#chitownstandup

[826chitown]

The World Under Our Feet (Fiction)

by Javarri M., grade 8 from ChiTown Stand Up! Spring 2019

Hi, my name is Jonathan and I live on the South Side of Chicago. Yes, that Chicago where people get killed like everyday. My mom died two years ago because she had stage four cancer. It's really hard to talk about it now that she’s gone. I never met my dad, so it's hard to say anything about him because I don't know who he is. All I have is my older brother, Matthew. He is sixteen. After mom died, he has been in gangs. We have been living in and out of shelters and foster homes.

“John. John,” my brother calls me from across the room.

“What,” I reply.

“I have food,” he says.

This is the happiest I have been in days. I’m starving! Some days I just go to sleep to sleep the hunger away. As he came closer, I smelled the food more and more. We had been living in the basement of the church. They have a TV, video games, and cots for us. My mother was a member who made me go to church with her every Sunday.

“I miss momma,” I tell Matt.

“I do too,” he says in reply.

I see a tear fall down his face. He sits quietly for the next five minutes. Then he gets himself together. He tries to say strong for me, but I'm old enough to stay strong for myself.

“You know it’s okay to cry,” I say.

“I'm not crying, John,” he say.

Momma used to tell him that she could tell everything about him just by the expression on his face. Now I know what she is talking about.

People always tell us that it’s going to be okay, but they are just getting our hopes up, because everyday it gets harder and harder. No one knows our pain like we do. I’m just so sick of people lying to us.

I was told that everyone has a time when they lose someone, but why did my time have to come so early?

The next day passes.

“Wake up Jonathan, we have to go.”

“Huh?” I whisper.

I see a dark shadow coming toward me and all I can think about is going to sleep. I lie my head back on the firm pillow. My eyes shut once again.

“Jonathan, wake up,” he says once again with a demanding voice.

“I’m gonna tell Mo-”

It's like the word spills out of his mouth unto the floor. I can see the look of devastation upon his face. I began to wake up and spread the sheet over the cot.

“John, we gotta get a move on,” he says.

“Okay, I’m coming,” I say in exchange.

“The church folks told us that we had to find somewhere else to stay tonight,” he tells me.

“Why?”

“They are having some church event, but I think that they are lying.”

Sometimes I get fearful of the fact that we are all alone. I feel really depressed sometimes and I think really bad thoughts. I was so angry that the church would lie to us like everyone else. Now we have to move on to the next place.

As we walk out of the church doors, the spring mist hits my face. Matthew pulls me closer to him as we walk down the street of Michigan Avenue. We stop at some apartment.

“Stay put, lil bro,” he tells me.

The frustration rings in my head because I know what he is doing. I hear fussing coming from the second floor. I hear Matthew boldly and clearly. I get really nervous and my palms get very sweaty. Matt runs down the steps and grabs my forearm.

“Run and don’t look back,” he says nervously.

We run for the next five minutes until we get to a familiar place. As we walk down the street, there is a white family passing by. There is a mom, a dad, two sons, and a dog. I picture Matthew and my face on their bodies. I know that seems a little strange. I wonder how my life would be different if I was white. Suddenly, I snap out of it.

We go back to the church to get the rest of our things. My whole life is in one backpack.

I have to ask my girlfriend, Maya, if I can stay with her family for the night so that Maya and I can walk to school together. I like Maya a lot. She has golden brown skin, pretty curls, and she is a nice person.  

The sun comes back up and the day begins. I walk into the school and everyone waves at me. I return the generosity with a smile. I don't know if people feel bad for me, or if they are being nice. Later on during the school day, I get a call from the office for an early dismissal.

I see Matt standing at the front door waiting on me.

“We gotta get outta here, John,” he whispers like someone was watching.

“Why? What happened?”

“Don't ask any questions,” he tells me.

I see someone pull up on the side of us.

“Run!” Matthew yells.

I run as fast as I can. I hear a loud bang and then silence. I look back and see Matt lying on the ground and blood leaking from his chest. I feel an absence of breath. His eyes close and he swallows his last breath.

Tears fall from my cheek as I lie there with him. A man passes by. I yell for help when I finally realize that death must have taken my brother. I yell to God and ask him why he would he do this.

Years Passed

Over the last twelve years, I married my beautiful wife Maya. We have three beautiful kids: two boys and a girl.  It has been tough living without my brother, but I know that I can make it. We have a charity for kids without parents called the Matthew & Tina Foundation. The name is the legacy of my brother and momma. The pain will never leave, but their deaths were not in vain. My family moved to the West Side suburb called Oak Park. Now we can live the Chicago Dream.

[j-ivy]

Repost from @mauricebrownmusic using @RepostRegramApp - NYC! For Tonight only we have some of Chi-Town’s finest @j_ivy & @tarreytorae at @nowandthennyc! DJ Sets by @djleefarmer. Ticket link in the bio! #chitownstandup #mobettathursdays https://www.instagram.com/p/CRpFKe8tGVh/?utm_medium=tumblr

[pjrobesq]

Still celebrating #nationalhamburgerday at @firestationone and watching @drose get that ass!! #internationalhamburgerday #chitownstandup (at Fire Station 1 in Silver Spring) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPb-Y1LJfcoy9j45iALYS7W2SegoHLvRsEjefk0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[appsnonprofit]

They always ask me if know any other people with the name #thurman 🧐 uh yeah @jthurman8_ #yardtalk101 #chitownstandup keep up the great work #entrepreneur been knowing this guy since he was 18 (at APPS MOBILE TAX Assertively Promoting Philanthropic Services LLC)

[tanice-lorraine]

Thank you @thebabyals for the post physical therapy dinner!! While in a bit of pain, #TheKid decided he wasn't too impressed with the #ChicagoDog (not his mother's favorite either), but he loved the #MaxwellStreetPolish. I ...on the other hand ALWAYS know what to order #ItalianBeefCombo Thank you for helping reduce his pain!! See you soon!! #ChicagoMealsInAtlanta #BabyAls #ChiTownStandUp and #LetsEat #ItalianBeef #ItalianSausage (at Baby ALs Chicago Dogs & more) https://www.instagram.com/bass_drummers_mom/p/Bv4_kLRFyQZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1id4s14h84oya

[neversleepagainpodcast]

@shawnnaworldwide - Last nights look 🥵 #LudaDayWeekend Hair: @ziffanthony 🥵 Mua: @makeupby_yogi 🥵 Unit: @herblissfulhair 🥵 Body: God 🙏🏽 🗣 She’s not here to play! #ChiTownStandUp #NeverSleepAgain #NSA #Podcast #Blogger #PSA #NewPost (at Atlanta, Georgia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B17cOT0HYTn/?igshid=1v4ylwzq7ez3u

[vondero]

@Regran_ed from @shawnnaworldwide - Call her MONEY BAG SHAWTY! 💰💰 Can’t wait to drop this one 🧨🧨 produced by #Chicago own @riomac_hsp and featuring @spacejammelo7 🧨🧨 #ChiTownStandUp #Shawty2Mics 🖕🏽#YoFav (at Chicago, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqS8wuLlS6U/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1tg900rvxvrdm

[mrwilson424-blog]

#HouseMusicAllNightLong #SayWhat #ChiTownStandUp #EpicSouth

[tadjudeen]

Even though I already seen the early premiere on #Showtime I'm still watching @common #thechi again. #urbansupportisimportant #anythingfortheratings #chitownstandup

[chuckpcomics]

✌️@whatsrealdeville ✌️is killing the game rn! No more sleeping on him and listen now!. . . It's was such an honor seeing my illustration as your profile pic on fb! Thanks so much for sharing and digging my art mykele 🖤. . . Swipe right for the original sketch and final illustration! ✌️ . . . #chicagoartists #instaart #instaartist #chicago #digitalpainting #digitalart #chitown #chitownstandup #artistsoninstagram #artist #art #draweveryday #digitalart #artwork #follow #newartwork #hiphop #blackexcellence #mykeledeville #rapper #music #spotify (at Chicago, Illinois)

[826chitown]

In We Have a Dream, 8th grade students at Chicago Jesuit Academy articulate the fears, joys, and frustrations of growing up in the city. They offer intelligent solutions to Chicago’s problems and ask simply for their voices to be heard. What a privilege it is to listen.

[j-ivy]

Just finished giving a surprise performance w/ @nike for #WhitneyYoung @wyhs @wyoungboysbball & #SimeonHighSchool in #Peoria before they hit the floor for the #IHSA State Tournament!! SO PROUD of these young men!! #Chicago #Basketball #Stars #Southside #Westside #chitownstandup #Hoop #Dreams

[pjrobesq]

Snack time!!! @argiressnacks #chitownstandup https://www.instagram.com/p/COQ7gYvJ4b0PfJR_Fb09WlQm0MswgjA-PRRx9M0/?igshid=1jqx75hjrs50z

[blockmarkettv-blog]

Welcome home💯 @_bumpj gotta give it up to the Legends 💪💪💯💯 @chitownshake get with me bro I need the exclusive INTERVIEW ON BLOCK MARKET RADIO 💪💪#chitownstandup #blockmarketradio💹💲 #blockmarkettv #chicagorap #chicagomusic #hiphopmusic #rap #rapmusic🎧🎤🎧 #bighusthebreadman

[smithworldwide]

Congrats to my Chicago Brotha @chancetherapper for making #Grammy history yesterday! 7 nominations & 3 wins, including Best New Artist! Keep being GREAT! #ChiTownStandUp

[neversleepagainpodcast]

@ShawnnaWorldWide - 🦇 5 . 31 . 19 🦇 - #RoundHere #WorldPremiere #ChiTownStandUp #NewMusicAlert #MusicVideo #NeverSleepAgain #NSA #Podcast #Blogger #May31 (at Chicago, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByB79GHigKp/?igshid=uonc9t3kt3o1