chuck4short fab5

Written by Justin R. Gaither

No. 1

The Chuck4Short series is dedicated to Liam K. Gaither and friends.

Lil’ Chuck knew it was going to be a great day when he put his ear phones to hear Biz Markie. Much to his surprise, he picked up the wrong tape! Follow Lil’ Chuck as he learns about different types of music through the generations.

Copyright © 2015 CHUCK4SHORT. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, taping, and recording, without prior written permission from the author.

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“It ’s been a long time, I shouldn’t have left you, without a strong rhyme to step to, think of how many weak shows you slept through, time’s up, sorry I kept you . . . ”

- Eric B and Rakim Paid in Full, 1987

I know you got Soul

I could barely hear my mother screaming “it’s time to walk to the bus stop!” I grabbed my bookbag and as I walked out of the door, my mother said, “I hope you know your class work as well as you know those rap songs.” “Music is for life,” I replied as I bopped out of the door to meet my friends at the bus stop. My mom likes old school R&B music. Her favorite artist is Marvin Gaye. I like his music too, but my first love is HipHop. I try to explain to my mom that Hip Hop is poetry, but she doesn’t agree. lol

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As I wait for my friends at the bus stop, I realize this tape has a song I really like, so I rewind it to the very beginning. Even before I press play, I sing it to myself..

“Oh baby you, got what I need, but you say he’s just a friend, OH BABY YOU...”

As much as I love my radio, waiting for the tape to rewind is pretty boring. Maybe they will do something about that one day. Finally, the bus arrives. I walk down the aisle, take a seat, pull out my radio and press play.

Wait a minute! I’m sorry for being rude. I’m Chuck. Well, really I’m Justin. That may not make sense, but my father’s name is Charles and everyone calls me Chuck-- and that’s all I know. The other thing i know is... my radio, i like it loud!

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“OH NO!!!! This is not my tape.”

I press fast forward, hoping to hear Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, or Special Ed, but I am having no luck... there is only singing. I open my radio and it’s the Isley Brothers! I must have brought one of my mom’s tapes by mistake. This is going to be a very long trip to school!

While in class, I completed all of my work. As I reviewed my answers, I had an isley brother’s song in my head from my mom’s tape...

“Who’s that lady? Lovely lady, who’s that lady?...”

...the melody stuck with me all day.

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I spoke with my dad on the phone and we laughed about the tape mix-up. He told me about some of his favorite artists, like Earth, Wind and Fire and the Ohio Players.

He said he likes a guy named Teddy Pendergrass and I have to call him Teddy P.

I learned my parents love their radio just as much as I love mine. That’s probably where I got it from.

I went to bed listening to the isley Brothers. Not only did i learn something new about music, but i realized this is much easier to fall asleep to than hip hop.lol

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Today, my teacher asked us to write down our HOBBIES. Of course My first choice is sports. i love to compete in every sport. my favorite sport to watch is basketball. i am a NBA fan, i like the new York knicks. they drafted rod stRicklAND, he is my favorite player! some day i plan on going to a knicks game... I am making my plan now, we’ll talk about it next time. Peace!

Here’s a prieview of the next Chuck4short...

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Produced By Powered By


No. 2


Lil’ Chuck is a dedicated New York Knicks fan. In “He Got Game”, Lil’ Chuck learns a thing or two about work ethic as he chases his dream of making it to Madison Square Garden.



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“Basketball is my favorite sport, I like the way they dribble up and down the court. Just like I’m the king of the microphone, so is Dr. J and Moses Malone.” - Kurtis Blow ,Ego Trip, 1984, Basketball

What’s Madison square garden? It’s the mecca, or center, of basketball and home to my favorite pro team, the New York Knicks. My “plan a”, or first goal, is to be the owner of the Knicks. Afterward, I’ll become a rocket scientist, a talk radio host, and finally the president of the

United States. I dream BIG! In class, my teacher asked, “What’s worth working hard for?” For me, that’s an easy question. Knicks tickets of course!

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In the famous words of the legendary kurtis blow...

Carolina. My imagination takes me from the court in Chapel Hill to being a team owner in Madison Square Garden.

Where I’m from, every kid has a hoopdream. I pretend I’m in college playing basketball at the University of North

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“Thinkin’ of a master plan, cuz ain’t nuthin’ but sweat inside my hand, so I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent, so I dig deeper but still comin’ up with lint...”- Eric B and Rakim, Paid in Full, 1987, Paid in Full

Give me court-side seats next to Spike Lee, the second biggest Nicks fan besides myself. I want to sit where legends like earl “the pearl” monroe, willis reed, clyde frazier, and bernard king played.

It would be epic, orgreat, to see patrick ewing. that sounds perfect...

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Getting to the Gardenwould cost a lot of money. How can I afford to getthere, get game tickets, and a slice of New Yorkpizza? I have to have aslice of New York pizza! I need a plan.

but how?but how?

In my classroom a poster reads, “If you don’t try, you will never do.” I thought about what this means. It meant that I must make an effort to make my dreams come true! That gave me the motivation to put operation “Next stop Knicks” into action. I made two lists, the things that I do well and the things that people need.

My neighbor could use a car wash.Mrs. Jackson never walks her dog. All of my friends love my lemonade. I will do all of these things to earn money.

Let’s get to work!

Over the weekend I washed 10 cars, walked 5dogs, and built a lemonade stand. My customerssaid I had the best lemonade in town! For only$.50 they got a cup of lemonade and a knock knock joke.

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“i have an idea!”

“Knock, knock.Who’s there?Needle.Needle who?Needle little money for the Knicks game.”

After a long week, I was happy with the amount of money I’d earned. I even helped Mrs. Smith bring her groceries inside for an extra $3. I earned a total of $133.50 and learned that good things come to those who work hard.

I felt like I’d hit the jackpot. Then, I looked up ticket prices. They cost more than I’d thought! I realized I had a lot more work to do.

That night, I watched the Knicks at home. Even though I didn’t raise enough money for my trip, I did make enough for a new basketball, a Kid n’ Play poster, and saved the rest for a rainy day. It felt good knowing that I’d worked hard to earn my own money. It was one of those days where nothing could go wrong. That

is until Michael Jordan scored 55 points and the Knicks lost!

Such is life for a Knicks fan, but i still love my team.

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Here’s a preview of the next Chuck4short...

Like Father Like Son

I asked my Dad “Hey, what’s that horse shoe onyour arm?”. I didn’t quite understand his answer, but I remember other men with the same horse shoe doing funny dances to George Clinton’s Atomic Dog. The best part about these funny dances is that they usually happen at a cookout or barbeque. I love cookouts! I soon learned about college and fraternities. All the movies I watch about college make school look super fun! I’m going on my first visit to a university. My Dad told me to keep me eyes open for the Ques. I hope that means more funny dances!

To be continued...

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illustrated by Gregory J. Butler

No. 3


In “Like Father, Like Son”, Lil’ Chuck goes on his first college tour at his dads Alma mater. He learns all about careers and fraternities.



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My morning started with my dad helping me pack for my field trip. HE WAS EXCITED ABOUT MY COLLEGE TOUR TODAY. WE TALKED ABOUT COLLEGE AND THE VALUE OF AN EDUCATION. HE ALSO SHARED MANY FUN STORIES AND SAID...

“lOOK OUT FOR THE ques!”i was all packed for the tour, but before any big day we had to make a stop by Mr. Ray’s barbershop. Mr. RAY EARNED HIS cOLLEGE DEGREE AND STARTED HIS OWN BUSINESS.

i visit Mr. Ray’s barbershop every two weeks for a fresh fade and a story from “Back in the day.” Today he talked about his college days.

“Behold the green and gold!”

Mr. Ray yells that when he talks about his college, Norfolk State University. he also screamed as i left the shop...

“Look out for the Ques! “

College is like cool school!

as the tour began i walked around THE campus imagining i

was a student.

wHEN I grow up, I WANT TO BE PRESIDENT. well, i want to be the president, a zoo keeper, and a firefighter.

lawyers, doctors, and teachers all have to go to college.

college helps your brain grow and you also get to meet many cool friends.

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wHEN I grow up, I WANT TO BE PRESIDENT. well, i want to be the president, a zoo keeper, and a firefighter.

lawyers, doctors, and teachers all have to go to college.

college helps your brain grow and you also get to meet many cool friends.

during the tour i really enjoyed our time in the science hall. I learned about ronald mcnair. He was an astronaut that attended north carolina A & T university. dr charles drew was a great surgeon who came up with the idea of blood plasma. He went to amherst college. our tour guide said “a fun fact is they were both ques.”

Then he told our group... “Look out for the ques!”

we saw the student center, the football stadium and campus housing. There was a cookout near the student center. i was happy, because i was very hungry. the band performed and EVERYONE danced. I ENJOYED MY FOOD AS THE STUDENTS PLAYED GAMES AND HAD FUN TOGETHer.

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WHEN I LOOKED UP... THERE THEY WERE, THE QUES! THEY STEPPED FOR THE CAMPUS AND THAT WAS MY FAVORITE PART OF THE TOUR.

I LEARNED A FEW MOVES, BUT I MAY NEED TO PRACTICE.

MY DAD MET US ON CAMPUS. THE QUES WERE VERY HAPPY TO See him. THEY LAUGHED TOGETHER, TOOK A LOT OF PICTURES AND MARCHED TO A SONG CALLED “ATOMIC DOG”.

AS WE WALKED TO THE CAR, I TOLD him ABOUT my GREAT DAY. I CAN’T WAIT TO TELL ALL OF MY FRIENDS ABOUT COLLEGE AND I’LL BE SURE TO TELL THEM,

“look out for the ques!”8

Here’s a preview of the next Chuck4short...

The Cool Table

With the school talent show approaching, Lil’ Chuck and his friends prepare for their big performance. During practice, Lil’ Chuck makes a friend when he learns there’s a new kid at school. Check up on Lil’ Chuck as he brings new moves and members to “the cool table.”

To be continued...

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