Ackee Soup

By Giggles Anderson

Our Class has always been very different
from all of the other graduating classes
of Glades Central High.

In the Fall of 1986,
something unusual happened
on our Campus.

Every neighbor was sending
THAT child to high school.

That child who could speak.
That child who could sing.
That child who could run.

That child who was really
pretty, handsome,
tall, or short.

THAT CHILD who was carrying the family’s legacy.

Either you gave birth to THAT child
or you were doing everything you could
to help out.

A Mother’s dream strapped to a back,
A Father’s hope tucked away in a pocket.

A close Class,
we were a motley crew.

Some of us, firstborn.
Some of us, last.
Many of us fell
somewhere in between.

We took care of each other.
We loved each other.

In our Class,
you could find someone to aid you
with anything that comes to mind.

(pause)  Let’s just leave it at that.

We worked together.
We played together.
We fought together.

We stuck together.
Well, most of the time anyways. 
Just because.

Either you liked us a lot or not at all.

Our beloved Principal,
all she could do
was roll her eyes and sigh.

She worried about us.
For four years straight.
Our parents worried about us.

Still.

Class of 1990,
we just took everything
one day at a time.

One foot in front of the other.
Breathing in.  Breathing out.

We had each other.
We were okay.
No matter what happened.
Believe me,
everything happened.

We stumbled along the way.

And always there was
a Classmate there
to offer a smile,
a hug,
a word of advice.

Always there was always
a Classmate who
knew someone who
could fix IT.

Always.

And here we are
twenty years later.

Some are here in person.
Some are here in memory.
But everyone is HERE.

We carry each other.

Everywhere.

In photos,
in thoughts,
and in prayers.

And we will continue to carry each other.

We are the Graduating Class of 1990
and that’s how we roll.

Be well until we see each other.
Again.