The Skin I'm In: Word Meaning in Context

“Romeo and Juliet didn’t play by the rules. People had expectations for them. Wanted them to act and be a certain way. But they refused.”

Expectations means--

• expensive gifts

• ideas on how something should be

• very little hope

• fear of the future

Anyhow, Miss Saunders asks the class to pretend we’re teenagers living in the seventeenth century. We have to write a diary “chronicling” our experiences.

Chronicling means --

• ignoring

• forgetting

• recording

• changing

When we walk into the office, Miss Carol and Maxine act like they haven’t even noticed Charlese or the twins. But they sure have noticed me. And I swear I can see the corner of Maxine’s mouth go up, like she’s holding back a smirk.

Smirk means --

• song

• sneer

• sneeze

• sniffle

Miss Saunders bends over to get a good look at Tai. “They are so enthused in class. Full of great ideas.”

“That’s great,” Tai says, standing and stretching from side to side.

“Their insights are fantastic,” Miss Saunders says.

“Right on target. But their test-taking skills are just terrible.”

Insights means --

• ability to see without glasses

• understanding of the way things are

• willingness to complete assignments

• ability to do well on tests

Caleb looks at me for the longest time. “Things can change,” he says.

“Like things between me and you, things at school.”

“Don’t go there, Caleb,” I say.

“I said I was sorry, remember? Said it ten thousand times. Give a brother a break, why don’t you?”

“This ain’t McDonald’s, Caleb. No breaks today,” I say, moving to another seat…. Caleb can be persistent. He moves down two seats.

Persistent means --

• shy

• nervous

• hungry

• determined

Miss Saunders gives me a hard look and goes on about how important it is for a teacher to not have her personal business out among students. How it can “undermind her credibility,” whatever that means.

Credibility means --

• authority

• imagination

• experience

• energy