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What do you think the story is about?

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Predict what will happen to Michiko as she has a talk to her mom.

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Would you have done the same thing if your mom was homophobic Why or why not?

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What event led to Michiko protesting ?

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I was  walking home from a day at the park walking past buildings to get home. The sky was cloudy  . Suddenly I see crowds of people, women wearing black long  pants with white button up long sleeves shirts. and men wearing skirts with flowers as a design or a plan skirt, something my mom will wear. They were holding up signs “”GAY POWER” and  “STONEWALL MEANS  FIGHT BACK SMASH GAY OPPESSION.” I just ignore it and continue walking past the crowd.  It wasn’t my business and if i even was to protest my mom would think i'm a disappointment and I'll Have where to go. If i have nowhere to go I'll be homeless.

When I got home I remembered that I'll finally get to see Akira  again. I couldn't wait. Instead of sleeping I went to see the sun set.

I woke up with the sun light  over my face. The sky was full with colors orange, red, purple Today I realized I got to see Akira. I went up and ran into my room carefully. I hurried,  brushed my teeth, put on my clothes and head out. I walk down to a house more like a mansion  at that point i felt a little nervous to see Akira again, I  knock the door  a lady comes out her hair tied up in a bun
‘’ she’s up stairs,``’
The lady said i went inside and it felt like i have not been here in years .Too stairs case that lead up the the second floor the railing had its own design it was black it felt smooth . The stairs had no creaking of course  . I walked up to her room door. I didn't even knock, but I slowly opened it slowly, no creak .  I felt someone grab my hand, there she was, she grabbed me from the other  side of the door  and hugged me tight. I put my hands on her head and her soft hair smelled like Vanilla, the same as her whole room. I put my other arm around her we hugged for 6 secs she backed away from me  she looked up with a smile
“ I missed you so much, Michiko,'' she  said
“ Missed you too,”
She then went to sit down on her  lavish chairs  “take a sit” she said i sat right next   to her “ how is summer camp like,” ? i asked

"It was fine, but there was something missing,” she said

“ What happened?" I looked  at her

“ I just really missed you Michiko,”. Akira said, I laughed

“ That’s it.”? I said,

“ Of course you did the whole two months  without getting to see me or talk to me”. i said smiling  “ i really missed you too i know i already said this,” Akira started to laugh

“ Michiko  when I was coming home i saw crowds outside I couldn’t  get a good view of what they were doing you have any idea.” Akira said

“Yeah there protesting for LGBTQ+ rights,” Akira didn’t say anything about the protest  she just change the subject.

“ Are you still performing at the black cat cafe,” Akira said

“Yeah,’ I said

“ What your going to wear,” Akira said
“ just a plain dress.”

“Michiko you're not gonna wear a dress like that are you?”  Akira said
“Yes i’m not joking.”

“Your not gonna wear a dress like that and be such  a beautiful woman and sing such a beautiful song.” She sad

I sat there speechless “guess we going shopping,”  Akira said

“ Akira I don’t really have any money at this time’’ i said

“ That's why I'm going to buy it for you. “ She says Akira  got up and

Knock knock!
“ what's that nose”
I said to myself   the knocking kept getting  louder. I got up and ran down stairs to the fort door  open the door and saw Akira
“HAHA'”
Akira started to laughed

“ Your hair." She laughed.

She put her hand over her month and continue to laughed.

“Lord,” I whispered to myself.

‘’WHAT THE HELL,” Akira yelled.
I picked her up  a carried her upstairs into my room.I put her down carefully.

“You have no right for being tall.“Akira said
she turn away from me a crossed her arms I started to laughed

“ Anyways why are u here so early “ I said

“ To make sure you get a good breakfast and 30 minutes isn’t enough  time for you to get ready.”

Akira got her white bag and took out lavender shampoo and conditioner.
“ Here you go, your hair will smell very nice after this.” Akira said

“Thank you,” I said
Later we arrived at the Black cat cafe. We came out of the bus where me and Akira stood. I can feel my heart pounding.
"What if I mess up ?"

What if people don’t like my singing ?"

“What if people just don’t like me?” I said

“Come on Michiko everything is gonna be ok I  know you're nervous and scared”.
Akira said  looking up at me.”

‘Ill try’ I said
The cafe had a black cat on the sign. I walked in there were people that filled up every black sit and.   The walls were black the ceiling was white it looked very nice, but as I walked in I felt scared. There were men  who dressed in clothing  like skirts. There was this one boy of color who had short curly hair and was also wearing a black dress . I walked up into the back where I'll be singing. Akira sat down at the chair near the bar.  I felt like everyone was judging me so I closed my eyes too a deep breath  and started singing.

“Lady sings the blue'
"She got them bad"                                                                                      "She feels so sad"                                                                                   'Wants the world to know"                                                                              "Just What the blue is all about"
As i sing i felt a relieve as if nobody was judging me all  I thought about was the song and Akira i didn't  mess up as I thought I did .I heard clapping as soon I finish singing . I open my eyes and I can see Akira and others smiling. Someone was even crying. I smiled
“Thank you everyone”
I said as I smiled  walked away from the back where Akira was sitting
“can I get 2 blueberry muffins”
Akira asked the guy behind the counter
“Michiko That was stunning “ she said

“ thanks Akira”  I said
. The men behind the counter gave both me and Akira muffins and we ate. A tall man even taller than me walked in the cafe wearing a suit black hair slid to the back . He had a serious look on his face. He came up to Akira and sat next to her and kissed her  hand
“Hey Kenny“ Akira said

I looked at this man Kenny and got mad. Why am i Mad ?

“ Hey Akira, I have to go.” I said, as I got up from my seat

‘ huh why  you just sat down and I wanna introduce To someone, ‘“. Akira said

“ Sorry Akira i have to go,”
I walked out the cafe as I walked a can hear someone in a wired girly voice , I stop and turn around “ Hey lady “ the boy with curly hair wearing a black dress from early.

“Why did you leave so fast as soon that man walked in, you like that girl Akira don’t you ?” He said in a girly voice

“ I-”

“So you do like her if you didn't you would had instantly said no and thought I was wired, “ He said

“How do you know Akira? ``

I said as me and that boy walked down the streets

“I went to high school with her before she transferred to where you went to school. Also my name James. “ He said

“My name is Michko. “ I said

“ My apartment is down  block from here I need you to help  with something if you don’t mind,” James said

“ Yeah I don’t mind either ways  have nothing to do.”

We both walked up the blocked the sun was shining and the wind  blowed  my hair  I wanted to know what he wanted help with , but we stood quit the whole walk I felt comfortable around James he knows that i like Akira even if I didn't answer his  Question
“ we are here,“ He said

When  walked in his apartment had paintings on wall of people himself trees. He had his own piano right next to his fireplace.

“Here” James said
he gave me a poster that said LESBAIN AND GAYS HAVE RIGHT TOO He grab another poster that said GAY POWER
“So are you gonna protest with me” he said looking up at me"

“{lease,” He sad
“Fine.” I said I was nervous maybe I should had never agreed with James

Me and James slowly join the crowded with the other protesters
”GAY POWER.”
Everyone was shouting Gay power even James so I joined in
“GAY POWER, GAY POWER”
I felt powerful  like I accomplish something,but at the coner of my eye I saw police men coming around I started to get scared what if we get arrest i thought to myself.

“James there police men coming,“ I said

"So though  bottles at them.“

James reach down at his big bag and pulled out a bottle and hand it over to me
“I can’t do this .'' I said
I don't wanna get arrested I walked back I can see the police coming this way I felt sweat coming down my face I ran through the cowed so fast  can feel the wind” going.through my hair I felt the clothing of others as I ran I ran past and I kept running until  reach my house. I slammed the door and then rested myself against the door. I saw my mom walking towards me

“What were you ” she said in a low voice.
Her eyes still baggy and red ‘Why were you protesting!” She said in an angry voice I was speechless trying to breathe. I can feel my heart pounding really fast. My mom backed away from me and  went into the kitchen. I already knew what she was gonna do. I heard the stove turn on and her opening the drawer. I ran up the stairs into my room, locked the door and put myself against it. I heard her food steps come up stairs, the creeks for the wood

“Go to hell” , She said she banged on the door and kept  banging

" get out!”. The banging  stop and I can hear my mom walk back down the stairs  I grabbed a bag I used to use for school and packed all my stuff and  just left.

I went to James' apartment. He left his key under a rug at his fort door. When  walked and went right on the sofa and slept

“ Michiko”

“ huh Akira -”

“Thank god your ok” said Akira
She was sitting on a chair next to me I while holding my hand looking down at me I realize I was on James bed
“ you idiot,’’ I heard James said “ don’t go off running away like that" he said “

we were worried” Akira said  I looked into Akira blue eyes

“Michiko I Need to tell you something” Akira said

I sat up from the bed
‘yeah what is it” i said ‘

’ So you know that man Kenny right well he was my fiance, But today  called off the engagement “

“Huh why ?” I said

‘’ Well because there's something I wanna tell you” Akira said. Akira came closer to me and gave me a kissed on the lips this was unexpected i thought to myself i blushed a little “AKIRA YOU FINALLY DID IT”  heard James from the other door “Akira blushed

“Why did you come here you could had went home” james said

‘’Well my mom saw me at the protest she yelled at me to get out “

“Oh damn” He said

“How about your dad “? james said

“James,” I heard Akira. Nodding her head

“sorry “ James said

“No it’s fine i’ll tell you My mom and dad used to fight all the time they’ll get into stupid agerments mustly it was because of my mom. In this situation you might think the man abuses the woman,but in mines My mom hurts my dad, and still he never laid a finger on her so when i was 12 my dad just left us he didn’t even think about taking me, he didn’t even leave a note or said goodbye.

“I’m sorry; James said in a sorrowful voice. I felt the tears come down my face before I could even wipe them,Akira took her hand and rested it beside my face as she wiped my tears “everything's gonna be ok”  she said with her soft voice that always calms me down.  James left the room and came back with a towel and new clothes  ‘the bathroom is right over there” james said

After showering I Felt much better  i went back to rest Akira came in with too tea cups “Michiko I made you tea with milk and sugar just how u like it” Akira said

‘thanks” i said  i took a sip of the tea and I felt even more better

“ Akira you know what i should confront my mom “

“ As you should you can’t be scared of her forever”

“Alright then tomorrow i’lll go and just say what i always wanted to tell her”

When i walked up to my mothers house i hesitate to knock the door you can’t be sacred  i kept saying to myself knock knock

‘As the door opens I think to myself Akira words .Everything is gonna be ok  “Why are you here”.

“Mom what really happened to dad ?” i said i put a serious look on my face

“He left don’t you already know this” My mom said

“But why did he leave? '' I said, I looked in my mothers eyes like I never did before. I was always so scared just to look at her. I can remember when I was a kid when she would hurt me after my dad left every day. Some Days were peaceful tho when she sat in the backward for hours. My mom stood there speechless. She  knows the reason why he left ,but she won’t admit.

“Why did he leave mom. Why did you hurt him”.  I said

“ Why do you ask now” My mom stuttered.

“Because I know if I asked you back then you would have hit me”.

“I’m sorry” she said with tears on here face

“I’m sorry” she cried again

“That’s exactly what you said to dad and then you just continue. You put or truma on other people just because you had nobody to talk to or you never had turma and you're just evil” I said my voice got louder. I took everything I wanted to say to her. When i realize  that anytime i did something i couldn't do it on my own Like portesting with james and Having Akira make me feel confident when i was singing, but this i did this all by myself i’m the one who decide to tell my mom my feelings not James or Akira. I didn’t overthink. I didn't think what if She  does something that feels like I'm not being controlled.

‘And yeah i’m lesbain and i already have my future wife so don’t try to change it ” i said smiling at her

“Your a disappointment “ She said as she calm herself down

“So are you” I said with a smile. I turned away from her and just walked away. I didn't turn back.

“Me James Akira went back to the protest “GAY POWER” We chant  I stood up tall l as i chant .When i saw the police i didn’t run i stood and kept chanting “GAY POWER”.