If I Were Your Boyfriend by Earl Sewell Read Free Book Online Page B

fully understand why things are the way they are."
      "But she's still your mom and you have to respect her no matter what," said Officer Sanchez.
      I didn't respond to him because I didn't fully agree with what he was saying to me. In my mind, my mom was crazy and if I didn't get away from her soon, I'd go crazy too.
      "So, what are you going to say at your court hearing tomorrow?" asked Officer Sanchez.
      "Whatever it takes to get the judge to see that I don't want to go back to my mother's house," I answered.
      "Where do you want to go?" he asked.
      "With my dad," I said.
      "You and your dad get along well?"
      "Yeah. Me and my dad are real cool. We don't have any problems. I'd go live with him in a heartbeat, but my mother won't let me."
      "Why not?"
      "Because she sees me and the child-suport check as a way to support her drinkng problem. And that's the truth, man."
      "Is that how you started drinking?" asked Officer Sanchez. "By watching your mom?"
      "Something like that."
      " Amigo, you're only sixteen. You shouldn't be drinking to solve your problems. How long have been doing this?"
      "About three years. Since I was thirteen."
      "Do you think you need help?" asked Officer Sanchez.
      "Dude, right now I'm in the best place in the world. So, as far as I'm concerned, my call for help has been answered."
      "That's twisted, man. You don't want to be here. This is not a place to live," said Officer Sanchez.
      "Well, for now it suits me just fine," I said as he opened the door for me to head back to the common area.

      Later that evening I received a phone call from my dad. I was happy to hear from him because I knew he'd understand everything that I was going through.
      "Hey, Wesley, how is it going?" he asked me through the phone.
      "Well, things have been better," I admitted. "I can't wait to get out of here."
      "Yeah, I know, son. I heard that your mom came to visit you today. How did that go?" he asked.
      "Not so good," I answered him truthfully.
      "Was she sober when she came to see you?"
      "Yeah, she was sober, but we still got into a little bit of a shouting match." I began bitting my fingernails. "Hey, Dad."
      "Yes?"
      "I want to come and live with you. I don't want to be in Mom's house anymore and I'm going to let the judge know that."
      "Well, don't you worry about that, Wesley. I've got a lawyer coming with me tomorrow and together we're going to get all of this mess straightened out, okay?"
      "Okay," I answered.
      "Now, you get some rest. You've got a big day tomorrow and you're going to need all of your strength."
      "Okay, Dad, love you," I said.
      "Love you too," he responded.

Keysha

    was standing at the kitchen sink with my head underneath the water faucet getting my hair washed by Grandmother Katie. She was massaging shampoo into my scalp and the strokes of her fingertips put me in such a relaxed state that I felt I was going to sleep.
      "All right, I'm going to rinse this shampoo out now," she said as she carefully and skillfully guided my movements so that all of the shampoo was washed out.
      "My grandmother used to wash my hair like this all the time when I was a young girl," she said. "I loved the feeling of her strong, soft hands."
      "What was your grandmother like?" I asked as I stood erect, and began the process of drying my hair so that Grandmother Katie could blow-dry and curl it for me.
      "Your great-great-grandmother Lorraine was a very tall woman. She stood around six foot one or two. She had a very difficult life, though. You see, her mother passed away when she was only twelve years old. And her father was as mean as a pack of wolves. When I was a little girl, he used to own a corner newspaper stand. He sold the daily paper, soda pop and candy every day. One particular day I'd found myself four pennies while outside playing. I walked to the corner where his newspaper stand was and asked for