Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper Read Free Book Online Page A

home. I don’t know if she knows how depressed he gets. On the way home from Andy’s house, we talked about other things—like taking a shower to get rid of some of that perfume. (In the car, with the heat on, it was starting to make me feel sick.) We stopped by McDonald’s and she never said anything else about Andy.
    I wonder what Andy’s getting me for Christmas. I wonder if Andy is even going to get me anything for Christmas. He’s so out of it sometimes that I wonder if he even knows what day it is. All I know is, he better get me something nice, because I spent too much of my babysitting money on that sweater I got him.

“How Am I Supposed to
Write Poetry?”
Poetry Homework for
English Class
    DECEMBER 20
    It’s dark where I am
    And I cannot find the light.
    There are shadows all around me
    And my heart is full of fright.
    Everyone is cheerful
    They never even see
    That storm clouds are forming
    Upon the peaceful sea.
    I cannot see the future
    And I cannot change the past
    But the present is so heavy
    I don’t think I’m going to last.
    Class, pass your papers up. I know you’re excited because this is the last day of school before Christmas vacation, but let’s get this one last assignment in. At least you know what I’ll be doing over the break—reading your poetry. I’m really rather looking forward to it.
    â€”Yeah, just like an English teacher—poetry turns her on.
    â€”Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, Gerald. Poetry is a wonderful way to express yourself. Sometimes a poem can say what we’re able to feel, but unable to put into words ourselves. You like music, don’t you?
    â€”Yeah, ‘cause it has a live bass and I can turn it up loud and jam.
    â€”Do the songs that you listen to have words?
    â€”Yeah, specially rap songs.
    â€”Well, believe it or not, the words to those songs are poetry. Someone has written a poem, and a musician has set that poem to music with a beat. That’s all poetry is. Poetry is a song without music. Can you deal with that?
    â€”Yeah, but I still like what I hear on the radio better than what they put in this poetry book.
    â€”That’s my point exactly. If you don’t like these, write your own! Now do I have all the papers? Andy, where’s yours?
    â€”I didn’t do it.
    â€”Oh, Andy, why not? This was the last big grade for this quarter. You’ve missed quite a bit of homework the past few weeks. I know you haven’t felt well, but this was an easy assignment.
    â€”Yeah, well, I forgot. I’m sorry.
    â€”I am too, Andy. I hope you have a great vacation. Come back in January and let’s start fresh, all right?
    â€”I can live with that.
    â€”Well, there’s the bell—I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
    Â 
    â€”Hey, Andy, I thought you did that poetry assignment.
    â€”I did. It’s in my book bag.
    â€”So why didn’t you turn it in? That’s going to fry you when grades come out.
    â€”I know. I don’t even care. I just didn’t feel like it, okay, Keisha?
    â€”Okay, okay. Don’t get all bent out of shape. Are you still coming over tonight?
    â€”Yeah, I’ll be there. That’s one thing that I do care about.
    Rhonda Jeffries
Poetry Homework
December 20
    Love is special,
    Love is fine,
    It sends warm shimmers
    Down my spine.
    His touch is like
    caressing fire.
    His smile can make me
    feel desire.
    His eyes are kind,
    His arms are strong,
    I’ve found the place
    where I belong.
    Keisha Montgomery
Poetry Homework
December 20
    What’s your problem, little man?
    Can’t you deal with the basic plan?
    Your mama don’t know
    And your daddy don’t know
    That you got a secret
    And it’s going to blow.
    What’s your secret, little man?
    Can’t you hide it under the sand?
    Your brother don’t know
    And your buddy don’t know
    That you got a problem
    And it