A Boy Names Spencer James

1. I am Spencer James

I am Spencer James. I've always been the kind of guy  who kept to myself. Preferring to blend in with the crowd rather than drawing attention to myself. Only times I draw attention to myself is when on I'm out the field, playing football. I've never had a problem with it until one day at South Crenshaw High school.

It was a stupid argument with a former friend of mine, Shawn, it had escalated into a full-blown fistfight. In the heat of the moment, I didn't realize what I was doing until it was too late. And now, I'm paying the price for it with a suspension and a tarnished reputation.

As I walked through the halls of South Crenshaw for what it felt like would be the last time, I couldn't help but feel a sense of Shame wash over me. I let my anger get the best of me, and now my mom was thinking of sending me to a new place, new school, new people around me.

I hop into the  passenger seat of my moms car and could feel extra pair of eyes looking my direction before I even close the door.

Sitting down I could feel my mom was disappointed, it's not like I've been in trouble before, but she was still disappointed. "I know, I'm sorry. I'll try to be better next time." I said that out loud. Those were the only words I could think of. I didn't get a response.

The ride back home was just quiet, not even a are you okay came out of my mothers mouth. I tried to start a conversation but it was no good, it was shut down. We pulled up on our street, as we got closer and closer to our Crenshaw home I saw a all black Escalade in our drive way, I didn't think much of it, moms probably had a visitor over and I disrupted it, probably why she won't talk to me. Didn't think much of it.

My mom parked on the curb and didn't take the keys out the ignition, her hands stayed on the steering wheel like she was nervous about something. "Mom you okay?" I asked her hoping to get a response, but still my attempt was to no avail. I tried again and she finally spoke to me. "Baby I'm sorry." Sorry? Why is she apologizing? I should be the one apologizing again. "Ma it's not your fault, I'm the one that got you called. I'm sorry I interrupted my meeting with whoever you had over." I try my best to be here for my mom since the accident, she hasn't been the same. I don't think I have either.

After staying in the car for a while we finally got out. Walking towards the house I realize I forget my phone back in the car. "Ay ma I forgot my phone can you toss me the key?" She doesn't answer again she just tosses over the key and continues walking into the house. I look down still thinking if this is about the fight, I quickly run back to the car unlocking it to get my phone.

Running towards the steps and opening the door to my house I see a short black bald man leaning on the wall with my mom standing the opposite way crossing her arms looking down.

I drop the keys on the center table before turning around to head to my run. "Spencer Sit down we want to talk to you." The bald man who hasn't already made his presence known with his shining head speaks up. "Ay man can it wait I'm tryna rest real quick." I don't know what this is about but I'm really tired and don't feel like talking to anyone.

"Spencer sit down now!" My moms raised her voice at me...at me. Turning around looking confused, I sat down getting nervous at what was going on, my mom has never raised her voice at me ever since that day. She blames me.

"Ma what's this about?" I started rubbing my hands up and down on my pants.

"Spencer I've had enough, getting into fights, skipping class, being disrespectful to your teachers! I've had ENOUGH!"

"Ma those were months ago!? I just got into a fight today the other stuff you just mentioned had months ago!" Where is all this coming from? Me being disrespectful to teachers? I apologized for that and I made up all the classes I skipped. This is the first fight I've gotten into since 6th grade. So I don't understand.