First Semester Read Online Free Page A

the game and taking an “L.” Just then, I turned around and looked into my mom’s eyes. She was so excited you would’ve thought she was going off to college herself, instead of coming along to help me get settled in. The joyful expression on her face, combined with the thought of living on my own for the first time with no rules or regulations, made my decision a little easier. But I was still unsure. As I weighed my options, I heard the lady working the ticket check-in desk invite all standby passengers to board the plane.
    The thick Bay Area fog caused our flight to be delayed, so our plane waited behind two others on the runway. I’m not the type to hit up the church house on a regular basis. I’m more of the Christmas and Easter Sunday type of churchgoer. Honestly, I can’t even remember praying over my food since last Thanksgiving dinner. But I know there’s a time and a place for everything. And I knew that this was both the time and the place for a quick prayer. I clasped my hands, closed my eyes and asked the Lord to allow my plane to make it to Atlanta safely.
    As I finished, I heard the wheels at the rear of the plane retract as we left the earth’s surface. Before the plane got lost in the charcoal clouds, I pressed my forehead against the small window I was seated next to. I knew that it would be a long time before I’d catch another glimpse of the city I’d inherited my game from. I spotted the Bay Bridge, and I could vaguely see Oakland Coliseum. But Interstate 580 and Lake Merit were clear as day. Most people call Oakland “the Town,” others “the House,” and some “the O.” But I called it home. I became teary-eyed as I thought about the memories and family members I was leaving behind. I loved Oakland, and as much as I would miss it, we needed time away from each other.
    Although I had no idea what college life was all about, I knew it was time to flip a new switch. I didn’t have any friends who could give me a firsthand account of what I was getting myself into, and I couldn’t ask my dad or either of my grandfathers about their college experiences, because they had none. Aside from my mother, nobody in my family had ever been to college. And she didn’t graduate. This was my opportunity to break the generational curse. Nobody expected me to go to college. But succeeding in college was my way to prove all of them wrong.
    My future was as cloudy as the sky our airplane disappeared into, but my vision was clear. I knew this was my chance to make something of myself, and I was determined to make the most of it.

CHAPTER 3
    REGISTRATION
    M y uncle Leroy met us outside Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. You would’ve thought he’d be happy to see us, but he was heated for two reasons. First of all, it was ninety-five degrees outside, and the air conditioner in his Lincoln Mercury had stopped working the day before he picked us up. Secondly, our bags took forever to come off the conveyer belt, so he’d been circling the terminal for nearly an hour. I didn’t mind the wait, because it seemed like all of the women in Atlanta were two steps past dimes—they looked like silver dollars. It took my mom forever to drag me from the airport.
    â€œIf you snap your neck to look at one more of these little fast girls you’re gonna need a neck brace,” she said. “You better get your mind right. These little girls ain’t going nowhere.”
    By the time we came outside, Uncle Leroy said that he’d driven around the airport a dozen times. My mom’s brother was only about five foot eight, but he had to be pushing three hundred pounds. He was a true heavyweight. I tried to avoid the puddles of sweat gathered under his armpits when he got out of the car to give me a hug, but he got me. I accidentally misjudged the heat from the sun beaming down on his leather car seats, and scorched my calves when I jumped in