(8) 2) (6) DIGITAL Stoop Sitting by Elizabeth Acevedo, from The Poet X The summer is made for stoop-sitting and since it's the last week before school starts, Harlem is

opening its eyes to September. I scope out this block I've always called home. Watch the old church ladies, chancletas flapping against the pavement, their mouths letting loose a train of island Spanish as they spread, he said, she said. Peep Papote from down the block as he opens the fire hydrant so the little kids have a sprinkler to run through. Listening to honking cabs with bachata laring from their open windows compete with basketballs echoing from the Little Park. Laugh at the viejos-my father not included- finishing their dominoes tournament with hard slaps and yells of "Capicu!" Shake my head as even the drug dealers posted up near the building smile more in the summer, their hard scowls softening into glue-eyed stares in the direction of the girls in summer dresses and short shorts: “Ayo, Xiomara, you need to start wearing dresses like that!" "Shit, you'd be wifed up before going back to school." "Especially knowing you church girls are all freaks." But I ignore their taunts, enjoy this last bit of freedom, And wait for the long shadows to tell me When Mami is almost home from work, When it's time to sneak upstairs. 826 National, Inc. All rights reserved./n