Since I had to wait until after drama club to finish my rice crispy treats, Ms. Fuller gives me two once I return. I sit down on the couch and happily finish them, before Raul approaches me, asking me to follow him. It’s a bit mysterious, but I sort of like a mystery…so I do as he says.
Michael comes outside to see if he can come too, but Raul isn’t having it.
Raul: You already know the answer to that. Go back inside!
I kind of feel bad for Michael as I pass him on my way out. I don’t get why Raul dislikes him so much.
Alida: Maybe we can play another day, okay?
Michael doesn’t respond. Instead, he sulks into the house.
I catch up with Raul who is standing in front of a gate at the back of the house.
Alida: Why couldn’t Michael come too?
Raul: Because this is top secret and snitch runs through that kid’s blood. Are you coming or not?
Curiosity has the best of me.
Alida: Yeah…I’m coming.
Raul pushes open the gate and steps out into an abandoned lot. There’s another kid there waiting.
Raul: Mama Nadine doesn’t like us coming back here. She says it’s not safe.
Alida: Why are we here then?
Raul: Because I’m not afraid of whatever she’s afraid of.
Raul starts walking…
Raul: Oh…this is Pierce by the way. Pierce, this is Alida. She’s new. Let’s go!
I say hi to Pierce and look around the lot. I’m with Raul. It doesn’t look very scary or unsafe.
Raul leads us to an old couch covered by a dusty old white blanket.
Raul: Now you see why we couldn’t bring Michael? He couldn’t handle all this. He’d go running to Mama Nadine before we could say boo.
I haven’t spent much time with Michael, so I have to take Raul’s word for it.
Alida: I guess you’re right.
Raul: This is where we hang after school. You’re welcomed to come whenever you want…as long as you never tell Mama Nadine.
I’m pretty good at keeping secrets so I agree.
Alida: I won’t say a word. I promise.
Raul: Other than being a bit overprotective…I think you’ll like living here. Mama Nadine is nice.
Alida: Why do you call her Mama Nadine? Where’s your real mama? Did she die?
Raul immediately stiffens up. He skips over my first question but reacts strongly to the second.
Raul: No! She’s not dead. She just…left us here for a while – yeah…while she works.
Alida: What does she do?
Raul: She’s an actress okay! She’s filming a movie.
I’m sure that Raul is lying, but I’m also sure that he has his reasons.
Raul: What about your mom?
I have no reason to lie.
Alida: My mom is in jail.
Pierce, who has been sitting quietly the whole time, suddenly jumps up in excitement. He startles me so much…that I jump up too. Pierce gets closer to Raul.
Pierce: Oooh, Oooh! My mom is at home cooking dinner!
Raul stares at Pierce for a few moments before responding.
Raul: Nobody asked you! Why don’t you just go home to your mom before I punch you in your stupid face.
Raul makes a sudden aggressive move towards Pierce, who flinches violently.
Pierce doesn’t stick around to see how serious Raul is…or if he actually intends to carry out his threat. He walks away quickly. I can actually understand Raul’s reaction. I have no idea when I’ll see my mom again, and from the sounds of it…he doesn’t either. Neither of us wants to hear from a kid who gets to see his mom anytime he wants to.
Raul: *checks the time* We’d better go or we’ll miss storytime. Mama Nadine won’t be too happy about that.
I don’t want to upset Ms. Fuller or miss today’s story, so I turn and hurry back through the gate with Raul following close behind.
Ms. Fuller is standing in the kitchen when we finally enter the house.
Ms. Fuller: You two are late.
A lie forms and quickly leaves my mouth as naturally as if I’d just taken a breath…
Alida: It’s my fault. Raul was introducing me to some kids and showing me around the neighborhood.
Ms. Fuller seems pleased to see us getting along.
Ms. Fuller: You didn’t go to that empty lot out back or that shady park next door, did you?
I can almost feel Raul’s eyes boring into the back of my head.
Alida: *calm and collected* No ma’am
Ms. Fuller: Good! Put on your pajamas and get back in here. I have some news to share with you all.
I quickly go into my room before Ms. Fuller can see the lie all over my face. I change into my pajamas and join the others in the living room. Ms. Fuller waits until we’re all there before she sits down and shares her news.
Ms. Fuller: It turns out that this is a busy week for us. First Alida arrived to live with us…and tomorrow we’ll be getting a new addition.
Claudia: Please tell me it’s someone my age.
Ms. Fuller: I’m sorry Claudia. This time we’re getting a toddler…a little boy named Darwin. He’ll be sharing the room with Michael and Raul.
No one really reacts. It seems that they are used to having new kids moving in and out of the home. I’m not sure what it’ll mean for us all, but I think it might be fun having a toddler around.
After Ms. Fuller has delivered her news, everyone gets up to leave the room. I get up and join them… guessing that we’ll be skipping storytime for the night. I don’t get too far before Ms. Fuller calls me back.
Ms. Fuller: Alida…did you get a chance to do your homework yet?
Alida: *stopping in my tracks* No, but I just have to read a few paragraphs tonight.
Ms. Fuller: Why don’t you come on over and read them to me?
I sigh and go to my room. Then return with my book and sit down on the couch. I open it to my assignment and begin to read. Ms. Fuller is smiling when I finish.
Ms. Fuller: Not bad. There are a few words that you stumbled over a bit, but you read well.
I get up from the couch with a big smile on my face. I’ve never had anyone complement my reading before.
Ms. Fuller: Go ahead and brush your teeth. Claudia is in the other bathroom, so you can use mine.
Going into Ms. Fuller’s bedroom feels sort of like a treat. I open the door and see that it’s as nice as I expected it to be. It’s fitting for someone like Ms. Fuller to have a bedroom so nice. I stop gawking over her neat tidy room long enough to make it to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Then I head to bed for the night.
(Generation 1 Chapter Summaries)
