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Dream The Dream

21 Friday Oct 2016

Posted by stevenjohnno in poems, stories

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

black, dreams, racism, triumph, victory, white

The year is 1966 in the land of the free.

And everything is nice and peachy.

All of the people are living on easy street.

They all own two story houses with central heating

and an in ground pool.

1966 is the year of the dragon.

And it seems also the year of the fool.

 

Because you would be foolish to think that all is well in

the american nation.

Racism is rife all over the country.

But most of the hate comes from the south.

Just because your skin is a darker colour you get treated

like a second class citizen.

Dr Martin Luther King said that he had a dream.

But already the people seem to have forgotten.

The white folks ride around in fancy cars.

While the negro’s still pick the cotton.

 

14 year old Calvin Jackson is a skinny little black kid.

Who lives in a small bungalow in a bad neighbourhood in

Mobile Alabama.

His clothes are clean but threadbare.

Five brothers have worn these same clothes.

Now it is Calvin’s turn.

 

Calvin is watching TV on a small black and white set with his mama

beside him.

A black man has been shot down for no apparent reason.

Except for the colour of his skin.

Another black man guilty of a trumped up crime.

Why does this shit have to happen all of the time?

 

As Calvin watches the news his shoulders start to slump

And his sense of worth crashes.

He cant watch no more.

So he goes outside to shoot some hoops with his brothers.

Calvin weaves and fakes past his brothers time and time again.

Scoring basket after basket .

After a half hour of humiliation Calvin’s brothers wander off

defeated.

Calvin puffs out his chest with pride.

And he dreams about playing in the NBA one day.

If only the white folks would just let him play.

 

At Calvin knows that he should and could be getting better grades

.He used to be an A grade student.

Now all he does is look out the classroom window.

Dreaming his dream.

Calvin knows that basketball is his only way out of the slums and

ghetto’s.

And into the big time.

Than he could buy his mama a nice house.

And get himself a brand new souped up car.

Dreaming your dream is good.

But it will only get you so far.

 

Calvin is dreaming the dream along with other millions of other

young people.

Everybody dreams foe a better life for themselves and family.

But Mobile Alabama along with towns and cities all over America.

Are full of discrimination and segregation.

Whites and blacks go to different schools and ride on separate bus’es.

All because some peoples skin has a darker hue.

Racism affects everybody ordinary people just like me and you.

 

America is the land of the great divide.

A country with very narrow minded views.

There is a big division between the haves and the have not’s.

Calvin knows that because he is black he will have to work twice as hard

as the white folks do.

If he wants to make it in this world.

But Calvin’s mind is full of hope and optimism

He is just dreaming his dream.

He would do anything that he can.

To try and be a better man.

 

Walking home from school a few weeks later.

Calvin comes across the local basketball courts.

He goes to walk right on by like he always has.

But this time he stops and has a seat on a bench.

He pretends to tie his shoe laces as he takes in the game.

One day all of the white homey’s will all know his name.

 

Just than the ball rolls over and stops at Calvin’s feet.

Calvin is stuck in two minds.

Should he just throw the ball back?

Or show all these white boys how to play?

Then the decision is taken out of his hands.

‘Come on nigger show us what you can do’

 

Calvin hates that word but he accepts the challenge with relish.

And for the next hour Calvin completely dominates his opponents.

He scores baskets at will running rings around his helpless foes.

The white boys are exhausted and call an end to the game.

Calvin starts to walk away than turns back ‘I am Calvin Jackson

remember my name’

 

At seventeen Calvin is already six foot tall

And for the last three years he has been his school’s MVP.

His exploits on the court hasn’t gone unnoticed at some of the more

prestigious schools.

After a practice Calvin is called into the coaches office.

He is told to take a seat.

And the coach gets right down to business ‘Calvin you are probably the best

player that this school has ever produced’

But if you want to achieve your dream you will have to move away from home’

And the only way to do this is to gain a full scholarship’

Calvin knows that he cant let this opportunity slip.

 

Calvin’s mind is racing he is thinking about being first draft pick in the NBA.

And playing in the olympic’s with the dream team

The coach is still talking ‘But to get a scholarship you will have to improve your grades’

‘At the moment your grades are very poor,so if you want to reach your goal’

‘You will really have to improve big time,do it now Calvin before it is too late’

‘Because if you don’t you will never ever get out of this state’

 

Calvin walks out of the door.

Will his dream be crushed before it has even started?

Or will Calvin hit the books and really knuckle down?

Well there really isn’t any choose so for twelve hours everyday Calvin

studies hard.

When he is not studying Calvin shoots 20 thousand hoops.

After a few hours of sleep Calvin wakes up and does it all again.

And even though it hurts it is a good pain.

 

Calvin has applied for scholarships at colleges in New York Washington

and Chicago.

But to achieve his goal his grades have to be 90% or better.

For over a week he sits for exam after exam.

Calvin knows that he has tried his best and that is all he can do.

Now all he can do is wait.

And rely on the hand of fate.

 

Back at home he can’t sit still waiting for the results to come back.

He paces back and forth day after day waiting for the postman.

Than one day the postie pushes a bulky package through the front door

slot.

Will the news be good or bad?

Calvin rips open the envelope as fast as he can and he has a quick read.

Than he does a little dance of jot?

92%.

 

A month later Calvin is accepted at Stanford college New York.

He is now one step closer to living his dream.

Playing in the NBA.

Now no one can get in his way.

 

It doesn’t matter if your skin is white black brown red or yellow

Everybody on this earth has a right to dream.

So dream all that you want

Because one day your dream might just come true.

 

THE END.

Thanks for taking the time to read one of my stories and now if you have the means could you please make a donation to help me reach my goal of becoming a fulltime writer. Thanks again Steven.

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Half A Giraffe

24 Friday Jun 2016

Posted by stevenjohnno in poems, stories, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

adversity, giraffe, triumph

In the Undergrowth beneath a Canopy of Trees

A Female Giraffe is giving Birth.

The Mama Giraffe is Nervous and a bit scared

Predators are always looking for a Meal.

She has been in Labour for a few Hours.

But now Her Baby is here.

With a last Contraction and a final push.

She gives Birth.

When She bends down to clean Her Newborn.

She is taken aback.

She can hardly believe what She is seeing.

She looks over to the Father.

Like it is His fault.

Then She Screams’What the Heck?’

‘My Baby has no Neck’

The Baby Giraffe struggles to His Feet

He looks like a Calf with long Legs

Like a Baby Camel on Stilts

Or a little Foal Standing on Tippy Toe

But it is only a Baby Giraffe.

Well it is but it is only Half.

Mama Giraffe looks down once again at Her

latest addition.

And their Eyes meet.

Mama Giraffes Heart melts.

And She Licks Her Baby Clean.

Even though His Neck is a little on the short side

He is Her own Precious Baby Giraffe.

Even if it is only half.

The Baby Giraffe stands there waiting for His Mama

to give some Milk.

But it is to short to reach the Teat.

He strains to reach again.

Then His Mama squats down.

But still that Milk making pleasure Machine.

Is just a bit out of reach.

Then His Mamas Knees Buckle.

And the Baby half a Giraffe starts to Suckle.

After Drinking His fill.

The Baby half a Giraffe wanders off to explore His World

His Mama is still Splayed out struggling to get to Her Feet

But She finally makes it.

Her Legs feel like They are about to Snap.

Giraffes weren’t designed to bend down like that

She will have to think of another way to Feed Her Offspring

Jesus Her Knees are really starting to Sting.

The Baby half a Giraffe has had enough with Exploring

It is Time for another Taste of His Mamas Milk.

But once again He is having trouble reaching that Milk output

Button.

He Jumps up and down but He still cant make it.

He really could do with a Trampoline.

Because if He keeps Jumping like that He will burst a Spleen.

Mama Giraffe is getting worried.

The Baby half a Giraffe is laying on the Ground.

He hasn’t Drunk any Milk.

He needs to Drink every Two Hours or so.

Or He will start to Dehydrate.

Maybe He can Stand on a Plastic Crate?

Up in the Trees a Monkey has noticed the Mama Giraffes

predicament.

So She Climbs down to offer some assistance.

She goes in between Mamas Hind Legs.

Grabs that Milk Vending Teat.

And takes Aim.

The Baby half a Giraffe is watching the Monkey

So He opens His Mouth.

And the Monkeys aim is true.

The Baby half a Giraffe Swallows every drop that He can

If He Drinks any more He will start to Float like Peter Pan.

With Hs Belly full the Baby half a Giraffe is satisfied.

But He wonders why He cant reach Mamas Milk naturally?

Why cant God make things easy?

And deliver Milk in a Carton.

The Baby half a Giraffe soon falls asleep

He Dreams that He is Tall just like His Mama

What is wrong with His Vertebrate?

Why is it running so late?

The Baby half a Giraffe wakes up with a Stomach Ache

Was there something wrong with the Milk?

Maybe He is Lactose Intolerant?

Maybe it is time to start on Solids?

After all He cant reach His Mamas Milk Dispensing Organ

anyway.

Not without the help from the friendly Monkey.

Mabe the time is right to Eat something Green and Chunky.

But it is still way to early for the Baby half a Giraffe to start

Eating His Greens.

So with the help from the Friendly Monkey He continues to

Drink His Mamas Milk.

With no adverse reaction.

He is Growing Taller and Stronger

But sadly His Neck hasn’t grown any longer.

But He is Taller

So the Baby half a Giraffe reaches up with His Mouth

Maybe His Mama will have a Leakage problem?

And He can catch a few Drops?

SO He reaches and reaches.

And what do You know?

Houston We have Contact.

The Baby half a Giraffe for the first time in His Short Life

Is actually Drinking from His Mamas Milk Offloading

System.

So He Drinks greedily before the Supply runs out.

But after a few Mouthfuls His Mama pulls away.

That would be right.

The first Time that He can Drink for Himself

His Mama cuts off His Supply

He looks to the Sky and Screams.

‘Why Mama why?’

But Mama knows best.

She has wandered off to a Grove of Trees

The Baby half a Giraffe has no choice but to follow

The Time is right for Him to start Eating Leaves Twigs

and Branches.

All of that Body Building Green Stuff

But God it is mighty tough

He watches as His Mama Eats

And He tries to follow Her Lead.

But the same old problem occurs

His Legs might have Grown

But His Legs sure as Shit hasn’t.

Those Leaves are just out of his reach

If the Baby half a Giraffe had a Neck

He would Hang it in shame

Everything changes

But some things stay the same.

Just then a Old Grey Tortoise comes to Rest under the

Baby half a Giraffes Feet.

The Tortoise Squats down.

And Gingerly the Baby half a Giraffe Steps up onto its

Shell.

Then the Old Grey Tortoise Elevates Itself

And the Baby half a Giraffe starts to Chew on a Leaf for

the first Time in His Life.

Then He Eats another and another

And pretty soon He has Eaten His fill

On Wobbly Legs He Steps back down to the Ground

God He can barely move.

He must of put on Twenty Pound.

The Baby half a Giraffe continues to put on Weight

And He grows Taller Everyday

But His Neck still hasn’t grown one inch

Where His Shoulders end

His Head begins.

There is nothing in between

How can Mother Nature be so Mean?

The Baby half a Giraffe is feeling down in the Dumps

He isn’t paying attention to His Mama

So He doesn’t Hear Her Cry of Alarm

But then He feels a intense Pain in His Throat

He is being dragged up a Tree by a Big Cat with Spots

A Female Leopard for sure.

The Baby half a Giraffe cant Breathe

He cant take much more.

Both His Body and Legs are hanging over the side of the

Branch.

The pressure on His Throat is intense

Then CLICK CLICK  CLICK

He can feel Himself Stretching

His Vertebrate has Clicked into place

‘W hat the heck I have a Neck’

Then His Feet touch the Ground.

And He starts to Run.

And He pulls that Leopard clean out of the Tree

And luckily He Runs straight to His Mama and the rest

of the Herd.

The Leopard Snarls then disappears into the Scrub.

While Mama Giraffe Hugs Her Fully Grown Bub.

With His new Neck.

The Baby Giraffe feels Twenty Feet Tall

He only has a few Scars from His brush with Death

He bounces up and down with a new zest for Life

Is He Tall enough to find Himself a Wife?

He Runs around without a care in the World

He can finally reach even the highest of Branches

And His Mama has finally given Him a Name.

STRETCH.

THE END

Thanks for taking the time to read one of my stories, now if you have the means could you please donate so i can realize my dream of becoming a fulltime writer. Thanks again Steven.

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