Beyond Love

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Latasha is 10 years old and lives on the South Side of Chicago. It is the last day of the school year at Douglas Middle School. The 7th-grade class was set up in their clicks of friends. There are some boys throwing paper balls and airplanes, while others sit around and talk about their summer vacation and making jokes.

"Class settle down! Settle Down!" Ms. Burell screams as she walks in. She got everyone's attention and sit in their seats. "Now since this is the last day and you guys have a short day to get out, doesn't mean you can't be productive. I need you all to help me clean up the classroom, and assist me on what materials I need to keep"

"I want to help wash the board!" 11-year-old Kaylaa says as she raises her hand with a sweet smile.

"Okay. Kaylaa, Teresa, and Tatiana are going to clean the boards. I will need some boys to help carry some strong boxes..." Ms. Burell kept talking as Latasha sits in her seat writing in her journal.

"Prince, Michael, and Dante can lift boxes. Latosha" Ms. Burell called as Latasha looked up in response. "I want you to help me take down posters on the hall walls."

Latasha nods and gets up and puts her journal in her backpack which was sitting behind her chair.

Four hours have passed. The classroom is almost done and cleaned and Ms. Burrell got most of the stuff she wanted out of the classroom.

"Okay everyone, Thank you for your help in class. We have gotten just about everything out of the classroom and cleaned up. This year has been amazing and I want to say that I am very happy I got to teach a class with lots of personalities. For the people that have passed this class, I wish you luck. For those that failed, I am sorry but you have summer school. Remember if you fail summer school, you will have to repeat the grade level," she finished as the class went dead silent. It was the final day and some students were anxious, but some were pretty worried, except for two boys who were Michael and Prince. Ms. Burrell reads everyone's name and each person got their final report card with their grades. To know if the student fails, a note is attached to the report card and sent home.

"Yes! See, told you I was gon pass!" 12-year-old Michael teased Prince

"Yeah whateva." Prince got his report card next, but it comes with a note. "What?! Ms. Burrell, why do I have to go to summer school? My grades are straight A's and B's."

"Just because you got those grades doesn't mean you can't make up for the days you missed. I'm sorry but you have to make up the days you missed during the year."

"Dang!" He says shaking his head as other kids laugh.

Latasha and Kaylaa of course passed together. The two knew each other since kindergarten, and the two never separated. They were lucky enough to be in the same grade level together in the same classroom, along with Michael and Prince. Michael and Prince were the class clowns of the classroom. They both get in trouble a lot. More so of Prince than Michael, however, both made good friends together. Michael always had a crush on Latasha since the 1st-grade class.

In kindergarten, when Latasha was the new girl in class, she used to be the only girl that was isolated and did talk to anyone. A group of girls used to make fun of her and pick at her hair, and Michael was brave enough to defend Latasha. Since that time, Michael shared his crayons, opened the door for her, and even walked her down from school; well if Prince and Kaylaa wasn't walking along with them.

School Bell Rings

The children are finally out of school for the summer. All children were running outside finding their friends and playing as school security clear off the playgrounds. Always every year, the police would sit on the corners around the school just to make sure children are clearing the area and to break up fights that always happen on the last day.