POPS Memoir
Pain of the prison system, a life-changing moment of my sophomore year. Let’s start from the beginning—how I even came to know about the club itself.
Beginning of sophomore year of high school, I was enrolled in Mr. Danziger’s English class. Danziger happened to be one of my favorite teachers. He didn’t force us to learn boring things. He made our class fun, letting us write daily about our day and ourselves. He feels it’s important to write daily, personally, for ourselves. We all go through struggles and have to find some way out of those. My way out was writing.
My name is Angel Guerrero, President of P.O.P.S. the club, and here is my story. My father, Raul Guerrero, has been absent from my life since I was just over one; to be frank, he wasn’t there at all. He left a black hole in me that was littered with anger, sadness, bitterness and so many questions.
He’s Never Coming Back
19
Getting Older.
Worrying about graduation.
Will my dad be here to see me walk the stage?
Nah!
18
I’m a legal adult.
Going to La Mirage Night Club for the first time.
Still living at home though.
Dad still doesn’t call to see how we are.
Read more: He's Never Coming Back and more from Melissa Nava
I look back and don’t smile.
I’m expected to feast and feel good about me
When all that appears are half-eaten chicken bones.
A hate that I wish to forget but it’s impossible to do.
Glue on my feet and I can’t move.
I was lonely and tired.
I learned how to burn eggs at six
And how to endure the tears that were mixed with mother’s mascara.
I didn’t want nice clothes or a roof over my head.
When it rained,
The ceiling leaked.
Glue on my feet and I can’t move.
