Although my immediate family is small, I come from a really large family. My immediate family consist of me (Nhandi), my mama (Laquinta), my nephew (Kaiden), and my brother (Nhanjai). However both of my grandparents come from very large families, my grandmother’s mother had twelve children, and my grandfather’s mother had ten children.

•       My grandmother’s family started with Dorsey and Lucy Speed. From that union, twelve children were born. There were nine girls. Their names were Lucy, Sadie, Cora, Gennie Mae, Arlene, Ola Mae, Ophelia, Virginia, and Marilyn the baby girl who is also my grandmother. There were three boys. Their names were James,

Dorsey, and Willie. There are twenty seven grandchildren, forty one great grandchildren, and twenty five great great grandchildren. My grandmother’s brothers and sisters grew up in the country and they all worked on a farm, which is where they got all of their food, and also how they made money. They stayed in a small house and all of them had to share rooms and beds.

     My grandfather’s family started with William and Francis Downey. Together they had ten children. They had Five boys, Chester, Edward, Joseph, Ronnie, Larry. They also had five girls, Agatha, Shirley, Deborah, Linda, and Carolyn. There are eighteen grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren, and four great great

grandchildren. My grandfather was number seven of ten children and he calls himself the perfect child. His mother, brothers, and sisters grew up more in the city, while his dad was off fighting in world war two. When my grandparents met my grandpa is actually the one who introduced my grandma to store bought chicken because she always got one from the chicken coupe, so when he invited her to dinner for the first time she was so amazed at this store bought chicken.

     My grandparents did end up having my mom at a young age and right after that they got married. My grandparents told me a little story about when they were dating and how my grandpa rode the bus home with my grandma one day and it was getting late that

night and his ride never showed up so he ended up spending the night and my grandmothers dad of course made my grandpa sleep on the floor in the living room and the next day they went fishing and afterwards my grandmothers dad dropped my grandpa off in town and left him knowing that the walk home was HOURS, next time he was sure that his ride came early. My mother was born LaQuinta Downey, and she lived in Oxford NC, with my grandparents until she graduated J.F Webb high school and moved to Greensboro NC to go to UNCG for college. Later on after she graduated college she met my dad Curtis Lindsay and had my brother and I. Many people though we were twins because of our

names which are Nhanjai and Nhandi but we are one year and one month apart. Unfortunately my father wasn’t in my life enough for me to know any of his family.

    To me family is very important, they are second to God. Family can be very stressful some days, and they can be fun some days, but I can say that I know for a fact my family shaped me into the person I am today, and I thank them a hundred times over for always being such a great support system and pushing me to the fullest. Family is Forever.

Chapter 3

Somebody I miss and I didn’t keep in contact with is my 7th grade teacher. Harris Jefferson was a very remarkable woman and she was kind of young so she could relate to all the kids and she took her time with everyone individually. Not only did she make us feel unique in our own way but she made learning fun, she kept kids out of trouble and even as we went to high school she made sure it was going well and if we needed help with anything she was always there. Still until this day we keep in contact with each other and she is like the big sister I never had. She ended up having a beautiful babygirl and me and my mom go visit them all the time now recently.

The funniest thing that ever happened to me is the time my God sister kept slapping me in the face. I usually go see my god sister every week because when she was born I always saw her as a mini me, I took her everywhere, and we made a really good connection over these 3 years. Also  her mom used to be my daycare teacher when I was younger and over the years our moms became close friends. So one day I went to visit her and I usually take her something to eat, or a toy, or something that I know she would like and this particular day I didn’t and she wasn’t happy at all. I asked her how her day was and she told me and as she was hugging me she was looking me in the face and when she asked what I got her today I said nothing and she smacked the living daylight’s out of me and that was the end of that.

Chapter 4

Where I’m From

By Nhandi Lindsay

I am from baby diapers and huggies and carolina blue

I am from the tan house with burgundy shutters, where all the kids like to hang

I am from dirt roads and beaming sun

I am from say your grace before you eat and greet each other with hugs

from LaQuinta, the Downey’s and the Lindsay’s

I am from always wear your seat belt and see you soon

from be in house before the street lights come on

I am from pay your tithes and say your prayers before you go to sleep

I’m from Greensboro NC/Oxford, fried chicken and corn pudding

I am from a box of pictures on the top shelf in my mama and papa’s closet

that laughs and shows me who I have become

chapter 5

  Top 10 List Of Memories

1. My first day of school I was kind of nervous but I had already been going to daycare so I was used to being around other kids, I knew how to share and the whole nine but, I knew being away from my mom and riding the bus and actually doing work would be somewhat new. I also stayed at the same school for kindergarten and first grade
2. Second grade I changed schools because my mom felt that it was a way better place for me and my brother also went there so the commute was easier for her too.
3. Third grade was one of my favorite years of school, I played the violin and the piano.
4. Fourth grade was very interesting, I then did one of the hardest projects ever and I dissected a frog and the from me and my partner worked on happened to be pregnant.

1. Fifth grade was fun, I went on plenty of field trips, I was apart of the jump rope team and I knew that soon I was ready to go to middle school and start a new chapter.
2. Physically I changed because I used to be fat and doing tap dance and jump roping made me lose a lot of weight
3. I have always been a people person and I love to talk and get to know new people.
4. I learned about friendships and how people work overtime.
5. Getting older I learned how to be calm and know how to fight my battles and which battles are even worth fighting
6. Overall it has been a long journey and it is more to come.

chapter 6

Middle school was a big step. It is where all the “big kids” are and many different things happened from my sixth grade year all the way until my eighth grade graduation day. Middle school was calling my name way before I even left elementary school and I had turned in applications to go to different middle schools because I did not want to go to my home school. I did an application for The Academy At Lincoln and I got in. Of course I went to open house and met my teachers and a few days later I started my first day of middle school.

As a middle schooler you things change because it’s like the mean girls that are older than you and the older guys that you might think is cute but they are absolutely no good, so you have to be mindful and know how to conduct yourself. I never really had any issues with the older kids because I’m outspoken so I was gonna speak up for myself regardless. I also clicked with some of the older kids because they thought that I was mature for my age. Me and my best friend both went to lincoln so to say we had a great time was an understatement.

My sixth grade year was pretty quick and eventful. I was very excited that I made so many friends and we had all been hanging out going to the skating rink, out to eat, the mall, etc. I stepped out of my comfort zone and joined the step team and I was nervous and happy at the same time but that ended quickly because the lady who started it left. We also used to have dance as an elective and we would have these mini shows for the whole school and our parents and it was pretty fun.

My seventh grade year was great. I absolutely loved my teachers and I found out that one of my teachers was my cousin. I played volleyball and I actually started over some eighth graders and we were conference champs that year. I had tried out for cheerleading the previous year but I did not make the team but it was ok I knew I could try again next year.