Read Online Taneesha Never Disparaging by M. LaVora Perry - Free Book Online Page A

and walked into my room. Their Gongyo begin:
    Niji seson
    Ju sanmai
    Anjo ni ki
    Go shari-hotsu…
    I closed my door. Too tired to do anything but fall into bed, I pulled the covers up to my neck and turned onto my side. “Sorry Officer HP,” I yawned. “I’ll brush and floss in the morning.”
    Muffled words rose up from the living room.
I couldn’t make them out anymore. A rhythm I’d heard since before I could remember reached my ears like the song of an old friend and rocked me to sleep.
    I had no idea that in just a few hours I’d be up against an evil like nothing I’d ever faced before. If I had known what was coming, or who was coming, I would have been downstairs chanting my butt off.

CHAPTER 10
    HUMAN-EATING BIGFOOT
    M onday morning, I slowly opened my eyes. I could just glimpse cloudy daylight seeping through the slats of my window blinds. I rolled my head over on my pillow to check the alarm clock. 8:32 glowed in red light. I blinked my eyes in focus to get a good look at those numbers. They seemed off. Then it hit me: I’d overslept! Daddy and Mama had already left for work. I was supposed to get up and out on my own—and I’d blown it!
    I got to Hunter late. In my classroom, I scurried around like a hamster on Mountain Dew. I stripped down to my dress-code black-and-white
and put my coat and everything away. Panting, I eased the seat of my black pants into my chair, next to Carli’s desk.
    â€œHey, girl!” she grinned, whispering.
    I had nearly fallen a couple of times rushing the whole way to school over chunky snow and slippery ice. Now I was out of breath. I swallowed the last of a toasted-bagel-and-turkey-bacon sandwich. I’d been gobbling it bit by bit since I left home.
    â€œHey…girl,” I said, hoarse.
    â€œHarrumph!” Mr. Alvarez cleared his throat and raised his left eyebrow. Whenever he did that, he reminded me of my father, only meaner. “Taneesha, you’re already tardy. You’d do well to stop talking and start your class work.”
    â€œYes, Mr. Alvarez.” I slinked down into my seat.
    Great. You are SO embarrassing, Taneesha. Why don’t you just disappear?
    I heard the faint, low dip and rise of Rayshaun Parker and some other kids saying “Ooooooooh.”
    Pictures of the sheep I saw on last year’s field trip to Lake Farm Park flicked through my head. The poor animal stood naked with all its wool shaved off, a weird, hairless thing for all to see.
    Guess who’s a sheep now? Baaa! Baaa!

    I raised my desktop and ducked my head inside, hiding like an ostrich—head in sand, butt in air—totally exposed. I took out my notebook and pencil, closed my desk without even a little clump , and read the Problem of the Day off the chalkboard. Then I pressed my pencil on my paper just hard enough to work it without making a sound.
    After we finished going over the Problem of the Day, Mr. Alvarez stood in front of us with his arms behind his back. In seconds, forty eyes looked at him and just as many lips were zipped.
    â€œClass, this week’s a busy one for us. As you know, this past Friday was Take Your Child To Work Day. Those of you who participated must present a report on your experiences. Presentations begin tomorrow and will conclude Friday.”
    Just fine. I bet he’s going to do alphabetical order like always.
    I wished my name began with a Z. Even a P would do. But with Bey-Ross, I always end up being one of the first people picked for alphabetical order. I felt my stomach twisting into a sick knot.
    â€œWe are going to give the reports in alphabetical order by last name—”

    I knew it!
    â€œBut in reverse. Lawrence Young, you will be the first to share your experience with us tomorrow.” Lawrence, a scrawny light-skinned boy who looked like a third grader, gave a low groan.
    Hunh? All riiiight!
    â€œQuestions, anyone? No? Good.
    â€œThe other big