July 31, 2015

Chapter 27.5—A

I was jail-wise in picking my friends. There is a pecking order among prisoners. At the top are the con men, the smoothies. Just beneath them are the disbarred lawyers; their brains entitle them to respect. In the middle are the heist men. Thieves  and burglars rank just below them. And at the bottom are crooked cops, and junkies.

I wanted to learn all the hustles, all the arts of knowing people and their kicks. One older guy I got to know, Sam, was one of the best con men in the business. He told me how he worked, And always he ended up saying, “But you see, kid, I made a lot of money—but here I am.” My closest amigo was a big black Puerto Rican everyone called Young Turk, a gentle man who was doing five to fifteen for cutting a guy up in a fight.

Who is at the top of the order in prison?

Who is at the bottom of the order in prison?

Who did Piri get to know?

Who became Piri’s closest friend?

Why was he in jail?

Chapter 27.5—B

I was wise in picking my friends. There is an order among prisoners. At the top are the con men. Just beneath them are the lawyers; their brains entitle them to respect. In the middle are the heist men. Thieves and burglars rank just below them. And at the bottom are crooked cops and junkies.

I wanted to learn all the arts of knowing people and their kicks. One older guy I got to know, Sam, was one of the best con men in the business. He told me how he worked, And always he ended up saying, “But you see, kid, I made a lot of money—but here I am.” My closest amigo was a big black Puerto Rican everyone called Young Turk, a gentle man who was doing five to fifteen for cutting a guy up in a fight.

Who is at the top of the order in prison?

Who is at the bottom of the order in prison?

Who did Piri get to know?

Who became Piri’s closest friend?

Chapter 27.5—C

I was wise in picking my friends. There is an order among prisoners. At the top are the con men. Just beneath them are the lawyers. In the middle are the heist men. Thieves rank just below them. And at the bottom are crooked cops and junkies.

I wanted to learn all the arts of knowing people. One older guy I got to know, Sam, was one of the best con men in the business. He told me how he worked, And always he ended up saying, “But you see, kid, I made a lot of money—but here I am.” My closest amigo was a Puerto Rican everyone called Young Turk, a man who was doing five to fifteen for cutting a guy in a fight.

Who is at the top of the order in prison?

Who is at the bottom of the order in prison?

Who did Piri get to know?

July 30, 2015

Chapter 27—A

One of the worst feelings I can imagine is to be something or someplace and not be able to accept the fact. So it was with me—I was a con in jail, but nothing in the world could make me accept it. Not the gray clothes, not the green bars, not the bugle’s measure of time, not the blue uniformed hacks, not the insipid food, not the new lines in my face—nothing.

I couldn’t get used to it, no matter how hard I tried. It kept pounding on me. It came to me every morning and every evening and sat heavily, like death on living tissue. I hated the evenings because a whole night in prison lay before me, and I hated the mornings because I felt like Dracula returning to his coffin.

Where was Piri?

How did he feel?

What kind of conflict is in this passage?

Identify a simile in this passage.

Chapter 27—B

One of the worst feelings I can imagine is to be something or someplace and not be able to accept the fact. I was a con in jail, but nothing could make me accept it. Not the gray clothes, not the green bars, not the blue uniformed hacks, not the food—nothing.

I couldn’t get used to it, no matter how hard I tried. It came to me every morning and every evening and sat heavily, like death. I hated the evenings because a whole night in prison lay before me, and I hated the mornings because I felt like Dracula returning to his coffin.

Where was Piri?

What kind of conflict is in this passage?

Identify a simile in this passage.

Chapter 27—C

One of the worst feelings is to be someplace and not accept the fact. I was a con in jail, but nothing could make me accept it. Not the gray clothes, not the green bars, not the blue uniformed hacks, not the food—nothing.

I couldn’t get used to it. It came to me every morning and every evening and sat heavily, like death. I hated the evenings because a whole night in prison lay before me, and I hated the mornings because I felt like Dracula returning to his coffin

Where was Piri?

What kind of conflict is in this passage?

Identify a simile in this passage.

July 29, 2015

Chapter 25—A, HW

When I got to the Tombs, the first thing I heard was: “What did you get, Piri?”

“What happened, kid?”

“How’d you make out?”

Everybody wants to know your bit, big or small, maybe to measure his hope by it.

“I got fifteen bolos,” I yelled. I said it in despair but with pride in my ability to do so.

“Tough,” or “Not so bad,” came some replies.

The upstairs cooed, “Ah tol’ you so.”

“Go screw yourselves,” I shouted.

I lit up a cigarette, dragged deeply, and lay back. At least the waiting was over. I knew where I stood.

What did everyone ask Piri?

What were some peoples’ replies?

How did the people upstairs respond?

What kind of conflict is in this passage?

Chapter 25—B, HW

When I got to the Tombs, the first thing I heard was: “What did you get, Piri?”

Everybody wants to know your bit, big or small, maybe to measure his hope by it.

“I got fifteen,” I yelled. I said it in despair but with pride.

“Tough,” or “Not so bad,” came some replies.

The upstairs cooed, “Ah tol’ you so.”

“Go screw yourselves,” I shouted.

I lit up a cigarette and lay back. At least the waiting was over. I knew where I stood.

What did everyone ask Piri?

How did the people upstairs respond?

What kind of conflict is in this passage?

Chapter 25—C, HW

When I got to the Tombs, the first thing I heard was: “What did you get, Piri?”

Everybody wants to know your bit.

“I got fifteen,” I yelled. I said it in despair but with pride.

“Tough,” or “Not so bad,” came some replies.

The upstairs cooed, “Ah tol’ you so.”

I lit up a cigarette and lay back. At least the waiting was over. I knew where I stood.

What did everyone ask Piri?

What kind of conflict is in this passage?

July 28, 2015

Ch 25, P. 245—A Homework

“I hereby sentence you…to hard labor…at Sing Sing…for not less than five, no more than fifteen years for attempted armed robbery in the first degree.”

Up came my head; there was no need to be humble, the judge didn’t dig my humility. I felt two hands grab me by each arm, and I was hustled away (I guess to keep me from doing anything angry or foolish). As I was being led away, the D.A. whispered something to the judge, who called me back and put five to ten more years on my back, for felonious assault, “the sentences to run…”

I held my breath. If he said “consecutively,” I’d have to finish up one sentence before starting the other; but if he said “concurrently,” the two sentences would run together.

“…concurrently,” the judge concluded.

I was still in trouble, but at least I could do two days for one.

What kind of conflict is in this passage?

What was Piri sentenced to?

How long was he sentenced for?

What would it mean if the judge said “concurrently”?

Ch 25, P. 245—B Homework

“I hereby sentence you…to hard labor…at Sing Sing…for not less than five, no more than fifteen years for attempted armed robbery in the first degree.”

I felt two hands grab me by each arm, and I was hustled away (I guess to keep me from doing anything angry or foolish). I was being led and the judge put five to ten more years on my back, for assault, “the sentences to run…”

I held my breath. If he said “consecutively,” I’d have to finish up one sentence before starting the other; but if he said “concurrently,” the two sentences would run together.

“…concurrently,” the judge concluded.

I was still in trouble, but at least I could do two days for one.

What kind of conflict is in this passage?

What was Piri sentenced to?

How long was he sentenced for?

Ch 25, P. 245—C Homework

“I sentence you…to hard labor…for five to fifteen years for robbery.”

I felt two hands grab me by each arm, and I was hustled away (I guess to keep me from doing anything foolish). I was being led and the judge put five to ten more years on my back, for assault, “the sentences to run…”

I held my breath. If he said “consecutively,” I’d have to finish up one sentence before starting the other; but if he said “concurrently,” the two sentences would run together.

“…concurrently,” the judge concluded.

I was still in trouble, but at least I could do two days for one.

What kind of conflict is in this passage?

What was Piri sentenced to?

July 27, 2015

Homework—A

“Hey, Piri,” Danny yelled, “they’re putting you on Murderers’ Row.”

My blood went cold. The cop hadn’t died, but suppose he did?…I said a quick prayer for his recovery.

Inside the cell, I spread a blanket for a mattress. But the bed was so hard, my bullet hole felt like it was getting crushed. I threw the other blanket on top, but it was the same. I decided to sleep sitting up. Major looked at me and went away. A few minutes later he returned with four or five blankets and dropped them on the bunk.

“Thanks,” I said, a little surprised.

“Why not, kid,” Major said, “you’ve got enough troubles now.”

On Murderers’ Row, I met Ramon, long, skinny Ramon. He had six fingers on one hand that helped witnesses identify him, he told me. He also said that Jimmy had fired the fatal shot. We played cards and cursed the tier above us who often yelled down, “Don’t worry, fifteen or twenty ain’t so bad,” or “The chair is quick and greasy.”

I was three or four months in the Tombs, waiting for trial, going to court, waiting for adjournments, trying to deal for a lower plea, and what not. I schemed and lay awake at night thinking of the thousands of years they could pile on me. I heard Louie was in the Tombs, too. They had traced our car back to him. He had turned chota on me.

What would happen if the cop died?

Who did Piri meet on murderers row?

What was unique about Ramon?

How long did Piri have to wait in the Tombs?

Homework—B

“Hey, Piri,” Danny yelled, “they’re putting you on Murderers’ Row.”

My blood went cold. The cop hadn’t died, but suppose he did?…I said a quick prayer for his recovery.

Inside the cell, I spread a blanket for a mattress. The bed was so hard. I threw the other blanket on top, but it was the same. I decided to sleep sitting up. Major looked at me and went away. A few minutes later he returned with four or five blankets and dropped them on the bunk.

“Thanks,” I said, a little surprised.

“Why not, kid,” Major said, “you’ve got enough troubles now.”

On Murderers’ Row, I met Ramon. He had six fingers on one hand that helped witnesses identify him. He also said that Jimmy had fired the fatal shot. We played cards and cursed the tier above us who often yelled down, “The chair is quick and greasy.”

I was three or four months in the Tombs, waiting for trial, going to court, and what not. I lay awake at night thinking of the thousands of years they could pile on me. I heard Louie was in the Tombs, too. They had traced our car back to him.

1. Who did Piri meet on murderers row?

2. What was unique about Ramon?

Homework—C

“Hey, Piri,” Danny yelled, “they’re putting you on Murderers’ Row.”

My blood went cold. The cop hadn’t died, but suppose he did?…I said a quick prayer for his recovery.

Inside the cell, I spread a blanket for a mattress. The bed was so hard. I threw the other blanket on top, but it was the same. I decided to sleep sitting up. Major looked at me and went away. A few minutes later he returned with four or five blankets and dropped them on the bunk.

“Thanks,” I said, a little surprised.

“Why not, kid,” Major said, “you’ve got enough troubles now.”

I met Ramon. He had six fingers on one hand that helped witnesses identify him. We played cards and cursed the tier above us who yelled down, “The chair is quick.”

I was waiting for trial, going to court, and what not. I lay awake at night thinking of the thousands of years they could pile on me. I heard Louie was in the Tombs, too. They had traced our car back to him.

1. Who did Piri meet on murderers row?

Friday, July 24

Chapter 25: Page 242-3—A

The questions came real fast and I pulled a weak act. The hara told me if I didn’t act right he’d knock me right out of the wheel chair I was sitting in. I yelled, “Nurse, I wanna throw up!”

The hara looked bad at me and went away. But the next day a stretcher on wheels was brought in, and I was lifted onto it, and handcuffed. 

“Where am I going?” I asked the attendant.

“Bellevue Prison Ward.”

In Bellevue I was put into a big ward with a lot of beds and a lot of guys. At one end of the ward were some solitary confinement cells (steel doors wit a square, barred opening) and a room that had been built into cells with bars—for the wild cats, I guess. My wounds were healing, but I still felt pretty lousy. It was cold in that ward. One guy died during the night. I thought maybe he was better off. One of the guards had told me that the cop I had shot died. For me, it would have been la silla, the chair.

What do you think a hara is?

Where was Piri going?

What happened to one guy during the night?

What did one of the guards tell Piri?

Chapter 25: Page 242-3—B

The questions came fast and I pulled a weak act. The hara told me if I didn’t act right he’d knock me out of the wheel chair I was sitting in. I yelled, “Nurse, I wanna throw up!”

The hara looked bad at me and went away. But the next day a stretcher on wheels was brought in, and I was lifted onto it, and handcuffed. 

“Where am I going?” I asked the attendant.

“Bellevue Prison Ward.”

In Bellevue I was put into a big ward with a lot of beds and a lot of guys. At one end of the ward were some solitary confinement cells and a room that had been built into cells with bars. My wounds were healing, but I still felt lousy. It was cold. One guy died during the night. I thought maybe he was better off. One of the guards had told me that the cop I had shot died. For me, it would have been the chair.

1. Where was Piri going?

2. What happened to one guy during the night?

3. What did one of the guards tell Piri?

Chapter 25: Page 242-3—C

The questions came fast. The hara told me if I didn’t act right he’d knock me out of the wheel chair. I yelled, “Nurse, I wanna throw up!”

The hara looked bad at me. The next day a stretcher on wheels was brought in, and I was lifted onto it, and handcuffed. 

“Where am I going?” I asked the attendant.

“Bellevue Prison.”

In Bellevue I was put into a big ward with a lot of beds and a lot of guys. At one end of the ward were some solitary confinement cells and a room that had been built into cells with bars. My wounds were healing, but I still felt lousy. It was cold. One guy died during the night. I thought maybe he was better off. One of the guards had told me that the cop I had shot died. For me, it would have been the chair.

1. Where was Piri going?

2. What did one of the guards tell Piri?

July 23, 2015

Chapter 25: Page 242—A

After a few days I began to dig myself better. The pain left and I could sit up. There was a cop always on guard, watching me with a hating look. He told me that the cop I had shot was dying. If he died, I would get the chair.

The people around me didn’t say anything, nor look bad-eye at me, but they knew. I could read their eyes; some felt anger, some pity, some nothing. They weren’t like me inside.

The days went by. I was helped up and made to walk, a nurse on each side of me to support me. Slowly, I got stronger. Just like in the movies—maybe I had seen to many of them—I started thinking of escaping. I won’t let them know I’m getting stronger. I lay awake and thought, If I can slip out of bed and crawl along the floor…I dreamed I was doing it. But always, always, just when I got up to the front gate after having crawled so far, I’d get shot down like a bom-bom. Then, one day, when I thought I was ready to really try it, the cops came to question me. (They had come before, but I had been too dropped up to dig their style).

What would happen to Piri if the cop died?

What did Piri think of doing?

What would happen when he got to the front gate?

What were the cops there to do?

Chapter 25: Page 242—B

After a few days I began to dig myself better. The pain left and I could sit up. There was a cop always on guard, watching me. He told me that the cop I had shot was dying. If he died, I would get the chair.

The people around me didn’t say anything. I could read their eyes; some felt anger, some pity, some nothing. They weren’t like me inside.

The days went by. I was helped up and made to walk, a nurse on each side of me to support me. Slowly, I got stronger. Just like in the movies, I started thinking of escaping. I won’t let them know I’m getting stronger. I lay awake and thought, If I can slip out of bed and crawl along the floor…I dreamed I was doing it. But always, just when I got up to the front gate after having crawled so far, I’d get shot down like a bom-bom. Then, one day, when I thought I was ready to really try it, the cops came to question me.

What would happen to Piri if the cop died?

What did Piri think of doing?

What were the cops there to do?

Chapter 25: Page 242—C

I began to dig myself better. The pain left and I could sit up. There was a cop always watching me. He told me that the cop I had shot was dying. If he died, I would get the chair.

The people around me didn’t say anything.

The days went by. I was helped up and made to walk. Slowly, I got stronger. Just like in the movies, I started thinking of escaping. I won’t let them know I’m getting stronger. I lay awake and thought, If I can slip out of bed and crawl along the floor…I dreamed I was doing it. But always, just when I got up to the front gate after having crawled so far, I’d get shot down. Then, one day, when I thought I was ready to really try it, the cops came to question me.

What would happen to Piri if the cop died?

What did Piri think of doing?

July 22, 2015

Page 68-69--A

I heard Momma’s voice: “Piri, Piri, que pasa?”

“Everything all right, Mis’ Thomas,” Miss Washington assured her. “This heah man was tryin’ to hit your son, but ain’t, ‘cause I’ll break his damn head wide open.” Miss Washington shifted her weight forward. “Damn, Ah got a good mind to do it right now,” she added.

The principal, remembering the bit about discretion being the better part of valor, split.

Everyone tried to calm Moms down. I felt like everybody there was my family. I let Momma lead me upstairs to our apartment. Everyone patted me on the head as we went by.

“You’re going to school with your padre in the morning,” Momma said.

“Uh-uh, Moms,” I said. “That principal will stomp my chest in with that finger of his.”

“No he won’t, muchacho. Your father will go with you an’ everything will be fixed up.”

I just nodded my head and thought how great it would be if Miss Washington could go with me.

1. Find one simile in the reading.

2. Why did Piri wish Miss Washington would go to school with him?

3. Who is going to take Piri to school the next day?

Page 68-69--B

I heard Momma’s voice.

“Everything all right, Mis’ Thomas,” Miss Washington assured her. “This heah man was tryin’ to hit your son, but I’ll break his head.” 

The principal split.

Everyone tried to calm Moms down. I felt like everybody there was my family. I let Momma lead me upstairs to our apartment. Everyone patted me on the head as we went by.

“You’re going to school with your padre in the morning,” Momma said.

“Uh-uh, Moms,” I said. “That principal will stomp my chest in with that finger of his.”

“No he won’t.”

I just nodded my head and thought how great it would be if Miss Washington could go with me.

1. Find one simile in the reading.

2. Who is going to take Piri to school the next day?

Page 68-69--C

I heard Momma’s voice.

“Everything all right, Mis’ Thomas,” Miss Washington assured her. “This man was tryin’ to hit your son.” 

The principal split.

Everyone tried to calm Moms down. I felt like everybody there was my family. Momma led me upstairs. Everyone patted me on the head as we went by.

“You’re going to school with your padre in the morning,” Momma said.

“Uh-uh, Moms, that principal will stomp my chest in with that finger of his.”

“No he won’t.”

I just thought how great it would be if Miss Washington could go with me.

1. Find one simile in the reading.

CHAPTER 7—p. 66—HOMEWORK A

“Ohhhhhh, you struck me,” she cried, in surprise as much as pain.

I thought, I did not, you liar. I just hit you.

“You struck me! You struck me! Oh, help, help!” she cried.

I cut out. Man, I ran like hell into the hallways, and she came right after me, yelling, “Help, help!” I was scared now and all I could think about was getting back to my Moms, my home, my block, where no one could hurt me. I ran toward the staircase and found it blocked off by a man, the principal. I cut back toward the back stairs.

“Stop him! Stop him!” dear Miss Shepard just yelled, pointing her finger at me. “He struck me, he struck me.”

I looked over my shoulder and saw the principal talk to her for a hot second and then take off after me, yelling: “Stop! Stop!” I hit the stairs and went swooning down like it was all one big step. The principal was fast and I could hear him swearing right behind me. I slammed through the main-floor door that led to the lunchroom and jumped over the benches and tables, trying like hell to make the principal trip and break a leg. Then I heard a muted cry of pain as a bench caught him in the shin. I looked over my shoulder and dug his face. The look said that he was gonna hit me; that he wasn’t gonna listen to my side of the story; that I had no side. I figured I better not get caught.

1. Find one simile in the reading.

2. What happened after Piri struck his teacher?

3. Who chased after Piri?

CHAPTER 7—p. 66—HOMEWORK B

“Ohhhhhh, you struck me,” she cried.

I thought, I did not, you liar. I just hit you.

“You struck me! You struck me! Oh, help, help!” she cried.

I cut out. Man, I ran like hell into the hallways, and she came right after me, yelling, “Help, help!” I was scared now and all I could think about was getting back to my Moms, my home, my block. I ran toward the staircase and found it blocked off by the principal.

“Stop him!” dear Miss Shepard just yelled, pointing her finger at me. “He struck me.”

I looked over my shoulder and saw the principal talk to her for a hot second and then take off after me, yelling: “Stop! Stop!” I hit the stairs and went down like it was all one big step. The principal was fast and I could hear him swearing behind me. I slammed through the lunchroom and jumped over the benches and tables, trying like hell to make the principal trip and break a leg. Then I heard a cry of pain as a bench caught him in the shin. I looked over my shoulder and dug his face. The look said that he was gonna hit me; that he wasn’t gonna listen to my side of the story; that I had no side. I figured I better not get caught.

1. Find one simile in the reading.

2. Who chased after Piri?

CHAPTER 7—p. 66—HOMEWORK C

“You struck me! Help!” she cried.

I ran like hell into the hallways. She came right after me, yelling, “Help!” I was scared now. I ran toward the staircase and found it blocked off by the principal.

“Stop him!” dear Miss Shepard just yelled, pointing her finger at me. “He struck me.”

I saw the principal talk to her and then take off after me, yelling: “Stop! Stop!” The principal was fast. I slammed through the lunchroom and jumped over the benches and tables, trying like hell to make the principal trip. Then I heard a cry of pain as a bench caught him in the shin. I looked over my shoulder and dug his face. He was gonna hit me. He wasn’t gonna listen to my side of the story. I figured I better not get caught. 

1. Find one simile in the reading (hint: find the word “like”).

July 17, 2015

This week, we learned about figurative language. For homework I want you to come up with examples.

Group A:
Write an example of simile, metaphor, and personification.

Group B:
Write an example of simile and metaphor.

Group C:
Write an example of simile.

Have a nice weekend!

July 16, 2015

HOMEWORK—LEVEL A: Down These Mean Streets, by Piri Thomas. Page 54

We split, everybody making it up some building. I felt bad they had made us split, but I kept running. I made it to number 109 and loped up the stairs. “Adios,” I yelled over my shoulder. “You ain’t got no heart!” I crashed through my apartment door with thanks that Momma had left it open, ‘cause two or three Jolly Rogers were beating the air inches behind me with stickball bats.

“Que pasa?” yelled Momma.

The Jolly Rogers outside were beating their stickball bats on the door for me to come out if I had any heart. I hollered to them, “I’m coming out right now, with my piece!” I didn’t have one, but I felt good-o satisfaction at hearing the cattle stampede down the stairs.

“What happened, muchacho?” Momma asked, in a shook-up voice.

I laughed. “Nothing, moms, we was just playing ring-a-livio”

“What about your nose, it got blood on it,” said Sis.

I looked bad at her. “Bumped it,” I said, then turning to Momma, I asked, “Say Moms, what’s for dinner? I’m starvin’.”

The next day I was back on the stoop, slinging sounds with my boys, yakking about everything we knew about and also what we didn’t, placing ideas on the common altar, splitting the successes and failures of all. That was the part of belonging, the good and bad; it was all for you.

Who is involved?

What is happening?

When did it happen?

Where did it happen?

Why did it happen?

HOMEWORK—LEVEL B: Down These Mean Streets, by Piri Thomas. Page 54

We split, everybody making it up some building. I felt bad they had made us split, but I kept running. I made it to number 109 and went up the stairs. “Adios,” I yelled over my shoulder. “You ain’t got no heart!” I crashed through my apartment door with thanks that Momma had left it open.

“Que pasa?” yelled Momma.

The Jolly Rogers outside were beating their stickball bats on the door for me to come out if I had any heart. I hollered to them, “I’m coming out right now, with my piece!” I didn’t have one, but I felt satisfaction at hearing them stampede down the stairs.

“What happened, muchacho?” Momma asked.

I laughed. “Nothing, moms, we was just playing.”

“What about your nose, it got blood on it,” said Sis.

“Bumped it,” I said. I asked, “Say Moms, what’s for dinner? I’m starvin’.”

The next day I was back on the stoop with my boys. That was the part of belonging, the good and bad; it was all for you.

Who is involved?

When did it happen?

Where did it happen?

HOMEWORK—LEVEL C: Down These Mean Streets, by Piri Thomas. Page 54

We split, everybody making it up some building. I felt bad they had made us split, but I kept running. I made it to number 109 and went up the stairs. I crashed through my apartment door with thanks that Momma had left it open.

“Que pasa?” yelled Momma.

The Jolly Rogers outside were beating their stickball bats on the door for me to come out.

“What happened, muchacho?” Momma asked.

I laughed. “Nothing, moms, we was just playing.”

“What about your nose, it got blood on it,” said Sis.

“Bumped it,” I said. I asked, “Say Moms, what’s for dinner? I’m starvin’.”

The next day I was back on the stoop with my boys.

Who is involved?

Where did it happen?

July 15, 2015

HOMEWORK—LEVEL A: Down These Mean Streets, by Piri Thomas. Page 53

Everybody was dealing hard. Somebody got between me and Giant. It was Waneko, and he began dealing with Giant. I took over with the Jolly Roger he’d been punching it out with. It was Picao. He had been fighting all along—not too hard, I suspected. I got most happy. I’d been aching to chill him. He didn’t back down and we just stood there and threw punches at each other. I felt hurt a couple of times, but I wanted to put him out so bad, I didn’t care about getting hurt. And then it happened—I caught Picao on his chin with an uppercut and he went sliding and just lay there.
I felt like king and I wanted to fight anybody. I had the fever. I started for Giant, who was getting wasted by Waneko, when one of our debs opened up her mouth like an air-raid siren. “Look out, ya gonna get sapped,” she shouted.
We saw more coming from Madison Avenue. They were yelling and waving stickball bats.
“Make it,” Waneko shouted. “They wanna make a massacre!”

Who is involved?What is happening?When did it happen?Where did it happen?Why did it happen?

HOMEWORK—LEVEL B: Down These Mean Streets, by Piri Thomas. Page 53

Somebody got between me and Giant. It was Waneko, and he began dealing with Giant. I took over with the Jolly Roger he’d been punching. He had been fighting all along. I got most happy. I’d been aching to chill him. He didn’t back down and we just stood there and threw punches at each other. I felt hurt a couple of times, but I wanted to put him out so bad, I didn’t care about getting hurt. And then it happened—I caught Picao on his chin with an uppercut and he went sliding and just lay there.
I felt like king and I wanted to fight anybody. One of our debs opened up her mouth. “Look out, ya gonna get sapped,” she shouted.
We saw more coming from Madison Avenue. They were yelling and waving stickball bats.
“Make it,” Waneko shouted. “They wanna make a massacre!”


Who is involved?
What is happening?Where did it happen?

HOMEWORK—LEVEL C: Down These Mean Streets, by Piri Thomas. Page 53

Somebody got between me and Giant. I took over with the Jolly Roger he’d been punching. I got most happy. I’d been aching to chill him. We threw punches at each other. I felt hurt, but I wanted to put him out so bad. I didn’t care about getting hurt. And then I caught Picao on his chin with an uppercut.
I felt like king and I wanted to fight anybody. One of our debs opened up her mouth. “Look out, ya gonna get sapped,” she shouted.
We saw more coming from Madison Avenue. They were yelling and waving stickball bats.
“Make it,” Waneko shouted. “They wanna make a massacre!”

Who is involved?What is happening?

July 13-14, 2015

Although I was absent from school, you continued to learn about "wh-" questions. There are three reading levels, followed by leveled questions.

HOMEWORK—LEVEL A: Down These Mean Streets, by Piri Thomas. Page 51

We were ready to fight. “We’re down,” I said softly, “An’ it’s on.”

That night we set a meet with the Jolly Rogers. We put on our jackets with our club name, “TNT’s.” Waneko and I met Picao, Macho, and Cuchee of the Jolly Rogers under the Park Avenue bridge at 104th Street. This was the line between their block and ours. They were Puerto Ricans just like we were, but this didn’t mean anything under our need to keep our reps.

“How’s it going to be?” I asked Macho.

Picao, who I dug as no heart, squawked out, “Sticks, shanks, zips—you call it.”

I looked at him and said, “Yeah, like I figured, you ain’t got no heart for dealing on fists alone.”

Macho, their president, jumped stink and said, “Timeman, we got heart, we deal with our manos. Wanna meet here at 10 tomorrow night?”

“Ten guys each is cool?”

“That’s cool,” Macho said and turned away with his boys.

The next night we got our boys together. They were all there with one exception—Crip. He sent word that he couldn’t make our little 10pm get-together. His sister, skinny Lena, was having a birthday party. We took turns sounding his mother for giving birth to him.

Who is in this passage?

What is happening?

Where does it take place?

When does it take place?

Why is it happening?

HOMEWORK—LEVEL B: Down These Mean Streets, by Piri Thomas. Page 51

We were ready to fight. “We’re down,” I said softly, “An’ it’s on.”

That night we set a meet with the Jolly Rogers. We put on our jackets with our club name, “TNT’s.” Waneko and I met the Jolly Rogers under the Park Avenue bridge at 104th Street. This was the line between their block and ours. They were Puerto Ricans just like we were.

“How’s it going to be?” I asked Macho.

Picao squawked out, “Sticks, shanks, zips—you call it.”

I looked at him and said, “Yeah, like I figured, you ain’t got no heart for dealing on fists alone.”

Macho, their president, jumped stink and said, “We got heart. Wanna meet here at 10 tomorrow night?”

“Ten guys each is cool?”

“That’s cool,” Macho said.

The next night we got our boys together. They were all there with one exception—Crip. He sent word that he couldn’t make our little 10pm get-together.

Who is in this passage?

What is happening?

Where does it take place?

When does it take place?

HOMEWORK—LEVEL C: Down These Mean Streets, by Piri Thomas. Page 51

We were ready to fight. “We’re down. It’s on.”

That night we met with the Jolly Rogers. We put on our jackets with our club name, “TNT’s.” Waneko and I met the Jolly Rogers under the Park Avenue bridge at 104th Street. This was the line between their block and ours. They were Puerto Ricans just like we were.

“How’s it going to be?” I asked Macho.

Picao squawked out, “Sticks, shanks, zips—you call it.”

I looked at him and said, “Yeah, you ain’t got no heart for dealing on fists alone.”

Macho, their president, jumped stink and said, “We got heart. Wanna meet here at 10 tomorrow night?”

“Ten guys each is cool?”

“That’s cool,” Macho said.

The next night we got our boys together. They were all there except Crip. He sent word that he couldn’t make our 10pm get-together.

Who is in this passage?

Where does it take place?

When does it take place?

Friday July 10, 2015

This week, we began reading Piri Thomas' Down These Mean Streets. So far, we know that an Italian gang member threw asphalt in Piri's face during a fight. Because of this, he went to the hospital. Here is a passage about Piri and Poppa while Piri is in the hospital. There are three leveled readings, and each passage is followed by comprehension questions.

Down These Mean Streets, by Piri Thomas. Page 37: Group A

“It’s only for a couple days. We’ll come and see you an’ everybody’ll bring you things.”

I got interested but played it smooth. “What kinda things, Poppa?”

Poppa shrugged his shoulders and spread his big arms apart and answered me like he was surprised that I should ask. “Uh…fruits and…candy and ice cream. And momma will probably bring you chicken soup.”

I shook my head sadly. “Poppa, you know I don’t like chicken soup.”

“So we won’t being you chicken soup.” We’ll bring you what you like. Whatta ya like?”

“I’d like the first things you talked about, Poppa,” I said softly. “But instead of soup I’d like”—I held my breath back, then shot it out—“some roller skates!”

Poppa let out a whistle. Roller skates were about $1.50, and that was rice and beans for more than a few days. Then he said, “All right son, soon as you get home, you got ‘em.”

But he had agreed too quickly. I shook my head from side to side. I was gonna push all the way for the roller skates. It wasn’t every day you’d get hurt bad enough to ask for something so little like a pair of roller skates. I wanted them right away.

“Fer Christ sakes,” Poppa protested, “you can’t use ‘em in here. Why, some kid will probably steal ‘em on you.” But Poppa’s voice died out slowly in a “you win” tone as I just kept shaking my head from side to side. “Bring ‘em tomorrow,” he finally mumbled, “but that’s it.”

“Thanks, Poppa.”

1. What does Piri ask his father for?

2. How much will it cost?

3. Why didn’t Poppa want to get it for him?

Down These Mean Streets, by Piri Thomas. Page 37: Group B

“Everybody’ll bring you things.”

“What kinda things, Poppa?”

Poppa shrugged his shoulders and spread his big arms apart and answered me like he was surprised that I should ask. “Uh…fruits and…candy and ice cream. And momma will probably bring you chicken soup.”

“Poppa, you know I don’t like chicken soup.”

“So we won’t being you chicken soup. Whatta ya like?”

“Some roller skates!”

Poppa let out a whistle. Roller skates were about $1.50, and that was rice and beans for more than a few days. Then he said, “All right son, soon as you get home, you got ‘em.”

I shook my head. I wanted them right away.

Poppa protested, “you can’t use ‘em in here. Why, some kid will probably steal ‘em on you.” But Poppa’s voice died out slowly in a “you win” tone as I just kept shaking my head from side to side. “Bring ‘em tomorrow, but that’s it.”

“Thanks, Poppa.”

1. What does Piri ask his father for?

2. How much will it cost?

Down These Mean Streets, by Piri Thomas. Page 37: Group C

“Everybody’ll bring you things.”

“What kinda things, Poppa?”

“Whatta ya like?”

“Some roller skates!”

Poppa let out a whistle. Roller skates were about $1.50. That was rice and beans for more than a few days. Then he said, “All right son, soon as you get home, you got ‘em.”

I shook my head. I wanted them right away.

“Bring ‘em tomorrow, but that’s it.”

“Thanks, Poppa.”

1. What does Piri ask his father for?

July 9, 2015

Today, we learned about answering "Wh-" questions (who, what, when, where, and why). For homework, read the passage and answer the "Wh-" questions that follow. There are three levels of readings, all followed by questions.

Down These Mean Streets, Page 31— Level A

I heard the door open and Momma say, “Bueno, Piri, come in.” I didn’t move. I couldn’t. There was a long pause; I could hear Momma’s fright. “My God,” she said finally. “What’s happened?” Then, she took a closer look. “Ai-eeee,” she screamed. “Dios mio!”

“I was playing with some kids, Momma,” I said, “an’ I got some dirt in my eyes.” I tried to make my voice come out without the pain, like a man.

“Dios eterno—your eyes!”

“What’s the matter? What’s the matter?” Poppa called from the bedroom.

“Esta ciego!” Momma screamed. “He is blind!”

I hear Poppa knocking things over as he came running. Sis began to cry. Blind, hurting tears were jumping out of my eyes. “Whattya mean, he’s blind?” Poppa asked as he stormed into the kitchen. “What happened?” Poppa’s voice was both scared and mad.

“Playing, Poppa,”

“Whatta ya mean, ‘playing’?” Poppa’s English sounded different when he got warm.

“Just playing, Poppa.”

“Playing? Playing got all that dirt in your eyes? Them Ee-ta-liano kids ganged up on you again.” Poppa squeezed my head between the fingers of one hand. “That settles it—we’re moving out of this section, outta this block.”

Who is involved?

What is happening?

When did it happen?

Where did it happen?

Why is it happening?

Down These Mean Streets, Page 31— Level B

I heard the door open and Momma say, “come in.” I didn’t move. I couldn’t. There was a long pause. “My God,” she said finally. “What’s happened?” Then, she took a closer look. She screamed.

“I was playing with some kids, Momma, an’ I got some dirt in my eyes.” I tried to make my voice come out like a man.

“Your eyes!”

“What’s the matter? What’s the matter?” Poppa called from the bedroom.

Momma screamed. “He is blind!”

I hear Poppa running. Sis began to cry. Tears were jumping out of my eyes. “Whattya mean, he’s blind?” Poppa asked. “What happened?” Poppa’s voice was both scared and mad.

“Playing, Poppa,”

“Whatta ya mean, ‘playing’?”

“Just playing, Poppa.”

“Playing? Playing got all that dirt in your eyes? Them kids ganged up on you again.” That settles it—we’re moving out of this section, outta this block.”

Who is involved?

What is happening?

Where did it happen?

Down These Mean Streets, Page 31— Level C

I heard the door open and Momma say, “come in.” I didn’t move. I couldn’t. “My God, what’s happened?”

“I was playing with some kids, Momma, an’ I got some dirt in my eyes.” I tried to make my voice come out like a man.

“What’s the matter?” Poppa called from the bedroom.

Momma screamed. “He is blind!”

I hear Poppa running. Sis began to cry. Tears were jumping out of my eyes. “Whattya mean, he’s blind?” Poppa asked. “What happened?”

“Playing, Poppa,”

“Whatta ya mean, ‘playing’?”

“Just playing.”

“Playing got all that dirt in your eyes? Them kids ganged up on you again.” That settles it—we’re moving out of this block.”

Who is involved?

July 8, 2015

Today, we learned more about the characters and their relationships. For homework, you are to read this passage that tell us about Poppa and write about the passage.

Homework A

 Page 28-29

There was no sign of Rocky and his killers. After awhile I saw Poppa coming down the street. He walked like beat tired. Poppa hated his pick-and-shovel job with the WPA. He couldn’t even hear the name WPA without getting a fever. Funny, I thought, Poppa’s the same like me, a stone Puerto Rican, and nobody on this block even pays him a mind. Maybe older people get along better’n us kids.

Poppa was climbing the stoop, “Hi, Poppa,” I said.

“How’s it going, son? Hey, you sure look a little lumped up. What happened?”

I looked at Poppa and started to talk it outta me all at once and I stopped, ‘cause I heard my voice start to sound scared, and that was no good. 

“Slow down, son,” Poppa said. “Take it easy.” He sat down on the stoop and made motion for me to do the same. He listened and I talked. I gained confidence. I went from a tone of being shook up by the Italians to a tone of being a better fighter than Joe Louis and Pedro Montanez lumped together, with Kid Chocolate thrown in for extra.

“So that’s what happened,” I concluded. “And it looks like only the beginning. Man, I ain’t scared, Poppa, but like there’s nothin’ but Italianos on this block and there’s no me’s like me except me an’ our family.”

Poppa looked tight. He shook his head from side to side and mumbled something about another Puerto Rican family that lived a coupla doors down from us.

I thought, What good would that do me, unless they prayed over my dead body in Spanish?  But I said, “Man! That’s great. Before ya know it, there’ll be a whole bunch of us moving in, huh?”

Poppa grunted something and got up. Staying out here, son?”

“Yeah, Poppa, for a little while longer.”

Homework: Write 3 sentences about Poppa based on this passage.

Homework B

 Page 28-29

There was no sign of Rocky and his killers. After awhile I saw Poppa coming down the street. He walked like beat tired. Poppa hated his pick-and-shovel job with the WPA.  Funny, I thought, Poppa’s the same like me, a stone Puerto Rican, and nobody on this block even pays him a mind. Maybe older people get along better’n us kids.

Poppa was climbing the stoop, “Hi, Poppa,” I said.

“How’s it going, son? Hey, you sure look a little lumped up. What happened?”

I looked at Poppa and started to talk it outta me all at once and I stopped, ‘cause I heard my voice start to sound scared. 

“Slow down, son,” Poppa said. “Take it easy.” He listened and I talked. I gained confidence. 

“So that’s what happened,” I concluded. “And it looks like only the beginning. Man, I ain’t scared, Poppa, but like there’s nothin’ but Italianos on this block and there’s no me’s like me except me an’ our family.”

Poppa looked tight. He shook his head from side to side and mumbled something about another Puerto Rican family that lived a coupla doors down from us.

I thought, What good would that do me, unless they prayed over my dead body in Spanish?  But I said, “Man! That’s great. Before ya know it, there’ll be a whole bunch of us moving in, huh?”

Poppa grunted something and got up. "Staying out here, son?”

“Yeah, Poppa, for a little while longer.”

Homework: Write 2 sentences about Poppa based on this passage.

Homework C

Page 28-29

There was no sign of Rocky. After awhile I saw Poppa coming down the street. Poppa hated his pick-and-shovel job.  Funny, I thought, Poppa’s the same like me, a stone Puerto Rican, and nobody on this block even pays him a mind. Maybe older people get along better’n us kids.

Poppa was climbing the stoop, “Hi, Poppa,” I said.

“How’s it going, son? What happened?”

I looked at Poppa and started to talk it outta me all at once and I stopped.

“Slow down, son,” Poppa said. “Take it easy.” He listened and I talked. I gained confidence. 

“So that’s what happened,” I concluded. “And it looks like only the beginning. There’s nothin’ but Italianos on this block.”

Poppa looked tight. He shook his head from side to side and said another Puerto Rican family that lived a coupla doors down from us.

I said, “Man! That’s great. Before ya know it, there’ll be a whole bunch of us moving in, huh?”

Poppa grunted something and got up. "Staying out here, son?”

“Yeah, Poppa, for a little while longer.”

Homework: Write 1 sentence about Poppa based on this passage.

July 7, 2015

Today in class we continued to learn about identity and Latino literature. Here is another passage from Chapter 4 of Down These Mean Streets. Again, they are broken into 3 levels and are followed by comprehension questions.

HOMEWORK A

From that day on I grew eyes all over my head. Anytime I hit that street for anything, I looked straight ahead, behind me and from side to side all at the same time. Sometimes I ran into Rocky and his boys—that cat was never without his boys—but they never made a move to snag me. They just grinned at me like a bunch of hungry alley cats that could get their mouse anytime they wanted. That’s what they made me feel like—a mouse. Not like a smart house mouse but like a white house pet that ain’t got no business in the middle of cat country but don’t know better ‘cause he’d end up as part of the inside of some cat.

1. Who did Piri run into in the street?
2. What animal did they make Piri feel like?
3. How did they make Piri feel?

HOMEWORK B

From that day on I grew eyes all over my head. Anytime I hit that street for anything, I looked straight ahead, behind me and from side to side all at the same time. Sometimes I ran into Rocky and his boys but they never made a move to snag me. They just grinned at me like a bunch of hungry alley cats that could get their mouse . That’s what they made me feel like—a mouse. Not like a smart house mouse but like a white house pet that a in’t got no business in the middle of cat country but don’t know better ‘cause he’d end up as part of the inside of some cat.

Who did Piri run into in the street?

What animal did they make Piri feel like?

HOMEWORK C

From that day on I grew eyes all over my head. Anytime I hit that street, I looked straight ahead, behind me and from side to side all at the same time. Sometimes I ran into Rocky and his boys. They just grinned at me. They made me feel like a mouse. 

Who did Piri run into in the street?

July 6, 2015

This summer, we will read Down These Mean Streets, by Piri Thomas. Here is the homework for Monday, July 6. The homework is broken down into three different reading levels. Each reading is followed by comprehension questions

Homework A

Momma was cooking, and the smell of rice and beans was beating the smell of Parmesan cheese from the other apartments. I let myself into our new pad. I tried to walk fast past Momma so I could wash up, but she saw me.

“My God, Piri, what happened?” she cried.

“Just a little fight at school, Momma. You know how it is, Momma, I’m new in school an’…” I made myself laugh. Then I made myself say, “But Moms, I whipped the living—outta two guys, an’ one was bigger’n me.”

“Bendito, Piri, I raise this family in Christian way. Not to fight. Christ says to turn the other cheek.”

“Sure, Momma.” I smiled and went and showered, feeling sore at Poppa for bringing us into spaghetti country. I felt my face with easy fingers and thought about all the running back and forth from school that was in store for me.

I sat down to dinner and listened to Momma talk about Christian living without really hearing her. All I could think of was that I had to go out in that street again. I made up all my mind to go out right after I finished eating. I had to, shook up or not; cats like me had to show heart.

“Be back, Moms,” I said after dinner, “I’m going out on the stoop.” I got halfway to the stoop and turned and went back to our apartment. I knocked.

“Who is it?” Momma asked.

“Me, Momma.”

She opened the door. “Que pasa?” she asked.

“Nothing, Momma, I just forgot something," I said. I went into the bedroom and fiddled around and finally copped a funny book and walked out the door again. But this time I made sure the switch on the lock was open, just in case I had to get back real quick. I walked out on that stoop as cool as could be, feeling braver with the lock open.”

1. Who do we meet?
2. What did Momma cook?
3. What religion are they?
4. Why did Piri want to go back out to the street?
5. Why did he unlock the door before he left?

Homework B

Momma was cooking, and the smell of rice and beans was beating the smell of Parmesan cheese from the other apartments. I let myself into our new pad.

“Piri, what happened?” she cried.

“Just a little fight at school, Momma. I’m new in school."

“Piri, I raise this family in Christian way. Not to fight.”

“Sure, Momma.” I smiled and went and showered. I felt my face and thought about all the running back and forth from school that was in store for me.

I sat down to dinner and listened to Momma talk about Christian living. All I could think of was that I had to go out in that street again. I made up all my mind to go out right after I finished eating. I had to; cats like me had to show heart.

“Be back, Moms,” I said after dinner, “I’m going out on the stoop.” I got halfway to the stoop and turned and went back to our apartment. I knocked.

“Who is it?” Momma asked.

“Me, Momma.”

She opened the door. “Que pasa?” she asked.

“Nothing, Momma, I just forgot something," I said. I went into the bedroom and copped a funny book and walked out the door again. But this time I made sure the switch on the lock was open, just in case I had to get back real quick. I walked out on that stoop as cool as could be, feeling braver with the lock open.”

Who do we meet?

What religion are they?

Why did Piri want to go back out to the street?

Homework C

Momma was cooking. The smell of rice and beans was beating the smell of Parmesan cheese. I let myself into our new pad.

“Piri, what happened?” she cried.

“Just a little fight at school, Momma. I’m new in school."

“Piri, I raise this family in Christian way. Not to fight.”

“Sure, Momma.” I smiled. 

I sat down to dinner. I had to go out in that street again. I made up my mind to go out after I finished eating. I had to; cats like me had to show heart.

“Be back, Moms. I’m going out on the stoop.” I got halfway to the stoop and turned and went back to our apartment. I knocked.

“Who is it?” Momma asked.

“Me, Momma.”

She opened the door. “Que pasa?” she asked.

“Nothing, Momma, I just forgot something," I said. I went into the bedroom and copped a funny book and walked out the door again. But this time I made sure the switch on the lock was open, just in case I had to get back real quick. I walked out on that stoop as cool as could be, feeling braver with the lock open.”

What character do we meet?

What religion are they?