"Oranges"

Gary Soto (1995)

The first time I walked With a girl, I was twelve, Cold, and weighted down With two oranges in my jacket. December. Frost cracking Beneath my steps, my breath Before me, then gone, As I walked toward Her house, the one whose Porch light burned yellow Night and day, in any weather. A dog barked at me, until She came out pulling At her gloves, face bright With rouge. I smiled, Touched her shoulder, and led Her down the street, across A used car lot and a line Of newly planted trees, Until we were breathing Before a drugstore. We Entered, the tiny bell Bringing a saleslady Down a narrow aisle of goods. I turned to the candies Tiered like bleachers, And asked what she wanted Light in her eyes, a smile Starting at the corners Of her mouth. I fingered A nickel in my pocket, And when she lifted a chocolate That cost a dime, I didn't say anything. I took the nickel from My pocket, then an orange, And set them quietly on The counter. When I looked up, The lady's eyes met mine, And held them, knowing Very well what it was all About. Outside, A few cars hissing past, Fog hanging like old Coats between the trees. I took my girl's hand in mine for two blocks, Then released it to let Her unwrap the chocolate. I peeled my orange That was so bright against The gray of December That, from some distance, Someone might have thought I was making a fire in my hands.

1. Describe the speaker(Narrator). What do you know about him? What

kind of person is he? Give Evidence and Examples from the Poem.

2. Describe the setting. Where and when did this happen? Give

examples and evidence from the poem.

3. Summarize the poem.

4. Create a table describing the setting and the girl. Setting Girl Cold, frost cracking Face bright with Rouge

5. How are the setting and the girl different? Why do you think the

author creates this contrast?

6. Why does the saleslady take the nickel and the orange, even though its less than a dime? What does this tell you about her?

Harkey Dispersal List

Teacher Singleton First Block Z-hanequa Abraham, Osman Barillas Zakary Booker Second Block Whittney Alexander Daurice Augustus, Stacey Johnson Jasmine Bennet Courtney Browning Jonathan ConstanzoKuszckak Alexa Delgado Ninth Block Daurice Augustus Daniel Cochrane Justin Gilliam, Michael Weber Timothy Goff Devon Henderson, Roger Suazo Alice Hernandez, Jocelyn Rodriguez Kency Hernandez Demetrius Huston Daniel Julbe Mayra Laris, Nicholas Rodas Fatima Lozada Juan Melgar Kai Norris, Maria Reyes Rafael Pedereo Fourth Block Kareem BinSalamon, Ashia Willaimson Cecilia Contreras, Kourtney Williams Destinee Crawford, Catalina Yanez Will Davis, Jajuan Washington Maiya Delgado, Jamisha Villard Lori Dickenson, Deonte Teachey Aaron Felder, Markeeth Sanders Skyler Foster, Roger Suazo Airik Green, Roderrick Williamson Shontaye Johnson Janaea Khalid, Tyler Yalch Fatima Lozada, Rafael Pedereo Thomas Maslankowski Rashawn Nealson,

Murray

Cayea

Braiyan Fierro

Bollinger Barnes Marcello

Cassandra Griffin Jeremiah Hawkins Daniel Julbe

Bowden Tabor Meyer Holley Bostelman Henri Kohlhoff Moshe

Michael King, Kayla HillSukie Jennifer Lazo Amber Lewis Latoya Luckey Kaleisha McLendon Brianna Thompson, Khali Holmes Andrew Walker Jashira Borges

Travis Glorioso Jose Gonzales, Quintessa Mungo Jesse Grace Javon Ham Demarcus Jones Darnel Leak Kamri Mobley, Reggie Patterson Maria Monterrey,

Gilliam

Alexis Gray

Randy Sanchez Jessica Moss

Scottie Stowe Edgardo Reyes Kimberly Noyola, Nikyia Patterson