control

"When you get the chance just take control."

Jerome had run this same path home everyday for the past two years. He felt that it was stupid to run, a bit too stereotypical even for his stereotypical neighborhood. But illogical fear outweighed his desire to be reasonable and objective. So he ran home. Some days it was more of a jog. Days when his fear was mixed with enough courage to want to take a look around. And the days when his body was too tired or sick to really run.

Today Jerome ran home. And to anyone who had been witness to his daily routine would likely not have seen the difference. But today there was a difference. Jerome ran home carried by excitement. He could barely feel his feet pounding the pavement. He was too busy thinking. His brain steadily accepting and molding the idea that had manifested in third period geometry. Jerome had sat quietly at lunch, processing his idea but maintaining his excitement. But now his jubilance propelled him homewards as his mind thought through the last vestiges of his idea. No longer an idea really, more like a plan.

A plan that had begun with three little words from his geometry teacher and a trifold pamphlet scattered with pictures of happy white kids. Summer Math Camp. Although Jerome was not white and rarely happy, he saw that pamphlet and knew instantly he had to be at this camp. The tuition was more than his parents made in two months, but strangely even to him that was not a deterrent.

So Jerome had spent his day thinking and plotting and talking to math teachers, his guidance counselor and even the assistant principal. Now he would spend his night talking to his parents. He had his plan, his logic was as flawless as possible, and he had no doubt he could convince them to let him go.

Jerome had been waiting for something to give him an edge. To provide him with more opportunity than he had been born into. Here was one small chance and he was determined to take it. This camp was within his grasp. In fact, he felt like it was practically placed on a platter and served to him. He wanted this chance and he was going to take it. After all this was his life. And he was the only person who could grab a hold of it steer it in the direction he wanted it to go.