by Jesse Salmeron
Mama was so angry when I told her. I'm in so much trouble. Mama hasn't been
this quiet since I missed so bad I broke the window. Since La Senora Winthrop made her
work everyday for a month when her daughter got married. Since the man turned off the
lights in August. Why did I turn around and talk to Juanito. But I finished all the tables,
and all were right, even 8x8. If 8 falls over it turns into forever.
Stop. Stop. Stop. Red means stop. But red tastes like moving. But sounds like
stop. And looks like stop. Mama didn't say gracias to the bus driver.
“Que hisistes?”
“I don't know.”
When Ms. Wexler asks how I know. I say I don't know and she laughs. And I
laugh. Gifted. By who? My As are because someone gifted me. I wish for heat this
Christmas. No more cold. No more air coming into the tear in my shoe walking to
school. When I tell mama what I learn about space shuttles and the moon and space she
says we can't be those things. We. Mama can't. She's almost 5x5. But Ms. Wexler says
I can be everything.
“Como que no sabes?”
“I didn't do anything.”
But I must’ve done something. Mrs. Griffith said it and Ms. Wexler was so mad
at the word. But words are just letters and letters are just scratches on paper. But they
hurt more when mama says them in her words. Mama can't say my words. Tia says if
you say words a way they make magic. But Ms. Wexler says there's no such thing as
brujeria.
“Donde esta la oficina?”
“This way I think.”
Is it the way to the principal's office? Mama had to miss work because of what I
did. Mama never misses work. I should just tell her what Mrs. Griffith said I did. Just
like she said them, Gifted program? But he's illegal. And Ms. Wexler knew what I had
done and walked out of the office so angry. I should just say the words but mama is too
angry and she'll get angrier like when the man said the word to her at the bus stop. No,
I’ll let Ms. Wexler tell her what I did.
The hallway is so much longer when no one is here. I'm in so much trouble.
