Behind Closed Doors: My Life As Ke'Ladriah Wallace

18.

I been coming to school with a lot of scars and it's all because I wanted to be the protector as well as the provider. I heard of prayer this and prayer that but every time I tried it ain't work fast enough. Que done took over. What am I saying? He's been took over. Except this time when he says something and I try telling my opinion Angela gets to yapping about respect. If only she knew..

I sat on the swing kicking the sand all alone. Peace was all I needed right now and Jerome is sick. Poor baby. All of a sudden in the middle of my sand kicking and soft swinging this group comes up to me like paparazzi! "Ke'Ladriah what happened to you and Jerome? Why is he dating Carly ? Where is he ? Ain't Carly supposed to be your best friend?" Questions flying left and right before I even got to look up good! "What y'all talking about and first of all get back!" I made them take a few steps back. "Carly told me that she wants Jerome." I laughed. "Well that'd her business and yours. I don't even like y'all and if that's the case I need proof." They hesitated before giving me the note. It sure was Carly's handwriting I know it anywhere. I walked over to her and slapped her. "And to think you wanted your best friend back. You ain't no friend." I let her feel her face before she ran away crying. What a punk. Let somebody slap me like that and we got to fight. A few days later Jerome was gone again but I ain't care. We broke up because he let that trader try to be his girlfriend. Some girls walked up to me while I was on the slide and one girl pushed me down. "Hey don't you ever-" but all I felt was a fist connect with my face. Then all the girls started to help. These girls had to be big because I would've got up by now. I finally knew what it felt like to be jumped. After I was driven home with my brother and sister by Ms. Jefferson I went out of my mind. I searched and searched my room for something to help me get all those girls at the same time. I started to look for a knife but that would never work. I needed something I could pull out and just go crazy with like a brass knuckle or a lock but I couldn't find anything! That was until I lifted the mattress. I was so surprised. Never in my life I thought I would ever get to see it again, but there it was, my daddy's gun. I named her black and beautiful. Shiny, with a silver barrel, custom made. I picked it up and blew it knowing there was no dust. It looked so peaceful. I played with the trigger tracing it with my finger. I took out the clip which still had 3 bullets. With the perfect aim the girls that jumped me had no chance. I heard somebody coming so I hurried and put it back. It was Que. "What you doing stupid girl? Get in that kitchen and make me something to eat."