Whattup with me?  I'm a sophomore in high school,  and I coulda skipped a grade when I was 12,  but my Mom got real sick and I had to stay in the 'hood and take care of my Dad and two bros.     I'm the only girl in my family now, and  it's way hard.     I live in Long Beach in a house that  was built  a long  time ago.  That was when  my Dad says there were no black people  in the 'hood.

 

   I didn't get to go to my school's Home- 
coming.  Nobody asked me.  What homie wants to hang with a chick who's 5'10" and wears a bigger size Nike than they do? 

   Maybe Michael Jordan would (he's da bomb!).  According to my Dad, the NBA will never be the same without him, but he and my  brothers dig zoning out watching Shaq and Kobe playing b-ball in front of the tube.  They never come to see me represent in the court....go figure. 

   My Dad is tough.  He can, like, take out my older bros when they mess up, but I gotta tell you, I saw him crying yesterday.  Yeah, can you believe?  He's got this weird-looking lighter he's had 4-ever, and a medal and an ole photo of him and this white dude!  And when he looks at the picture he lights up a joint and says, "I'll never forget you, Cowboy." 

   My Dad says nobody should forget.  He says it every Veterans' Day. 
Go figure. 

   I'm crushed on this guy in my World History class -- Eddie.   He's Italian or something, but I dig the way he, like, smiles at  me.  With his eyes, all dark and killer flirty. 

   'Course, we've never talked 'cept in class, but I know he likes me.  

   He borrowed my history notes and never gave'em back.  I bet he sleeps with them under his pillow....