JOHN FOREST’S ROOM—END OF THE DAY “YOU DON’T KNOW NOTHING. I live in two different worlds, two separate worlds. You don’t know. What you teach me is one world. You have any idea what it’s like in my house? You have any idea what it’s like on my street? No! Jeez. You know I see your white world, but it ain’t my world. It ain’t never gonna be my world. You know my brother, my thirteen-year-old brother, when I was seven, was shot in a convenience store.” “I’m so sorry, Ricky. What for?” “Ehh, eh, whatd’ya mean? Whatd’ya mean, what for? Jesus!” “He didn’t have to.” “Whatd’ya mean, he didn’t have to? You try livin’ where we live for one day, one day, Mister! God! And you’re tellin’ me I should study. Ha. You’re tellin’ me I can go to college! Oh, Jeez. Ha. You stupid. And you think I’m stupid.” “No, I think you’re smart.” “Smart is keepin’ my ass alive. That’s smart. Smart is goin’ home and bein’ able to face my brother, his friends, and the streets.
