Life on Banana Street
Being Bad
-A Few Weeks Later-
I was still living at Tre’s and his family treated me like I was just another kid. I got more comfortable being around Tre’s dad, the pilot.
“Breakfast kids!” Tre’s mom yelled up the stairs.
“Come on. Let’s go eat. We can do this later.”
“What are you Nicky now?”
“No…We can do this after school when my parents aren’t here.”
“Ok. Sounds good to me.” And we left the project in peace.
-School-
Everyone’s been teasing me about my dad killing himself over me and Tre. They’ve been drawing me notes with stuff like a person hanging themselves on it.
Until finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Hey Addie! Check out this note!” I took it, opened it, and ripped it up.
“You know what John? You can go fuck your pussy ok? I’m not gonna put up with this shit anymore. So what? My dad died ok? Is that ok with you?”
“You wanna go?”
“Yeah! Actually I do! Let’s go right now, bitch!”
I punched him in the mouth and he just fell over.
“Wow. You really put up a fight there.”
“Yeah. What can I say I fight like a girl.”
He got up and started punching me and I kicked him in the balls.
“MS. HERSH! COME TO MY OFFICE RIGHT NOW!” Mr. brown yelled.
I scowled at John and Mr. Brown grabbed my arm and led me to his office.
“Now, Adeline, why did you fight John?”
“Because he’s giving me all this crap about my dad dying and I’m sick of it.”
“That’s no reason to go fight someone now is it?”
“Actually, it is. How would you like it if your dad died and everyone teased you about it? I don’t think you’d like it.”
“I wouldn’t like at all, but I wouldn’t go fight someone over it.”
“Yeah? Well that’s you and I’m not you. I do what I have to do to get by. My mom’s in jail and my dad died. I don’t think I would be saying, ‘Oh, please don’t do that. It’s terribly wrong to make fun of me.’ I’d be saying, ‘Leave me the hell alone and get a life!’”
“I understand that, but-”
“But what? So I fought him. So what? And let me guess. I’m gonna get in trouble because I stood up for myself. And John doesn’t get in trouble because he gave me a bad note teasing me about my dad. Yeah that’s fair punishment.”
“Adeline, it’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like?”
He paused.
“Are you against me or something? Because all year you’ve been getting me in trouble because I stand up for myself.”
“This is not a way students talk to a principal.”
“Answer my question damnit!”
He stared at me with wide eyes.
“Answer!”
“You wanna know why Adeline? Do you?”
“Why do think I’ve been asking for an answer?”
“It’s because me and your mom were engaged then I got her pregnant when she was 16 with your sister Hannah. She then dumped me and I’ve been miserable ever since.”
“So that’s why you’ve been picking on me? Because my mom dumped you?”
“There’s something else you should know, Addie.”
“What?”
“I’m your real father.”
“W-What?” I said suddenly shocked.
“Yes, me and your mom had an affair while she was married to your father and I got her pregnant once again and she had you.”
I felt like I was going to pass out. I felt queasy. I soon passed out.
“Adeline. Adeline? Are you awake?”
“Huh?” I said getting up from the nurse’s table. “Where am I?”
“You passed out.”
“How? Why?”
“I told you I was your real father.”
“Oh…I don’t feel good. I think I should go to Tre’s house.”
“Why?”
“I live there. His mom will take care of me.”
“Oh, I’ll call his mom to come pick you up.”
“Thank you. Dad.”
About 15 minutes later, Tre’s mom arrived and I went back to the house and fell asleep.
-A Few Hours Later-
“Addie? Baby?”
“Hi Tre. I really don’t feel good.”
“I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No, not really.”
He got in the bed and laid next to me.
“I love you Addie.”
“I love you too Tre.”
“What happened today? You never came to class.”
“Ok, first, I got in a fight with John and had to go to Mr. Brown’s office. And it turns out I’m his daughter.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Then I passed out and your mom came and got me. Then I came here and went to sleep. Now you’re here and I’m telling you what happened.”
“You’re a great story teller.”
“Thank you?”
“You’re welcome.”
There was a long silence.
“I had plans for us tonight, but you don’t feel good.”
“I’ll feel better. It depends on what they are.”
“Ok, everyone here is leaving to go to my cousin’s party, but I said I’d stay home with you to take care of you.”
“Sounds good. Yeah I’m feeling better now.”
-That Night-
“Tre, Addie, we’re leaving.”
“Ok.”
“You kids behave.”
“Don’t worry. We will.”
We heard them get in the car and drive off down the street. We went upstairs and put our bathing suits on.
“Ready?”
“Always.” We went downstairs and went in his pool and had races and everything else.
After that, he swam over to me and started kissing me. He picked me up and took me upstairs while still kissing me and set me down on the bed.
“Tre, I think I’m ready.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I-I am.”
He went out of the room and came back with one of his dad’s condoms.
“Good sign of responsibility, Tre.”
“Yeah, I know. I just don’t want to take any chances.”
He put the condom on and he got on top of me and we started making out. He helped me take off my clothes.
“I’ll be gentle, don’t worry.”
“Ok.”
When we were done, he held me close. “I really love you, Tre.”
“I love you too, Addie,” he said while stroking my hair.
We fell asleep in each other’s arms.
“WHAT THE HELL WENT ON HERE LAST NIGHT?!!”
We woke up and scurried to get the covers on top of us.
“Mom, I can explain.”
“Explain to me that you had sex? Frank Edwin Wright III! I thought I could trust you!”
“Mom! I used protection!”
“I don’t care! You had sex!”
Tre’s dad passed the door.
“My boy is a man now,” he said proudly.
The rest of the day was really sad. Tre got grounded and didn’t go to school.
Once again, everyone found out about me and Tre.
“Way to go Addie!”
“Woo! Yeah! You go!”
“Shut the hell up!”
“Geez Addie. It’s just a joke. Don’t take it personally.”
“You know what? People have been telling me to lay off and all that shit, but I think it should be you guys. Who cares if I had sex? Yeah I admit it! I did! So leave me the hell alone!”
“Don’t be like that.”
“No, you don’t be like that,” I said then stormed off.
I went around the corner and slowly slid down the wall.
“My life SUCKS!”
The bell rang and I heard scurrying to class. I just stayed there. I heard someone come around the corner.
“Billie?”
“Addie! What are you doing at this corner? Didn’t the bell ring?”
“Yeah. I’m just depressed is all.”
“Don’t be depressed,” he said then coming to sit by me.
“Hey, why are you here?”
“I moved back into the neighborhood. I live in front of you a few houses down. But your house looks weird. Vacant.”
“Yeah I don’t live there any more.”
“Why?”
“My mom went to jail, my dad died. Now I live with…” I hesitated. “Tre.”
“What? All that happened since I was gone?”
“Yep.”
He hugged me. “I’ll always be there for you. But how could you live with Tre?”
“He was the closest thing you know?”
“Yeah. Well, you can come with me if you wish.”
“I don’t think Tre will like that.”
“Who cares what Tre wants? What do you want?”
“You know? I don’t really know. I can’t move out on Tre. It would break his heart. And you know how much I’d love to come live with you. But after this morning, I think I better move.”
“What happened?”
“Last night, we uh. Yeah.”
“Oh wow.”
“Yeah then his parents found out this morning. I think I should move before I get shot.”
He laughed. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“Anyway, are you enrolling today?”
“Yeah. My mom’s in the office. I just went for a bathroom break.”
“Oh I see.”
“Yeah, so I’m gonna get to the bathroom.”
“Ok. I’ll be here when you get back.”
He looked back at me and smiled. Did I still love Billie? Were we meant to be?
I was still living at Tre’s and his family treated me like I was just another kid. I got more comfortable being around Tre’s dad, the pilot.
“Breakfast kids!” Tre’s mom yelled up the stairs.
“Come on. Let’s go eat. We can do this later.”
“What are you Nicky now?”
“No…We can do this after school when my parents aren’t here.”
“Ok. Sounds good to me.” And we left the project in peace.
-School-
Everyone’s been teasing me about my dad killing himself over me and Tre. They’ve been drawing me notes with stuff like a person hanging themselves on it.
Until finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Hey Addie! Check out this note!” I took it, opened it, and ripped it up.
“You know what John? You can go fuck your pussy ok? I’m not gonna put up with this shit anymore. So what? My dad died ok? Is that ok with you?”
“You wanna go?”
“Yeah! Actually I do! Let’s go right now, bitch!”
I punched him in the mouth and he just fell over.
“Wow. You really put up a fight there.”
“Yeah. What can I say I fight like a girl.”
He got up and started punching me and I kicked him in the balls.
“MS. HERSH! COME TO MY OFFICE RIGHT NOW!” Mr. brown yelled.
I scowled at John and Mr. Brown grabbed my arm and led me to his office.
“Now, Adeline, why did you fight John?”
“Because he’s giving me all this crap about my dad dying and I’m sick of it.”
“That’s no reason to go fight someone now is it?”
“Actually, it is. How would you like it if your dad died and everyone teased you about it? I don’t think you’d like it.”
“I wouldn’t like at all, but I wouldn’t go fight someone over it.”
“Yeah? Well that’s you and I’m not you. I do what I have to do to get by. My mom’s in jail and my dad died. I don’t think I would be saying, ‘Oh, please don’t do that. It’s terribly wrong to make fun of me.’ I’d be saying, ‘Leave me the hell alone and get a life!’”
“I understand that, but-”
“But what? So I fought him. So what? And let me guess. I’m gonna get in trouble because I stood up for myself. And John doesn’t get in trouble because he gave me a bad note teasing me about my dad. Yeah that’s fair punishment.”
“Adeline, it’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like?”
He paused.
“Are you against me or something? Because all year you’ve been getting me in trouble because I stand up for myself.”
“This is not a way students talk to a principal.”
“Answer my question damnit!”
He stared at me with wide eyes.
“Answer!”
“You wanna know why Adeline? Do you?”
“Why do think I’ve been asking for an answer?”
“It’s because me and your mom were engaged then I got her pregnant when she was 16 with your sister Hannah. She then dumped me and I’ve been miserable ever since.”
“So that’s why you’ve been picking on me? Because my mom dumped you?”
“There’s something else you should know, Addie.”
“What?”
“I’m your real father.”
“W-What?” I said suddenly shocked.
“Yes, me and your mom had an affair while she was married to your father and I got her pregnant once again and she had you.”
I felt like I was going to pass out. I felt queasy. I soon passed out.
“Adeline. Adeline? Are you awake?”
“Huh?” I said getting up from the nurse’s table. “Where am I?”
“You passed out.”
“How? Why?”
“I told you I was your real father.”
“Oh…I don’t feel good. I think I should go to Tre’s house.”
“Why?”
“I live there. His mom will take care of me.”
“Oh, I’ll call his mom to come pick you up.”
“Thank you. Dad.”
About 15 minutes later, Tre’s mom arrived and I went back to the house and fell asleep.
-A Few Hours Later-
“Addie? Baby?”
“Hi Tre. I really don’t feel good.”
“I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No, not really.”
He got in the bed and laid next to me.
“I love you Addie.”
“I love you too Tre.”
“What happened today? You never came to class.”
“Ok, first, I got in a fight with John and had to go to Mr. Brown’s office. And it turns out I’m his daughter.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Then I passed out and your mom came and got me. Then I came here and went to sleep. Now you’re here and I’m telling you what happened.”
“You’re a great story teller.”
“Thank you?”
“You’re welcome.”
There was a long silence.
“I had plans for us tonight, but you don’t feel good.”
“I’ll feel better. It depends on what they are.”
“Ok, everyone here is leaving to go to my cousin’s party, but I said I’d stay home with you to take care of you.”
“Sounds good. Yeah I’m feeling better now.”
-That Night-
“Tre, Addie, we’re leaving.”
“Ok.”
“You kids behave.”
“Don’t worry. We will.”
We heard them get in the car and drive off down the street. We went upstairs and put our bathing suits on.
“Ready?”
“Always.” We went downstairs and went in his pool and had races and everything else.
After that, he swam over to me and started kissing me. He picked me up and took me upstairs while still kissing me and set me down on the bed.
“Tre, I think I’m ready.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I-I am.”
He went out of the room and came back with one of his dad’s condoms.
“Good sign of responsibility, Tre.”
“Yeah, I know. I just don’t want to take any chances.”
He put the condom on and he got on top of me and we started making out. He helped me take off my clothes.
“I’ll be gentle, don’t worry.”
“Ok.”
When we were done, he held me close. “I really love you, Tre.”
“I love you too, Addie,” he said while stroking my hair.
We fell asleep in each other’s arms.
“WHAT THE HELL WENT ON HERE LAST NIGHT?!!”
We woke up and scurried to get the covers on top of us.
“Mom, I can explain.”
“Explain to me that you had sex? Frank Edwin Wright III! I thought I could trust you!”
“Mom! I used protection!”
“I don’t care! You had sex!”
Tre’s dad passed the door.
“My boy is a man now,” he said proudly.
The rest of the day was really sad. Tre got grounded and didn’t go to school.
Once again, everyone found out about me and Tre.
“Way to go Addie!”
“Woo! Yeah! You go!”
“Shut the hell up!”
“Geez Addie. It’s just a joke. Don’t take it personally.”
“You know what? People have been telling me to lay off and all that shit, but I think it should be you guys. Who cares if I had sex? Yeah I admit it! I did! So leave me the hell alone!”
“Don’t be like that.”
“No, you don’t be like that,” I said then stormed off.
I went around the corner and slowly slid down the wall.
“My life SUCKS!”
The bell rang and I heard scurrying to class. I just stayed there. I heard someone come around the corner.
“Billie?”
“Addie! What are you doing at this corner? Didn’t the bell ring?”
“Yeah. I’m just depressed is all.”
“Don’t be depressed,” he said then coming to sit by me.
“Hey, why are you here?”
“I moved back into the neighborhood. I live in front of you a few houses down. But your house looks weird. Vacant.”
“Yeah I don’t live there any more.”
“Why?”
“My mom went to jail, my dad died. Now I live with…” I hesitated. “Tre.”
“What? All that happened since I was gone?”
“Yep.”
He hugged me. “I’ll always be there for you. But how could you live with Tre?”
“He was the closest thing you know?”
“Yeah. Well, you can come with me if you wish.”
“I don’t think Tre will like that.”
“Who cares what Tre wants? What do you want?”
“You know? I don’t really know. I can’t move out on Tre. It would break his heart. And you know how much I’d love to come live with you. But after this morning, I think I better move.”
“What happened?”
“Last night, we uh. Yeah.”
“Oh wow.”
“Yeah then his parents found out this morning. I think I should move before I get shot.”
He laughed. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“Anyway, are you enrolling today?”
“Yeah. My mom’s in the office. I just went for a bathroom break.”
“Oh I see.”
“Yeah, so I’m gonna get to the bathroom.”
“Ok. I’ll be here when you get back.”
He looked back at me and smiled. Did I still love Billie? Were we meant to be?