Rising by Jessica Ruben

Author:Jessica Ruben [Ruben, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JessicaRubenBooks, LLC
Published: 2018-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

It’s three fifteen on Monday, and my mom just walked into Ms. Levine’s classroom. Surprisingly enough, I haven’t heard any yelling yet. I tried telling her earlier this week that meeting with Mom is pointless, but she insisted that maybe a different tactic would work. Hearing their voices increase in volume, I know I made a big mistake letting them meet.

Sitting on the floor of the empty hallway, I keep myself busy by reading the graffiti on some of the lockers. Apparently, Joaquin has a small dick and Chanel likes to suck it. Another locker is tagged with Snakes’ symbol: a red circle with a capital S inside. My stomach does a slow churn as I stare. I try to turn my thoughts to Vincent, but there’s no room for beauty in my mind right now.

When I hear Ms. Levine yell, I close my eyes and raise the hood of my black sweatshirt over my head. It’s a men’s hoodie and completely hides my shape, but I feel more comfortable having armor between my body and the world.

“Your daughter should go to college. Look at these scores! Her SATs are unbelievable. Don’t you want her to go places other than here?”

“Ms. Levine,” my mom screams, her voiced laced with aggression. I can only imagine her standing tall right now, getting all up in Ms. Levine’s face. “How many fuckin’ times do I have to tell you people? When she’s done with high school in a few months, she’s going to get a job like everyone else we know! Stop putting nonsense in her head! Do you think living is free? That I can just continue to support her while she studies?” I hear my mother’s sarcastic laughter. “You don’t know shit about our reality. If she’s going to survive, she needs to thicken her skin. Not be deluded into thinking that there’s a way out. There is no way out for her; this is her real life. You want to do her a favor? Toughen her up. Teach her some goddamn street smarts in that class of yours; don’t I know she’s got none of those!”

I hear Ms. Levine speaking, but can’t make out her words.

“No!” my mom yells again. “You aren’t listening!”

I expect the conversation to be over, but Ms. Levine continues. “That’s the point! She doesn’t have to live this life! Give her a chance to make something of herself one day!” Her voice pleads.

Not one ever to let someone else get the last word, my mom goes on. “My kid is staying where I am and where her sister is. Fuck this school. You think those rich people will accept a girl like her? I know people who tried to leave. Yeah, she’s white. But she’s poor and those rich assholes can smell poverty in seconds.”

I hear the skid of a chair against the floor and not a moment later, my mom comes barreling out of the room. She stares down at me sitting on the floor, her face tight.

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