Taneesha Never Disparaging by M. LaVora Perry Read Free Book Online Page B

carrot.
    â€œWhat day?”
    â€œ Election day, silly.”
    â€œOh. Yeah. Time flies.”
    The election—the last thing I wanted to think about. Why couldn’t I just enjoy my snack and savor the fact that my mother said I’d nailed Take Your Child To Work Day?
    â€œSo, before my father comes to take me home, how ’bout I help you with your campaign materials?
I picked up some construction paper at the pharmacy in case you need it.”
    I grabbed a handful of popcorn. “Um… Thanks, Carli. But, naw. I’m good.”
    â€œWell... Want me to listen to your speech at least? I can give you feedback.”
    â€œNo, thanks. I haven’t finished editing it yet.”
    How about, I haven’t even written it yet?
    â€œOkay.”
    She sounded a little disappointed.
    So. I didn’t ask her to nominate me.
    Still, I felt a little uncomfortable about the whole conversation.
    â€œWell,” she sighed, “just let me know. You can call me. You can read it over the phone.”
    â€œSure. Maybe I’ll do that. Thanks, Carli.”
    Thanks for everything .
    â€œTaneesha, I’ve got news for you!” Mama called from outside the kitchen.
    â€œYeah?” I was glad for the chance to talk about something besides the dang election. “What is it?” My words were garbled because I had a mouth full of popcorn.
    Mama walked into the kitchen and sat at the table.

    â€œWhat’s the news?” I asked.
    â€œWell, I was thinking about how much you really liked meeting the children with diabetes, and how much they liked you, too.”
    More praise? I like it!
    â€œSo, you know my supervisor, Marsha, right?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œI asked her if you could come by the hospital after school sometimes to read with the kids. And she said okay. Do you want to do it?”
    â€œSure! That sounds fun!”
    â€œYeah, it does,” said Carli.
    My thrill faded as soon as I saw her face. I could never stand to see that girl looking droopy. I liked the idea of working at the hospital, but it wouldn’t have been fun knowing she missed out.
    â€œMama? Could Carli come, too? I mean, if Mr. Flanagan says it’s okay?” I noticed a little smile curling Carli’s lips. That made me smile, too.
    â€œYou know, I hadn’t thought of that. I bet it’ll be fine. I just have to ask Marsha to make sure. How’s that?”
    â€œFine with me!”
    â€œMe too!” said Carli.
    One week and four days ago, who would have
believed it? I, Taneesha Bey-Ross, could hardly wait to get back to those little kids at Ontario Hospital—and with Carli at that.
    Too bad life couldn’t have stayed as sweet as it was right then.

CHAPTER 8
    THEY HAD BEEN TO HELL
    S nack time’s over, everybody. Please toss your trash in the can.”
    Gail made that pleasant little request in her pleasant little way. She was the leader of the Elementary School Group, “ESG” for short. Her feathery, blond hair went just past her plump shoulders. And, like me, and a lot of the kids in the ESG room at the Buddhist center my family went to on the southwest side of Cleveland, she had on a sweatshirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. It was Sunday, and it had taken my father about forty minutes to drive to the center from the northeast side of town where we lived.

    The ESG room wasn’t exactly my favorite spot. But since every first Sunday of the month I had to come to the center with my parents for this World Peace meeting, ESG beat sitting with Mama and Daddy in the Gohonzon room listening to boring speeches and lame music for over an hour. Every once in a while, something fun went on in there, like the African drum and dance group that had played last month, or people would put on a skit or something. But mostly, it was boring.
    If it weren’t for the snacks I got in the ESG room, I wouldn’t have been hanging out there this morning either. I