I didn’t attend the best of high schools as a teen. Detroit isn’t known for its exceptional educational system. But I was a decent student, when I wanted to be. Unfortunately I was almost held back in eleventh grade. That year I was engaged hanging out with friends rather than studying. To make up for it I was given the opportunity to attend summer school so that I would pass to the next grade.
Summer school was held only three days per week and few classes few taught. Most of the three storied high school was empty, save for the few students that attended and a handful of staff that ran the place. The worst students went to summer school I had gotten myself stuck with them that year. The class was filled with the likes of cocaine dealer and member of the Latin Kings, Tony Sanchez. There was Darnell Williams who was in and out of juvenile for selling drugs, breaking and entering, and car theft. Tamika Simmons was once arrested for prostituting her little sister. Tamika was extremely violent and once stabbed a girl in the park (the girl survived with minor injuries).Some of the teachers at West High were abused by these thugs and most of them who were, quit teaching; can’t say that I blame them. However, there were some teachers like Mr. Fosse who taught algebra. He was one of the few educators who thought he could make a difference. He was a mild mannered man, short, and wore bifocals too large for his pudgy face. Mr. Fosse always treated me well and I liked the guy.I sat in the back of math class in the row next to Tamika. As Mr. Fosse attempted to explain the equation, spit balls and paper airplanes zipped across the room. Excessive profanities and laughter was uttered through out the class. Tamika was obnoxiously loud that day, louder than everybody else. She was gabbing something to Jennifer Mosley about her ex-boyfriend. Mr. Fosse on more than one occasion told her to quiet down. “Tamika, please quiet down,” he would ask. She would comply but less than a minute later start chattering again. This happened three or four times and I could see Mr. Fosse becoming more frustrated as his chubby face turned red. Tony decided it was a good time to rise from his desk and with pride, throw up gang signs with his hands. “Tony, please stop that and sit down,” Mr. Fosse insisted. Tony paid no attention and continued display of street sign language. Typically soft spoken, it was rare that Mr. Fosse would raise his voice but he repeated his demand with greater fervor. Tony ended his demonstration then walked to the front of the class and wrote “f**k you” on the black board with loose chalk. Some in the class chuckled at the disrespect. I think that’s when Mr. Fosie began to loose it. “Get out of my class, Tony!” Mr. Fosse roared. Tony didn’t blink or bother look at the instructor and swaggered back to his seat. “Tony, I said get out of this class room! Do not come back! Pack your things and leave now!”Tony casually looked up at the teacher. “What are you trying to say?” he sarcastically replied, resulting in more snickers from the class. “Get out Tony, right now!” Mr. Fosse demanded.“I’ll leave when I’m ready puto,” Tony said defiantly, remained in his seat and began to roll a joint.That’s when Tamika and Darnell started making out at the back of the class at a small table. “Tamika! Darnell! Do that on your own time! This is not the place for that type of behavior!” screamed Mr. Fosse. They continued their little love affair without pause as Tamika lifted up her right hand and gave Mr. Fosse the bird. Mr. Fosse walked toward the back of the room to confront them. “Cut that out right now!” They stopped kissing but Mr. Fosse had to take a break from the class. He stepped outside of the room into the hall and shut the door. I could see him pacing, trying to get his bearings together through the door window. Everyone in the class continued in their disarray. “I think Mr. Fosse is losing it,” I said aloud to no one in particular.“Who cares,” Darnell said. “F**k him.”Moments later our instructor stepped back into the class seemingly a little more relaxed and began to finish the equation on the board, after erasing Tony’s words of course. Not soon after, Darnell and Tamika went at it again at the table at the back of the room. Darnell had his hand up Tamika’s shirt, in front of everybody. “I told you two to stop that! That’s inappropriate behavior! ” said Mr. Fosse as he walked over to them. “Stop that and get out of the class!” he said, grasping Tamika and Darnell each by the shoulder separating them.Tamika didn’t appreciate Mr. Fosse’s move. “Get your dirty hands off me!” Tamika screamed as she stood up from the table. “You don’t ever touch me!” she screamed, retrieving a small knife from her purse. Unexpectedly, she jammed the blade in Mr. Fosse’s neck. He gripped it with both hands as blood spurted from the wound. The class fell silent and Mr. Fosse plummeted to the wooden floor, a grimace of pain on his face.
