Young Adult
Date Published: October 5, 2020
Publisher: Rhetoric Askew Publishing, LLC
Leah and Sasha are 17-year-old friends who had been close to one another
since elementary school, but as the summer approaches they find their
friendship tested in ways they never anticipated.
Following graduation, Sasha’s privileged life and perception of the
world around her is suddenly altered when an old childhood friend persuades
her to join in a campaign against an injustice after his best friend is
killed by a cop.
But joining the protest has unforeseen consequences for Sasha, distancing
her from Leah, who becomes jealous of Sasha’s new friends and finds
herself on the opposing side, protesting alongside her group of new white
friends.
As the tension mounts between the two bitterly opposed factions, a tragedy
strikes and threatens to make Sasha and Leah enemies. Can they find a way to
resolve their differences, putting them to the side and learn to accept each
other’s viewpoints? Or is their long friendship finished for
good?
Excerpt
“We ordered four large pizzas,” said Melissa.
“Seriously, pizza? No salad? I have to watch my amazing
figure.”
I glimpsed out the window, people were still protesting. I had
imagined that it would have all been over by now. There was Ricardo and some
school friends marching in the streets holding signs.
“Chloe stay inside. I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” asked Leah.
“I saw my neighbor, Ricardo. I just want to go talk to
him.”
I must talk to him.
“Why?” Leah sighed.
“Because the guy killed by the police was his best friend.”
“There you go with that again.” Leah rolled her eyes. Alright,
hurry and I will sit with Chloe until you get back.”
“Thanks, just make sure Chloe gets some pizza and save me a
slice.”
I walked into the crowd, bumping into people, and apologizing. I started
yelling for Ricardo. I found him but he was fading in the crowd. I focused
my eyes on Ricardo’s red shirt and continued through the crowd like I
was in a football game running between players holding the ball.
There was a soft tap on my shoulder, it was Ricardo. His eyes were red from
screaming and chanting on the street while holding a sign. Protesting seemed
like his career.
“What are you doing out here?”
“We won our volleyball championship game, so we went to the Fountain,
but I wanted to tell you I am sorry for what happened to your
friend.”
At first, I didn’t grasp that it happened to a boy at his school and
a close friend of his, but now my heart desired to show sympathy.
“Yeah, he was my best friend, and we were on the basketball team
together.”
“So, how did it happen?”
“They mistook him for a guy that robbed a gas station and the bad
thing about the situation is they caught the real robber later that
night.” As Ricardo was explaining what happened, his eyes began to
turn red. “This is too dangerous; you shouldn’t be out
here.
I became interested in more of the story. Wondering exactly what happened
to Mitchell and who would tell the story better than his best friend. So, I
built up enough guts to ask him how he died?
“The police shot him by mistake, and nothing happened to the cop that
shot him; that’s why I’m out here fighting for
justice.”
My heart fell below my stomach after listening to Ricardo alarm me of
Mitchell’s death. I never met the boy, but I mourned for him like he
was my friend too. That could’ve been anybody. It could’ve been
Leo or Ricardo. Hell, I could’ve been me.
“I’m sorry for your friend because I saw your post last night,
and I wanted to check on you.”
I must help in any way that I could but what could I do? What if something
happens to me? I mean the police were deep in downtown St. Louis, on every
corner. What if they shoot me by mistake for helping the protesters?
As I turned to walk back to the ice cream parlor, Ricardo grabbed me by the
arm.
“We have meetings in my basement every Saturday if you ever want to
come to one.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Interesting, but I had too much to do with getting ready for prom and
graduation. He kind of convinced me to go though. My skin started to crawl
as my mind imagined such a tragedy happening at Chester Academy. We
don’t have those problems, so we don’t worry about them. The
kids at Chester should join in with the kids at their school to help
protest. It would show them that other schools care. Although, it
might not be a good idea because the kids at Chester are too rich and snobby
to understand.
Leah was sitting with her arms folded, face wrinkled, and cheeks blushing
red.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked.
I know I’ve left her too long with Chloe, so I gave her a sorry
smirk, pushing my lips out for her to forgive me.
Everyone left. She had to stay behind to babysit Chloe, while I chatted
with Ricardo.
“What took you so long?”
“I wanted to ask Ricardo more questions about Mitchell, who went to
school with them.”
“You shouldn’t be talking to him about that stuff or even be
around him. You know how jealous Leo is.”
“I was just curious, and we were childhood friends. Leo has nothing
to be jealous of and I won’t let him come between us because
there’s nothing going on.”
Leah shoved the pizza in my chest and stormed out the door. Every time I
brought up Ricardo, Leah’s face cheeks would flush and her lips would
clench. So, why would Leo care if he’s not here? One thing is for
sure, I’ve been Leah’s friend for so long that I know she can
twist a story. So, I was making it a priority to rush home to call
Leo.
When we got home, I ran upstairs to call Leo.
“I’m glad to hear your voice. I laid on my stomach in the bed
with my feet in the air and crossed my legs.
About the Author
Kimberley B. Jones is a professional early childhood educator. She was born
in the small town of Saint George, South Carolina, on September 12, 1982.
She graduated from Woodland High School in 2000, Benedict College in 2004
with B.S., Child & Family Development, and Ashford University in 2013
with a Masters in Early Childhood Education.
After receiving her education and being a military spouse, she held several
jobs as a preschool teacher and a preschool director, but she wanted to use
her education by writing children’s books. She wrote her first book in
college for a children’s literature course. She has since
self-published several books that can be found on Amazon.
Currently, she is branching off into writing fiction YA, NA, and A
novels on issues in society. She loves writing and would change it for
nothing in this world. She is now representing Rhetoric Askew, a great
publishing company. Kimberley is the author of “Our Friendship
Matters,” soon to be released October 5, 2020 and so much more coming
soon.
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