Short story

Zainudin Smith

Creative Writing

Professor Hughes

November 16, 2020

Short Story Prompt

Plot- 2 brothers move to America from a small country in West Africa. Ike is very respected in his family and is as the family’s golden boy. While Kwame lives in his shadow, all way being compared to him and pressured to be just like him. When they move to America and begin going to Hillmount Highschool everything changes. Ike struggles to fit in because his speech impediment and thick accent, he gets constantly get made fun of by the other students. Kwame on the other hand adjust well into the school and for the first time he feels like his own person and doesn’t have to live up to the expectation of Ike. Even though Kwame fits in with the kids in school, he ends up joining the wrong crowd and begins stealing, partying, and doing drugs due to peer pressure and maintaining his status. Ike notices this and tries to talk him out of it but Kwame feels Ike is just jealous of him. Ike is distraught and doesn’t know what to do. Ike begins to get involved more in school, and the National Honors Society. He meets a girl named Golden, whom he tutors in Math while she tutors him in English. She teaches him to about American culture as well as to embrace his background and become more confident. As things begin turning around for Ike, Kwame on the other hand starts to sink. He has be failing his class, ditching school, and beginning to sell weed. Kwame confronted by his father about his behavior resulting in a heated argument. Ike tries to calm Kwame down, but it doesn’t get through to him.

Characters

Ike- He is a 16 year old immigrant from Sierra Leone, who just recently moved to America. He has a very thick accent and stutters from time to time. He is very tall and muscular with very a thick afro. He is normally very outspoken and interactive around his family but turns very shy and quiet at school.

Kwame- Ike’s stepbrother. 16 years old from Sierra Leone, who just recently moved to America. He also has a very thick accent but adjust well to the English language. He is tall and chubby with short hair. He is always being compared to Ike and constantly lives his shadow when it comes to their family but in school he easily adjusts to the culture and becomes the man.