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?
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