Page 6 - My FlipBook

words mean something and which don’t. That’s exactly what
you do.”
“Macy! You can’t argue two plus two is three, and you can’t
argue that always and never should be used in the same sentence.
You’re not in middle school anymore.” He slams his marker on
the lip of the board. It rolls onto the floor. “I expect—”
Me: “You dropped something.”
His nostrils twitch.
Yeah. He’s pissed.
“What you’re not picking up on is how much is at stake
here, Macy. Nobody’s gonna give you a lollipop anymore just
because you throw a tantrum.”
“What did you say, motherfoe?” I throw my desk.
The other kids hide under their desks like it’s a tornado
drill. Teacher Man pushes the office button. I’m going. Don’t
even need to give me a lollipop. It’s a violation of my civil rights,
though. Depriving my ass of a education. I walk out and slam
the door.
I sit outside the principal’s office and take out the diction-
ary you’re reading right now. (By-the-fucking-way, you’re read-
ing this because I’m missing or dead or in a nuthouse, or CPS
stole it, and maybe you don’t know I’m standing right behind
you, motherfoe.)
Back to Always/Never. Miss Black, my English teacher,
says that to prove your point you have to give many examples.
Here’s mine: Mothers always never leave.
I remember the first time my mother left. She thought I
was asleep, but I saw her packing her bags. I don’t know why
she left the house that night or what made her come back,
but she did. I mean I guess she’s got enough reasons to leave,
but what I always never get is what brings her back. Is a bad

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