The Literacy Review - Gallatin School of Individualized Study - New ...

the morning. The smell from the blunt and the garbage makes me sick to my stomach.
108 Overcoming
I’m glad to see there’s light in the small courtyard. I take out my keys as I enter the
lobby to check my mailbox. Inside the lobby, there’s a boy who looks to be no more than
13 or 15 years old. He asks me, “Yo, do you need anything?” Meaning drugs. I just ignore
him and lock my mailbox. I go over to the elevator and press the button. I feel the kid’s
eyes on my back. I turn, looking him straight in the face, and shake my head, thinking,
It’s a damn shame. His little ass should be home getting sleep for school tomorrow, but
instead he’s out here selling drugs. Where the hell is his momma?
The elevator is taking too long. I press the button again, praying that it’s working. In
my building, one minute the elevators work, and the next minute they don’t. I’m tired,
and I don’t feel like walking up any more stairs. I watch the kid, while he watches me and
glances back and forth, looking through the glass hallway doors for the police. Oh good,
it’s working. I can hear the other tenants talking as it reaches the lobby. They get off, and
I get on. I can hear the young kid yelling obscenities at me after the elevator door closes.
When I get inside my apartment, I drop my backpack by the door, take off my sneakers
and jacket, throw my keys on the dresser and climb into heaven—my bed. I live alone.
I’ll get up and shower later. I’m too damn tired.
Born in South Carolina, Caretha Brown has lived in New
York City her entire life. She is the oldest of six children
and is also the mother of six children. Caretha studies at
the Fortune Society. Her passion is writing, which she says
relieves a lot of stress and allows her to express herself.
Her dream is to become a well-known author. She writes,
“Dreams do come true.”