Monthly Archives: May 2010

Strange Fruit

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Strange Fruit

This week I had to deal with many things but the one that bothered me most is the conversation I had with one of my students. It began when we were reading Clementine By Sara Pennypacker.  I wanted to know if she understood what sense of humor meant and one thing lead to another. She claims that she hates her sister and I figure that that is what siblings go through; however, when I spoke to her in private and when she allowed me to read her journal I got a little concern. Nevertheless, I know that it is not really her sister that is the problem but a list of things. I let her talk. I tried not to interrupt.

She talks to much. I can’t stand it when she talks to much. And when you talk, you can’t erase it. I’ll tell her a secret and she will tell everyone. I told her that I didn’t like my friend one time and she told the girl and my mom found out. Why can’t she just be quite?! Just be quite! I told her that I didn’t like my mom and I told her not to tell anyone but she told my aunt. I hate her! My mom is so serious. That’s why I don’t talk to her. I am scared of her. If my dad was here he will understand me. He would be on my side. But now I am in the battle alone and if she would just be quite I would win! At my old school we didn’t have this problem. At my old school everyone liked me. Not no one likes me. It makes me hate myself. Sometime I just want to kill myself. (Note to self, this is the second student to tell me this). And she cries. She cries all the time for nothing. I would just tell her….Like once she put her mouth on my book and I just asked her why she put her mouth on my book…not it has a lot of saliva and she just started crying. And every time she cries, I get in trouble. She could never be quite. I tell her to be quite. And she doesn’t. Then my uncle comes and tell my mom what is going on…And now I am becoming like her. I talk a lot. Like now. I don’t like talking. I like to hold it in. Why can’t she hold it in. See? I am talking to much right now! Why can’t she hold it in her heart? Like me? My mom is mean. She never laughs. And she always blame me. Then I get in trouble. (Sometimes I didn’t know if she was talking about her mom or sister) I know she doesn’t like fruits that much. And every time she start to eat one she never finishes. When we go to the market, she gets excited. And see all the different colors and types of fruits and get one to eat. And I tell her don’t do it because I know she will not like it after a few bites. But she gets it anyway. And then I have to eat the rest. And I don’t like that. And she always make noise. Why can’t she just be quite. Like yesterday, she was dancing around with a towel around her like she was a princess. It’s annoying. She always find something to talk about. Why can’t she just relax and watch tv?

Nope, rules won’t work. She never listens. See? she makes noise like that…

This conversation went on for 30 minuets to a hour.  She’ll cry then stop and start crying again. Sometimes I thought for sure she was talking about herself not her sister or her mom. Everything she said they did she also did!

Kenneth and Friends

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Boys and Caps

Young Men in the Bronx

I don’t know who is better the gentleman from ‘Cap of all Caps’ or these young men who insisted that I take a photo of them and add them on MySpace…I blocked out all the other offers.

Look at the excited one with his arms open. Loving his individuality.

Call the Fire Deptment!

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Yesterday, I came across two fires and made the best of them.

The first one was at the Library. Well, it wasn’t really a fire but the fire men did show up. Three trucks. Everyone had to evacuate the building.

The exciting part came when we all were outside. The fire men who were just standing around interacted with the children and everyone took turns using them for their backdrop for most pictures.

The next fire happened when my sister and I went to buy some items from the store. Next door was a fire at the cleaners. I took out my notebook and camera and documented everything. The owner of the cleaners glared at me and told me in so many ways to mind my business.

The fire started in a dryer and the extinguisher stayed in the dryer. I guess they couldn’t get it out. Engine 8 put the fire out. Three Engines showed up, two trucks/ ladders, and the battalion or the chief was… I missed his name. But I got all this information from Lt. Goop. The owner who didn’t want to talk to me was inside for a while trying to put out the fire himself.

He walked out looking beaten with a burnt broom in one hand.Fire

The Cap of all Caps

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While there are so many hats for males to wear the most popular is the baseball cap. All year around your eyes get tired of see the baseball cap on so many heads. And I’ll give it to some, they do try to make it look individual. A good friend of mine has a cap with doggy ears attached. It was really cute and stylish.And the more popular caps now are the color caps. Like a guy would wear a lime green polo or tee to match with his hat.

But a cap is a cap! Especially if everyone is wearing it!

But this dude…he has the cap of all caps! And he wears it good!Cap

Park with Lock

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Park with LockWhy is there a park in my neighborhood with a metal gate around it with a PAD LOCK?

No one can go into this park. And it’s put up by one and only Mike Bloomberg.

The weeds are blooming- cause its not flowers anymore

The children come out of school to meet a metal berg of a lock that they can’t melt or open.

The BLOOMBERG.

And who constructed the park anyway? Who designed it. It is ugly. I wouldn’t want to play in it if I was a kid. But I am not. And I would not mind seeing kids from the neighborhood playing in it. What? It suppose to be some type of neighborhood attraction?

Let me ask my sister what she thinks of this park.

The one that is never open. It’s very exotic….someone put a lot of thought into it….plus it has that big thing? What is that?

So, I am not the only one who feels this way. Maybe I can call the city so that can open it. I’ll tell you how that goes.

Park with LockPark with LockPark with LockPark with LockPark with LockPark with Lock

Thankful

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Flower or Flower NotI am very grateful for my students at the library who have allowed me to teach them and be another teacher in their lives. I realize that they don’t have to go to the library after school continuously or  even listen to me when I say ‘write this’ or ‘erase that.’ They have been very patient with me. I am thankful most of all to God for allowing me to meet these wonderful children. Sometimes when you draw away from people, you get so used to being around your folks that you never open up to others; and just going to the Library constantly have taught me so much.

the world that you want to live in….needs you to create it . it needs your input. it needs to hear what you have to say

right now i am perfect. maybe not yet realized but perfect

For there is love and there is love there is the serpent and there is the dove

Quotes taken from Beah: A Black Women Speaks

Hats or Hatsnot

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Everyday my darlings think it is their duty to comment on my dressing. From my hats to my shoes. I must dress to impress.

Today one of them found a fake flower on the floor and insisted on putting it in my hat.

I asked the librarian how did it look?  She said Cricket.

Yeah, I didn’t know why she said Cricket either.

So I asked her.

When you don’t know what to say- or don’t want to say anything mean, you say Cricket. Silence.

Anyways, you can be the judge.

What do you think? Flower or Flowernot?

My dad said if my kids could dress me like a clown, they would.Flower or Flower Not

No Charge

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Mother and Daughter

My sister's little boy came
Into the kitchen one evening
While she was fixing supper

And he handed her a piece
Of paper he'd been writing on
And after wiping her hands on an apron
She took it in her hands and
She read it and this is what it said   

For mowing the yard, five dollars
And for making up my own
Bed this week, one dollar
For going to the store, fifty cents
And playing with little brother while
You went shopping, twenty-five cents

For taking out the trash, one dollar
And for getting a good report card
Five dollars, and for raking
The yard, two dollars
Total owed, fourteen seventy-five

Well, she looked at him
Standing there and expecting
And a thousand memories
Flashed through her mind

So she picked up the pen
And turned the paper over
And this is what she wrote

For the nine months I carried you
Growing inside me, no charge
For the nights I sat up with you
Doctored you, prayed for you
No charge

For the time and the tears and
The cost through the years
There is no charge
When you add it all up
The full cost of my love is no charge

For the nights filled with dread
And the worries ahead, no charge
For advice and the knowledge
And the cost of your college
No charge

For the toys, food and clothes
And for wiping your nose
There's no charge, son
When you add it all up
The full cost of my love
Is no charge

Well, you know when I think about that
I think about the day that Jesus
Went out on Calvary and gave his life
As a ransom for me

When I think on the words
If any man be in Christ
He's a new creature

I like to think about the very
Minute that he shredded his blood
My debt was paid in full

And I want you to know today
When you add it all up
The full cost of real love
Is no charge

- Shirley Caesar