Black+and+White+by+Paul+Volponi

Black and White by Paul Volponi I never been as shocked as when the gun went off in Eddie’s hand! It sounded like the whole world was going to end. I never expected Eddie to pull the trigger. In all the time that Eddie had the gun, we shot it. It was just for show, to get quick money. I was scared for the man that we shot. I didn’t know the man got clipped in the head. When the gun went off, I closed my eyes. I thought my eyes were going to squeeze out of their sockets. When I opened my eyes, I found the handle on the door, so that I could get out and take off running. I could not out run the sound of my ears. I could not hear myself breathing. I could not hear my feet hitting the concrete. I ran to my crib. I guess Eddie did the same. I needed to tell Eddie that I had seen that man’s face before. I could see his round, black face in front of me. All I could do was to pray that man wasn’t dead. My name is Marcus Brown. My friends call me “Black.” They call me this because they always see me hanging with my boy, Eddie Russo. Eddie is white. Kids in my neighborhood who are different colors don’t mix. Somebody tagged us “Black and White” and the name stuck. We make the newspapers for winning games. Some schools want to sign us up. We are that good. WHAT SPORT DO YOU PREDICT THAT THEY PLAY?
 * __BLACK-1__**

I don’t remember if the idea of robbing people came up before or after we took his grandfather’s gun. We weren’t trying to get rich, we just needed money to keep up. Lots of kids we know hustle drugs or pull stick-ups on the streets. TEXT TO SELF CONNECTIONS- HOW DOES YOUR LIFE COMPARE TO BLACK AND WHITE? – oral discussion Eddie’s family had more money than mine. Eddie has a mother and father. My mom sews. The only money we have is from what she gets sewing and from the state. Senior dues were $150.00 and the deadline was the end of February. You either paid, or you missed out on class trips. It took me three months to save that kind of money. It was the middle of January and Nike came out with new sneakers. Everybody on the basketball team were buying a pair because they were maroon and powder blue like the school colors. So we took our senior dues and got new kicks. DESCRIBE ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE PAIR OF SNEAKERS. WOULD YOU HAVE SPENT THE MONEY ON SNEAKERS OR THE CLASSTRIP?

Teenagers can get a job easy like McDonald’s or Burger King. Kids already treated us like stars. We were going pro someday. First college, than the pros. We decided that Black and White were too good to serve burger and fries. We had no time for a job. We had to practice and practice. At first, Eddie thought we could sell the gun, and get money that way. Eddie was worried that his dad would find out. He did not want his sister to get blamed. It would be easier to take it, and put it back. We were not going to be dumb. We were not going to get caught. We planned on getting enough money for dues, and not any more. We knew not to rob other kids. They might get their posse and come back at us. We even thought about taking the bullets out of the gun, but thought that we might have to shoot it in the air for drama. I am 17, so I think I have to start pulling my own weight. Eddie and I practiced coming up on people over and over. We picked our spot. There was a big hardware store, an electronic store, a move theater and a pizza restaurant. We sat on the swings for an hour. We started dissing each other for being chicken. We picked a white lady carrying a shopping bag. She walked real slow. We waited until she was near her car. Eddie showed her the gun. She started to cry. I took her bag, so she could open her pocketbook. Eddie reached in her purse and took out her wallet. I ran with her bag. She started to scream for help. It made me think of my mom. After that we decided not to rob another woman. WHAT MOVIE OR VIDEO GAME DOES THIS REMIND YOU OF, AND WHAT ADVICE COULD YOU GIVE THE BOYS FOR A BETTER WAY OF EARNING MONEY?

We finally opened the wallet. It had $92.00 in it. We did a victory dance, and gave each other a high five. We walked behind a building and threw away her wallet- credit cards and all. In the bag was a Walkman. I gave it to my little sister, Sabrina. Two weeks later an old white man was clothing his store. We were about to rob him when somebody passed by from nowhere. Eddie and I froze. By the time we looked up, the old man was at his car. Eddie pulled a gun on him anyway. Eddie’s face went mean. He made the man slide over. He screamed at the man to empty his pockets. When Eddie was done, he took the old man’s keys and put them on the bumper. We got $129 in paper money, and another three dollars in coins. We stopped at McDonalds and got two Quarter-Pounders with Cheese each. It was Monday, March 1st when we turned in our money. We told her we were celebrating Black History month, and thought it was leap year. Our last stickup was on the next Friday night after basketball practice. Our coach told us the team, not to get into anything stupid over the next couple of days. “Don’t get into any fights, and don’t get locked up.” On the way home, Eddie asked me to hold the gun. I didn’t want to use it. Eddie was good at it. I gave it back. It was very cold. I was shivering. We passed a man with a cane. It didn’t feel right. The man was just a shadow to me when he came out of the hardware store. Eddie nodded to me. I didn’t know the man was black until we walked up to him, and Eddie told him it was a stickup. MAKE A PREDICTION OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE BOYS NOW THAT THEY HAVE COMMITTED SEVERAL CRIMES.

By the time I made it home, the sweat was pouring off of me. Every part of me was on fire. My hand was still wrapped around the gun. I pulled Marcus’s glove off my hand with my teeth. I opened the door. Gotti jumped up and hit me in the stomach with his paws. My sister wanted to know if Marcus was with me. Mom called me and told me it was time for dinner. I went into the bathroom and locked the door. I was sweating. My eyes were bulging out. I put the gun in the sink. I felt the bang. My finger slipped. I jerked backwards. I could see blood. When I was sure that I was alone, I took the gun up to the attic. Mom hadn’t changed a thing in the attic, since my grandpa died in his sleep last year. In all the times I took the gun, I never felt bad. Now I felt sick. WHAT HAPPENED TO MAKE EDDIE FEEL SICK TO HIS STOMACH?
 * __WHITE = EDDIE-14__**

I reached up to the top shelf in the closet and put the gun back inside of the old box. I left the attic and grabbed a basketball from my room. I held the ball in front of my face, as I called to my parents that I was going to find Marcus. Marcus was sitting on a bench by himself. Marcus asked, “Do you think he’s dead?” I told Marcus that I didn’t think the man was dead. The bullet grazed his head. We talked about going back to check on the man, but in the end decided not to. Marcus told Eddie that he thought he recognized the man. Marcus grabbed my shoulder. That’s when he saw the blood on my coat. I tried to wipe off the blood, but it wouldn’t come off. We ditched the coat in an open trash bag. The gloved looked clean, but they might also have blood on them, so we stuffed them down a sewer. INSTEAD OF HIDING AND NOT HELPING THE MAN, WHAT SHOULD EDDIE AND MARCUS DO?

I was freezing, but couldn’t go home without a coat. As soon as I walked into Marcus’s house his mom asked me about my coat. I told her some kid took it. It was like lying to my own mother. I knew Marcus was feeling bad about the man. He seemed worse than me. I am the only kid that hangs out in Ravenswood’s Park. “BLACK AND WHITE” was born here. We both went home. It felt different. Every time I closed my eyes that night, I saw the man’s face. I couldn’t figure out where I knew this man from. PREDICTION- WHAT WILL HAPPEN, AND WHO IS THE MAN THAT THEY SHOT? Do orally- The next day, I wouldn’t go out of the house for anything. Eddie didn’t call me either. I helped my sister with her homework. My mom got mad at me. She wanted to know what I had done, and why I was home. I told her I was saving my energy for the big game. Mom told me that she did not believe me. She told me that she hoped I was hiding from a girl, not a gang. Eddie’s sister Rose called me Sunday. They bought me a ticket. I was going to go the movies with Eddie and his family. I never thought about going out with a white girl before. But I liked Rose. We met at the bus stop at four. Their cousins have never been to the projects before. Bus 66 finally came. I felt numb. The man that we shot was a driver for bus. I felt like throwing up. When we got off the bus, I grabbed Eddie by the shoulder. I whispered,” I know it now. I’ve been on his bus.” Eddie told me, “He had to be somebody,” and walked away. When we got to the parking lot, it looked normal. There were no police cars, no crime tape, no blood. There were no flowers or crosses either. WHAT MOVIE WOULD YOU HAVE RECOMMENDED BLACK AND WHITE SEE IF YOU WERE THEIR FRIENDS.
 * __BLACK-21__**

After the movies, we talked about the movie. We were surprised that the friends turned against each other. We held our heads low when the bus came, until we saw that the bus driver was white. That night I dreamt about my dad. He left right after my sister was born. I haven’t seen him since I was a little kid. In my dreams we like to race each other. I woke up with my heart racing. At school we saw Eddie’s mother. She works as an aide. Eddie’s mom put her arm around me. She told her friend that I was her second son. She told her, he watches my t.v., eats my food, and doesn’t give me a dime. He’s my Black-Italian son. It didn’t bother Eddie that his mom worked in the school. Math was always hardest for Eddie. But he had to pass, in order to play ball. When we had a test he would put his pen down, and I would kick the chair to give him the answer. Next it was time to go to the gym. Casey was the head basketball coach and an assistant coach for football. Casey got scholarships for lot of kids in the neighborhood. But none of them made it to the pros. That where BLACK AND WHITE are different. We were planning on making it to the pros. St. John’s and UConn were drooling over us both. We were that good. After shooting a bunch of hoops, it seemed like life was back to normal. Eddie and me were pretty sure the we shot was alive. It was now time to pick a college. Eddie thought we should stay in New York. I had never been away from home, so I liked the plan. When I got home, mom had my food under a piece of foil. I helped my sister study for a spelling test. I took a deep breath, everything was back to normal.

When I got home, my dad was waiting for me. He looked mad. I was sure that he found out about the gun. My dad started talking about how hard his dad worked, He worked 40 years for the Department of Sanitation. He got me a job there. I want you to pick a school where you can get a good education. You have a chance to make it. I want you to study and graduate. I don't want you to ever have to lift a garbage can like your old man. Then dad gave me a bear hug. He told me he was proud of me. I couldn't fall asleep. I thought I saw Grandpa's shadow. I didn't feel right. The cheerleaders were waiting for me in homeroom. They wanted me to plan a party for after the game. I like Rebecca, but we didn't date. She can throw a perfect spiral with a football. Her brothers taught her. After class, I went to the gym. I grabbed a basketball. In two more hours we would be having our game. One time the team went to Albany, New York to play a game. A fight broke out. There was a lot of racial tension. A white kid ripped the leg off a chair and stabbed Jason through the back. He died right there on the court. Coach Casey held him in his arms. Coach never talks about that game. When the game started, we took the lead. 8-0. I took two shots. They were nothing but net. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see my sister. Mom and Dad were there, but I couldn't see them. There were at least three college scouts there at this game trying to recruit Marcus and me. At half-time we were leading 43-18. We were in the locker room when coach was called into the hall. The game started but I didn't see Marcus. Casey told the team that Marcus was arrested. I thought I was going to pass out. My legs were weak. We won the game. 73-58. I was the high scorer.
 * __WHITE-33__**

Make a prediction what will happen to Marcus and Eddie.


 * __BLACK- 42__**
 * The bus driver’s name is Sidney Parker. He remembered me taking the bus with the team from school. He used my picture in the yearbook to ID me.**
 * The detectives read me my rights. I was trying to listen, but I kept looking at Coach, and wondering what he thought of me.**
 * The cops searched my locker for a gun. They cuffed me. All the way down the stairs, I kept thinking about Jason and how he was killed in that game.**
 * People tell me there is a hate between black and white people. There is bad history.**
 * We hate the kid that stabbed Jason. We don’t care what color he is.**
 * I knew from watching t.v. not to say anything until I got a lawyer.**
 * The detectives kept asking me questions. They said I was foolish to take the blame for the shooter.**
 * I was worried sick about my mother. I wasn’t the one who shot the bus driver.**
 * When we got to the precinct, Coach Casey’s wife was there. She told me that my mother was on her way.**
 * They put me in a room, and handcuffed me to a chair.**
 * The cops asked me if I knew Wanda Cary or William Mathes. Before I could answer, he told me that they were the people that Eddie and I had robbed.**
 * When they were moving me to the cell, I saw my mom. She looked scared.**

I was worried about Marcus, but I didn’t want my chance to play college ball slip away from me. I walked right up to a scout and told him that I want to play at St. John’s college. He was happy. He told me to fax him my letter saying that I want to play at St. Johns. He would have the paperwork for me to sign later in the day. I knew that Marcus wouldn’t snitch on me, but I was feeling guilty. I got home before my family got there. I ran upstairs to get the gun. Grandpa had the gun to protect his family. I had used it to rob people. I looked at the pictures of my grandparents. I told the pictures that I didn’t mean to shoot the man. The gun felt heavy in my hands. It did not feel right. I put the gun in my pants, and put a brick inside the box. As I was leaving I decided to take the dog. I wanted to look like a kid walking his dog, not a kid trying to ditch a gun. I walked the projects, and walked past where Marcus lives. I walked down Hell Gate Bridge, and went towards the water. I looked around, and no one was looking. So I took the gun out and squeezed the handle of the gun and threw it as far as I could. I heard the splash. When I got home, my parents were nervous. They wondered where I was. They told me that they were happy that I wasn’t involved in whatever got Marcus arrested. Mom said that the projects make kids do things that aren’t good. She said that maybe it was another boy that looked like Marcus. I wanted my parents to stop talking about Marcus, so I told them about the scholarship. My mom was so happy that she started to cry. “I told everybody that my son would be a success.” Said Dad. I thought the day I picked a college would be my happiest day. I thought that me and Marcus would celebrate together. It took me one hour to type the letter to St. John telling them that I want to go to their school. I spent the entire next day dodging questions about Marcus. Most of the kids looked shocked when I told them I had no idea why Marcus was arrested. Mom told me that she sent the letter. She told me that she was proud of me. Mom then told me that Marcus was arrested because he shot a man during a robbery with a gun. I breathed a sigh of relief after she left. Mom said shot not killed. Coach told us that Marcus would be out of jail in a couple of days. He told the kids that the police would be asking a lot of questions. Coach then told me to share my college plans with the team. When I told them, there was no clapping or congratulations. Coach told me that it would have been nice to find out about my choice from me rather than from St. John’s. The cops put me through the system. They took my picture and fingerprints. I stayed in a cell with a bunch of people high on drugs. I was afraid to close my eyes. There was only one toilet, and no walls. They could all watch you do your business. The next morning they sent me to see a judge. I was scared, but didn’t show it. I didn’t want to be shark bait. The guys were all eyeing my new kicks. When I went into the courthouse, Casey, his girlfriend and my mother were there. I couldn’t help but think that Eddie was getting a free ride. My mother hugged me. I met with my lawyer that the city appointed to my case. Ms. Torres was my lawyer. She told me what to expect. She told me that I would get less time if I told them who the shooter was. I told them that I was not going to tell them. That’s when my mom had a fit. She knew it was Eddie. He was my best friend. She asked me where my best friend was now. He was home free to do what he wanted to do! She asked me if I had the gun in the house. She told me that she didn’t want my sister to find the gun and shoot herself accidently. I told mama that the gun was not at our house. I felt ashamed when the DA called my name. Ms. Torres took notes. My bail was set at $20,000. I knew that my mom did not have that kind of money. I got put on a bus for Rikers Island. Describe what type of things that Marcus would see at Rikers Island. Do you think they are sending him on vacation? Explain your answer.
 * __WHITE-48__**Rose found out that Marcus was arrested.
 * __BLACK-61__**

I was chained to the kid sitting next to me. There were thick metal screens on the windows. There was a steel cage between the driver and us. As we got closer, I saw water and razor wire. DRAW WHAT YOU THINK RAZOR OR BARB WIRE LOOKS LIKE>

Inside Rikers Island there are a lot of black kids. Eddie’s parents would have bailed him out. I was the only one sitting here for the crime WE committed. There was no black and white at Rikers Island. The only white people here were security guards. There weren’t any cells with iron bars. There were rows of cots in a big dorm. I slept in my clothes. In the morning they gave me a brush. I was part of a crew that had to scrub the toliets. There were other kids on other parts of the island. Whenever the groups would pass, everyone would get tense. Most of the adults were diesel. They were really strong. Everyone talked junk. They all told me that they were going to take my sneakers. I just pretend that I couldn’t hear them. It was like summer camp for scumbags. Kids spent all day trying to prove that they were gangsters. Everyone was afraid to be sent upstate, no one wanted to do time with the adults. Around five o’clock I was called to the office. I was told that I was going home. Someone had bailed me out. My mother and sister were waiting for me at checkpoint. My sister ran up to me and hugged me. My mother stood there with her arms crossed. We had to take a bus home. My mother had begged her sisters for money for bail. I saw one of my friends outside my house. They told me that my best friend took a scholarship at St. John’s the night I was arrested. It hurt me to hear that news. My mother heard every word. She was really mad now. I felt like my heart was sinking into my shoes. __What does the saying, “I felt like my heart was sinking into my shoes mean?__

My opened our door. I was never more glad to get home. My sister put on the tv, but mom shut it off. She told her to study for her math test. Mom looked at me and said, “Who is it?” My sister went to bed after dinner. Mom told me to sit down. Mom said, “Explain yourself Marcus!” I told her that I just wanted extra money. I broke down crying. I wanted to buy these shoes, and senior dues needed to be turned in. I never meant for anybody to- “You almost killed somebody!” my Mom yelled. “You threw away your life for a pair of shoes and some spending money!” Momma continued. “Maybe you won’t say his name to the police, but you will say his name here.” She said, “It’s black and white until somebody goes to jail. When it’s time to go to jail, its just Black.” After everything was said, I went to bed. You don’t give your best friend up to the cops. It was street rules. The phone rang. It was Rose. She was checking up on me. Mama answered the phone. She told her that I was sleeping. She asked how Eddie was handling all of the drama. Momma woke me up the next morning. She told me that I was going to school. I looked for my shoes. They were in the trash, and Momma had put food scraps all over them. I kissed my momma. She was as cold as a statue. I waited near Eddie’s house. I saw Rose. Rose ran over to me and gave me a giant hug. Rose found it hard to believe. I told her that it was an accident that the man got shot. She didn’t say it, but I knew she was real disappointed in me. I saw Eddie. He looked stiff. He walked over to me and hugged me. I told him that I heard about the scholarship. He told me that we would be both playing college ball. Neither of us believed it. Eddie asked about my mother. Rose told me that it wasn’t fair that the shooter was free to do whatever he wanted to do. I told her it is like a game. Whoever gets caught, goes to jail. I didn’t want to tell her that her brother was the one who pulled the trigger. When we got to school, we had to take out our security cards. One of the guards laughed when he looked at my card. He said he wanted to sell the basketball that I signed real cheap. The kids asked me what happened, but I told them I couldn’t talk about because of court. Later I ran into Eddie’s mom. She told me that I could always talk to her. It was time for gym. The last time I was in the locker room, I was getting cuffed. Eddie saw that I was lacing my old kicks, and wanted to know why. I told him that my mother threw my new ones in the trash. After practice, Eddie asked, “Is there something I’m supposed to do?” Eddie told me that he ditched the gun. I didn’t ask where. He told me that he took the scholarship right away, in case they started hearing things. I asked Eddie if he was worried about hanging out with me. I asked him if he was afraid the cops would pin the crime on him. He told me that everyone knew Black and White. We both smiled, and went home to our homes. I saw the black sedan outside my house. Right away I thought something was wrong. I could hear my Dad’s voice. It was polite. Two detectives were sitting on the couch. When I walked in, my dad introduced us. My mom put her hands on my shoulders and walked me over to a chair. The detectives introduced themselves. My dad was looking into my face. My dog sat at my feet. They asked a lot of questions about Marcus. They knew all about Black and White. They knew about my scholarship. Dad got mad. He wanted to know if they were investigating me. They explained that they were just trying to figure out what happened. Mom told them that Marcus was like family. She said that if Marcus had done the crime, then someone else would have talked him into doing it. After the detectives left, Dad started badmouthing Marcus. He said he must of done the crime because of where he was raised. He said people are either robbed or rob other people. Rose wanted to tell Marcus about the detectives, but Mom and Dad said that she couldn’t tell him. My mom was so upset that she couldn’t cook dinner. We ordered Chinese food instead. I sat done. I realized I was trying to protect myself, and not my friend. Everything I had worked so hard for, was slipping away. I knew that the cops would figure out that it was me and Marcus that had robbed those people. They would figure out I was the one who shot the bus driver. That night I couldn’t sleep. I went up to the attic. My dad was there. He had the shoebox in his hands. He saw that the gun was missing. Dad told me to go back to bed. I left. Dad didn’t tell Mom. Dad looked at me. I felt that he was asking me “How could I raise you to do something like that?” If you were Eddie’s dad, what would you do?
 * WHITE-82**

I spent Saturday out of Dad’s sight. Dad’s coworkers stopped when they saw me shooting hoops and congratulated me on my scholarship. On Sunday, the detectives came back to my house. They arrested me in my living room. The woman we robbed had pointed me out as one of the two boys that robbed her. Gotti my dog, bite the pants of one of the detectives. Dad told me not to say anything until we got a lawyer. My neighbors were all watching me. At the station, they asked me questions for about two hours. I didn’t say a word. They knew about everything, except for grandpa’s gun. The cops told me that Marcus would probably take a plea deal and snitch on me, so that he wouldn’t have to do much time. The next morning I got transferred to the courthouse. Everyone was calling me “white boy.” My lawyer’s name was Mr. Glub. He explained to me about what would happen in the courtroom. I felt very unsafe in the cell. People kept talking about me. Mom and Dad posted bail. Rose called my house. My mom let me talk to her because she was hysterical. My mom said that Eddie was as guilty as me, and maybe he was more guilty. One of the security guards pulled me aside. He was like an older brother. He told me that what I did was wrong. He asked me what gives me the right to pull a gun on somebody. He was real mad that we pulled a gun on a black man. I knew he was right, so I just stood there and listened. I promised him, I would never be that stupid in my life again. At practice everyone was asking me about Eddie. It was the first time in four years that he wasn’t at practice. Missing the practice meant that Eddie couldn’t start tomorrow. A freshman, Preston would be starting. That night I went past the courts and went to Eddie’s house. I could see that Eddie’s father was talking to someone. So I kept walking around the block. The next morning I saw Rose. I think she saw me, but she didn’t talk to me. She acted like she didn’t see me. He whispered to me, that no one knew that he was arrested, and wanted to keep it that way. He told Marcus that they will be fine, it they both keep their mouth closed. After class, Eddie wanted to know what Coach said about him missing the practice. I told him that Preston would be starting. I skipped lunch because I didn’t want to see Eddie’s mother. I went to the library instead. I was sitting there when someone in a red jacket walked by. It was Rose. She sat down next to me. Rose asked, “How did it ever get like this?” I was trying to answer her, and the librarian told us to stop talking. I showed my math teacher my pass to leave early. Everyone teased me about having to sit out part of the game. They asked me if I thought I was too important not to practice now that I had a scholarship. I sucked it up and laughed. On the train, Coach asked me where I was yesterday, in front of all of the kids. I told him that I had to be someplace with my family yesterday. We had to get off the train, and got onto a subway. In one of the cars a man stared screaming at a woman and her baby. At first I thought they were together and were having a fight. The man started yelling at the lady, because she was black. He told her that someone should kill her. The man was drunk. He got up and fell face first into the doors. He started to yell at a white girl. The doors opened, and someone pushed the man out of the doors. Somehow the man was able to get back on the subway. Casey got there ten minutes before game time. A minute or two into the game, I saw my dad. The first quarter was done, and I was still sitting on the bench. I missed my first few shots. Then I got back on track. My dad and his boss clapped and called out my name every time I scored. By half-time we were still losing by two points. Coach was mad. He told us to play as a team. We were down by one point with less than one minute to play. We lost by five points. The other team could not believe that they had won! Coach told us that we made a lot of dumb mistakes, starting with me missing practice. My dad told me that his boss was going to drive my dad and I home. A reporter was at the game. They wanted to talk to me and Marcus. The reporter said, I understand that you were arrested yesterday for the same charges as Marcus. My dad stepped in and pulled me away. I changed, and Coach wouldn’t even look at me. On the way to school I got a newspaper. It said, “High School Athletes Charged.” The story told all about Sidney Parker, the bus driver. It said that Sidney was a father of three children and that he was hoping to be better in a month to return back to work. The article said that Sidney was never afraid of kids, he was always afraid for them. He didn’t want anything to happen to kids. But now he was mad. He said that we should be locked up like animals. Eddie didn’t come to school that morning. Rose and his mother were not at school either. My friends told me that I was lucky that Eddie was also charged. They told me that Eddie was probably making a plea deal. I couldn’t make myself believe that. I didn’t want Eddie to play dirty, and put the blame on me. I didn’t want to go home. I knew my mother would have read the paper. I went into the gym. The place was empty except for Coach. I walked past the case that had Jason’s jersey in it. He wore number 15. No one is to ever have that number again. The more baskets I made, the better I felt. I didn’t think that Eddie would ever stab me in the back. WHAT DOES “STAB IN THE BACK MEAN?”
 * BLACK-91**
 * WHITE-99**
 * __BLACK-109__**

Coach walked over to me and started passing me the ball. He told me that the scouts were probably not going to offer me a scholarship after reading the article. He told me that I might have to go to a city college, and prove myself. Coach told me that he talked to my mother after reading the newspaper, and that she was spitting mad. He told me that he called Eddie’s house too, but there was no answer. By the time I got home, my mother was calm. My lawyer, Ms. Torres told her that I didn’t have many choices. He told her my best bet was to go for a plea deal. She told my mother that we could have my teachers write letters to the court, telling them that I was a good kid, and a good student. I looked down, as Momma was talking. She asked me, “What type of deal is Eddie working out for himself?” I yelled at her, “You don’t know what Eddie is doing!” She calmed down, but said, “Neither do you Marcus, neither do you!” I told my mom that we both screwed up. He’s my best friend. Momma told me that I am her son, and it was her job to do the best for me. Eddie was in school the next day. After practice we walked home. I told him that the grand jury was going to indict us. Eddie told me that his lawyer said that if we keep our mouth closed, they won’t have enough to indict either one of us. Eddie then said, “The lady who picked out my picture isn’t even 100 percent sure she picked out the right kid.” The coach of St. John’s called Eddie, and Eddie’s father had his lawyer call him back saying that Eddie was innocent and would be there in September.” When we got to our corner, Eddie told me that we were going to win the championship. At night I had to finish an essay. I wrote that I want people to remember me as a good person, and that I watched out for my family and friends and never bother anyone, and that I try my best at everything I ever did. Coach told the team that he knows that we all had a rough couple of weeks as a team. He told us that we were going to get through the season. Eddie was the first one to get dressed. He leaned over to me and whispered that he had to meet his father. Ms. Torred called that night to me that I had been indicted. She said that if I agreed to plea bargain, I would be out of jail in two years. And if I gave up the shooter, I would do less time. I looked at the pictures on my lawyer’s wall. He graduated from St. John’s College. He told my dad how I was going to get off. Sidney Parker, the bus driver, couldn’t pick out my picture. The woman who identified me, wasn’t positive. The two of them talked like I was completely innocent. I hated making my dad into a liar. He knew about the gun. He knew it was missing. My lawyer asked, “Can we trust that Marcus is not going to claim that you were there with him? Most people will do anything to save their own skin.” My dad sneered, “Even if he did, no one would believe him.” On the way home, I thanked my dad for everything. Dad just said, “Do you have any idea how much this is costing your mother and me?” He asked, “How could you point a gun at anyone?” I told him, “I don’t know.” That was my biggest confession to anyone. On Saturday it was 55 degrees. Marcus and I normally play ball, but everyone would be asking us lots of questions. I made my way to the court. Marcus wasn’t there. When I got home, my mother told me to listen to the messages. It was Rebecca. She told him that her parents weren’t going to let her go out with him because her parents saw the newspaper. I explained to Rebecca that it was all a mistake. I told her that the cops said it was Marcus, and that they thought it was me too, because we are such good friends. The phone rang and I picked it up. It was the coach from St. John’s. He told me that it was ok that he was talking to my lawyer, but he really wanted to talk to me and my parents. He told me that if I am convicted of a felony, I would lose my scholarship. I told him that I would be ready to start playing ball in the fall. I was so happy when I got off the phone. But suddenly I felt sick to my stomach. I hated every lie that came out of my mouth. On Monday, we got ready for practice. Marcus and I were unbeatable. Coach was happy with the way the team was playing. After practice, Marcus told me that he was going to take a plea deal. He didn’t want it to go to trial. He told me that he can’t pretend that he wasn’t involved. I felt like Marcus was giving up. I got mad. I said, “If you plead guilty, you will hurt my case!” Marcus started yelling at me. He pushed me against the building. “We got into this mess together, and it’s me that’s me paying for it!” We didn’t talk for the rest of the way home. I finally said, “Black and White through thick and thin.” My lawyer called. I knew that I had been indicted by the grand jury. On the way home from another practice I told Marcus that he was giving up. He was making things worse for me. Marcus looked at me and said, “Listen, it was your gun and your mistake.” Eddie said, “I asked you to hold the gun that night, but you punked out on me.” After Marcus left, I wondered what would happen if I told the truth. When I got home, Rose pretended to introduce the parents of the athletes. Senior night was the last home game of our high school career. My mom had been looking forward to Senior Night for the past four years. Marcus showed up at school in his suit. He said that he was going to court after school. His lawyer was going to read the paper before he signed the plea deal. Marcus took a deal to be home in nineteen months. He was going to jail in three weeks. He said that was enough time to win the championship. In class, I was asked to read my report. “I’d like people to remember me as somebody that they could depend on. No matter what happens. I’m not the kind of person who walks away when things get tough. I’m willing to put myself on the line…..”
 * __WHITE-118__**
 * Make a prediction or connection to the story.**

Security pulled me out of class. He was telling my mother that I was the type of kid that was going to learn from what I had done. He told her that I was going to pick myself up and succeed. He said that the other kids in the neighborhood would look up to me for being honest, taking responsibility and for moving forward. My mother said it was going to be difficult, and that every day was going to be a test. Security told me that I was lucky to have a strong and supporting mother. Ms. Torres met us at the DA’s office. She looked over the plea and gave it to me to sign. I picked up the pen and signed. I had three weeks before I was going to get sent upstate. I would not see my mother or sister for almost two years. I wouldn’t be running with Eddie. I would be on my own. I would be doing my time with adults, who could be locked up for anything. I knew that I might have to fight to show them I was strong and brave. That scared me. I was going to have to give my teachers a note, to receive my grades. I was going to finish high school in jail. I would get a diploma or take the GED exam. I saw Eddie the next day. He asked me what happened. I told him it was over for me. Coach and I were called to the office. Neither of us knew why. I was told that I could not continue to play on the team. Coach was in shock. He couldn’t believe it. The principal said that I had pleaded guilty for a serious crime, and that rules were rules. Coach stated yelling, “Are you trying to compare Marcus to that boy that killed Jason?” The principal told him that she was not comparing him to anyone. She told us to leave. Do you think Marcus should be able to play on the basketball team? Explain.
 * BLACK-131**

Coach had a team meeting. Eddie looked at me and shook his head. I apologized to the team. I told them that I didn’t know about the school rule. The principal told me that I couldn’t watch the practices and I couldn’t sit on the bench. My mother was real mad. She told me that they were treating me like a convict already. She told me that she was still proud of me. Rose found me in the library again. She told me it wasn’t fair that I couldn’t play ball anymore. I told her that I had made a really bad decision, and these were my consequences. She apologized to me. She told me her parents did not have anything nice to say about me. In English class, it was finally my turn to read my paper. “In the end, I’d like people to say that I tried to be honest with them. I want them to remember the real Marcus Brown. Not the ballplayer. It was game night. I turned to Eddie and said, Its all you tonight.” Eddie thought that there was going to be about 400 people in the gym tonight due to Senior night. Eddie and I talked about what our parents might say to each other. They will be right next to each other tonight. Security took out $12.00 from his pocket. He told me that he wanted us to go to the game by cab. He said, “Every young brother needs a little help along the way. I’m paying back what came down to me.” My sister was really excited about Senior Night. She wore a red dress. She looked like a princess in her dress. She wore a necklace that used to be my grandmother’s before she passed away. The cab arrived. My mother was happy. It was an hour before the game when we arrived. I did not go up to the team. Eddie nodded in my direction. Rose showed up with Eddie’s mother. They took the last seats in the row. Rose kept looking up at me. Security was there. They were checking all of the kids IDs. They began to honor the parents. The principal walked over to me. He told me that I could not walk on the court, but my mother and sister could. My mother said, “My son is walking with me!” We got up, but the principal stood in our way. Some kids in the stands started saying that the principal is racist. Security tried to have the principal move. The kids started a fight. When the lights didn’t go on, kids started throwing things. Security started hitting one of the kids that was attacking him. Lots of people swarmed the floor. Rose was crying. The cops showed up, and emptied the gym. The principal was dazed and confused. My mother yelled at her the entire way. We started to walk home. My sister was crying. Mom said, “For better or worse, you’ll find out everything about this world.” Mom didn’t stop crying until she found Rose. We were all standing in the middle of the court. The cops only let the players and coaches and refs stay in the gym. I lost sight of Marcus. Coach was on one knee, cleaning up broken glass. I wanted to tell everyone the truth. It all felt like my fault. The cheerleaders were allowed back into the gym. Half the game was over, and I hadn’t made a point! Coach told us to clear our heads.
 * WHITE-146**

­­
 * __What advice would you give the team?__**

Coach said, “This is your team now, Eddie.” When I got onto the court, I started to cry. I made a basket. I made five straight shots. We were leading by two points. We went into the fourth quarter down by two points. The guy guarding me looked like Marcus. I couldn’t get away from him. He was like my shadow. Suddenly I tackled him, and grabbed him by the waist. Foul. We lost 60 to 49. We got knocked out of the playoffs. My dad was waiting for me after the game. My sister was too scared to sleep by herself after the fight in the gym last night. I left the house. It wasn’t even 8 in the morning. I went to the court to shoot some hoops. Some of my friends showed up. They told me that the team had lost, and that they were out of the playoffs. It was all the same for me, I couldn’t play any way. Rose was watching me play. After the game I walked over to her. The guys wanted me to keep playing, but I grabbed her hand and walked away. I told Rose that I would write to her from jail. She asked me if I thought Eddie would go to jail too. I told her- “He’s innocent until somebody proves he’s guilty.” Rose stopped and walked into a flower shop. Explain why this is important to the story.
 * BLACK-155**

Rose got a dozen roses. Rose handed the roses to me and I carried them all the way to her house. I tried to give her the roses. She told me that they were for my mother. They were meant for her because she did not get them the night before at Senior Night. My mother loved the roses. Most of the night I thought about Rose. I was falling in love. Sunday morning, my momma told me that I should go to church with her. I didn’t want to disappoint her, so I decided to go. I hadn’t been to church in four years. He had baptized me. He knew my father. I had heard from my father twice after he left. He called me both times on my birthday. I haven’t heard from him since. During mass, I found it difficult to listen to what the preacher was talking about. I began to pray. I prayed for my mom and my sister. I also prayed for Jefferson the security guard. After mass we went shopping at the supermarket. We ran into Eddie’s mother at the store. Eddie and his father were walking a step or two ahead of his mother. Everyone froze where they were. When my mother saw Eddie, she said, “Isn’t that my son’s jacket, the one that got stolen that night?” Eddie’s father stepped in front of Eddie. She told Eddie to return it soon because he was going to prison. Eddie put his hand on the zipper, but my mother grabbed my sister by the arm and walked away. Eddie stared at me. I put my hands in my pocket and followed my mom. Both security guards were absent on Monday. They had been transferred. Neither of them were allowed to work near kids. Jefferson was getting blamed for something that he didn’t do. Funny how things don’t seem to change.

All the way home from the supermarket my mom was crying. That night mom came into my room. Mom told me that she was scared for me. She told me I was still her little baby. Dad got mad at mom when she was crying. She stood up and started to put my clothes away. That’s when she saw Marcus’s coat. She told me to return the jacket, and ran off crying. I took the jacket to school with me the next day. I wished I had never taken my grandpa’s gun. When I got to class Marcus was talking to the teacher, getting some of his work to do in jail. I walked over to his chair, and put his coat on it. I watched Marcus walk off to his class. He carried the jacket like it was poison. As I was walking to class I walked straight into my mom and the principal. Mom told the principal that I was really something. At gym we were having an end of the season celebration. I didn’t feel like playing ball. I took a soda and popped it open. I watched Marcus. The janitor was fixing the case with Jason’s jersey in it. It was broken in the riot. Coach told us that he needed our uniforms. I was hoping that they were going to retire my number, but as it turns out some kids will have it next year. Marcus took out his uniforms. His mother already washed them. It was easy for Marcus to give up his uniform. He wasn’t part of the team any more, and he wasn’t the Black in Black and White anymore.
 * WHITE-165**
 * __Do you think it was really easy for Marcus to give his uniform to his coach? Explain.__**

The next night, my dad and I had to go meet with my lawyer. We needed to make another payment. Dad said, “Take a good look at the money I am spending. This is the vacation money we were saving.” My lawyer said the case against me was weak. At this point it was a waiting game. The cops hoped that I would say something. If they couldn’t get more evidence, they could drop the case too. I was never more scared. I had to sit and wait. Rebecca was waiting for me after class, and we took a walk near Hell Gate Bridge. All I could think about was the gun I threw into the water. Rebecca kissed me. I held her in my arms. On our way back to the park I saw Rose and Marcus. When I got home, Mom had my uniform all washed. It was time to turn it in. There were less than two weeks before I had to turn myself in. I was in love with Rose. I wanted to tell Eddie that I was in love with his sister, but I didn’t want one more mountain between us.
 * __BLACK-177__**
 * What do you think he means by saying that he didn’t want one more mountain between us? Explain.**

Rose didn’t tell her parents. Her father would never let her date me. Mom knew that I was dating Rose. That made me happy, because I didn’t want to keep any more secrets from her. Eddie and I started talking. I told him that I had to make the best of my final days of freedom. Every night I ate dinner with my family. Things that used to be important to me, aren’t. Playing basketball used to be most important to me. Now it was my family. I already missed Coach. He had worked with me for years. He told me that he was still in my corner, no matter what. I knew that I would never forget Jason. We came from the same place. Jason lost his life, and I almost took someone’s elses. Mom gave me twenty dollars. I took Rose to the movies. I showed Rose where the robbery happened. On the way home, we stopped at the same flower shop. I got a rose for Rose. She got my mom flowers. That night mom showed me the list of things that she would be sending me. Sabrina gave me the Walkman. I never did tell her where it came from. I held it in my hands. It was as though I could still hear that lady screaming for help. I gave Sabrina a big hug. In the morning, I went to the court. I waited to see who was playing. Some guy made a shot. It was all net. He was wearing his maroon and powder blue sneakers. I dribbled the ball and crossed the street. It has him and me, on the court. I put my ball down, and he passed his to me. We weren’t playing hard at first. When I was offense, I turned the corner on him every times. I pushed him to go faster and faster. There was something weighing him down. He couldn’t keep up. After ten minutes Eddie needed a break. There was nothing between us now, except for the line that separates black and white. I didn’t realize it was there, and I didn’t know if it could ever be erased, or find a way around it. I only knew that I wanted to try. The End