Albert and Rebecca

Summer Reading Essay

“7…..8…..9…10 Knockout!” the referee said, “Winner Alfred Brooks in the white trunks”. Alfred stepped out of the ring his eye bleeding a little bit, but he had won. Donatelli walked over and slapped some ice on his eye. He started walking to the locker room.
“Alfred Brooks? Hi, this is Rebecca from the Advocate I would like to ask you a few questions” said Rebecca.
“Okay. What about?” asked Alfred
“Just about your climb to success as a boxer and about your past” said Rebecca. They both walked into the locker room. Rebecca pulled out her pad and pen. “So what was your life like before you rose to contender then to champion?” probed Rebecca
“Well I lived in Harlem, I didn’t have a lot of money and I was raised by my aunt. I worked at a little market, didn’t pull in that much money. My friends started to get into drugs and I didn’t want to get into it.” Alfred explained.
“So how did you pull yourself out of this bad neighborhood?” asked Rebecca.
“We’ll my friend Henry has been working at this gym just helping around with the owner and trainer Mr. Donatelli. One day I thought about it and I realized what I wanted to be. I wanted to be a contender. So I went up to the gym, stumbled up those stairs, hmm I wonder if he fixed those? Well whatever I went up and asked Mr. Donatelli if he could train me. He accepted and I just kept working, I ran everyday and just kept working at it. Sure I had some slip-ups but I came back and worked hard to fix my mistakes.” said Alfred.
“Well I don’t want to waste your time. You probably want to tend to that eye.” said Rebecca. Rebecca starts to get up and leave.
“Wait a sec. You came to ask me some questions but I want to know a little bit about you.” Alfred said. Rebecca comes back and sits down. “I’ve read the Advocate before I read that story you had. It was pretty interesting I was hoping to meet you so I could have some more details I was intrigued by everything that happened.” said Alfred.
“Well Poland is an interesting place, lots of things, horrible things happened back in those times. Hitler had done some demented things. Those extermination camps people today are still gloomy about what happened. You can sense the anguish of the people. Some of the stories I heard where pretty crazy. I like you was intrigued though, also I had made a commitment to my grandmother before she died. Everybody in my family thought I was crazy for doing this. I kept pursuing though I wanted to know what happened, but come on I didn’t even know my grandmothers real name or last name. Too many unanswered questions. I had to know. The people I talked to that were in the camps and survived where extremely brave and were a big help when it came to helping me unravel this mystery. I learned also what my own grandmother had gone through, to see her love, my grandfather die in a hail of gunfire. Must have been scary for her.” Rebecca explained.
“Wow that’s so interesting, it a scary way. I can’t believe what happened either; I’ve read what happened to the people there, the Jews, the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They went through a lot and they hadn’t even done anything to Hitler.” Alfred said. Alfred stands up. “Thank you for telling me about your adventure. Sadly I have to go before my eye swells up. Goodbye.” Both of them chuckle to themselves.
“Goodbye and thank you for your time.” Rebecca exclaimed. Both stand up and part in different directions.