The Freedom Writers Diary - Erin Gruwell [54]
Unlike Holden, I was spared from the “institution.” Even though I provoked her by pleading, “Send me anywhere, somewhere, a rehab of some sort. Anywhere that isn’t here.” “But there is nothing wrong with you,” she insisted. And then I said, “I just need to get away, I’m fed up with everything, everyone!”
The farthest she sent me was to my goddamn room.
Diary 60
Dear Diary,
Tonight the wildest thing happened: I got offered a job from John Tu! I can’t believe I’ll be working for a millionaire. How I got the job was crazy.
We were having a big party at the Bruin Den with all our parents. Ms. G’s really into family and we’re always having parties where all our families get together and have a big love fest. Her dad, her stepmom, and her brother are practically part of our family now. This party was another opportunity for our families to meet John Tu and thank him for all his help.
After the party was over, I asked him if he wanted a ride to where his car was parked. It was only about five blocks away, but I didn’t want him to have to walk late at night with his wife and his two kids in our neighborhood. With him being a millionaire and all, I was afraid he was going to get jacked.
When I offered him a ride, I didn’t think he’d actually say yes. When he did, I was like “damn!” I froze because I have a ’78 Oldsmobile—which can’t touch his top-of-the-line Mercedes. When he entered my car, I felt really embarrassed because my car only has one seat in the front. The passenger seat was stolen. There is just a big old gap in the front. I don’t even have a radio, or a rearview mirror. My front window has a big-ass crack on it, too. Since it gets me from point A to point B, that’s all that matters. When John got into my car, he said, “Damn, this is comfortable! It feels like a limousine!” He stretched out on my upholstery. My backseat is a far cry from leather, but he crossed his legs as if he owned my bucket. Then he said he wished that when he was my age he could have driven a car like this one, but instead he drove a bicycle. Wow, he hadn’t always been a millionaire like I thought! He actually earned his money through hard work. That really got to me. It was as if he was telling me not to just stay at my level and drive a $200 “bucket,” when I could shoot for driving a Mercedes.
When we reached his car, not only did he say thank you, but he also asked if I was interested in a job at his computer company. A job? I’d never had a job before. He said I would learn something new…and now I can’t wait to begin my new career, and turn my life in a different direction!
Diary 61
Dear Diary,
In class today we discussed how double standards exist for men and women. We talked about how men can get away with whatever they want, but when a female does the same thing, then she gets degraded and even dissed. Ms. G introduced the word called “misogyny” and everyone in the class was like “What?” A guy in the corner even said, “Misogyny? Did you say massage my pee-pee?” and started laughing.
Ms. Gruwell structured a debate called “Misogyny or Mayhem?” She started by having us analyze the cover of Snoop Doggy Dogg’s album with cartoon characters representing a male and female dog. The male dog is on top of “da dogg house,” and the female dog is on the bottom with her ass hanging out. Throughout the cartoon, the female dog is called a hoochie and a ho, and they even kick her out of