Chapter 20-24

Now the story is getting intense. Monique is not getting any better, she's drinking beer tremendously. It's a Good thing Gerald has a job at the fried chicken place to help support what's left of the family. Jordan with his anger and alcoholic problems now begins to abuse Monique and Gerald, this time over an air conditioner. I cant believe Monique still wants to be with this guy. The novel states that she will not let Jordan hit them any more. We shall see. I strangely believe that the problems of Angel's past had given her a toughness and strength that most girls her age have not yet found. In chapter 21, it was a shocking moment for me and the character in the story. The first positive thing was that Monique finally started to strengthen herself like a mother should be. But the most tragic thing that happened was the death of Rob. The excitement of Rob's death took most of Gerald's breath away. The way Angel was there for Kiara reminded me of the way I was there for one of my best friends when she lost her father. Next chapter Gerald stated that "Pain is lonesome" which made me think a lot on just that phase. Lots of people base their life just on that phrase. People were blaming Andy of Rob's death because he was the one driving which isn't a good thing to do. Near the end of the story now and here comes Jordan disrupting the peace of everyone. Not only is he trying to rape Angel, the apartment is burning up with Jordan and Angel still inside because Jordan's too drunk to notice which is very sad. Now it's up to Gerald to save his sister. As Gerald cough and gag through the smoky house I can visualize Gerald's past of him when his mother abandon him when their house was on fire. A death match came about on Gerald and Jordan. Who was going to live to tell the tell? Then as Gerald was rescuing Angel he fell giving him a better chance to live. In the end, the story was Intriguing. Who would have though that Jordan would have died in the burning apartment the way he did, after all he what he did to the family caused Gerald and Angel lived. But what if he wasn't there? What then?

Chapter 17-20

Now it's is Angels time to shine. It was her most happiest time in her life. She performed so gracefully with Mr. Washington, Kierra, Gerald and Monique in the audience watching. Kierra was Angel's new best friend and the sister of Andy, Gerald's basket-ball team mate and friend. The fact that Jordan didn't show up made me glad because that would have ruined the whole event. Monique wasn't even paying any attention to Angel performance which made me mad because she didn't have the focus on her own daughter's performance. Then at Gerald's basket-ball Monique shows up with Jordan but still has not attention what so ever on Gerald's game. With the presence of Jordan there Gerald game was all the off. He could not make any baskets and he's one of the best players on the team. That type of affect on Angel's and Gerald's life is not positive at all. Then a shocking event occured when Monique was hit by a taxi. I would think since it almost took her life she would want to become a better mother to her childern, but it didn't change a thing for her.

Chapter 10- 17

I had many reactions toward the chapters I have read for this blog. Thank God that they put Jordan in jail. I think he should've had longer time in prison then 6 years. I love the fact that Angel gets to dance to express her feeling and just to be happy. Angel and I share that same interest because without dance in my life I feel lost, cold and no emotion to show what so ever. I know for Angel and Gerald there's been a long time coming but I know that their lives will get easier soon, just wait and see. For Gerald basket-ball is his outlet of life where he can be away from Monique and all his other problems in life. Now Angel is 12 years old and Gerald is 17 years old. Angel has a lead role in her school dance and she was so excited but guess who shows up when you least expected? Jordan, with his same cowboys shoes on entering back into their lives again. I was so upset because who's to say that Jordan won't do what he did before he was sent to prison. The fear in Angel's eyes and the rage in Gerald's heart came back like a car just hit them really hard.

Chapter 6-9

This chapter showed the reality of the life of what many children go through. Jordan is an abuser to Gerald, Monique, and Little Angel. He abuses Gerald physically, and verbally. He abuses Monique emotionally and verbally, but with Angel he abuses her in all the ways a human can think of. When someone is being abuse I feel like helping them because in some situation the person that's being abuse will not come out the relationship en less there tried of being abused or they have someone else stand up for them. To see or hear about someone being abuse puts anger and rage into my heart. I can relate this story to most of the world out here today.

Chapter 4 and 5

This chapter was a surprise. It indicated that Gerald's mother Monique, is coming to see him for his birthday. Gerald's emotions toward this event wasn't surprising to me because if I was in Gerald's position, then my frustration and anger toward my mother would have been the same as Geralds. As I read on, I noticed that Monique had another child by a guy named Jordan which seemed to me he did not care that much about Monique. Then the news about Gerald living with his mother and his new stepfather and baby sister worries me, because who's to say that Gerald's new step father won't abuse him in anyway. To feel such betrayal and abandonment from your parents isn't the best feeling in the world.

Chapter 3

This chapter had a lot of details and tone to the story. This chapter showed that Aunt Queen really loves Gerald in so many way. In the scene where Gerald all most got ran over by a car, Aunt Queen disciplined Gerald in a way which only a love person would give. Also this chapter made me think of my future and the decisions making I would have to face.

Chapter 1-2

This chapter told me many things about Gerald's mother. I felt that Gerald's mother wasn't fair to her son because she wasn't there for him in the way a mother should be. It shatters my soul to see a child abandon by their parent(s) especially when the parent(s) are on drugs or abusive. Gerald, as a very young child, is going through so much and needs some type of care and loving in his life. That's when Aunt Queen comes in the picture. Sweet, loving, disciplinary women who gives her all to Gerald. That is something we all need in this life time. Now Gerald will be raised in a much happier house then he ever thought of.