Something Different

Chapter 26

Heads up: There is a poem in this chapter that I wrote specifically for this book. I hope all of you read and enjoy it but if you see anyone using this in their book or using it in general, please let me know. Thanks!

PS. If I do an epilogue should it be Mr. Dennis's wife explaining her life as a black woman and what she had to go through??? Let me know.

Braelin

A few weeks later

I peered my head from behind the curtain and watched as people entered into the auditorium in conversation as they took their seats and I took a deep breath before forcing myself away from the curtain. People who were around me were rushing to make sure that they were prepared for their parts while I tried to memorize everything I had to say. I'm going to be fine. I just have to relax.

"Braelin!" A voice that I recognized as Layla yelled as right as I turned around I was pulled into a tight hug by my best friend.

"You made it!" I asked shocked. I had called Layla the week before, inviting her and she said she had an exam and would get Dylan to record it.

"Of course! Nothing, not even that exam was going to stop me from missing my best friend show and everyone is here." I peeked my head back out noticed that everyone who had ever said something racist was sitting in the front row. My neighbor who assumed I was a criminal, the police officer who had arrested me, Karen, Chad, the lady from the restaurant, Cameron's dad, and even Darnell were sitting front row, confused as to what was going on.

"How did you get Darnell here?" I asked and Layla pretended to lock her mouth shut, throwing away the key before someone tapped me and when I turned around, I hugged Cameron.

"Hey what are you doing here?"

"I was just coming to wish you luck and let you know it's time," he said and I nodded before grabbing my mic off the chair.

"I'm ready."

"You got this," Layla said giving me a hug before she left leaving Cameron and I.

"I'll be out there cheering you on," Cameron said.

"You better be blue eyes," I said making him grin before he gave me a quick kiss and headed back into the auditorium. Taking a deep breath, I headed on stage and the room was deadly silent.

"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. My name is Braelin Washington and today's assembly is on embracing differences. I moved here six months ago from Atlanta and on my first full day here, I was discriminated against because I looked suspicious." My eyes landed on the police officer and my neighbor who were sinking into their seats and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "And it only got worse from there because people assumed the worst because I'm black which is why I'm here today to show you otherwise. So sit back, relax and open your mind to embracing differences."

***

We were halfway through the assembly and things were going great. We had people doing dances and singing and next up we had a spoken word from a girl I met at work named Tera and as I was getting things set up, Selena ran up to me.

"We have a problem Braelin."

"What's up?"

"Tera is sick."

"What?"

"Yeah, she's in the nurse's office right now."

"But she's next up."

"Why don't you do one of your poems?" Cameron asked coming from behind the curtains and I shook my head.

"No, I can't do that."