Sweaters by Heaven Evette Creater (chromebook ebook reader TXT) 📕

The third one, I drew a pair of eyes and wrote “Eye contact.” on top. And my last box, I drew a sweater. We worked until it was time for lunch. In the cafeteria I sat at a table by myself that was in the corner. It was a few feet away from the teachers. Erica and her group of “friends” sat next to my table. They all started to look at me and whisper to each other. I took the bag of fortune cookies and candy out and dumped them out on the table.

I started to choose what I wanted to eat first. I picked up a fortune cookie and ate it piece by piece as I read the fortune; “You will travel far and wide, for pleasure and business, lucky # 10,6,33,28,19,34. Learn Chinese: Each, Mei.” I love these things, they give me hope. I collect them and keep them in a shoe box at home.

I felt something lightly hit the back of my head. Erica and her minions were throwing things at me. I ignored it and ate some candy. Mr. Rodriguez walked over and greeted them and they all talked for a few minutes. Then he came and said hi to me. “Hi.” I said back dryly. He took a sip from his water bottle and looked at the table confused.

“Is that your lunch?” He asked while giggling a little bit.

“Sure, why not.” 

“That’s not lunch.” He laughed.

“Anything you eat in the afternoon is lunch.” I explained. “As well as breakfast and dinner.”

“Really?” he laughed.

I looked at him with a serious face. “Yes. Don’t people eat pancakes and crap at lunchtime? What you call that…brunch or something?” He started to laugh.

“Yes…it’s called brunch. You’re funny.” He said still laughing.

I guess Erica and her friends heard him because they were quiet and giving me dirty looks. I didn’t say anything. I just looked at him. I didn’t know how to respond to his compliment. I was never really taught manners. Saying thank you was kind of hard for me to do. I opened my mouth and tried to say it…but I just couldn’t, nothing came out but a small sound.

“Huh?” He asked me confused.

He looked me straight in my eyes. I wanted to look away but his eyes were very pretty! I never really paid attention to his face…or him for that matter. He had long lashes. And his hair was a pretty jet black color and it was long and Kinda wavy .

His chest was a little buff, looks like he works out or something but not too much. His voice was very sweet and comforting. His accent was somewhat persuasive; like he could make you do anything, not me though. Wait, he's my teacher! Let me stop right here.

“Um…I…I gotta pee...be right back.” I said as I hurriedly got up and ran to the bathroom.

Mr. Rodriguez just sat there looking confused. Ms. Marie walked over to him and they started talking. I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I tried to fix my hair. It was long as well. Not silky and shiny like his, but just about the same length. I had it in a ponytail with a bang. My mom has long hair too. I don’t know if she’s mixed with something. She acts and looks black but she looks like she has something else in her too. She was pretty. Sometimes I wish I could see her again. I haven’t seen her in years.

I don’t even remember what she looks like. She said she would come back for me soon…or at least that’s what she told me in my dreams. Either way, I haven’t seen her yet. I kept looking in the mirror thinking about her. I wondered where she could be…or if she’s even alive. Does she think about me? Probably not, the only thing I have of her is her heart shaped locket with my baby picture in it…but why’d she leave it?

As I adjusted my sweater and turned to leave, Erica and her two minions came in. I can tell by the grimace of her face that she wasn’t happy, like I cared.

“Hey freak, get out the mirror before you break it.”

 The two girls behind her started to laugh. Their names were Gabrielle and Tasha.

“Good one Erica.” Tasha applauded.

“Move.” I said as I headed to the door. Eric rushed past and blocked me.

“Make us move!” She yelled.

I took a deep breath and tried hard to keep myself from slappin the orange out of this chick's hair.

“Move…please.” I repeated.

“The correct phrase is excuse me.” Gabrielle said trying to sound important.

“Well then excuse me.” I retorted.

“You’re such a freak and you know it. I bet your mom knows it too.” Erica said as she moved away from the door and towards the mirror to fix her hair.

“That’s why she left you.” said Gabrielle.

Did she just really?

“Bitch…you got one more time to let my mama’s name come out your mouth. Now excuse me!” I yelled.

I started to walk out but they stopped me and kept talking smack.

“Who are you calling a bitch?” Erica asked. “I’m telling.”

“Man I don’t care. In fact, you can record me saying it and I'll take it to the police station my damn self. Now get the hell out my face and move.” I retorted.

“You’re gonna wish you had never said that, freak.” Tasha explained.

“And one day, you’re gonna wish you were never rude to people. Because everything you say to people affects them, and I hope God has mercy on you on judgment day.” I explained “Drink lots of fluids. You’ll need it for where you’re going.” I smiled.

They got quiet real fast, and with that I walked out and went back to my table. I sat next to Mr. Rodriguez.

“You look upset, you alright?” He asked.

“I’m ok.” I replied as I looked down.

He kept watching my face then looked up when he saw Erica and her minions come and grab their trays and leave. They had disturbed looks on their faces. Good. Then he looked back at me.

“You dislike each other?”

“Very much.”

“Were you friends before?”

“Yes.”

“Oh…how come you’re not friends anymore?”

I just looked at him quickly and looked back down.

“I don’t know.” I said getting a little defensive.

“My mama once told me that your friends now…won’t be your friends in the future. I had a situation like that.” he explained. “The most important person in the world to you is in your life for a minute but one day can suddenly vanish in a second...it’s that easy.”

I thought his words were very true. “Agreed.” I replied. I thought about my mom for a quick second.

He giggled. “You know, you are very smart for your age.” I looked at him. “I mean your point of view. The way you see things is advanced for your age. You really do think a lot.” He said smiling.

“Th…thank you.” I said struggling to get it out.

He looked at me with a soft gaze and said “Your welcome sweetie.”

The bell rung, it was time for recess but instead, we had a behavioral assembly in the gym. They discussed stuff about tardies and other things that I tuned out. I even found myself nodding a little bit. Finally, it was time to go back to our classrooms. Mr. Rodriguez took us to the bathroom first before we headed back to class.

When we went in we all just kept working on what he assigned us. I went to my corner to finish my work. Ms. Marie came by and knocked on the door. When he asked one of the kids to open the door, he nearly fell out of his chair as he jumped up quickly to greet her. I guess she’s that pretty to get injured over. They talked for a few minutes, obviously flirting, and then she left. Both of them had big smiles on their faces. I laughed to myself. He walked over to me.

“Hey, you doin alright?” he smiled as he sat next to me.

“I’m fine….and you?” I smirked.

“What?” he smiled.

“Nothing.” I said anonymously.

He just slyly smiled because he knew what I was talking about.

“She’s a good friend of mine.” He said.

“Oh, yea...real good I bet.” I responded. He laughed.

“Well anyways what are you up to? You done yet?” He took my paper and asked which side was which. I told him the side that said Art is the side with things I like. His smile started to fade as he examined my work.

“You draw very well for your age.” I didn’t say anything. “We’re supposed to share these in class today. Do you want to share with me or to the class?”

“Neither.” 

He said nothing but instead just looked at me like he was examining me again.

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. I don't like sharing.”

“Please, tell me then…at least.” He begged. He seemed like he really wanted to know. “I love art too.” he smiled happily.

It was silent for a minute as he continued to look at my paper.

“Can I see your studio?” I asked suddenly, a little embarrassed. He looked at me with a surprised look.

“Well sure, of course you can!” He grinned like that cat off of Alice in Wonderland. "Who's this? He asked pointing to my picture.

 “That’s my best friend, Carlos.”

“Oh, where is he now?”

“He’s dead.” I answered softly.

“Lo siento…oh I’m sorry, that means...um...I’m sorry.” He explained.

“I know what it means, and don’t be sorry, I’m glad he’s dead.” I replied.

Mr. Rodriguez snapped his head up quickly and looked at me in confusion. I said nothing. I pointed to the next picture.

“I like fortune cookies and candy. I love the fortunes in them…I have a shoe box full---.” He cut me off. He didn’t say anything he, just had his finger in the air.

“Did...did you…just say that you’re glad that your best friend is dead?” He asked in shock.

I started to crack a smile because of the way he asked the question with his accent. But I didn’t think that was appropriate for the question he was asking…which made it even funnier, so I started laughing. He stared at me hard like he was scared to death and was about to pee on himself and I just kept laughing. I stopped when I noticed the other kids looking at me. I didn’t like that.

I stopped laughing quickly and cleared my throat.

“Yea…but I can’t tell you why.” He snapped out of his examining gaze and asked

“How come?” he asked very hesitantly.

“Just can’t. Now as I was saying, I have a shoe box of these fortunes. I’m starting a new one at home. Sometimes Mr. Ming gives me some for free, I like reading them.” I explained.

He stayed quiet and just gazed at me. I made no contact. I kept my eyes on the paper. He snapped out of it again.

“What’s this one, with the people here?”

“That, ain’t nothing.” I said.

“First of all, ain’t isn’t a word. Second, it’s “that's nothing or that isn't anything” And third, if it’s nothing, why did you draw it on the paper?”

 I didn’t say a word. He was waiting for an answer. He wasn’t getting one though. We both were silent at the moment.

“I don’t want to talk about that.” I finally said.

“Ok...” he said as he turned the paper over.

He looked at it and asked me who the girl in the second box was. I was more than happy to tell him.

“That's Erica.” I said proudly with a smirk on my face.

“Oh, baby that’s not nice.” He said in disapproval.

“No, she’s not nice.” I retorted.

He looked at the paper again and then he looked at me. Here he goes again with that look again. It’s like he’s looking for something. I didn’t mind it though, as long as we weren’t making direct eye contact, I’m cool.

“You done here?” he asked.

“Yea.”

“Alright…well um you can sit around and talk or whatever.” he said standing up and dusting off his clothes.

“I’m goin to sleep then.” I replied.

“You don't wanna play