Ride or Die (Sidestreets) - Softcover

Taylor, Wanda Lauren

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1459412494 ISBN 13: 9781459412491

Verlag: LORIMER CHILDREN & TEENS, 2018

Inhaltsangabe

When 15-year-old Kanika falls for Danny, an older guy she has always had a crush on, she becomes his "ride or die chick". Soon after establishing that she will do anything for him, Danny sells her into the sex trade. Kanika is drugged and taken to Toronto where she finds her friend has also been a victim of the sex trafficking plot. With the help of an older sex worker, Kanika manages to survive and escape the people abusing her.

Based on true events, Ride or Die tells the story of how a young black girl from a small town is lured into the sex trade by an older boy.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Wanda Lauren Taylor is an author, filmmaker and educator. With a background in social work and advocacy, Wanda lectures on social justice and human rights issues.

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Ride or Die

By Wanda Lauren Taylor

James Lorimer & Company Ltd

Copyright © 2017 Wanda Lauren Taylor
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4594-1249-1

CHAPTER 1

Friends Forever

"Kanika Grace Adams!" Kanika could hear Aunt Becky screaming from the kitchen window. But Kanika stayed outside and ignored the cries of the aunt who had raised her since she was five. Kanika was fifteen years old now. She wanted to be free of the tight grip Aunt Becky had on her. Kanika would go inside when she felt like it and not a minute before. She closed her eyes and stretched her arms wide. The wind pushed past her caramel face and swept her thick, dark curls into a frenzy.

"Go faster," she commanded her best friend Panama. Kanika was planted behind Panama on the bike seat.

"Okay!" Panama dug her heels deeper into the bike pedals. She pushed forward with all her might. Kanika squealed with excitement as the bike shot forward.

They came to a sudden stop at the top of Cooper's Hill. Kanika hopped off the back of the bike and ran through the thick grass. Panama dropped the bike and flew behind her. They got to the clearing and zipped past the park benches scattered under the maple trees. They plopped down on a freshly mowed patch of grass. Kanika stretched out on her back and stared at the sky. Panama followed.

"Let's just stay here forever," Kanika sang.

"But what would we eat?" Panama asked.

Kanika laughed.

The girls stared at the puffy, white clouds moving and separating across the sky.

"So, Kanika, who do you want to marry when you leave school?" Panama asked.

"Don't laugh. I think that Danny guy that comes around you-know-where is so sexy."

"Yeah, he is. Do you want to marry him?"

"I think so. Our children would be gorgeous little butterscotch babies."

"I might marry Gabe."

"Don't do it, Panama. He's creepy."

They laughed, then stared at the sky.

"Ever wonder what else is out there?" Panama broke the pleasant silence.

"Always," Kanika said. "As soon as we are old enough, let's leave Guysborough and find out."

"Okay!" Panama squealed excitedly.

Kanika closed her eyes and smiled.

"We have to go." Panama hopped to her feet, brushing the grass from her clothes. "My mom will be looking for me soon."

The girls were soon back on the bike, pushing the wind out of their path as they rode. Kanika wrapped her arms tightly around Panama's bony waist as they pedaled down Cooper's Hill at full speed. Kanika grinned. The warm country air breezed across her face and sent her hair flapping.

It wasn't long before the sun sank down behind the trees.

"It's getting late," Panama worried. "We should have been back a long time ago."

Kanika knew that Panama's mother was very strict. Sometimes Kanika could convince Panama to stay out a little longer than she was allowed. But this time, she sat back as Panama jolted and jerked along the dusty dirt road.

Aunt Becky was stern too, but Kanika often tested out what she could get away with. "Aunt Becky has probably called all around the neighbourhood looking for me by now."

"I wish I didn't care as much. Like you, Kanika."

"I just don't like all these rules. We're fifteen. Why do we still have to be inside before dark? Makes no sense."

"Well, I don't want to get grounded."

"You still get grounded?" Kanika laughed.

Panama was embarrassed. "Not anymore. I try not to make my parents mad."

The bike squeaked up the next hill and back down the other side toward home. Home was a tiny grove in Guysborough County, nestled in the eastern tip of Nova Scotia. Only four thousand people called it home, and the number went down every year. Kanika knew that young people left the country woods for life in the city of Halifax and beyond. She heard stories about college kids partying every weekend and tourists crowding the Halifax waterfront for summer events. She hoped to be able to leave Guysborough and see it for herself.

Guysborough had a large Black population. According to Aunt Becky, their family history in Guysborough went back six generations. Kanika and Panama met in school. Panama hadn't been born in Halifax. A Caucasian family had brought her over from China when she was nine months old. Since neither girl had any siblings, Panama was the closest thing Kanika had to a sister.

The bike came to a halt at the end of Kanika's driveway.

Kanika gave Panama a quick squeeze and hopped off. "See you at school tomorrow."

"Okay," Panama sang. Then she sped off toward home.

Aunt Becky swung the door wide open as Kanika skipped up the driveway.

"It's about time you got here, young lady," she said sternly. "I was about to send a rescue team out looking for you."

Kanika laughed. It was barely dark and Aunt Becky worried too much. Kanika slid past her aunt, who stood in the doorway with a hand on her hip.

"You have nothing to say?" Aunt Becky called after her.

"Nope." Kanika kept walking until she was down the hall and in her room. She closed the door and listened to see if Aunt Becky would come in behind her and yell. A few moments passed and the bedroom door stayed still. Kanika got undressed and climbed into bed.

"Peace," she whispered to herself. Then she slowly drifted off to sleep.

CHAPTER 2

The Hideout

The next day at school, Kanika and Panama were sitting side by side in Principal Tyner's office. There were only a few more weeks left before school closed for the summer. Panama was near tears.

"Why are you so scared, Panama?" asked Kanika.

"'Cause we're in big trouble, Kanika."

"No, we're not. We didn't do anything wrong."

"But we didn't report that fight between Trevor and Andy. Now Mr. Tyner knows everything. He's going to call our parents."

The girls were the only two witnesses to the fight that morning between two guys on the basketball team. Andy had been beaten so badly he was taken to the hospital.

"What are you going to tell him?" Panama was scared.

"I'm gonna tell him I didn't see anything," Kanika responded.

"But that's a lie."

"Panama, how many times do I have to tell you? It's not cool to be a rat."

"Yeah, but I feel guilty lying."

"Because you're Asian?"

"What does that have to do with it?"

"Asian kids are super smart and super focused. They want to get perfect grades and please their parents."

"What movie were you watching? That's not true. Well, it's kind of true. But not for everyone." Panama pouted.

"Panama, do you remember what happened last time you tattled on someone?"

Kanika quietly reminded Panama of the time Maddie from their gym class had broken into Keisha's locker and stolen her makeup bag.

"Remember? You ran and told. And after school, Maddie and her friends beat the crap out of you. I'm not saying it was right that she stole. But sometimes getting involved just isn't worth the trouble."

Panama thought about it. "Okay, I'll lie," she agreed.

"Good."

Mr. Tyner stepped into the office. "Follow me, ladies."

Kanika and Panama followed Mr. Tyner around the back of the secretary's desk and into his office. He held his arm out to tell them to take a seat. Then he shut the door behind them. His stomach jiggled as he zipped behind the desk and fell into his chair.

"So, girls, do you know why I called you in to the office?"

"Well —" Panama started.

Mr. Tyner liked to talk and hardly listened. He went on before Panama had a chance to say another word. "I know you both saw that fight this morning. I need you to...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: LORIMER CHILDREN & TEENS
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2018
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1459412494
• ISBN 13: 9781459412491
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 184
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar