Behind Closed Doors: My Life As Ke'Ladriah Wallace

10.

The gunshot I heard in my sleep scared me. I knew my father was showing me exactly what happened to him but man, that was scary. It's like he was living through us one by one. I looked at my brother and sister who were sound asleep. I got up to go to the bathroom then I went to the kitchen to get some water. I seen Qué in the kitchen. I turned to walk away when he whispered for me to come here. I tried to keep walking but he started to sound like my mother. "Come here or I'll make you" I rolled my eyes and kept walking. He grabbed my arm and snatched me into the kitchen. He pulled me closer to him and whispered in my ear with his deep voice causing me to flinch don't worry he ain't gone try nothing crazy not if he wants his life. "Don't you ever try to put me on the spot like that again girl! And what you mean I can't try to be your step daddy or daddy? Because the last time i checked you ain't even got one to cry to. I'm going to be around a long time and your gonna have to learn to respect me, because your momma's on my side so you have no say so little girl. I call all the shots." he let go of my arm and I rubbed it in pain. He was strong physically but I can't let him play me weak as long as I'm strong mentally. "I ain't scared of you!" He laughed at me and walked back to my mother's room.
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A month later Ms. Jefferson said that we had a visitor in class today. Her name was Ms. Crenshaw. I think. She walked around the room and she picked out kids to have a one on one with but when she got to me she took a while before she said something. "What is your name dear?" Something in my heart tells me this ain't gonna be good. "Ke'Ladriah" I didn't look up at her. She told me to follow her to one of the empty classrooms. "How are you feeling dear I'm so sor-" I looked at her and realized who she was. "You the lady that hit me with that car. Ain't you?" She shook her head ashamed. "Thank you for giving us that money. You real nice for that. Thanks to you. My brother ain't gotta complain about his socks getting wet up." She nodded again. "Well actually about that, I came here for you. I came to talk to you. I heard about-" I cleared my throat. "About what?" She rolled her eyes. The wrong way. "I heard that you have a record of previous suspensions and I would like for you to tell me-" I put my feet up on the table and looked at her. "I'm fine. I'll pass." She buffed and gave me this journal. "Maybe you don't want to tell me about it but maybe you could write it down and give it back to me on my next visit." I grabbed it. "Ke'Ladriah I tried talking to your fath-" I stopped her and I can tell she got scared. "He ain't my daddy!" I stormed out on her.