You can’t let them get you down. College is going to be the most important part of your life. They cannot decide for you! You’re coming on this trip and you’re going to have fun!” exclaimed Stacy. You see, Stacy was the outgoing one. If she wanted something, she wouldn’t let anyone stand in her way. She was the one who got me through every obstacle I ever had to face by myself. “You’re right girl. We’re going to go to this tour and have fun”. Friday morning came and everyone had to meet at the front lawn of our school. We were going to be touring for a whole week, visiting different schools. As we boarded the bus, I knew this trip was going to be something to remember forever.
Everyone loaded the bus with the look of excitement on their faces. After Stacy gave me words of comfort, I didn’t feel so bad about going on the trip after all. Our counselor boarded the bus with tons of paperwork in her hand. “Okay seniors, this is going to be a long ride so please try to respect the adults on the bus. No cursing, you may eat but throw your trash away in your own bags! Keep the volume low and please no profanity. This is going to be a long drive to Virginia.” I was excited about the trip but dreaded the long drive. Ashley, who was sitting in front of me, turned around and sighed. “You guys, this is going to be our last year together. I can’t believe this all came so fast”. “I know, pretty soon we’re going to have to be in the real world alone”, I replied. “In a way...I am scared to face things alone. But I have been told what to do all my life and I am ready to make my own decisions.” “Well how come you never talked to your parents about what you want to do. You always discuss things with us, but do your parents know how you feel?” questioned Ashley. I couldn’t even find the right words to answer her. I simply replied “I just don’t have the courage to.”
Everyone on the bus was doing anything to keep themselves occupied. Some of the guys were debating on which rappers were better than others and the hottest video vixens. Some girls were discussing what they brought on the trip to wear. Then most others were talking about the latest gossip at our school. Hours passed and we took a pit stop in Carolina. Everyone went to eat, used the restroom and say outside. Shortly after that we were back on the bus and everyone was sleep including the counselor. Finally I awoke to the sounds of various voices, and I wondered what everyone was so excited about. I looked out the window and seen the signs “HAMPTON UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS”. This was the first time I had ever visited a college campus besides the campuses the mother took me to see. It was a good feel to finally get away from hot Georgia. Once everyone loaded off the bus and dragged their luggage on the sidewalk. Everyone who walked around the campus looked so diverse. Everyone dressed different, had different hairstyles, and sounded different.
Later on during the campus tour, we visited the Greek House of Hampton University. The sororities and fraternities were performing a special segment just for us. I stared at the walls with all Greek lettering and pictures of each Greek department. It was now time for the show to begin. First up were the Que Dogs. I was surprised that most of the guys, who usually have short attention span, were into the steps. They were all very precise with their barks and active movements. It made you want to jump on the stage and join along. The crowd was going wild. Following the Que Dogs was a performance by the Delta Sigma Thetas. The stage was all black and flashed with red lights. Soon you heard the screams of the fellow Deltas in the crowd. This was the first time I ever seen a sorority do a show, besides the AKA’s. The girls on the stage yelled with all their heart their Greek history. Their swift movements and color coordination’s were together. I couldn’t help but stare at the expression on all the girls faces. They looked like an actual sisterhood. They smiled at each other and gave each other a nod as if to say “ok...ready” when starting a new step. They were new, they were hip, and they were everything I wanted to be. After the show, I went up to one of the girls and greeted myself. “Hi, my name is Asia Johnson. I’m visiting this weekend and I really enjoyed your show.” “Hey how are you? Are you enjoying yourself? We put together this show just for you guys. If you want, I can tell you more about our sorority?” replied the girl. I looked to Ashley and Ashley gave me the thumbs up. “By the way my name is Maya” replied the young Delta. Maya took me along with her to greet some more of the other sisters of the sorority and explained to me the things that they do and the process of pledging. I never found myself so wrapped up and interested in something like this before. From here on out, I knew I wanted to be a Delta. I never got to see what was out there, but then I knew my heart was at Hampton.
The whole ride back I couldn’t get my mind off of Hampton. When I got home, I reported what I learned about Hampton to my mother. “That was a nice trip, but you know you are not going!” “But why not?” “Because I said so Asia!! You are not to go against the family and become something you know nothing about!” “But Mom!” I exclaimed. “But nothing, now go upstairs and get ready for school tomorrow”. I cried myself to sleep all that night. I couldn’t believe that my mom wouldn’t let me get a say in my future. For the next couple of weeks I did things on my own. I used the little bit of money I saved from fundraising to pay for housing to Hampton. I sent the check from my school counselor so my parents wouldn’t know. Weeks went by and I kept everything a secret from my mother. I stopped going to my sorority get together, but continued to strive in school. About 4 weeks later I got a confirmation letter in the mail with my undergraduate information regarding my position as a student. My mother was furious and she couldn’t believe I chose the school to go to without her. “Asia, I am so disappointed in you. I only wanted the best for you and this is how you go about things.” I couldn’t understand why she was so angry. I went to go talk to my father. “Asia, I think there is something that you need to know.” I knew I had to sit down for this one. I sat down and my father explained to me that Hampton was my mother’s dream school, but she didn’t get in. She was very disappointed and couldn’t understand why she wasn’t accepted. Now everything became clear to me.
Later that night I knocked on my mother’s door. “Mom may I come in?” “Yes. Asia”. “Mom, daddy told me about what happened to you with Hampton.” My mom’s face looked furious. “But wait mom before you get mad I just want you to know I am very sorry for your past. I know it hurt you very bad, but you can’t decide where I am going just because you had a bad experience. I want to go to college and know that what ever happens is because I made the decision. I don’t want to go on to college wondering what would’ve or could’ve happened.” My mother sighed with a tear down her face. “Asia”, she said, “I just wanted you to go where I went and follow in my footsteps. I was so proud of myself that I became successful at Spellman, that I wanted to show Hampton what they missed out on for not accepting me.” I could tell that this was a topic that my mother didn’t often speak of. My mother and I talked all night about everything we’ve been missing out on and what I wanted to do when I got older. After that night, my mother listened to what I had to say and supported me in all my decisions. By the time graduation came my mom was flaunting around my full scholarship to Hampton to all of her friends. I graduated with honors and my AKA flag. After my mother and I talked, I decided I was going to finish what I started. This is what made my mother and I as close as we are today. Of course I followed the Johnson family tuition, graduating with a degree in Criminal Justice. On May 13th 2012, I walked down the isle with my degree in my hand waving it around. Except this time, I was wearing the proud colors of red and white on my cap and gown.
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