The Missing Assignment

(by Art Stiles - The Reading Teacher Vol.48, no.6 March 1995 )

Yes, ma'am;I'm sorry,
I fell asleep.
No, ma'am,
I ain't had nothing to eat

Yes, ma'am.
I know that
I should eat good,
and stay awake.

I know I should.
Well, last night
there was lots of noise,
'cause someone shot
the neighbour's boys.

And Mum came home
with a boyfriend,a
nd he got drunk
and beat her up again.

And he made me
go out and play
while the neighbours tried
to wash the blood away.

And I went in
about two o'clock
after the police asked me
why the boys was shot.

And when I got up
there wasn't no food;
and my Mum cussed me out.
She was in a bad mood.

But I'll stay awake;
and I'll pay attention.
No, ma'am. I don't
want to be in detention.