Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel

New Kid
Dyamonde Daniel was a gem waiting to be discovered. Just ask her.
So what if she had wild-crazy hair and was skinnier than half a toothpick? On the inside, she was extraordinary. Plus super smart. As a matter of fact, she had more brains in her tiny little pinky than most kids had in their whole entire bodies.
When Dyamonde was a little kid, she had to keep that to herself. Why? ‘Cause her mom said her being super smart was a family secret. “So you can’t tell anyone,” said her mom.
Puleeze! thought Dyamonde.
Give me a break!
Back then, she believed her mom, though. What do She was just a kid. you want?
Then one night Dyamonde heard her mom talking on the telephone, telling someone how smart her daughter was. That was the end of that secret! Now everybody knows how smart she is. Dyamonde still doesn’t always go around saying how smart she is, though. It’s not nice to brag.
One morning, in her third grade homeroom, Dyamonde was feeling down.
If I’m so smart, thought Dyamonde, how come I’ve been in this new school three whole weeks and I still don’t have a new best friend?
Dyamonde didn’t have time to figure it out because her teacher, Mrs. Cordell, clapped to get every body’s attention.
“Class,” said Mrs. Cordell, “we have a new student joining us to day. Please say hello to Free.”
“Hello, Free,” everyone said, like robots.
And what did that boy do? He grunted!
Puleeze! thought Dyamonde. How rude!
“Free just moved here from Detroit-it is Detroit, right?” asked Mrs. Cordell.
Free grunted again. Mrs. Cordell, who Dyamonde decided was being way too nice, pretended not to notice.
“I hope you will all make Free feel welcome.”
Dyamonde shook her head. She already knew she didn’t want to have anything to do with that boy. So, of course, he took the seat right in front of her.
Oh, brother, though Dyamonde. Now I have to stare at his fat head every day.
Well, his head wasn’t fat, really. It was a nice head, covered with tight brown braids. His head was hard to see over, though, because he was so tall.
When the lunch bell rang, even though he didn’t deserve it, Dyamonde invited Free to sit with her. She knew how lonely it felt to be the new kid in school. But instead of being grateful, he mumbled, “Leave me alone.”
Dyamonde sucked her teeth. Too rude! thought Dyamonde. Aloud, she said, “Suit yourself,” and went on to the lunchroom without him.
The seats in the lunchroom filled up fast. Not that it mattered to Dyamonde. She already knew where she was going to sit.
Dyamonde got in line and bought a milk to go with the peanut butter and jelly sandwich she’d brought from home, then took a seat with Tanya, Tylisha and Tameeka-the three T’s. They weren’t about to let Dyamonde into their little group, but they were nice enough to her at school. Sitting at their table during lunch made her feel a little less alone.
One plus three equals four, thought Dyamonde.