On July 21st 2016 I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma. On September 8th 2016 I had cancer surgery. I was able to have the surgery because I qualified for Obama(care). My granddaughter, who enrolled in college this fall, offered a column to cover my absence from the Dailykos. If Donald Trump were President, this is what I have to lose.
The story you are about to read is true, the names were changed to protect the innocent…
My first day of fifth grade...
You’re stupid. One of the “kind” words said to me on my first day at a new school. How come I couldn’t just stay at my old school? I had to make new friends and adjust to a whole new atmosphere. My mom kept telling me that this school offered better programs and learning opportunities. But I’m in the fifth grade! I do not care about that. I might as well suck it up and get out of bed.
If the sun is not up I shouldn’t be up either, right? I could already tell I was not going to like this school. Who makes kids wake up at five in the morning? That’s ludicrous (Ludacris!) After a dark morning of getting dressed, me and my mom finally left home and we started the car ride I had been dreading.
Arriving at my new school the nerves I thought were gone, slowly came back. My mom turned, looked at me, and asked, “are you ready?” On the inside I wanted to scream no! I really wanted to run all the way back home but I simply nodded my head and said yes. I grabbed my book bag and rolled it over to my mom. We both saw seven different lines, kindergarten through sixth grade. Everyone was talking in their lines looking so happy to see their friends. I wish I could have felt the same way but no, I was the new kid my only friend is my mother. My mom finally found my line and I strolled behind her with my book bag. We stood behind another girl and her mother, boy I was happy to see them! I did not want to but I started to feel like a little girl with my mom next to me. Then my mom did the unthinkable and spoke to the mom in front of us. Was she trying to ruin me socially already!
“Is your daughter a new student too?” My mom asked. The lady smiled and said, “yes.”
“See Keyerra, you’re not the only new student,” my mom said, trying to brighten my mood. I just smiled and hoped she would get the hint that I wanted her conversation to end. I wondered how long the run was from school to home? “Chandler, see she’s new too,” her mother said. That was a relief, at least I won’t be lonely by myself. I waved at Chandler and she waved back.
A few minutes later I walked into the classroom and all eyes were on me. Well, this is great (sigh). I felt like everyone was staring into my soul and judging me. I sat down and my new teacher, Mrs. Toliver, told us to read the lesson board and complete the warm-up. I looked at the board with pure confusion. Everything was in cursive! “I can’t read this!” (oops did I say that out loud?) Then came the urge to run home again. I panicked and looked at my mom, who was standing next to the board. She was mouthing to me the words to say to Mrs. Toliver, “I cannot read cursive handwriting.” Clearly she took me for a joke. She was basically leading me down the road of social suicide. I could not risk having all eyes on me and everyone laughing at me for not knowing how to read cursive. I made the decision to stare at the board in utter confusion. I could tell this was going to be a long year.
After struggling through my first class. Next was math and that wasn’t any better. When we were all leaving for lunch I touched the lockers that were in the classroom and this girl Carmen said to me, “stop touching it.” I had to look back because I knew she wasn’t talking to me. Unfortunately, she was.
“Leave me alone.” I said.
“Stop touching the lockers.” she said.
“I can do what I want.”
“You’re stupid,” she says
Now that hurt. Why was she being so mean to me? She didn’t know anything about me, calling me stupid.
“You’re stupid,” I said under my breath with my head down.
Lunch was a lonely disaster. I sat at the corner end of the lunch room table. We were all at recess or should I say the parking lot. Yes, Excellent Academy Public Charter School did not have a playground for the bigger kids but they sure did have a spacious parking lot. I hope you are catching my sarcasm. I had my third grade class picture in my hands, it’s the only class picture I have. I took a seat on some concrete steps far from the other kids. I looked at the picture and began to cry. I missed all my friends, my teachers, lunch ladies, the principal, and counselors. Why did the school pick me? How come they didn’t choose Jessica, she was ten times smarter. People were already picking on me. I hate it here!
At the end of the day my dad drove up with my godfather in the passenger seat.
“How was your first day Keke?’ My godfather asked. Should I tell him how my own mother lead me down a social suicidal path or that I cried and Carmen called me stupid?
“It was good.” I said.
-written by Keyerra Owens
Thanks for indulging a proud grandfather my column will resume of Friday September 30.