November 10, 1990
Dear Janice,
Rondah’s shower was today. It really turned out good. This morning I thought it would be a disaster. First of all it was raining. That brought down my mood instantly. We decided to keep it at Aunt Mable’s house. That’s because if we had kept it at our house, she would have found out by our decorating and cooking. We got her friend to say they were going out and we said we were just going to stop by Aunt Mable’s. After we were at Aunt Mable’s, we called her friend right before they were supposed to leave and asked them if they could drop something off at the house. When they came we yelled, “Surprise!” Rondah looked pretty shocked. She got a lot of presents. There were so many little clothes and things. She said to me, “I’ll never trust you again.” She was talking about how good I lied. I guess she thinks since I’m such a convincing liar, I’ve been doing it to her for years.
November 12, 1990
Dear Janice,
One thing I really miss about not staying home in the days is watching my soap operas. And when it comes to soap operas, I think ABC is the best. From “Loving” to “General Hospital” I’m glued to the set. I guess why I like watching them is those are other people’s problems on the screen, not yours. You grow to love certain characters, then hate others. But the thing is, you like to hate them. It’s hard to explain. I just love television. I’d better start reading some books though. I can’t let myself become a t.v.holic. Right now I’m watching Estelle Getty portray Sophia Patrilo on “The Golden Girls.” It’s one of those repeats that come on Fox at 6:00. It’s a funny episode.
November 15, 1990
Dear Janice,
I feel like calling Ann (my cousin in Canada). I guess it’s because she’s mature and I long for a conversation with a mature friend. My friends are acting quite the opposite. I wish she didn’t live so far away. She’s a real friend to me. It was in her mother’s house that I spent the summer vacation. We has a lot of fun together. She’s 16 and she took me places and introduced me to all her friends and at night in the bedroom we’d talk about the old days in Jamaica. We’d talk about how goofy we were back then compared to now. I didn’t know anything—I couldn’t really remember everybody while she remembered everyone we were ever acquainted with. She holds that over me. I hope to go back to Jamaica at Easter. It would be really something to go back to the old house and see old friends. I only hope they remember me. I haven’t exactly been keeping in touch. Letters aren’t really my thing. I write them but I hardly ever end up posting them.
November 18, 1990
Dear Janice,
I didn’t go to church today. I got dressed up and everything but my cousins who I usually go with weren’t going so I came back home. I didn’t do much back here. I just circulated around this house. The old me would have went straight outside to my friend’s house. I find I’ve lost interest in going outside. I was usually like a magnet drawn to steel when it came to going outside. Now, I could spend a whole week without stepping past the doorstep. Except for going to school of course. I think I’ve matured somewhat. I always was concerned about what I was missing outside. I never wanted to be left out on anything happening with my friends who are always doing something or going somewhere. In the way I’ve matured I’ve come to the sudden realization that there are many more things to life like being close to my family, before it’s too late. Pretty soon I’ll be off to college, then married with kids. I might be rushing things a bit, but these years go by very fast.
I’m my own person. I like to think that I’m not just my cousin’s cousin or my friend’s friend. I like to think I’m the individual Latoya Hunter.
November 20, 1990
Dear Janice,
Today Beth, a girl in my class told this boy that I like him. I don’t know why she did that. She’s always saying I’m too quiet. She’s right. I am more than quiet, I’m really shy. There’s something about having people looking directly at me, listening to everything I say and waiting for me to say or do something that terrifies me. I usually figit or shake my leg—especially when people are looking at me and focusing their attention on me. For this reason I don’t say much except to people I know really well. Anyways, now I’ve got a boy going around thinking I like him when I don’t. It’s really getting to his head. He stares at me and when I turn around, he’s always there. I don’t want to break it to him. One thing about me is I can’t give bad news. Then again, maybe it won’t be bad news to him. I don’t know. Beth won’t do it. I really hate her!
There is this one guy I like. His name is Kirk. He’s so cute! He’s in 8th grade. He’s friendly, funny, everything. I think I’ll just keep that to myself. I don’t want him to know. I just like to secretly admire him, it’s probably better that way with all the gossip that goes around schools. Especially when a boy likes a girl.
November 24, 1990
Dear Janice,
My brother is planning an engagement party. It’s going to be at his fiancee Michelle’s house. She used to live in Brooklyn before she moved in with him so the Bronx posse will have to take their party gear to Brooklyn. I probably won’t even go because it starts at 9:00. Michelle says if I go I’ll have to go upstairs at 10:00. I hope she wasn’t serious. I’d rather stay home than go there and be stuck upstairs. She couldn’t have been serious. Anyway, it was the average Saturday. I woke up at 10:00, watched Soul Train in bed, got up, did things around the house until 12:00 and watched Star Search. After that I took a shower, slept, went outside, came back in, slept, and so it goes on. My life can be pretty boring sometimes but what can I say? I’m twelve.
November 26, 1990
Dear Janice,
School is such a bore! Maybe I was just tired today but my eyes kept closing, especially in Social Studies. That teacher could go on and on about things that have nothing to do with S.S. He’s just like last year’s Spanish teacher. Her name is Miss Waldinger but her students refer to her as Miss Walding-a-ling. She would go on and on about her life like we really cared if her son got an A on his report card. It was torture to sit in her class. The best part of the 45 minutes she spent with us was when we said “Adios.” I guess in every school there’s a teacher that qualifies as a sleeping pill.
Home and Careers is an okay class when I think about it. I love to talk about life and learn about life. It’s one of the only kinds of learning that gets my mind flowing and eager to know more. Things like how many times the heart beats per minute don’t seem important to me. So I’m glad there is a class like Home and Careers that turns on that interest switch in my brain. I can pass tests in the other classes and understand what they teach but it isn’t the same.
November 29
Dear Janice,
Today it happened! My sister has brought forth into the world an adorable baby boy named Devoy. I can’t believe I’ve got a nephew. I can’t believe my sister has a son. I’ve never thought of my sister as a mother.
I didn’t get a really good look at the little thing. They rolled him by in what looked to me like a glass cage. I don’t think my nephew should spend his first hours on the outside world in a glass cage.
When I came home from school my father told me she went into labor. A thousand different feelings attacked me at once. I was happy I was going to meet my nephew or niece, I was nervous, I was apprehensive, I was sorry for my sister who I knew was in intense pain. For nine months, he was almost like a dream, now he’s so real. I know I’ll love him to death. I want to have a child as soon as I get out of college and have had a steady job for a year. Hopefully I’ll be married and making money so I could give the baby everything she (I hope) wants.
Sunday, November 31, 1990
Dear Janice,
Rondah came home with the baby today. He is so adorable. He’s always sleeping and when he is awake, he doesn’t open his eyes much but I’ve still grown to start loving him. I can’t wait for him to get bigger so I can take him places and spoil him. I wonder what it will be like having
a baby in the house. This is all so exciting. I think everyone feels how I do. My parents seem really happy. My aunts Mable and Rita came over with a few friends. People from around the area also came around to see him. The house has been really busy. When the excitement dies down, I’m prepared for the reality of having a baby around. One thing about me that’s helped me out in a new situation is that nothing really takes me by surprise.
December 3, 1990
Dear Janice,
I’m kind of upset right now. It’s because of Rondah and her attitude. I can’t even touch the baby without her having something to say about it. I understand she’s a new mother and she doesn’t want anything to happen to her baby, but she’s got to loosen up. It’s not like I throw him up in the air or make him do somersaults. I just hold him and look at him. My parents tell her to loosen up too but no one can change my sister. I trust my parents as experienced people when it comes to babies, they’ve had four, but Rondah isn’t listening to them about anything.
December 5, 1990
Dear Janice,
Devoy actually stared at me today. He opened his eyes for a while and stared at me. My reaction was to run out of the room. He just looks so creepy. I don’t know why. It’s just coming to the realization that my sister has really made someone. I never really thought about it. It’s such an amazing thing.
In school everything is going on like it always does. The only difference in my day is I have something more to look forward to going home and seeing my nephew.
December 6, 1990
Dear Janice,
There was a brutal fight after school between two girls. I don’t know why but I know one of them didn’t want to fight. She was going on the bus when the other girl pulled her off the bus and started beating her like crazy. The other one started fighting back. No one even tried to stop them. It was like boxing, the kids were entertained by watching it. Then blood started to shed. The cops must have smelled the blood because that’s when they showed up finally. They put the girl who started it in the car and I don’t know where they took her.
December 8, 1990
Dear Janice,
Sorry I didn’t talk to you yesterday, I was over at Dave’s house. He picked me up last night and brought me home in the morning before he went to work. He’s a good brother I think. I’m lucky to have him. Since he moved out I’ve been over there around three times. Sandra, his girlfriend, and I are really close so I’m not only over there to be with him. If we were alone it would be really awkward. What does a 23 year old guy and his 12 year old sister have to talk about? He’d do much better with a little brother. In fact, when Devoy reaches around 5 years I guess they’ll be going around like that. Dave could bring him around and buy him some cool clothes. The other day I heard him say something like that too. I suppose he’s very happy to have a little nephew. I wish both my brothers still lived with me. It would be nice having them always around again!
December 9, 1990
Dear Janice,
My cousin and his mother who live in Bermuda have decided to spend Christmas vacation here in N.Y. I can’t wait to see him. He was so little when I last saw him. He must be at least seven now.
Anyways, there are 15 days left for Christmas shopping. Rondah is going to put up the tree tomorrow. Every Christmas, the two of us do the honors. We’re suppose to have a dinner party at the house on Christmas. That’ll be a change. Every Christmas, the Hunters have had to go to one of my mothers two aunts house. This year we’ll get to do the entertaining.
December 13, 1990
Dear Janice,
Today Devoy is two weeks old. At the time I’m writing this—8:15 exactly, 14 days ago he was born. I think he actually smiled today. It’s probably only gas though. I don’t think he has anything to smile about as yet. The only thing he does in life is eat, sleep, and dirty his diapers.
I’m happy my sister doesn’t trust me with him enough to make me change his diapers. I could do it but in her mind, I can’t. No arguments here.
Friday, December 14, 1990
Dear Janice,
Today is Friday and my brother Courtney’s engagement party is tomorrow. I got a new outfit yesterday to wear there. It’s black and white and I think I like it. My sister and I had a hard time choosing. At least I did. I think I’m a hard person to shop for or with. I don’t want to be but if I don’t like something and buy it anyway, I know it’ll spend most of the time in my closet. Anyways, I can’t wait for the party. I know it’s going to be good.
Sunday, December 16, 1990
Dear Janice,
I was right. The party was wonderful. They had good music and good food. What more can you ask for? My mother made a toast and in the middle of it started crying. Isn’t that sweet? She’ll probably do the same thing at the wedding. She’s got to look at it this way, she’s not losing a son, she’s gaining a daughter. I’m gaining a sister. Devoy’s gaining an aunt and so it goes on. I think Michelle will be a good addition to the family.
December 17, 1990
Dear Janice,
I have two news flashes. My grandparents are coming from Canada for Christmas, and Sandra (Dave’s girlfriend) is having a surprise birthday party for him on the 29th. His birthday is the 25th. I didn’t tell you before that he was born on Christmas.
Well, it’ll be nice to have my grandparents here to share the holidays. Shane will be here (he’s the cousin I said was coming from Jamaica) and we’ll all be together. I think my grandmother will be really happy to see Shane. That’s her grandchild too and she hasn’t seen him for years. By the way, Shane and his mother (my uncle’s ex) will be coming the 20th. That’s only 3 days from now.
Tuesday, December 19, 1990
Dear Janice,
Tomorrow will be my last day in school before the vacation starts. I go back on the 2nd of January, 1991!! I like the way that sounds.
Anyways I wonder how I’ll spend the vacation. Probably in my house but that’s OK. Shane will be there. I’m kind of disappointed I won’t get to meet them at the airport. They have a 9:30 flight. I’ll be in school then but when I get home he’ll be there. I hope he remembers me. We lived together for at least 3 years. Surprised? That was in Jamaica. When I left there, he was at least 3 or 4.
December 20, 1990
Dear Janice,
Shane is here! He is so big. I was expecting him to grow a little but not that much as he did. I came home from school and saw him in the living room watching a movie and eating cheese curls. When he saw me he hid his face (I don’t know why). I didn’t hug him because I didn’t know if he remembered me or not. I asked him if he remembered me and he said yes. I could tell he was lying through his teeth. I showed him old pictures of the two of us in Jamaica. I think that helped his memory a little bit. I think I’ll like the vacation but one thing though—they’ve taken over my room. My bed for the next 10 days will be the couch. Lucky me! Whenever there’s company, I’m the one who gets dumped in the living room. I hate it so much. It’s just another reminder of how powerless I am at this age.
December 21, 1990
Update on Devoy
Devoy is smiling regularly now. I feed him now and sometimes they leave me alone with him. So as you can see, Rondah has really loosened up. I guess it was just a phase.
I found out something new about Shane today. The boy is obsessed with money. He walks around begging for money. I hope it’s a habit he’ll get over soon. I’m going to take him shopping on Saturday hope he’s not as hard to shop with as I am.
Everybody wants money these days. Actually, a better word is “needs.” Out of all my friends I’m always the one with money all the time. When we’re coming home from school I can always stop and buy junk food if I want. I always give them money to buy something. It’s not that I’m rich (definitely not) it’s just that my parents give me any spare money they have and it adds up! When things are going really bad financially, it shows on them. I hate to say this but it changes somewhat how nice they a
ct. I hate that money could control things like that, but it does. My grandparents will be arriving late Saturday night.
Saturday, December 22, 1990
It’s 10:00 pm and my grandparents still haven’t arrived. Their train was delayed. I’ll fill you in on their arrival tomorrow. I did last minute shopping today. I finished for everyone on my list. As I told you, I took Shane. I didn’t think it was possible but I’ve found someone harder to shop with than me. Shane runs through the stores picking every toy he could find. He must have thought I had a million dollars on me. I finally satisfied him with a toy bow and arrow set and an outfit. I don’t got a lot of money to shop with so when everyone opens their presents I hope their not overwhelmed with disappointment. The worst of all was what I got Daddy—a pack of white socks. Anyway, for my mother I got a set of purses, for Rondah, a baby album with a family tree on it. As for my brothers I got t-shirts—Courtney’s has the Mets on it (he loves the Mets). For their girlfriends I got perfume.
Monday, December 24, 1990
Dear Janice,
My grandparents finally came at 12:00 last night. My grandmother brought cake from Canada that she made herself. She’s good in the kitchen. After our reunion we all went over to my Aunt Rita to drop them off. That’s where they’ll spend the vacation. They’ll of course come over every day. Well, tomorrow is Christmas.
Diary of Latoya Hunter Page 4