FROM PIECES TO WEIGHT ( 1-40 )

SUMMARY:
In the exposition of From Pieces To Weight Curtis Jackson III talks about his growing up in Southside Jamaica Queens , New York . hHe lived with his grandmother and grandfather in a large house with his many aunts and uncles . Since he was the youngest in the house he was always picked on and all of his aunts and uncles felt as though he wasnt their responsibility . His mother , on the other hand , didnt live with them , but did anything that she could to make sure that her son had everything that he not only wanted , but also needed . He was also very diciplined though . In one part of the story , he talks about how he was beat up by a larger boy his age over a game of marbles . So his mother sent him back out to beat the boy up in anyway that he could . If he refused or lost then his mother planned to raise hell , which was how she was if she didnt get her way . He also reveales that his mother was murdered by a man that she sold drugs with . He was trying to find out as much information as he could but could only do so much at such a young age . He always did what he was told so that he wouldnt have to hear the end of a bad argument , but the lesson of a good one .

QUOTE:
"you cant play the game for today; you gotta play for tomarrow , even if tomarrow never comes . For every dollar you spend , you gotta save four . Thats the only way you're gonna make money . I see you little guys: As soon as you get a penny , your spending a nickle. Save you're money and do somethin' with it" ( curtis 36 ) .

REACTION:
This cuote above is important to the story because this was an epiphany that he had while speaking to a friend about hustling . Since his mother was a hustler , but died because she made a small mistake , he wanted to be sure that he followed in her footsteps but did everything perfectly . So he was trying to explain to a young ed at the same age that he did that things are not all theyre crack up to be , so he wanted him to do things by the book . I can easily relate to this part of the story because of how he was as a child growing up . Since he was always taught to repect his elders and mind his business , he figured the best way to stay out of trouble was to keep to himself and only associate with others when nessassary . So whenever he was home he wasnt interacting with his family , but simply in his room writing peoms and raps , or playing with his green toy army men . This shows that he was mature at a young age by choice which kept him out of trouble but in a good eye . I can relate to this because when im home i too isolate myself in my room to keep out of all the maddness that occurs in my neighborhood or any troubles i could get into at home . I simply sit in my room and write poems or songs and sing and dance , which sharpens my skills and shows maturity .