Gloria Jackson sat on the sofa reading, she had done her homework, she did her chores and everything she could have done basically.
She was reading the biography of Brooker T. Washington on her sister's cell phone. Since her sister Livvy was hogging the computer she had to use her cracked iPhone.
All the money her mother spent and her oldest daughter wastes it.
She heard the front door open and heels clicking inside. "Mom?"
"Yes Gloria", her mother said from bottom stairs. She was a dark skin woman much like her children, her hair was frizzy and she looked tired. She worked so hard just to make money.
It wasn't easy when she filed for divorce with her husband.
"How was work?", asked little Gloria from her couch.
"It was fine", the woman huffed. "You eat?"
"Yes"
"Where's Livvy?"
"Upstairs", she said.
Her mother came and sat next to her daughter. "So, what you have to eat?"
"Bo bought Pizza from school. The jocks were celebrating"
"Did ya like it?"
"It was pepperoni..."
Her mother chuckled. "Where's your brother?"
She shrugged. Her brother was Bo Jackson, named after the well known athlete. Since he was named after him, he wanted to somehow live up to it. Being a good football player that is.
"Well, what you do all day?", her mother asked. "Read about somebody famous?" She smiled.
"I was reading Brooker T. Washington's bio"
"Ooo", her mother cooed. "I'm so proud of my girl. Gettin that education"
She kissed her daughter's forehead before she got up and went up stairs to check her oldest daughter.
Gloria and her brother were two people that tried their hardest in school, especially Bo. Their mother worked hard, with Bo being in sports and even broke his neck one season, their mother had to pay for the surgery and Gloria had bad eyes, her glasses were almost the price of Derby Harrington's pants.
The reward for staying in school was gift of one day her mother wouldn't have to stress.
"Please, no one hurt me today", cried little Pedro De La Hoya.
He was a short kid that fear for his life everyday he came to school. He looked down at the ground, avoided eye contact and just was scared all the time.
He was showing a black eye from yesterday that he received from being hit in the face by a bully.
"Hi Pedro"
The voice made his heart jump. He swished around, his back slamming against the lockers. "Oh...", he said with a sigh of relief. "Hi Gloria"
"Are you ok?", she looked at his black eye. "Who hurt you?"
"I fell..."
"That's not true. Last week you broke your nose and said you hit a tree"
"I did"
"You didn't", she grabbed his hand. "We are going to tell Ms. Danvers"
Pedro pulled his hand away. "They'll just beat me up again. Why bother?"
"Mmmm. I know!"
She grabbed his hand again and the two headed towards the football field.
Pedro hid behind Gloria, looking up at the jocks with fear and slight envy.
"I wish i was that tall", he muttered.
She pulled his hand as they walked in the gym. She walked up to Damon West, a jock, who was talking to the captain of the team Ted Thompson.
"Excuse me", she said.
"Hey, it's little Gloria"
"Hi Damon"
"Aw, come give your uncle Damon a hug"
"Uncle?", said Pedro.
"He's a friend of my brother. They play for the same team"
"Oh.."
"Damon, do you know where my brother is?"
"Yeah, uh...", he looked at Ted. "Where is he?"
"You just said you knew!", he sighed. "Try the football field. What's wrong somebody messing with you?"
"No, my friend Pedro is being bullied. They gave him this black eye"
"Somebody messin' with you little man?", asked Damon.
"Y-yes...", he replied nervously.
"Well ya know Damon is just as strong, maybe he could be your bodyguard for today, right Damon", said Ted.
"What? Oh! Yeah... i mean i ain't doing nothing anyhow"
"Then it's settled. Damon go beat some kids up", he said.
"Really? What if you get in trouble?", said timid Pedro.
"Who Damon?", Ted laughed.
"Mr. Burton might pap me on the back", said Damon. "Alright little man let's go"
While Damon was out beating up bullies. Gloria had some fun with Ted, he was teaching her how to play Volleyball.
Soon after Pedro and Damon came back. Pedro was happy as Gloria could see the grin on his face.
"Damon is so cool!", he cheered.
"I got a busted lip and my cheek hurts also I'm bored now", said Damon.
Ted chuckled. "Who was it?"
"Stupid Davis and Tom", he huffed. "You alright little man?"
"Yes sir! Thank you Damon!"
"Aw he's cute..." said a female voice. "You guys aren't messing with him are you?"
"Course not Mandy", said Ted.
His girlfriend walked up and kissed his cheek. "Good"
"There are children here damn it", joked Damon.
They played around a bit in the gym. Ted offered to teach Pedro how to fight and Damon told him he could come to him with a problem. The two left the gym as suggested by Ted before it got too late.
They walked side by side to the dorm. Gloria wasn't realizing how Pedro was staring at her.
"Why are you always talking to me?"
"Huh?"
Gloria stopped in her tracks. "You always talk to me. You ask me how I'm doing, you're always worried about me. Why?"
Gloria cocked her head to the side. "Because we're friends... friends look out for each other"
"Friends?"
Gloria wasn't expecting Pedro to lean in and gently kiss her cheek. He looked at her flustered face.
"I like having you as a friend"