Smith." He grinned and bowed again to his wife. "I guess you'll be calling Mama here Miss Grace." He turned in Amir's direction. "I hope you don't think I was laughing at you, son. It just brought back some good old down-home memories. You all right?"
"Yes, sir ... I mean Mister Alvin."
"Still can't say Pops, huh?"
Grace pulled her husband's shirtsleeve and headed for the house. "In the fullness of time," she said.
Amir didn't know what she meant. But it didn't matter. He also wondered why he'd said Mister Alvin, but that didn't matter, either. It felt right and comfortable. He'd wait until after supper, when everyone else was in the living room watching television, before going upstairs to read and enjoy Doris's two letters.
THE BRONX NEWS
Issue #2
(The Good News Issue)
Editor, Star Reporter, and Owner,
DORIS WILLIAMS
Thursday, August 13th
TODAY'S WEATHER.
HOT, HOT, HOT
EDITORIAL: One Girl's Opinion
Rumors and gossip are like viruses. They all make you sick. People who spread rumors are like walking infections. The lying words from their mouths spread like disease from person to person. The only way to stop the disease is to keep your mouth shut. I refuse to repeat a rumor even though it's about a good acquaintance of mine and her sisters. She would feel terrible if she knew what people were saying. I think we should make the people we like feel good and not hurt their feelings by telling them something we heard someone say about them.
I know I'm right about this. How do I know? I put myself in the other person's sneakers, and then I follow one of my parents' constant sayings: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Follow this and good news will follow you.
BREAKING NEWS
By D Williams
Last Monday morning while the fabulous and wonderful Doris and Charlene were sitting near the large window in the library reading
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
together, they heard loud thumping on the library window. They turned around and saw Charlene's sisters with their noses pressed to the window, looking like Disney on Parade.
When they started shouting for Charlene to come outside, the librarian rushed to the door. Charlene was embarrassed and fought back tears. "See what I mean, Doris?" she said, "They're trying to make me do what they want me to do."
A humiliated Charlene gave up. She returned the book and got her baby sister, who started crying because she didn't want to leave storytime. Together they dashed out of the library. Why all the ruckus? Charlene's sisters wanted her to practice double dutch with them.
Doris feels like crying for Charlene, too, and is glad that she doesn't have any sisters. Doris didn't see Charlene for the rest of the week. Each day she went to the library expecting her to be there. She even walked over to Charlene's block one day to look for her, but she didn't find her.
On Saturday Doris got a big surprise when Charlene came to visit her by herself. She didn't have
to baby-sit. The girls had a nice time sipping lemonade and eating cupcakes. Charlene was happy because her sisters couldn't find her as long as she was in Doris's house. Charlene told Doris that she stayed away from the library all week because she didn't want her sisters to follow her there and embarrass her again.
OTHER NEWS
Lavinia and the twins spoke to Doris yesterday for the first time in weeks. "You don't care who you hang out with, do you?" Lavinia asked.
Doris answered, "Yes, I do. That's why I don't hang out with you." She threw her head up in the air and kept on stepping down the street. The friendship seems to be over forever. This is good news.
One of the neighbors gave Yellow Bird and Big Russell a real basketball hoop. This is the best news
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OBITUARY
A sad note that must be reported. The Beauty Hive has closed. Miss Bee could no longer afford the high rent. D. Williams will miss her job and the people there.
My Dear Amir,
I hope you like
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