The Homies

I know it has been over two years. This is where we are now. These are the characters:

DP- He came here in the Jr. High almost three years ago. He is all about the hood and the homies and the locs. He can be charming and has a sense of curiosity and desire to learn. He is easily distracted and prone to bringing the hood into the class. Nigga this and nigga that and Fam you shoulda a seen this shit...and on and on and the cell phone and the ipod and the Psp and the new shoes and the sagging jeans and the boxers. It's all about the distractions. He came to Crossroads last year from the Jr. High. LO said he needed a smaller environment and a predictable routine. By the end of the year he had toned down his act came to school every day and earned full credit. He asked if he could be in Crossroads again to start the year. We have a trust. He does what I say. He has lost a little ground and old behaviors have come back though not as severe. I hope to move him out at the end of the quarter.

LD- He is friends with DP. Similar in his hyperactivity and constant obsession with all things in the hood and on the streets. He too can be charming. His pants sag so much that he waddles when he walks. For a while last year he sucked on a pacifier. But he can quickly escalate into a state of explosive anger and profanity. It is a familiar pattern of learned behavior that he seems unwilling to break. Again the cell phone often plays a major role. Often it is his mother on the other end calling in the middle of class about something that happened at home or in the hood. Something stolen or missing from the house. Something somebody said or did. She says we treat her son unfairly and it is us that are the cause of his outbursts. Last year she kicked him out of the house and sent him to live with a friend for several weeks because of an argument they had. Another time she came to school with him and another son she brought along who does not go to school here, went to the 3rd floor and confronted another kid for something said in the hood. I broke up the near fight got them into an office and tried to sort things out. They all smelled of weed.The brother said yeah he was smoking but not LD. I wondered where was the mother while this was going on. What was she thinking to come into the school with sons in tow smelling of weed and looking to fight? She was offended that I spoke harshly to her son. He had skipped the morning and only came now to confront the kid and perform in a talent show for 6th hour. I said go home. Now he is back for one more try. In spite of multiple phone calls to him and his mother in which they agree on a time to meet for re-entry they show up 3 hours late and miss the chance to sign up for school. Nothing has changed. He will not make it. The tragedy is that he is well aware of his foibles and triggers but falls back on the familiar.

OF- When he came last year he was on probation and and living in shelter. Considered a ward of the state. His father is undocumented and nowhere to be found. His mother died when he was five. He has lived on the streets for a year. He stole a car got caught and was locked up. He says straight out that he does not care for school. He wears his hair long and has delicate features. He says he is not in a gang but only hangs out with those guys. That is a lie. He is 18th St. He has a foundation of learning from early school in Mexico. He is bright and engaged in class. He says it is only because he has no choice. He was able to leave the shelter and live with an aunt that they found. By summer she had kicked him out and now he lives at the home of another student. He has been in a lot of drama. He has a big mouth and never backs down. He comes to school every day. He is balancing on a thread. I wonder how long he can keep it up.

RA- He has been here since Jr. High. A friendly, playful, lovable kid who cannot focus or get things done. He lives across the street with his mother. We have known his family for years. He did not want to be in Crossroads. His mother and I gave him no choice. He needs a smaller environment and consistent structure. By the end of last school year he was earning full credit and changing his behavior. When I saw him in August he asked if he could come back to Crossroads. How could I refuse? Oh yeah. He is 18th St.

TA- From the Jr. High. Cambodian. He has family here. Always the cap and hood. Quiet and sometimes moody. So far he is trying to work hard. He writes in street talk and tries to use 5's instead of s"s. 5 point stars all over his papers. He represents Asian Bloods.

GN- A West Side Blood. Was here 3 years ago in Jr. High. Truancy and Weed were his downfall. Once they did a home visit and the house was filthy and reeked of weed. The mother didn't even try to hide the pipes and bongs on the coffee table. A few week later the house got raided and the kids went to foster homes for a while. Now he is back home. Says he wants to graduate. So far he has been here every day. He works hard and tries to please. He has a girl friend in the 11th grade. It appears to be an unhealthy relationship. Other staff have seen him pushing her around. His calmness explodes into uncontrollable anger. He is in denial. Somethings gotta give.

UG. Another 18th St. Quiet. Could be an extra in one of those cop shows set in LA. Shaved head. A homey holding down the barrio. So far he works hard and keeps a low profile. His efforts to connect with me defy gangsta looks.

WR. A new kid. He is 17 and has not earned credit in 2 years. His mother says he's been sent home or in detention for bad behavior. She looks tired. She has given up. He seems unaware that he has a problem. He all about style. The belt, the jeans, a Sponge Bob back pack, cell phone, ipod, headphones, and being a clown. I am afraid he will wear my patience and burn his last bridge.

TA. Could be WR's slightly darker twin. They even speak with the same style and inflections. Only he has writing skills and seems eager to please. But he likes to get WR going and then stand back and watch the action. He has a Spiderman back pack.

DC. Quick to connect. A new student but knows everyone. He is friendly and easy going. Was locked up for stabbing one of his homeys. Was unable to tell me the clear details and circumstances of how it happened. Both of his parents came to the interview. Neither of them could tell me either. He has a genuine innocence about him in spite of what happened. I do not believe he was being evasive or defiant in not telling me clear details. He honestly did not know and could not grasp what happened.