Personal Narrative: Leslie's Decision

Leslie’s Decision

I was born in Montgomery, Alabama in 1935. I was just a day old when my mother and father dropped me off at grandma’s house and never came back. Grandma Rosa said that my father had gambling problems my mother was on and off drugs. Sometimes, grandma said that my mother asked her for money when she was running away from my father because he was abusive. But I wouldn’t know where I would be if my parents would have taken care of me. My parents did not name me so, my grandmother named me after her great grandmother Leslie. The only memory of my mother is her pocket watch that fell out of her purse that day. I’ve been living with my grandmother for ten years. I’m very sure my parents are not coming back. Everyday as soon as I wake up I use the pocket watch. Using it every time I always wonder what it would be like seeing my parent’s faces. My grandmother said to me that everything happens for a reason maybe my parents leaving was for me to live. At school when the kids get out of the schoolhouse they say “don’t step on a crack”. I believe in that ,but it does not apply to me. Just started fifth grade at Frederick Douglas Elementary School. It’s my first year at this school. I can say that it’s a step up from Harriet Tubman Elementary. All the kids in that 4th grade classroom threw crayons and

pencils at me. The only time someone would talk to me would be their way of asking me to do their homework. It is a shame that people only want to use you. My future will be bright even if my parents did not want to be a part of my life.

“Wake up Leslie it’s your first day of fifth grade” said grandma. “ Just five more minutes ” I said. “ Wouldn’t wanna be late for your first day”.I hate getting up for school”. So I got dressed in my new outfit and began to walk down to the bus stop. I got there and was the only kid at the stop. Walking in the classroom I picked my seat. I choose the spot closest to the teacher because students would not do anything to the students that sit in the front. “Good morning students” said Ms. Johnson. “Welcome to Frederick Douglas Elementary” said Ms. Johnson. “ Hello” I said and was the only student to say something. “ Okay well I guess you all are very tired” said Ms. Johnson. “ Since it’s the first day, we are going to review multiplication and division”. “ So I already wrote some problems on the board will some of you like to solve them ”said Ms. Johnson. “I’d like to complete number 1 ” I said. So I got up to the front of the classroom and then one of the Selma said “Nerd” and then everyone started laughing. “ Be quiet” said Ms. Johnson. “ Leslie go ahead!” I got up to the chalkboard and answered the problem.

“What time is it”?

Said Leslie “8:14 am” said Grandma. “ Breaking news from Washington and atomic bomb has been dropped on The Japanese City Hiroshima and 80,000 people are dead and 35,000 are injured.’’ said the radio broadcaster. “ Oh my God!” said grandma. “Grandma what about the innocent children” said Leslie. “What about peace and equality?’’ said Grandma. “ I don’t understand why they needed to drop the atomic bomb on those cities it’s unfair.” said Leslie. The next morning Leslie completed her daily morning routine and went to school. “ Did anyone hear about the atomic bomb news” said Ms. Johnson. “I did ” said Leslie. “ Of course, she heard ” said

Selma
“Truman decided to drop a bomb on Hiroshima” said Leslie. “ Who cares America was losing ” said Selma
“ Thousands and thousands of innocent people died including children” said Leslie. “ Oh!!! I didn’t know that ” said Selma.“ That’s what’ wrong with you all you have no knowledge of life and you think doing homework is so bad some children have no access to education” said Leslie. “ I never really knew that” said Selma
“ I really think you all should be grateful for what you have and receive.” said Leslie. That’s correct I believe that you all have potential to make it in this world and succeed in everything you do’’ said Ms. Johnson. “ But with a terrible attitude you all will ruin all of opportunities.” said Ms. Johnson. “ But you don’t know what goes on in our life so you cannot judge us for our actions ” said Selma
“That does not give you an excuse to disrespect others in any way ” said Leslie. Ms. Johnson stopped the lesson for the day and sat at her desk
writing in your lesson journal. Leslie went home and told her grandma what happened that day. Next, Morning the school bell rang and it was time to go to class. “Good Morning students” said Ms. Johnson. “ Today you all will write letters to the kids that lost their parent’s because of the atomic bombing’’ said Ms. Johnson.The students began to write the letters to the kids in Hiroshima. Ms. Johnson hoped that writing the letters sparked the minds of the children that their lives were very blessed.