Read Online Fire from the Rock by Sharon Draper - Free Book Online Page A

table.
    â€œThink about it. Pray about it. Talk about it. Let me know by Monday.” Miss Washington got up, and, after thanking Mrs. Patterson for the hospitality, she put on her coat and went on her way. The house suddenly seemed smaller.
    Gary was the first to speak. “They should have picked me. I could have protected myself!” He was angry.
    â€œYou’d mouth off to some white girl, or smack a white boy, and instead of them tossing a bruised son on my porch, they’d bring you home in a wooden box!” his father told him. Gary twisted his face to respond, but a look from his father made him change his mind.
    â€œWhat do you think, Sylvia Faye?” her mother asked her quietly. It was the first time all evening anyone had given her a chance to say what was on her mind.
    â€œI like my school,” she replied, speaking slowly. “I feel comfortable there. I know everyone, and we all understand each other. It just feels right.” Her mother nodded in understanding. “But when I look at Central High School and I see how big and wonderful it is, how much they have and we don’t, I don’t think it’s fair that some law says white kids get to go there, but I can’t.”
    â€œThe only law they understand is fists!” Gary mumbled from his chair.
    â€œWhich is why you could never be chosen to do this job,” his mother told him gently. “This is a time for tolerance and understanding, not violence.”
    Gary twisted with frustration and glared at his father. “They’ll pay attention to violence. We have to fight for our rights.”
    â€œThere’s got to be a better way than fighting,” his father reasoned.
    â€œYour way hasn’t worked very well the last two hundred years,” Gary retorted. “What are you gonna do when they beat Sylvia and she comes home bruised and bloody?” Sylvia felt suddenly chilled.
    Mrs. Patterson looked alarmed. DJ ran and buried her head in her mother’s lap. “I’m sure that won’t happen, Gary,” she said as she soothed the trembling child. “The students of Central come from good families like ours. You’re just inciting fear.”
    â€œWhat if I’m not?” he asked, his voice a flag of challenge. “Even if she’s not physically in danger, how can a flimsy, dreamy girl like her cope with racial slurs, with people hating her?” He turned to Sylvia. “You need for people to like you, don’t you, Sylvie?”
    â€œWell, sure. But I’m stronger than you think, Gary,” Sylvia told him.
    â€œNo, you’re not. Remember last year when that group of girls at school decided you were too smart? They made fun of you, picked on you, and refused to invite you to their parties. You came home in tears more than once.”
    â€œThat was different,” Sylvia insisted. But she looked at the floor instead of Gary.
    â€œWhat if these people make you cry, Sylvie?” Gary said in a gentle voice. “I hate to see you cry.”
    Sylvia walked over to her brother and gave him a hug. “Thanks, Gary Berry,” she whispered into his shoulder, using the nickname she’d given him when she was four.
    â€œI won’t allow you to be threatened or hurt, Sylvia Faye,” her father said with feeling. He stood up and stretched, but his face was lined with tension. “I refuse to risk your safety.”
    â€œWe don’t have to decide anything now, Daddy,” Sylvia found herself saying, even though she wasn’t completely sure she wanted to do this. “Even if my name goes on the list, that doesn’t mean I’ll be chosen. We have lots of time to think about it and decide later.”
    â€œMiss Ethel doesn’t give recommendations like that lightly,” her mother said.
    â€œAnd she doesn’t usually make house calls, either!” Her father chuckled.
    â€œSo is Sylvia Faye going to go to