Inspired by my English teacher
LAURENTS POV
walking through the halls.
people laughing at me.
well with me.
I was a class clown but the most popular guy at this school. idk how though.
I can barely speak English.
im Laurent bourgeois. im 17 years old, im from paris france. I moved here to the states at age 11. I play ball and the star player at that.
that's why im passing all my classes.
ball.
I flunk every class with a 10% cause I......
Cant read...not English.
I cant write English.
I cant spell in English.
I barely know my left and right.
but every year my teachers pass me.
the teacher blame it on the administration, they blame it on the district, the district blames my mom and my mom blames me but i still......
Cant Read.
i can dribble a ball, drop a 3 pointer, and almost dunk....i can get you 13 points but i .......
Cant Read English.
cant write it,
cant spell in it.
i can barely tell left from right.
i want help i really do but they constantly tell me ball is all i need.
today is the biggest game of the year. championships. if we win ill be scouted to another American school on a full scholarship for bball.
"good luck lau we believe in you." my teacher and other classmates said as the day ended. "merci sir." was the only thing i could say. i cant speak it either. nobody thought to teach me so i learn by myself.
the only person who understands me is my French teacher.
ms. Patterson
shes not from france but shes very fluent and it helps a lot.
"bonjour Laurent." she greeted. "Bonjour madam Patterson."
we talked about every thing. she taught me some new words today.
worried
discipline
advantage
love
hate
care
caring
disrespect
she told me i needed to know those words. they can open my eyes and see the real truth with them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
im getting ready for my game getting ready on the court.
as we do warm ups i see a guy. #13 on the other team staring me down hard.
now that i say is d-d-disres-spec-ctful..... yeah disrespectful.
"GO LAU!!" i hear from the stands.
it was my beauty, Lylah. she was also from from france but she knew English. everyone said she was using me for my money and talent.
but i no believe them at all she so sweet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
its 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter and were up by 2 points i have the ball walking to half court trying to kill time. once i pass half court i pass the ball to danny, our shooting guard. he shoots a 3 pointers and its non but net.
we all run down the court in zone defence ready to play. # 13 had the ball trying to come straight through but i wasn't going for it.
i stole the ball with an ease running down court 10 seconds on the clock.
"LAU WATCH OUT!!" i heard my brother larry say.
that's all i remember.
I woke up in the hospital with a cast on my leg. my eyes got wide and i immediately start crying.
"mon frer youre up!!" my brother squealed. "what happen??" i ask between sobs. "you ACL gone, they say you may no play again...." he said with sorrow. my heart shattered.
the doctor came in. "oh mr.bourgeois your up!!" he said smiling. "what i do here why i have thing on leg??" i ask as well as i could with the words my teacher tought me. "here this will explain what im about to say," he handed me a piece of paper with so many words. "you tore your ACL and with that it means you cant play at all unless you get surgery, now with your condition not even a surgery can help.....im sorry mr.bourgeois but your handicapped now. you cant run again, nore do any type of physical activity. read this here page to tell you all the therapy and meds you have to take." he said almost walking out. i stopped him though.
he just told me to do the craziest and most bizzare theing ever. "what i do with it?" i ask. "read all the imformation sir." he said confused. "i no can read. no teach me how.." i say as a tear slipped.
"im sorry sir. ill have someone come in the help you." he said walking out.
"mom is here with coach Brown and-" "LYLAH?!" i ask excited hoping to see my baby. he put on a sad expression. "what mon frer." i ask worried. "she no comin mon frer." he said holding my hand. "what mean??" i said. "she told me to tell you its over she doesn't want a crippled as a future husband." he said shattering my heart.
everyone was right.
well who else is here for me" i ask him.
"hi, how you feeling lau?" i hear ms. pattersons voice ring. she came and gave me a kiss on the forehead.
"i can no play again." i said crying in her arms. " its okay Laurent you will get through this." she said softly rubbing my scalp. "i no can read, write, or spell, what i do in life now?? play ball, non?? is what every people say me to do.: i say confused. "hey son, its not what others want you want...." my coach said.
that's when i saw it. the championship trophy.
"i see you like the big throphy.....its all yours, the team and principle decided you should have it." my coach said. i screamed squeezing my teacher tight.
"though i cant read nor write, nor spell in English, though i can barley tell my left from my right........i have a loving family and i just have one question..." i say to miss Paterson . "what is that ??" she asks.
"what can i possibly do in life??" i asked in French again.
"get your education and find YOUR dream."