Aritifically Grape by Najeea Murray (phonics reading books TXT) 📕

Grape was the color of his tongue. Sitting across from him, I could smell the fruity Blow Pop and its fragrance made my stomach churn. I never liked the artificial flavor of grape candy. It tasted like sugary poison, and no grape I’ve ever ate tasted that way. Unnatural. But I was trapped in that desk, waiting for my senses to get used to the smell while we brainstormed topics for our English report.

While I jotted down the key motifs of Pride and Prejudice, he told me he was going to try out for the basketball team in between violet bubbles. I told him to go for it. He said he only wanted to join the team so that he could perform spontaneous dance routines with his teammates while simultaneously winning over the glee club. Despite the death-toned coloration on his lips, I smiled.

This went on for days, him sharing his fictitious inspired dreams, me avoiding the purple rain from his snapping gum. Then, after the lavender poster board was covered with photos and bulletins, after the nerves violently shook my body while waiting our turn to present, and after all the candy colored projects were hung to the wall, it was over and normality set in.

We went back to our regular seats which were located on opposite sides of the expanding room. Every now and then I would glance back and see him talking to the eager girl who sat next to him. She would laugh out loud at his jokes, he would crack his lilac smile, and I would turn in my seat with a sigh. Wishing I could smell his artificial grape.

Text: Najeea Murray
Publication Date: 12-02-2012

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