See Me, Hear Me, Know Me

Bringing My Shine

Three days later, Makena stands in front of her mirror studying the outfit Auntie Bling helped her pull together for her first day at Aspire Academy: a purple skirt from Cherry Blossoms in a shaded, ombre style, paired with a black t-shirt swirled with the same purple. She clips three gold butterflies into her twists, since butterflies stand for transformation, and she’s ready for one. Nervous but excited, she snaps her OOTD selfie and posts it with a caption announcing her transformation into a seventh grader, hashtags and all.

Downstairs, the whole family waits on the porch. Mom takes Makena’s picture and asks about her house key while Dad pulls her into a hug. There’s a hint of wistfulness in the air since this is the first morning she and Amari won’t be walking to school together. Makena presses one of her own butterfly clips into Amari’s hand, and Amari’s face brightens.

Makena skips down the block past Jerome and Stella, the artist couple next door who have started giving her pottery lessons. Jerome is Black and Stella is White. Makena passes by Mr. Scott the crossing guard, who jokes about her moving on up.

At the Metro entrance, a familiar voice calls Makena’s name: Najee, taller now, with his bushy afro trimmed into a close fade. They haven’t seen each other in over a year, not since his mother caught COVID and he and his sister went to stay with family in Brooklyn. Makena asks if Najee’s mom is okay, and he says the virus was no joke, but she’s all better now. Najee is relieved to know someone else riding to Aspire Academy, the out-of-bounds school they’re both starting.

Aspire turns out to be far more mixed than Makena’s old school, with Latinx, Black, White, and mixed-race kids streaming through the doors under a banner reading “Aspire to Success.”

Inside the crowded hallway, a girl bumps into Makena while comparing schedules and turns out to be Adeline, who instantly recognizes Makena from Instagram. She has hair arranged in neat rows of beautifully twisted Bantu knots, and multiple bracelets that clink together. Adeline points to Makena’s butterfly clips and says they’re pretty, and Makena says she likes Adeline’s bracelets. They smile, and Adeline asks if she can walk to class with Makena and Najee. She’s nervous about her first day, too.

In homeroom and social studies, Ms. Jacobs-Lee sets everyone loose on blank outlines of the seven continents, challenging the class to fill in country names while getting to know each other. The room, quiet at first, is soon loud with introductions. The loudness and chaos feel different and completely normal all at the same time.

After lunch, algebra brings Mr. Djondo, whose tie is covered in numbers. He says that his name is pronounced Jondo. When he takes attendance, he pauses at Makena’s name and asks if it’s pronounced Ma-ken-na or Ma-kay-na. Makena answers Ma-kay-na, surprised that he’s asked. Teachers usually mispronounce her name the first time. Mr. Djondo nods and says names matter. And so do numbers.

That afternoon, Amari beats Makena home to their spot under the tree out front to catch up. After they’re done talking, they head inside, and Mom texts Makena to make sure they got inside the house okay. Makena texts a thumbs-up emoji. And upstairs in her room, Makena opens her art journal to sketch the hairstyles, faces, and clothes she noticed all day, already planning what she’ll wear tomorrow.