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Grades level iconsGrade 8
Genre information iconMemoir, Narrative
Resource type iconWriting

We Are All Family

Rafael, 826CHI
A student remembers an afternoon adventure around town and explores what Chicago and community mean to him.

I’m from Chicago. All of Chicago is like my house, but with a lot more people. It is a place where I can enjoy myself and have a lot of fun. It is also a place where I know people who care about me, love me, protect me from evil, and lead me to the good things in life. The people are nice, funny, fun, kind, and joyful toward others. Here, we are all family and act like one. We work together and respect each other the way we want to be respected.

In 3rd or 4th grade, I was at my old school. It was the end of the day and I was walking down the hall. When I got to the main pickup area, I saw my grandma and my cousin T.J. He was home from the Air Force. I ran up to him and hugged him. After, my grandma left and it was just me and him. He took me to eat. I told him about how I went to eat at a casino, and how school was going, and how much better I am at basketball now. Then, after we ate we walked to his house. We walked by some girls and he was like, “I’ma get you a girl.” I was like, “No, I’m too little!” So the girl just took a picture with me and him.

Finally, we got to his house and played video games on his Xbox 360. I asked if I could have one of his games and he said yes. Then he took me home and I played the game he gave me. He talked to my grandma, then he left. I said bye.

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