Trinity Soup
by
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On a warm September afternoon just two weeks into the school term, Felicia, Maya, and Gabby sat on a bench in the quad, talking. Felicia wore a sleeveless yellow blouse, short denim skirt, and slip-on Keds. When Danielle walked by, Gabby made an elaborate gesture of closing her eyes and throwing her head back, her nose in the air. Felicia laughed. “Hey you, rich girl,” Felicia said. “Come here. I want to talk to you.” Now what? Danielle wondered. “What’re you drinking?” Felicia asked. Danielle had brought her favorite drink from home, a Jazzy Razzy Berry Smoothie. “It’s just a Smoothie,” Danielle said quickly then turned to go. “Let me have some,” Felicia said in a demanding tone. Danielle hadn’t expected this. To avoid a scene, she said, “Take it,” and handed her the drink. She tried to keep her voice calm. “I’ll just do that.” But Felicia was an instant too late reaching out for the drink. Thinking that her hand would be there, Danielle let go of the smoothie, which landed right on Felicia’s bare legs and all over her white Keds. Danielle’s jaw dropped. There was a stunned silence in the quad. Then laughter. Even Maya chuckled. But the less than positive attention was too much for Felicia. Jumping up, she pointed at her shoes. “Look what you did, you little … these are brand new Keds!” Danielle’s heart was pounding in her chest. “I’m sorry, Felicia. I didn’t mean to do it.” She fumbled in her backpack and handed Felicia a pack of tissues. “I’ll buy you a new pair.” Danielle had some money saved. “Oh, the little rich girl can buy me new shoes.” She threw the tissues back at her. Her eyes flashed with anger, and with something else. “Or maybe I’ll just keep these. Of course, they’ll have to be cleaned.” She sat back down and extended her legs, folding her arms and looking straight at Danielle. “Well, what are you waiting for?” “This is going to be good,” someone in the gawking crowd muttered. Danielle took a deep breath. She closed her eyes. Her father once told her that there are defining moments in your life, and she suspected that this was one such moment for her. “No way,” Danielle said evenly, opening her eyes. “Excuse me! What did you say?” “You heard me, Felicia. Clean your own dumb shoes.” Then Danielle slung her backpack over her shoulder and walked away. Felicia didn’t follow her—and the other students looked on in disbelief. Felicia left her alone after that.
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About the Book
A bright and talented young African-American girl, Danielle Webb lives in an upper-middle-class neighborhood along the central California coast and attends a private elementary school with her best friend, Francesco. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when her father's business fails, placing a financial and emotional strain on the entire family.
After many months of slamming doors and angry whispers, her parents separate, and ten-year-old Danielle must leave her cozy, familiar world to attend a public junior high school, where she faces the challenge of fitting in and making new friends. For the first time in her life, she must confront issues related to race, social class, and the importance of religion in the African American community.
In time, Danielle befriends Maya, a cheerful, religious girl. As their friendship grows, the girls learn from one another and ultimately develop a deeper appreciation of culture, family, and spirituality. Trinity Soup shows how Danielle's strength and determination help her to overcome the challenges in her life.
About the Author
Carolyn Ortiz earned a master?s degree in counseling psychology from Santa Clara University in California. She placed first in the 2007 San Francisco Writing Contest, sponsored by the San Francisco Writers Conference. Ortiz lives in Redwood Shores, California.