1 minute read
Wake Up
from This Is What It Feels Like
by 826nyc
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Brandon Gonzalez
When someone from another state sees New York City, they see the glamorous lights reflecting off the beautiful towers. They see the pretty green lady holding up her torch, allowing newcomers to be welcomed into the land of the free. They see the perfect American Dream that lies down in the city, but never sleeps.
But that’s not my New York City. I’m not from Madison Ave.,Wall St.,or glittering Times Square. I am from Tremont, Fordham, and Hunts Point.
When I wake up, I see smoke coming from the grills on the sidewalks, my uncles preparing food, and Romeo Santos blasting so loud you can hear it a mile away.
When I wake up, I see water filling up the streets from the pump, while my cousins get bottles and buckets to fill them up and throw at each other.
When I wake up, I see Mr. Softee come down the street, fifteen kids running with a size 4 chancleta on one foot, and a size 8 beat up sneaker on the other just to get that vanilla swirl ice cream.
What you don’t see is the real city: the families, the laughter, the struggle, the Bronx culture.
