There Are No Children Here

Pharoah has made an unusual friend at school. Ever since Rickey asked Pharoah to ask his cousin Dede out for him, the two of them have become friends. Their friendship is unusual, given that Rickey lives on the other side of a line dividing different gangs and that Rickey is tough and muscular while Pharoah is skinny. Pharoah is studious and respectful, and Rickey is rebellious and aggressive, and is notorious at Suder for having been involved in so many fights.

Most importantly, Rickey was deeply affected by his cousin Bird Leg’s death, since he considered him a big brother and actually witnessed him being shot. Yet instead of shying away from violence like Pharoah, Rickey uses his anger about his friend’s death to immerse himself even more deeply in violence, once almost choking a classmate to death. Like a war veteran, his attitude bears the deep mark of trauma. He has become so used to his pain and anger, as well as participating in fights, that he has become almost apathetic toward violence, feeling that he has the right to kill people as retribution for Bird Leg’s death.

Rickey can also be kind and protective, helping younger children cross the street and behaving politely to adults, thus showing that kindness lies beneath his aggressive features. Rickey demonstrates his desire to protect people weaker than him in other ways. One day, in gym class, a boy taunts Pharoah and tries to hit him while playing basketball. Without thinking, Rickey grabs and punches the other boy to defend Pharoah, visibly weaker and in need of protection. Rickey often behaves toward Pharoah like an older brother, giving him protection and help.

Aware of Rickey’s reputation, Lafeyette worries about Pharoah’s new friend. At the same time, he admires Pharoah’s academic successes. While he himself is smart, he does not work as hard as Pharoah and often misses school. Secretly, though, he wishes that LaJoe would put more pressure on him, encouraging him to have healthy habits and do his homework. However, Lafeyette is particularly good at math and science and, toward the end of the year, has become fond of his teacher, Mrs. Everage. He has admitted to her that he often worries about his siblings’ safety and feels, in particular, that Pharoah needs to learn to fight in order to protect himself. Surprisingly, though, while Lafeyette worries about Pharoah’s new relationship with Rickey, which he feels can get him into trouble, it is Lafeyette who will end up being more influenced by Rickey.