"Being American isn't such hot stuff. I should know! That's where I was born. My name is Hemlata Swa. Kids stumble on it and call me Hemmie Jones. That's easier to pronounce and makes me one of them.
When you're American you take citizenship for granted. My family came from India where they think another way. I was thinking American. It was easy to be like the other kids in school. Or maybe it's just that I wanted to be like the other kids in school. Or so I thought I was like the other kids. I turned thirteen-years-old. It was glorious to be a real teen, not like at twelve when I was a wannabe. All my friends were doing cool things such as going to parties. I went to movies in town. Not once had I disobeyed.
..."
from I'm An American, Cats & Other Tales
Copyright © 1999 by Marilyn Schoefer Wagner Table of Contents
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