A Hustlers Love.

'Spoken Reasons'

Brooklyn, Ny.

Tuesday, August 30th

2007

Tiara's POV

I sat in my room with Ymani laughing at her dance she learned in P.E. Today. She thinks she's so cool just because Justin gave her a hug today. I was excited because Mrs. Ava gave me a permission slip to go on a field trip to the zoo on Friday.

I heard the apartment door open meaning someone was finally home so I can ask to have my permission slip signed. I ran through the room door
To go meet whoever came home.

"Hey Richard." I smiled giving him a hug.

"Girl you get bigger every time I see you, look at you"

"Well i turn 11 soon" I smiled showin my one missing tooth.

"Well look at you all grown up" he laughed. "You know, you have to start acting like a grown up now... no more silly kids stuff, you have to be mature and responsible now."

I nodded my head in understanding before pulling out my permission slip.

"Will you sign this for me? I really really REALLY wanna go on this field trip!" I begged with a smile.

"Yea sure"

He signed my slip setting it back in my hand.

"Don't you be getting in trouble either cause the minute you do you can't go." he warned.

I scrunched up my face before quickly returning back to a smile. I wonder if he realizes he's not my dad he's just my moms boyfriend.

I shook my head walking away from him and back into the room with Ymani.

"Tiara come play dolls with me"

"I don't like those stupid things. Go downstairs and play dolls with Nechasity" I said rolling my eyes. For a 10 year old I had plenty of attitude to spare.

The loud sounds of soca could be heard from the Roti shop on the street behind ours. I smiled big opening up my window so the sounds could come in more clear.

Soca had to be the best music in the world next to reggae . My mom use to play it all the time before Richard came along and Americanized her. She used to be so cultural and into the West Indian vibes, now she's all about old slow jams and the blues.

I've always despised Richard for changing our mom in that way but, he makes her happy. I'd do anything to keep my mom happy, anyone who knew me knew that.

I don't mean to brag but I can dance and I LOVE to dance. My mom taught me how to wine also before her sudden change. Once she changed West Indian music was basically banned from our house. It wasn't said to be banned but it was something we assumed once she stopped playing it. That never stopped me from listening to it though. Without my mom I depended on the loud streets of Brooklyn to keep me updated and satisfied with soca and reggae.

I could always count on the Roti shop to play some good soca, nice and loud enough to come through our apartment window.

I swayed my hips to the sound of Allison Hinds blaring through the loud speakers. Singing along aloud I got into the song forgetting people were home.

I danced around the room wining my hips slow to the steady beat. This had to be my favorite hobby, to dance.

I could feel eyes starring at me but I didn't pay attention, occasionally Ymani would watch me dance and after a while she would join in.