The Ghetto

1st Day Junior Year

JAHLIL POV:
"Yo Desmond, Desmond wake yo ass up man it's time for school, we ain got all day get dressed and we can get food on the way there."

"Shit Jahlil it's too early for this man you already know I hate this school shit."

"Look man you can either stay here and explain to ma and pop why you ain't at school or you can come with me an try to make a way for us to get out this hell hole we call home."

"Alright man i'm up shit, where we eating at?"

I ignored the question and proceeded to prepare myself for school. Pulling on my "if you're reading this i get buckets" sweater and a pair of dark Hollister jeans and Cocaine Jordan's. After handling all my hygiene and finding my silver Armani Exchange watch I grabbed my nike bookbag and car keys and headed out the door, Desmond was right behind me.

Desmond was my younger brother just by a day he was born July 16th, but thats besides the point. He had on a a black YRN shirt with brown writing, a light colored pair of Levis and Timberland Boots. He had on his Gold watch and earrings and his FSU necklace.

Just before we got to my 2000 Chevy Impala the "Friendly Neighborhood Drug Dealer" asked if i needed anything. "I got LSD, Crack, Crystal Meth, everything bro." I kindly replied "Nah, we good man." Y'all two some lame asses he said. "Watch ya mouth fuck nigga before I break my foot off in ya ass" I said.

When we pulled off I stopped down the street to pick up my homie Briante. "Hurry up nigga we ain got all day shit" I said as he hurried to the car. I looked down at my watch "Shit!" I thought to myself. "We ain gonna stop for breakfast" I said looking at Desmond who's face had frowned up at the thought of not eating. When we pulled into the almighty hell hole known as James S. Rickards High School I found my parking spot and hurried to first period which was Spanish 2 Honors. Briante was right by my side the whole way we had the same class.

When I sat down I realized Briante was on the other side of the room so we wouldn't be clowning at all this year. The room slowly filled and just before I'd lost all hope of having any friends in this class my bestfriend from last year Kincey walked in and his desk was right next to mine. A giant smile creased my face as he took his seat but the feeling quickly faded away as the bell had rang and the teacher Ms. Torres walked in with an even bigger smile spread across her face.

The period dragged by slowly as she reviewed her classroom rules and procedures. After about ten minutes of that she had us all introduce ourselves in spanish. I just volunteered to go first so i could get it out of the way. "Me llamo Jahlil" i said easily after that everyone followed suit.

Finally the bell had rang so we could all move on to our next class. I gathered my things and walked out the door when I saw two people that could make me smile anyday of the week. Kaitlyn and Lay, they were always clowning whenever I saw them so I knew I'd have something to laugh about. "Clouuddddddddd!" they both yelled out simultaneously. I walked over and hugged both of them. How was y'all summer? I asked "shitty, real shitty." Kaitlyn said. Aww I'm sorry to hear that. What about yours Lay ? "It was alright didn't really do much." Okay okay, sounds like yall had a better summer than me. "Why do you day that?" Kaitlyn asked.

Well one just about every white man I encountered stereotyped me as a "drug dealer" because I had all these nice things but I was living in the hood. "But, wait, you have a job don't you?" Lay asked. Yea I do but you think they knew that? "No but why not try to explain it to them so they'll understand?" The day a white man listens to a black mans explanation about not being a drug dealer is the day I go pro in basketball. "Well why does every white you encounter know that you live in the hood?" Kaitlyn asked. Because that's when I was looking for a job. Every manager I had to interview with just so happened to be white, and one was bold enough to ask me was I drug dealer because I had on a nice suit and tie for my. "What a black boy in the hood can't have nice things?" is what I asked him, but he quickly said "no, no its not that its just normally you don't see it." Anyways I still got the job and I'm working 20 hours a week at the Winn Dixie around the corner.

"That's good." they both said, "but we gotta head to class." They both walked to their class and I entered my second period AP Literature And Composition.

"Welcome back students!" Ms. Madden said excitedly as the bell rang. "You all should know me because I taught you all last year." She wasted no time at all in the classroom rules and procedures. She finished quickly and jumped right into her first lesson. Once she explained the details to assignment we got to work. Twenty minutes later the was ringing and we had to head to third period. I found my class quickly which was AP U.S. History with Mr. Harrington. This class period really dragged because Mr. Harrington loved to talk. He gave lectures exactly like we were a legit college class. But he reviewed his classroom rules and procedures slowly. He made some really corny jokes but some of them were funny I guess. When the bell rang for us to go to fourth period I dragged myself out of my seat, and slowly walked to my next class.

Theatre I was my fourth period, but our teacher wasn't there we had a substitute. "Wow" I thought to myself, had I known my teacher wouldn't show I wouldn't have shown either. The sub called roll and afterwards we just chilled. I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to Briante and Desmond to let them know I was leaving for lunch. I got quick responses from both of them. When the bell rang i headed to my car and Briante and Desmond were already waiting.

"Where y'all fools tryna go?" I asked.

"McDonalds bitch where else." Desmond said. I laughed and cranked up the car. When we reached McDonalds and pulled to the drive through we all ordered and paid our money. When we got back on campus it was as if a riot had broken out on campus. Trash cans were knocked over everyone was in the halls taking loudly and a fight had broken out. G-Mac quickly broke it up and the students we hauled to the office. I just shook my head. The bell rang to go to 5th period, AVID 3.

When I walked in Coach Hogan had a huge smile on his face he was delighted to see everyone. GoodMorning class he called out please take your starts then we'll start going over our classroom rules and procedures. A group of kids in the back started talking but Coach Hogan shut em' down quick. "Aye man be quiet or leave my room."he said calmly. They silenced quickly, he continued. He reviewed rules and procedures all class period. Sixth period was with Mr. Cullen Pre-Calculus Honors. We walked in he reviewed class rules and we started to review Algebra 2 as a refresher. When the day ended I headed home to get ready for work.

On the way to the house Desmond asked Briante if he was coming to the house. "Nah bro I gotta go handle some buisness." Briante said. "Young blood gotta work them corners tonight" I said laughingly.
When we exited the car Briante walked home and Desmond and I entered our house. I quickly got dressed and headed back out the door. My mom pulled up, "Hey baby" she said. "Hey Ma" I said "How's your day been going?" She sighed "Hard son, just hard" she replied. I kissed her on the forehead and told her I was off to work. It was 2:15 I had to be there from 2:30-6.

When I walked in my boss called me to his office "what the hell did I do now?" I thought to myself. Once we were seated he said to me "You know you're a good worker and I know it but the company is cutting back on our payroll and we're going to have to let you go." I sat there devastated, even though it had only been two months I just got fired from my first job. I took off my apron and white dress shirt. I walked out only with my slacks and shoes no shirt. Why did I have to be let go why not someone who isn't as good as I am. I worked consistently and worked fast. I never caused any problems at work or outside of work. "Guess it's just the way of the world." I thought to myself. When I got back home I told my mom about what happened and she only said "You'll find another one." It was only 3 o'clock but I to sleep the test of the day besides I wasn't in the mood.