Do you know what I think? Of course you don’t; you don’t even know me. But would you like to? Not that it really matters because I’d tell you anyway.

I don’t know, I don’t think I was always this way. I know I wasn’t! It’s not my fault though; well if it is I didn’t mean for it to be. You see when I was boy, oh and what marvelous boy at that, well…with maybe the exception of my school grades. I encountered a tragedy, very much so for one of only third grade and not even third grade but going into. I was forced to move, to a new world. A world with dirty roads instead of paved. A world of solitude, for I would live on a five-acre lot, as did my so-called "neighbors," if I really did have neighbors, I couldn’t see them. I guess I just had faith that they were there as with the move in general, even though it must have been very little faith.

With a new world comes a new life… with a new school! I only knew school, I had no job (at least that I was paid for) and I had no family that demanded my attention. For if it was summer, I was free! But who wants to be free in a world where you don’t FIT! Worse yet who wants to go to a school where only you don’t fit in? I didn’t, but such was my lot. So the day of death arrived, my first day in the third grade!

Right on, Aturo! You throw great parties! I’m not sure if it justifies going back to school though. Every year there seems to be more and more "powder boys," "white puffs," "whiteys" whatever you want to call them. All this money moving in and it doesn’t even know how to fight. I should say it doesn’t know how to fight on the field, it seems to do pretty good in court. That’s the problem, all these new white boys just move in here and act like they own the place. Oh well, it makes for a good fight anyway. Right Aturo? Come on, I can take you down in less than five.

I’m ok, I guess. I’m still alive, even though I despise my surroundings. Where are my friends? I see no Billy Watson, there’s no Billy Sorensen either, oh and my first love. She was so much taller than me though but I think I like tall women. We were both kindergartners and to me she was beautiful. Ha, I remember those days as if it was yesterday. She would tell me how I loved her and how I would call her my girlfriend. I was a little surprised for I remembered saying no such thing but I would smile and agree for I was happy to be with Erin.

I had lots of friends and don’t recall any bullies or enemies. I really loved recess for the mere fact of being able to play with them. We would play soccer, football, tag, and many other games. I remember going to a basketball game with Billy Watson and playing on the computer with Billy Sorensen. I really loved being with my friends.

Walt and Eleanor were my sweet old neighbors. They absolutely loved us (my brothers, sister, and I) and would always give us candy or something. They always wanted to know what was going on in my life and the life of my brothers and sister. I would even go over and work with Walt outside. Walt is best green thumb I’ve ever known. Eleanor, she was the best bargain hunter around. If there was a deal to be found Eleanor had found it. To this day I’ve never seen so many coupons as I did at Eleanor’s house. I loved to spend my free time over there in their home.

Now I wasn’t there though, that world was far, far away. Here everything was different for me. Everyone was different from me. These people spoke in a different tongue. They were always tan even in the cold months when my skin would change. They had black hairs under their nose; kind of like my dad but they were little in size like me. They weren’t like me though! I was hit in the head with a fist. I was punched in the stomach!

Did you see that new kid over there? Talk about a sorry excuse; watch this. Hey! What’s up pretty boy! You pichy bondayho!

Did you see it? I cleaned his clock! He didn’t even see it coming. Ha, I’m the champ yeah!

No, they weren’t like me. I think they knew that too; that I was not like them. I know they could sense my fear at least, I think they could. Oh, but they had to have known my fear because for me it was so very, very REAL!

You know that white boy, the one I introduced my self to. Ha, Ha.. He seems so disturbed. I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but you talk about a sad sight. I’d have thought by looking at him that his world had blown up!

Epilogue:

Such was my first encounter with, or I should say first recognition of the "other." Though profound to my memory in the most negative of connotations, I view the "other" much differently today. I view with a much kinder outlook and appreciate the difference in the "other." For a wise colored man put it best, "this variety in life is like the variety in a salad, that’s what makes it good!"

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