Becoming Beatriz by Tami Charles

Author:Tami Charles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Published: 2019-09-16T16:00:00+00:00

BEATRIZ VS. THE HUMAN TURTLE

THE SCHOOL LIBRARY IS bustling when I show up for tutoring the next day. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think it’s a hangout spot up in here. Each table is filled with students—talking, low-key rapping, doing everything but what they actually came here for. From the looks of it, Mrs. Ruiz and the librarian, Mrs. Arcentales, don’t have an ounce of control.

“I’m so glad you could make it, Beatriz. You’re doing the right thing.” Mrs. Ruiz flips a page on her clipboard and checks my name off the list.

“Yeah, well, Mr. Hankerson didn’t really give me a choice,” I admit.

Sometimes I put on a front, like this whole school thing ain’t for me, but deep down I do want to do better. For me. For Mami too. And maybe making better grades is a start.

“Sign your name on this sheet. Amy is the girl over there. New student, don’t know much about her, but her grades are off the charts. You’re in good hands.”

Tucked in the back corner, there’s a brown-skinned girl at a table with half her face buried in a book, sitting alone.

“Cool. Thanks, Mrs. Ruiz.”

Amy spots me before I reach the table. All of a sudden she starts pulling at her hair—a short layered bob that touches the tops of her ears. Was she expecting some hot guy to show up?

“Yo, what’s up? I’m Beatriz.”

She doesn’t respond. Instead she tugs at her turtleneck and pulls it up until it almost covers her nose, literally transforming herself into a human turtle.

What’s with this chick? I mean, damn, do I stink? I lower my chin and do a quick pit sniff. After all, I did have gym today. Nope—still fresh.

“Mr. Hankerson told me I was tutoring some sophomore named Kareem.” She finally speaks, checking her log sheet.

I fall into the chair across from her.

“Um, sorry to disappoint you.” I shrug my shoulders.

Just then, Nasser walks into the library. Earlier, I ran into him on the way to the cafeteria. When I told him I was signed up for tutoring, he got all huffy-puffy about it, bragging how nobody would be a better tutor for me than him and how he’s gonna crash my session. I told that boy to not come looking for me after school—or ever for that matter. His middle name should be Hardheaded instead of Kervin.

“Well, what do you need help with? We could start with operations and variables,” Amy says.

I hear her, but then again I don’t. Because Nasser has made his way to a shelf a few feet behind Amy. He pulls out that big-ass etymology book from his backpack and is now staring at me. With those eyes. Dark and light and everything in between. Hypnotizing me when I’m supposed to be getting my study on. Ugh!

“Did you hear me?” Turtle Girl’s words come out like a grunt.

Nasser places the book on his head and starts to do a shimmy dance. That’s when I lose it. Laughter spills out, loud and thunderous, blending in with the noise from the other students in the library.

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