Street Soldiers Read online

  I close my eyes and think about what I want to know, allowing my mom’s cold sight to come over me like a brain freeze. When I open my eyes I can clearly see Misty and Emilio’s souls trapped inside of two rattlesnakes.

  “There they are,” I say, pointing at the caged reptiles. “The female is Misty and the male is Emilio.”

  “Damballah and Aida Wedo,” Mama says, catching her breath. “I can’t kill them and Esmeralda knows it, that evil wench!”

  “Did someone call?” Esmeralda says, sneaking in behind us. Damn, she’s good at creeping.

  “How could you do this to those children?” Mama asks, damn the breaking and entering charge and imminent fight to the death.

  “You gave me no choice, Lynn Mae. Remember that.” Esmeralda looks up at the wooden beams lining her ceiling where there are several familiar birds perched at her whim—one in particular stands out more than the others.

  “Mama, watch out!” I scream, recognizing the beast from my own ill-fated run in with Esmeralda’s favorite pet.

  I try to protect Mama but the bird’s too fast. The crow dives for Mama and pecks her on the forehead. Blood drips into Mama’s eyes and distracts her from tearing into her nemesis. Esmeralda disappears just as quickly as she appeared leaving us defeated for the time being.

  “Let’s go,” Mama says, hurrying back outside.

  I follow her across the path to our front porch where Mama stops suddenly. I step in front of her to check her out. Mama’s eyes look blood-shot and drained. What the hell did Esmeralda do to my grandmother?

  “Mama, are you okay?” I ask, lifting her chin. Before my grandmother can answer she passes out. Mama’s nails scratch me as I break her fall.

  “Mama!” I scream, the tattoo on my arm burning from the contact. “Help me somebody, please!” I call out in a panic. I know some of the neighbor’s must be home by now. “My grandmother needs an ambulance.”

  The Baxters, our neighbors across the street, come over to help and already dialed 911. I continue holding Mama wishing I knew what more to do. All we can do now is wait and pray that Mama’s okay.

  I have listened to my elders; I have been a good girl. I studied when I was supposed to study, did my chores, and provided for others and myself whenever possible. I have been a responsible, compassionate friend and a good daughter. Now the time has finally come to stop turning the other cheek when it comes to our enemies. I hope Esmeralda’s ready for the fight of her life. Whatever hesitation I may have once had for completely demolishing Esmeralda and anyone on her team is over. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, may God have mercy upon your soul.

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Do you think Mickey has the right to take Nickey away from Nigel? Why or why not?

  2. Is Keenan good for Jayd or is Lynn Marie right in her concern that Jayd is playing with fire by dating a college man? Explain your answer.

  3. Is Mrs. Esop simply a manipulative shrew or is she just misunderstood?

  4. Have you considered which colleges you want to apply to? Make a list and give at least five major influences for your decision-making process.

  5. Is Rah being a good father, getting played by Trish, or a little of both? Should Jayd forgive him again and maintain their friendship, or is it time for them to call it quits for good?

  6. Nigel’s being heavily recruited by colleges and accepting illegal gifts…do you think this is right or should he return them?

  7. Have you ever had a friend or relative confide in you about being gay? How did you react?

  8. Have you ever been a bully and/or the victim of bullying? Talk about these experiences.

  9. In light of Esmeralda’s union with Rousseau and her growing powers, should Mama permanently eliminate her and her followers? How do you think this should occur?

  10. Against popular opinion, Jayd has remained a virgin. Do you think it’s time for Jayd to sleep with Keenan or someone else? Why or why not?

  Stay tuned for the next book

  in the DRAMA HIGH series,

  NO MERCY

  RECOMMENDED READING

  Listed below are a few of my favorite writers. The list is in no particular order and always changing. Please feel free to send me your favorites at www.DramaHigh.com.

  Octavia E. Butler

  Alice Walker

  Jewell Parker Rhodes

  Tina Mcelroy Ansa

  James Baldwin

  Maryse Conde

  Madison Smart Bell

  R.M. Johnson

  Napoleon Hill

  Jackie Collins

  Mary Higgins Clark

  J.K. Rowling

  Stephen King

  Iyanla Vanzant

  Rhonda Byrne

  Amy Tan

  Nathan Mccall

  Nikki Giovanni

  Edwidge Danticat

  J. California Cooper

  Toni Cade Bambara

  Richard Wright

  Gloria Naylor

  James Patterson

  Luisah Teish

  Queen Afua

  Bri. Maya Tiwari

  Hill Harper

  Joseph Campbell

  Tananarive Due

  Anne Rice

  L.A. Banks

  Francine Pascal

  Sandra Cisneros

  Danielle Steele

  Carolyn Rodgers

  Stephanie Rose Bird

  Chief Fama

  START YOUR OWN BOOK CLUB

  Courtesy of the DRAMA HIGH series

  ABOUT THIS GUIDE

  The following is intended to help you get the Book Club you’ve always wanted up and running! Enjoy!

  A Book Club is not only a great way to make friends, but is also a fun and safe environment for you to express your views and opinions on everything from fashion to teen pregnancy? A Teen Book Club can also become a forum or venue to air grievances and plan remedies for problems.

  The People

  To start, all you need is yourself and at least one other person. There’s no criteria for who this person or persons should be other than a desire to read and a commitment to read and discuss during a certain time frame.

  The Rules

  Just like in Jayd’s life, sometimes even Book Club discussions can be filled with much drama. People tend to disagree with each other, cut each other off when speaking, and take criticism personally. So, there should be some ground rules:

  1. Do not attack people for their ideas or opinions.

  2. When you disagree with a book club member on a point, disagree respectfully. This means that you do not denigrate another person for their ideas or even their ideas, themselves i.e. no name calling or saying, “That’s stupid!” Instead, say, “I can respect your position, however, I feel differently.”

  3. Back up your opinions with concrete evidence, either from the book in question or life in general.

  4. Allow everyone a turn to comment.

  5. Do not cut a member off when they are speaking. Respectfully, wait your turn.

  6. Critique only the idea (and do so responsibly; again, saying simply, “That’s stupid!” is not allowed). Do not critique the person.

  7. Every member must agree to and abide by the ground rules.

  Feel free to add any other ground rules you think might be necessary.

  The Meeting Place

  Once you’ve decided on members, and agreed to the ground rules, you should decide on a place to meet. This could be the local library, the school library, your favorite restaurant, a bookstore, or a member’s home. Remember, though, if you decide to hold your sessions at a member’s home, the location should rotate to another member’s home for the next sessions. It’s also polite for guests to bring treats when attending a Book Club meeting at a member’s home. If you choose to hold your meetings in a public place, always remember to ask the permission of the librarian or store manager. If you decide to hold your meetings in a local bookstore, ask the manager to post a flyer in the window announcing the Book C
lub to attract more members if you so desire.

  Timing Is Everything

  Teenagers of today are all much busier than teenagers of the past. You’re probably thinking, “Between Chorus Rehearsals, the Drama Club, and oh yeah, my job, when will I ever have time to read another book that doesn’t feature Romeo and Juliet!” Well, there’s always time, if it’s time well-planned and time planned ahead. You and your Book Club can decide to meet as often or as little as is appropriate for your bustling schedules. Once a month is a favorite option. Sleepover Book Club meetings—if you’re open to excluding one gender—is also a favorite option. And in this day of high-tech, savvy teens, Internet Discussion Groups are also an appealing option. Just choose what’s right for you!

  Well, you’ve got the people, the ground rules, the place, and the time. All you need now is a book!

  The Book

  Choosing a book is the most fun. Street Soldiers is of course an excellent choice, and since it’s a series, you won’t soon run out of books to read and discuss. Your Book Club can also have comparative discussions as you compare the first book, The Fight, to the second, Second Chance, and so on.

  But depending on your reading appetite, you may want to veer outside of the Drama High series. That’s okay. There are plenty of options available.

  Don’t be afraid to mix it up. Nonfiction is just as good as fiction, and a fun way to learn about from whence we came without the monotony of a history book. Science Fiction and Fantasy can be fun too!

  And always, always, research the author. You may find the author has a website where you can post your Book Club’s questions or comments. The author may even have an email address available so you can correspond directly. Authors will also sit in on your Book Club, either in person, or on the phone, and this can be a fun way to discuss the boo as well!

  The Discussion

  Every good Book Club discussion starts with questions. Street Soldiers, as well as every other book in the Drama High series comes along with a Reading Group Guide for your convenience, though of course, it’s fine to make up your own. Here are some sample questions to get started:

  1. What’s this book all about anyway?

  2. Who are the characters? Do we like them? Do they remind us of real people?

  3. Was the story interesting? Were real issues of concern to you examined?

  4. Were there details that didn’t quite work for you or ring true?

  5. Did the author create a believable environment—one that you can visualize?

  6. Was the ending satisfying?

  7. Would you read another book from this author?

  Record Keeper

  It’s generally a good idea to have someone keep track of the books you read. Often libraries and schools will hold reading drives where you’re rewarded for having read a certain number of books in a certain time period. Perhaps, a pizza party awaits!

  Get Your Teachers and Parents Involved

  Teachers and Parents love it when kids get together and read. So involve your teachers and parents. Your Book Club may read a particular book where it would help to have an adult’s perspective as part of the discussion. Teachers may also be able to include what you’re doing as a Book Club in the classroom curriculum. That way books you love to read like Drama High can find a place in your classroom alongside of the books you don’t love to read so much.

  L. Divine is available for speeches, workshops and residencies.

  For further information, contact:

  Tony Colao

  President

  MasterMedia Speakers Bureau

  14 Laurel Drive

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