by Ana Rodriguez
Miss, I’m sorry I don’t have my homework
but the smell of stale beer and cigarettes was too much in my apartment last night for me to see the numbers on the page
which probably wouldn’t make much sense to me even if I could see them
Miss, no, I don’t have my project, I know you gave us a whole month
but I didn’t know how to ask my parents for the money
when I see them counting every cent for the roof over our heads
Miss, please don’t call me out in front of the class for being unprepared, I can’t help that even my supplies are hand-me-downs and I’m afraid of being reprimanded for requesting such luxuries
Miss, I’m sorry I’m late to your class every day
But the busses come every hour and I swear I run as fast as I can when it just barely passes us by
but the drivers aren’t fond of waiting
Miss, I know I’m the butt of all the jokes, that my clothes fit a little tight
and that my shoes have holes in them
but don’t mistake me for the school’s charity case
I am not here to make the PTA pout their lips
and look down at me as they marvel at my poor little family. I am not here to accept any handouts or receive any pity. That is not why my family left everything they knew in the only country they ever called home
No, they did it for a chance at a better life
a responsibility that rests on my shoulders
so I would really appreciate it if you could continue on with the lesson
and leave me alone.
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