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The Fire on the 57 Bus, Exercises of Poetry

Sasha Fleischman wasriding the 57 bus homefrom school. An. 18-year-old senior at a small private high school, Sasha wore a. T-shirt, a black fleece jacket, ...

Typology: Exercises

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bg1
ee
The
Fire
on
the
57
Bus
DASHKA
SLATER
Dashka
Slater
is
an
American
journalist
and
novelist.
A
recipient
of
a
fellowship
from
the
National
Endowment
for
the
Arts,
she
has
written
four
critically
acclaimed
picture
books
for
children
and
one
novel
for
adults.
Her
award-winning
articles
have
ap-
peared
in
publications
such
as
Newsweek,
Salon,
and
The
New
York
Times
Magazine.
In
“The
Fire
on
the 57
Bus,”
published
in
the
New
York
Times
Magazine
on
January
29,
2015,
Slater
relates
the
details
of
an
assault
that
took
place
in
Oakland,
California,
a
diverse
city
where
wealthy
areas
contrast
sharply
with
poverty-
and
crime-ridden
ones.
540
THE
FIRE
ON
THE
57
BUS
541
It
was
close
to
5
o’clock
on
the
afternoon
of
Nov.
4,
2013,
and
Sasha
Fleischman
was
riding
the
57
bus
home
from
school.
An
18-year-old
senior
at
a
small
private
high
school,
Sasha
wore
a
T-shirt,
a
black
fleece
jacket,
a
gray
newsboy
cap
and
a
gauzy
white
skirt.
For
much
of
the
long
bus
ride
through
Oakland,
Calif.,
Sasha—who
identifies
as
agender,
neither
male
nor
female—had
been
reading
a
paperback
copy
of
Anna
Karenina,
but
eventually
the
teenager
drifted
into
sleep,
skirt
draped
over
the
edge
of
the
bus
seat.
As
Sasha
slept,
three
teenage
boys
laughed
and
joked
nearby.
Then
one
surreptitiously
flicked
a
lighter.
The
skirt
went
up
in a
ball
of
flame.
Sasha
leapt
up,
screaming,
“I’m
on
fire!”
Two
other
passengers
threw
Sasha
to
the
ground
and
extinguished
the
flames,
but
Sasha’s
legs
were
left
charred
and
peeling.
Taken
by
ambu-
lance
to
a
San
Francisco
burn
unit,
Sasha
would
spend
the
next
three
and
a
half
weeks
undergoing
multiple
operations
to
treat
the
second-
and
third-degree
burns
that
ran
from
thigh
to
calf.
Richard
Thomas,
the
16-year-old
boy
who
lit
the
skirt
on
fire,
was
arrested
the
following
day.
Citing
the
severity
of
the
crime,
the
Alameda
County
district
attorney,
Nancy
O’Malley,
charged
Thomas
as
an
adult,
stripping
him
of
the
protections—
including
anonymity—customarily
afforded
to
juveniles.
Charged
with
two
felonies,
each
with
a
hate-crime
clause
that
increased
the
time
he
would
serve
if
convicted,
Thomas
faced
the
possibility
of
life
imprisonment.
Oakland
is
a
city
of
more
than
400,000
people,
but
it
can
of-
ten
feel
like
a
small
town.
The
attack
happened
in
my
neighbor-
hood,
on
a
bus
my
own
teenager
sometimes
takes
home
from
school.
Sasha
Fleischmans
family
and
my
family
have
close
friends
in
common.
Richard
Thomas
once
attended
my
son's
high
school.
But
even
when
events
unfold
practically
on
your
doorstep,
it
isn’t
always
easy
to
make
sense
of
them.
pf3
pf4
pf5
pf8
pf9
pfa

Partial preview of the text

Download The Fire on the 57 Bus and more Exercises Poetry in PDF only on Docsity!

ee TheFireonthe^57 Bus DASHKASLATER DashkaSlaterisanAmericanjournalistandnovelist.Arecipientofafellowshipfromthe NationalEndowmentfortheArts,

she haswritten^ fourcriticallyacclaimed

picturebooksforchildren andonenovelfor^ adults.Her

award-winningarticleshaveap- pearedinpublicationssuchas

Newsweek,Salon,and^ TheNew YorkTimesMagazine.In“The

Fireonthe 57Bus,”published

in theNewYorkTimesMagazine

on^ January29,2015,Slaterrelates thedetailsofanassault^ thattook

placeinOakland,California,a diversecitywherewealthyareas

contrast^ sharply^ with^ poverty- andcrime-riddenones.^ —^

THE^ FIRE^ ON^ THE^57 BUS^541 Itwasclose^ to^5 o’clockonthe

afternoon^ of^ Nov.4,2013,^ and Sasha^ Fleischmanwasriding

the^57 bus^ homefromschool.

An 18-year-old^ seniorat^ asmall^ privatehighschool,Sasha^ wore

a T-shirt,^ ablackfleece^ jacket,

agraynewsboycapandagauzy whiteskirt.Formuchof^ the

long^ busridethrough^ Oakland, Calif.,Sasha—whoidentifies

asagender,^ neithermale^

nor female—hadbeenreadingapaperback

copyofAnnaKarenina, buteventually^ theteenagerdrifted

intosleep,^ skirtdrapedover theedgeofthebusseat.AsSashaslept,threeteenage

boys^ laughedandjokednearby. Thenonesurreptitiously^ flicked

alighter.Theskirtwentupin a ballof^ flame.Sashaleaptup,^

“I’monfire!”Twootherscreaming, passengersthrewSashatotheground

andextinguishedthe^ flames, wereleftcharredbutSasha’slegs andpeeling.Taken^ byambu- toaSanFranciscoburnlance unit,Sashawouldspendthenext threeanda^ halfweeksundergoing

multipleoperationstotreatthe second-andthird-degreeburns

thatranfromthightocalf.RichardThomas,the 16-year-oldboywholittheskirt

on fire,wasarrested^ thefollowing

day.Citingtheseverity^ of^ the crime,theAlameda^ County districtattorney,NancyO’Malley, chargedThomasasanadult,stripping

himof^ theprotections— includinganonymity—customarily

affordedtojuveniles. Chargedwithtwofelonies,each

withahate-crimeclausethat increasedthetimehewould

serveifconvicted,Thomasfaced thepossibilityoflifeimprisonment.^ Oaklandisacityofmorethan

400,000people,butitcanof- tenfeellikeasmalltown.The

attackhappenedinmyneighbor- hood,onabusmyownteenager

sometimestakeshomefrom school.SashaFleischmansfamily

andmyfamilyhaveclose friendsincommon.Richard

Thomasonceattendedmyson's highschool.But^ evenwhen

oneventsunfoldpractically your doorstep,itisn’talwayseasyto

senseofthem.make

542 DASHKA^ SLATER^ Crime waseasyenoughto

understand—in^ 2013,^ Oakland hadthe^ nation’s^ highest^ robbery

rate.Butthiswas^ something different.Anact^ ofsavagebrutality

hadtaken^ placein^ apublic setting^ in^ themiddleof^ the^ afternoon.Oaklandisoneof^ America’s

most^ diverse^ cities.Wepride^ our- is, selvesonourtolerance;this afterall,theBayArea.Yetforall

its inclusiveness,^ Oakland laid-back isalso^ a^ cityofgrimcontrasts. wealthierhillsneighborhoodsThe

havegoodschools,lowcrime andviewsofthebay.Thehistoric

buildingsdowntownarefill- ingwithtech^ start-ups,^ boutiques

peddlinghandmadejeansand nightspotswithseven-ingredient

cocktails.Butlittleofthisgood fortunehasspilledoverintoEast

Oakland,whereRichardlived, aregion^ ofgrinding^ povertyand

chronicviolence.Richardand Sashalived^ inthe samecity,^

buttheirpathsmightnever have crossediftheydidn’tbothride

the^57 bus. SashaFleischman’sridetoand

fromschooltook^ anhour^ and involvedtwotransfers,^ but^ Sasha

usedthetimetonapordo homework.^ MaybeckHighSchool,

Sasha’sschoolin Berkeley, caterstobright,quirkykids

interestedintaking,itswebsite intellectualsays,“personaland risks.”Thatdescriptioncertain- lyappliedtoSasha,askinny,^ intenselyanalyticalkidwithwavy, chin-lengthbrownhair,thick

eyebrowsandaradiantsmile, whostartedinventinglanguages

attheageof^7 or8. Afterreadingawebcomic

calledPolyinPictures,which polyamory,gender,explores sexualityandorientation,Sasha, thena16-year-oldboynamed

Luke,begananepistemological investigationofgenderidentity,

askingfriendsandfamilyhow whattheirgendertheyknew was. “AtfirstIjustassumedthatIwasthisheterosexualman, becauseIdidn’thave^ anyreason

toassumeotherwise,”Sashasaid oneafternoonlastyear,sitting

ontheFleischmans’^ redsofaby

a

THE^ FIREON^ THE^57 BUS^543 windowfestooned^ withachain

ofpapercranes.^ “ButIstarted thinking,^ well,amIaguy?”Most

peopletoldSashathattheyjust knewwhat^ gender^ they were,^

but^ Sashadidn’tfeelthat^ way.asgenderqueer,”^ Sashasaid.“AndsoIstarted identifying “Forme,atleast,genderqueer

includesanaspect^ ofquestion- part^ ing.Andthatwasabig ofitforme.^ ThefactthatI was gender^ meant questioningmy thatIwasgenderqueer.” KarlFleischman^ and^ DebbieCrandall,work Sashasparents, ineducation,andtheirrelationship

withtheironlychildhas anaffable^ ease.^ Karl, acollege-radio

D.J.turnedpublic-school kindergartenteacher,isthe shyerof^ thetwo,^ withadry

wit andaquickgrin.Debbie,abookkeeper

ataprivate^ school,is moreemotionalandeffusive.

But^ while^ theyembracedSashas newname(chosenforitsgender

neutrality)andmostlyremem- beredtousethe^ preferredplural

pronoun,“they,”^ to^ referto their^ child,theystillfoundSasha’s

rejection^ of^ genderabitper- plexing.(Telling^ Sasha'sstory

alsoposesa^ linguisticchallenge, becauseEnglishdoesn’toffer

aready-madewayto talkabout peoplewhoidentifyasneither

male^ norfemale.Sashaprefers “they,”“it”or^ theinventedgender-neutral

“xe.”Thepronoun YorkTimesdoesnotusethese New termstorefer^ toindividuals.) “Pmtryingtogetmyheadaround

it,”^ Debbieadmitted,two yearsinto^ thechange.“Iunderstand

comingoutasgayoreven trans.Butthisisharderforme

tounderstand.^1 support^ them,” shesaid,referringtoherchild,

“butIjustdon’tunderstand whatitmeans.”^ Becausegenderqueeroragender

aboxtopeopledon’thave checkonmostquestionnaires,

muchdataabouthowthereisn’t manypeopleidentifythisway,

ofthemmeanorevenwhat most by theterm.The^2011 NationalTransgender

DiscriminationSurvey foundthat^13 percentoftransgender

orgender-nonconforming as^ “arespondentsidentified gendernotlistedhere.”These

546 DASHKA^ SLATER^ Afood-serviceworkerat a^ residential^ carefacility,Jasmine sent^ RichardtoOakland^ High

because^ she^ thoughtitoffered

a betteracademic^ andsocialenvironment

thanthehigh^ school inherownneighborhood.Like

DebbieCrandall,^ she^ worried aboutwhattheworld^ could

dotoherchild.She^ hadRichard whenshewasonly15,^ splitting

upwithhisfather,RichardSr., shortly^ afterward.Whileshe was^ proudofalways^ havinga

job, shedidn’tearnmuchmoney. She

wantedhersontoattendcol- legeandtohaveacareer.These^ werebig^ dreamsin herpart^ oftown.Aninvestigation bytheSanFrancisco^ Chronicle

foundthatofsome^600 black malestudentswhostartat

Oaklandhigh^ schoolsas^ fresh- meneachyear,only^ about^300

endupgraduatingandfewer than^100 graduate^ withthe

requirementsneededtoattend

a Californiastatecollegeoruniversity.

Theoddsoflandinginthe backofapolicecruiser,on

theotherhand,aremuchbetter. AfricanAmericanboysmake

uplessthan^30 percentofOak- land’sunder-age^ population^ but

accountfornearly^75 percent ofalljuvenilearrests.Andeach

year,dozensofblackmenand boysaremurderedwithinthe

citylimits.Fromayoungage,Richardlostfamilyandfriendstovio- lence.^ Inadditiontohisaunt

Savannah,killedinaspray

of bulletswhilesittinginacar

inSanFrancisco,hisauntTish was^ murderedbyher^ boyfriend

in2008.^ Threeofhis^ child- hoodfriendsweremurdered

aswell,mostrecentlyhisbest friend,TyrontaMickens.^ People

usedtosayRichardandTy- rontaweretwins,becausethey

were^ both^ handsome,^ light- skinned^ boyswithagoofy

senseofhumorandapenchant forpracticaljokes.WhenRichard

was14,thetwo^ weresent toagrouphomeinRedding,

aftertheywereinvolvedin

a fightwithsomeskateboarders.

(Because^ Richardwasajuve- nile,thedetailsof^ thecase

wasreleasedare sealed.)Tyronta

THE^ FIREON^ THE^57 BUS^547 before^ Richard,^ but^ shortly^ after

that,onJan.7,2013, he^ was shot^ multiple^ times^ whilesitting

inacar^ inanEastOakland parkinglot.^ WhenRichard^ foundout abouthisfriend’sdeath,hecalled hismother^ fromthegroup^ home

toaskifitwastrue.“Hejust startedcryingandcrying,”^ Jasmine

recalled.Instead^ ofhanging up,^ Richardjustputthephone

downand^ walkedaway. RichardcamebacktoOaklandthatsummer,headinginto hisjunioryear.Hesignedupfor

asummer-jobtrainingprogram conducted^ bytheUnityCouncil,

an^ Oaklandnonprofit,which ledtoaninternship.His^ supervisors

notedhowmuchefforthe putin,sometimesredoingthe

sloppyworkofothers.Butwhen schoolstarted,^ Richardstruggled.

Hefellbehindacademically and^ begancutting^ school.^ Early

inSeptember,OaklandHigh’s attendancecomplianceofficer,

Kaprice^ Wilson,foundRichard outsideschoolinthemiddle

of^ theday,abouttogetona

bus withagirlwhohadjustbeen

suspended.WhenWilsontold himthatshehadtoescorthim

backtoclass,Richardcamealong cheerfully,pepperingherwith

questions.Wilsonexplainedthat she^ rananinterventionprogram

forstudentswhowerechron- icallyabsentfromschool.“CanIbeinyour^ program?”

Richardasked. Wilsonwastakenaback.Students

didn’tusuallyvolunteer forher^ program;theywereassigned

toit.^ Shewasn’texactlytry- ingtofillslotseither—shealready

hadacaseloadofsome^800 chronically^ truant^ students,

andherprogram^ was^ meant

for freshmenand^ sophomores,who

areeasiertogetbackontrack thanjuniorsandseniors.But whenshelookedupRichard’file, shesawthat^ hisgradeswerepoor

andhisattendancespotty. “Iwant^ youtohelpmelikeyou

help^ them,”Wilsonremem- beredhimsaying.^ “BecauseI’ve

beentolotof^ schools,andI’ve beenin^ trouble,butPmreally

notabadkid.”

25

548 DASHKA^ SLATERwhofavored^ Apetitewoman

dangly^ earringsandliked^ to her shoes^ while^ working,kickoff Wilson^ wasakindof^ surro- ofOaklandgatemothertomany High^ School’troubledkids. ofthemevencalledher Some Mom,^ bringinghertheirgrades, andartworkto photographs hang^ onherwallsandwriting her^ apologieswhenthey^ ran

into^ trouble.Hertinyoffice was papered^ withthese^ missives:“Maria

daughterever,”isyourbest read^ one.^ “I’m^ sorrymom,

hecka^ mad,”shemademe read another—written,^ Wilsontold

whohadjustbeenme, byakid suspended.RichardadoptedWilson'soffice

akindofsafezone,aplace as tohangoutbetweenclasses.He

confideinherabouthiswould life.Whenother^ kidswerethere,

oftendraw^ themhewould out,^ listeningtotheirproblems.

likedtogiveandreceiveHe hugs^ and wasknownfor^ his

childlikesenseofhumor,silly, hiswillingnesstolookfoolish

ifitwouldgetalaugh.Hegave Wilsonhismother’sphonenumber,

suggestingthattheymight hismotherto talk.Hewanted knowthathewasdoingevery- thinghecouldtogetontheright

path.^ “I’mgoingtograduate,” “AndI’mgoing hetoldWilson. tomakeherhappy.” wasapprehensive.YetRichard Hewashavingtroubleunder- standinghisschoolworkand

tobetestedforlearning wanted disabilities.Hewasworried^ about

graduating.Andtheviolence aroundhimwaspressingin.

anotherfriend,thisThatfall, one fromOaklandHigh,wasshot.

endofOctober,^ whileAtthe walkingtothestoreinanunfamiliar

neighborhoodwithhis cousinGerald,Richardwasrobbed

atgunpointbytwoteenage boyswhotookhismoney,his

phone,hiscoatandhisshoes. Inthemoment,hetoldWilson,

hehadonlyonethingonhis Butlater,he mind:surviving. kept^ thinkingaboutoneofthe Richardknewrobbers,whom and^ hadthoughtofasafriend. Hefeltbetrayed.

30

THE^ FIREON^ THE^57 BUS^549 Richard^ skipped^ schoolfor^ afew^ daysafter^ that.Onthe afternoon^ of^ Nov.4,Richard’s^

18-year-old^ cousin,^ Lloyd^ Rhodes, showedupatOakland^ HighSchool

and^ triedtopersuadehimto leaveearly.Thecampus^ security

officer,Carlitta^ Collins,wouldn't allow^ Lloydon^ campus,^ because

hewasn’tastudent,^ sohehung aroundoutside^ the^ gates^ until

Richardgot^ outof^ school.^ Before leavingforthebusstop,Richard

gaveCollinsahug.“Tmtellingyou,” shesaid,“Ididn’tfeelnothing^ butlove whenhehuggedme.” EveryAlameda^ Countytransit

busisequippedwith^ cameras thatcontinuously^ recordsound

andvideofrommultiple^ van- tagepoints.Ifirstwatchedthe

videooftheattackintheoffice

of WilliamDuBois,Richard’s^ lawyer,

onalaptopinaconference room.Beforemewasagrid^ of

12 viewsthatcould^ bewatched simultaneouslyoroneatatime.

Thevideoitself,grainyandim- personal,conveysthe^ ordinariness

oftheafternoon.Passengers lookattheirphonesorpeerthrough

thescratchedwindowsat thedarkeningstreetsoutside.^ Onthe^ video,Richardand

Lloyd^ boardthebusatthe front.Richard,wearing^ anorange-brimmed

NewYork^ Knicks hat,isquietandsmiling.The

heavysetLloydisloudand rambunctious—bouncing,shouting,

tryingtogetthe attention ofagirlatthefront.Afterusing

hisbuspass,Lloydcatches sightofatallboyinawhite

hoodiesittingneartheback

and headshisway.Accordingtothe

statement^ Richard^ madetothe police,itwasthisboy,whom

RichardidentifiedonlyasJamal, whopointedout^ Sashasleeping

across^ theaislefromthem, whispering,“Lookatthisdude.”Onthevideo,youcan’thear

whatJamalsaysashepassesthe lighter^ toRichard.Richardlater

told^ hislawyerandhismother thatthewholethingwas^ meant

tobeaprank.Hethoughtthe

35

552 DASHKA^ SLATER^ After^ asking^ Richardtogo

through^ the^ eventsonthebus

a couple^ of^ times,^ the^ police^ reveal

thatthey^ havevideoof^ theinci- dent.Theyknowhe^ didit.They

justwant^ himtotell^ themwhy.“Beingstupid,”Richardsays, hisvoicelow.“What wouldeven remotelymake^ youthinkaboutsetting something^ onfirelikethat—someone’s

clothing?”Anderson asks.“Wasitbecausethedude

waswearingadress?Did^ you haveaproblemwith^ him?”“Idontknow.”“Peopledothingsfor^ areason,”

theofficer^ says.“We'veall madedecisionsinlifethatmay

not^ have^ beenthe^ bestchoice tomakeatagiventime.What

we'retryingto^ figureoutiswhy thishappened.”“Pmhomophobic,”Richard

saysatlast.“Idontlikegay people.”“Didyougetangrybecausehe’s

agaydudeinaskirt,notjust being^ gay^ but‘doing toomuch?’”

Jonesasks. “Actually,Ididn’tknowthat^

hisskirtwasgoingtodothat, thatitwasgoingtocatchlike

that,”Richardsays.“Itwaslike

a littleflame.Ithoughtitwasjust

goingtogoout.” Butitwastoolatetobackpedal.

TwodaysafterRichard’s arrest,theAlameda^ County

districtattorneyannounced

the charges:aggravatedmayhem

andassaultwithintenttocause greatbodilyinjury,bothfelonies,

each^ withahate-crimeclause thatwouldaddanadditional

onetothreeyearsinstateprison tohissentence.Ifconvicted,

Thomasfacedamaximumsen- tenceoflifeinprison—apunishment

hewouldnever^ have facedhadhebeenchargedas a

juvenile.Jamal,theboywho handedRichardthelighter,was

neverinterviewed,arrestedor charged.OnNov.8,fourdaysafterlighting

Sasha’sskirtonfire,Richard wrotetheteenageraletter.

(^5560)

THE^ FIREON^ THE^57 BUS^553 “Dear^ Victum,”itbegan.“Iapoligize

formyactions,^ for^ the painthatIbroughttoyou^ and

yourfamily.|was^ wrongforwhat Idid.Iwas^ wrong.Ihad^ no

reasontodothat^ toyouIdon't knowwhat^ wasgoing^ through

myheadatthat^ time.Imnot

a monster,Ihaveabig^ heartInever

eventhoughtofhurting^ any- oneliketheway^1 hurt you.I

justwanted youtoknowthat

im deeplysorryformyactions.I

think^ aboutwhat^ happenedevery second,|praythatyouheal^ correctly

andthatyourecoverand liveahappylife.Please^ forgive

methatsallIwant.Itakere- sponsibilityforallmyactions,

Plltakealltheconsiquences,”

he wrote.“Pmnotjustsayingthis

becauseimincarceratedIhon- estlymeanevery^ word.”Hesigned

it,“Love,RichardThomas.” Afewdayslater,he^ wrotea^ second

letter,thisoneaddressed to“Mr.Fleischman.”Itwasnearly

threepageslong,writtenin neatcursive.^ “Ihadanightmarelastnight

and^1 woke^ upsweatingand apoligizing,”hewrote.“Ireally

hope^ yougetbacktotheway youwere.Iwenttocourt^ yesterday

andtherestillmakingme seemlike^ amonster,butim

not.Pmagoodkidifyouget

to knowme.Pmsureyouwould

havebeenanicepersonto,”

he continued.“Iwashopingthat

Icanmeet^ youfacetofaceso

canapoligizetoyou.”^ Hewentontodetailthecharges

againsthim,explainingthat hewaswillingtoacceptthe

assaultchargesbutthathereject- edthe‘hate-crimeenhancements.

“Idon’thaveaproblemwith homosexuals,”^ heexplained.

“Ihavefriendsthatshomosexuals andweneverhadproblems

soIdon’tlookatyouwrong

be- causeofyoursexualitie.Honestly

Icouldcarelessifyoulike menyouweren'ttryingto talk

tomein thatway.” Asforhimself,hesaid:“Iamnotathug,gangster,hoodlum, normonster.ImayoungAfrican

Americanmalewho'smade aterriblemistake.”^ Perhaps,

hesuggested,heandFleischman

65

554 DASHKA^ SLATER“I’ve hadthings^ incommon.

alot^ fornoreason,alsobeen hurt butIvebeennotlikeIhurtyou

andmetally^ sohurt physically thepainIknowhowitfeels,

meI'vefeltandconfusionofwhy itbefore^ plenty^ of^ times.”WilliamDuBoisputthe^ letters

theyin his briefcase.Because admissionsofguilt,contained hefelthecouldn’tsendthem

to untilafterthe^ casewasresolved.Sasha

Itwouldbe^14 months Sashareadthem.before WhenSashaarrivedhome

onNov.27,fromthe hospital wasaftertheattack,it 23 days withre-to a streetcrowded There portersandphotographers. alongthehad beenamarch withsupporters routeof the 57 bus, rainbow-coloredrib-tying telephone bonstostreetsignsand the^ way.^ Cards,polesalong pouredlettersandpackages from^ Canada.in,includingsome fundraised Anonlinemedical donations.^ Several$31,000in highschoolshadsponsored

so^ dida^ skirt-wearingdays; local High, bookstore.AtOakland thevarsity Richardsschool, bas- jerseys ketballteam woreblue nameonthem^ andwithSasha’s thewords^ “NoH8.”to^ Sasha^ gaveaninterview

station,wearingalocalnews a “Iwasover bandagedlegs. skirt thatan^ agenderreallyexcited Sashapersonwasinthenews,” later.“But explainedtome

I

the wasn'tthatexcitedabout obviously.Thosecircumstances, isreally weremyfeelings:This doesithavetogreat—but me?”befeelingSashaacknowledged

Whiletheangry sometimes. prognosiswasexcellent,long-term

wasmorediffi-everything atthemoment—walking,cult

getting^ dressed.takingashower, pain^ madeithardtosleep. ThehomedaysafterSashagot Ten

the^ familyfromthehospital, oftheDanGale,one invited putoutthefire,twomen who to (thehouseforbrunch their neveridentified).othermanwas 70

THEFIREON^ THE^57 BUS^555 Towardtheendof^ the^ meal,^ the

conversation^ turnedtoRichard Thomas.^ Debbie^ andKarlhad

told^ reporters^ thattheywanted toseeRichardtried^ as^ a^ juvenile,

notasanadult,andthey hadconsistentlycautionedagainst

leapingtoconclusions^ about Richard’s^ motivation.^ Gale,agravel-voiced

constructionworker withawalrus^ mustache,^ remarked

par-thathe thoughtSasha's entsshowed^ moreforbearance

Heturned than hewouldhave. toSasha.^ “Howdo^ youfeelonthat?

kid^ hurt^ you.”Imean,this“Iknowhehurt^ me,”Sashasaid. Sasha consideredthis. really “Hedid somethingthat’s dangerousandstupid.But^ then again,he’sa16-year-oldkid,

and16-year-old kidsarekind

of dumb.It’sreallyhardtoknow

whatIwantforhim.” JasmineJackson,Richard'sdeeply

religiousmother,triedtobe- lievethateverythingthathappened

waspart^ ofalargerplan. “Godisgood,”^ she^ repeated

inthecourthouseelevator.“God isgood.Godissogood.”When

Richardwasescortedintothe courtroomforthemanyprocedural

hishearingsthatfollowed arrest,Jasminewouldcatch

shapehiseyeandmakeaheart with^ herfingers,pressingitto

herchest.surethatRichardhadlearnedsomething^ fromwhatShewas hedid.“We'reallgoingtolearn

something^ fromthis,”shesaid frequently.Butonce,aftersaying

head.“Iwishit,sheshookher ithadn’tgonethisfarandhe

adifferent couldhavelearned way,”shesaid.“Iwishthatthe

courtswouldgivehimasuitable punishmentsothathecanlearn

beingfromthis,insteadofjust institutionalized.”Thiswasher

“Iwanthimtohavebiggestfear. enoughtimetodo^ something

shesaid.withhislife,”madeapointEveryone|interviewedwhoknewRichard oftellingmethathewasnot

hadahomophobic.Richard gay friend,theypointedout,and hismother’scousinistransgender.

15

558 DASHKA^ SLATER if^ I^ could^ arrange^ a^ meeting with^ Sashas^ family,^ but^ when

I

broached^ the^ subject^ with^ Debbie,

she^ recoiled^ and^ said^ she wasn't^ ready.^ Now,^ in^ the^ vestibule

outside^ the^ courtroom, Jasmine,^ a^ strikingly^ pretty^ woman

with^ almond-shaped^ eyes and^ a^ high^ round^ forehead,^ came

forward. “My^ sons^ not^ like^ that,”^ she^

said,^ the^ words^ tumbling^ out in^ a^ rush.^ “I^ don’t^ know^ what

made^ him^ do^ that,^ and^ I’m^ sorry. We're^ not^ hateful^ people.”^ Then^ she^ hugged^ each^ member

of^ the^ family:^ Debbie,^ Karl, Sasha.^ One^ by^ one,^ each^ of^ Richards

relatives^ —aunts,^ uncles, cousins—came^ forward^ and^

did^ the^ same.^ When^ it^ was^ over, both^ mothers^ were^ crying.^ Afterward,^ Jasmine^ kept^ talking

about^ Sasha.^ “He^ just^ looked so innocent,”^ she^ said^ to^ me.

He^ has^ such “Hes just so cute. a nice^ family.^ He^ didn’t^ deserve

that.^ No^ kid^ does.^ It’s^ just^

not something^ I^ can^ get^ used^ to.”^

There^ was^ so^ much^ more^ that

she had^ wanted^ to^ say^ to^ them,^ but

she^ couldn't^ find^ the^ words.^

“I

don’t^ know^ what^ to^ say^ but^ sorry,”

she^ told^ me. Seven^ months^ later,^ on^ the^ morning

sat of Oct. 16, Richard with^ his^ left^ leg^ shackled^ to^

the^ courtrooma wooden chair in of^ Judge^ Paul^ Delucchi.^ He^ wore

county-issue^ sweatshirt a gray and^ khakis,^ and^ while^ he^ had

lost^ the^ terrified^ look^ of^ his^ early court^ appearances,^ his^ eyes^ were

wary.^ There^ was^ a^ faint^ peach- fuzz^ mustache^ on^ his^ upper^ lip.^ Delucchis^ courtroom^ was^

crowded^ and^ chaotic,frequently with^ prisoners^ stacked^ up^ in^

waitingthe jury box listlessly for their^ turn^ to^ appear.^ But^ each

court, time Richard came to

I

watched^ his^ eyes^ rove^ the^ room,

in.^ His^ law- taking everything yer^ had^ told^ me^ he^ was^ doing

well^ in^ Alameda^ County^ Juvenile Hall,^ getting^ good^ grades^ and staying^ out^ of^ trouble.^ He^ was

on track^ to^ graduate^ from^ high^ school

in^ February.^ Jasmine^ visited him^ every^ Sunday.

85

ON^ THE^57 BUS^559 THEFIRE returning Jasmine had stopped tellingmein^ Julymycalls, oftalking^ thatshewastired case,^ tired^ ofthinkingaboutthe work12,aboutit,justtired.“I hoursa^ day,andsometimes 14 wantIcome home,Ijustwhen shesaid.Ontogoto sleep,” behindmorning,shesatjustthat newlonghair me, wearing witha^ greenishtint.extensions DebbieCrandallsatnext

onRichard.tome,her eyesfixed (^) wasgoingtotakeaplea He chargebargain.Themayhem and thehate-crimeenhancements

andRichard wouldbe dropped, sentence wouldreceiveafive-year charge.Withontheassault and^ good credit fortime served the^ dealwouldhavebehavior, 17,releasedbeforeRichard,now

it21stbirthday,makinghis thathe^ couldserve morelikely histimeinjuvenilefacili-all hadurged^ Richardties.DuBois itas^ “the^ bestchoicetoaccept availablealternatives.”amongthe DebbieandKarlalsowanted deal,sothat himtotake the

M.LT.,nowafreshmanatSasha, toflybackfor^ wouldn't have atrial.hopedforabetteroutcome,wasn'tsosure.ShehadJasmine betweenand communication andDuBoishad^ grownher in- pooroverthesummercreasingly

Richardandfall.Nowsheand offer.decidedto acceptthehadmorning,thedeputyButthat districtattorney,Richard abruptlychangedtheMoore,

years. sentencetosevenfive-year wasgiveninNoexplanation

trial,court.Takeitorgoto Du Boissaidhewastold.From

1 watchedmyseat inthegallery, pullachairinfrontDuBois

himthenews.ofRichardtotell see^ themoment^ whenIcould

what^ hadRichardunderstood headHeturnedhishappened. TheystaredtolookatJasmine. heartbreakingotherforalong,ateach seemingtomoment, Whenwithout words.converse backtofaceRichard turned headBois,hecurledhisDu Hewouldinto hisshoulder. take thedeal.

90

560 DASHKA^ SLATER^ DuBois,^ a40-year^ courthouse

veteran,wasusuallycalm^ and even-tempered.^ ButwhenIwent

to talk^ tohimafterthe^ hearing, he^ wasfurious.Undertheterms

of^ thedeal,^ Richard’ssentence may^ still^ bereducedtofiveyears

ifhe^ meetscertainbenchmarks betweennowand^ July—full

participation^ in^ availableeduca- tionalandrehabilitationprograms,

acleandiscipline^ record.But notallof^ thatisin^ Richard’s^ control:

Another^ inmate^ could^ pick a^ fightwith^ him;astaffmember

mightwritehim^ upfor ami- noroffense.Andbecauseminors

canbetransferredtoanadult prisonassoonastheyturn18,

alonger^ sentencemakesitmore likelythatRichardwillserve thebulkofhistimeinanadult prisonratherthaninjuvenile

facilities.“He’snowthrownto

the wolves,”DuBoistoldme.^ Weeks

later,hewasstillfumingabout Richardssentence.“It’spunitive,”

hesaid.“Andforwhat?Pro- tectingthecommunityby^ making

thiskidintoarealgangster?” O’Malleytoldmeoverthephone

thenewinNovemberthat meanttohelp arrangementwas him,bygivinghim^ moretime toreceivetreatment.Shecould

not,however,^ namethetype

of programsshehadintreatment mindforRichardorexplainhow sendinghimtoadultprisonwould

serve^ therehabilitationgoals shehaddescribed.Richard^ returnedtocourtamonth

laterforsentencing.Debbie hadbeenaskedtogiveavictim-impact

statement.Shereadaloud alettertoRichard,hervoice^ quavering.

attackedourchildas“You theysleptonabus,”she^ began.

thoughtit^ wasweird“Maybe you thatSashawaswearingaskirt.”

herfaceRichard’sgaze stayedon asshe^ describedSasha’sordeal—the

skin,the^ painfulskincharred grafts,thehoursofdailybandaging.

filledwithtears. Hiseyes “Wedonotunderstand^ your

actions,”Debbiewenton.“But wealsothinkthathatredonly

tomorehatredandanger.leads outWedon’twant youtocome ofprisonfullofhate.”

95

57 BUS^561 THE FIREON THE Karlwalked^ out Debbie and of^ thecourthouseinto^ the sunshine^ andstoppedNovember forcoffeeat^ anearby^ sidewalk fromcafe.They were exhausted talkingtoreporters,unsure or^ distraught.whethertoberelieved “Iwishithadturned^ out forRichard,”Debbiedifferently said.“WegotSasha^ back.^ But poorJasmine.Shelostherson

for^ years.”Theyhadn’texpected tobesomovedbyseeingRichard’s

face^ again. “Tjusthadthiswaveofemotion

athowyounghelooked, Karlsaid.“Hejustlookslike^ a^ kid.”

» NAVIGATING^ THE^ WATERS: ReadingClosely 1.HowisSasha^ Fleischman^ described

throughout^ thefirst 20 paragraphs?2.HowisRichardThomasdescribed

hismother,andbyhimself, the^ courts?ongender3.Explain^ Sasha'sviews

andidentity^ asdiscussedin thetextparagraphs10-19.Cite tosupportorillustrateyour remarks.4.WhatdidRichardwritetoSasha

lettershe^ wroteinthetwo andhowdidSasha^ respond?and 5.Whatdidthedistrictattorneyfinally

decide? THEDEPTHS:Rhetorical EXPLORING StrategiesandStructures theauthortrying^ to 1.Whatis accomplishby^ beginningtoSasha^ onwithanobjectivenarrativeofwhathappenedexplanation.November4,2013?Cite thetext tosupport^ your challengesdoes^ Dashka2.What

facewhenSlater,theauthor, writingaboutidentityandgender,

whensheorespecially refersspecificallyanyoneelse

doesSlatertoSasha?How