A collection of adult learner writings from the Second Start Adult Literacy Program at the Oakland (California) Public Library.

Second Start has published a series of learner stories called Oakland Readers. The stories are edited into four levels, to allow a reader to move from Level 1 (beginning-level) up to Level 4 (more-advanced). Each book is beautifully illustrated with photos of the authors.

In the introduction to the books, program director Leslie McGinnis says that Second Start wanted to publish stories that interest adult learners, ones that reflect their interesting and often non-traditional lives. "The voices on these pages are unique, humorous, wise, and without bitterness."

To read a story, click on the title to jump to the story. After you read the story, click "Back to Top" to return here.

I Wanted to Stop Drinking by Levester Pierson

I had a dream. I wanted to be a bus driver. I never was. I do not know why. Yes, I do know why. I had a drinking problem.

I started drinking at an early age. Drinking took over my life. Drinking messed up my dreams.

Drinking was a friend of mine. It helped me not focus on life.

I wanted to stop drinking. I could not stop. I could not stop drinking.

I even tried to kill myself. Over drinking. I did not want to drink. I jumped out of a two-story window. I wanted to stop drinking. And I could not.

Levester Pierson was 44 years old when he wrote these stories in 1996. He was born in Jasper, Texas. Levester came to California at the age of ten, in 1961. He has five children: three daughters and two sons. Levester believes his faith in God rescued him from 26 years of drinking. Levester has been sober for five years.

Nobody Is Stupid by Maria Fierros

I work at Lucky's. I am a checker.

I check. I run things over the scanner. I do it fast. I scan fast.

I take checks. I take my time with checks. I have to read the checks. I save time for a check. I save time when I scan things. I scan fast.

One day I needed help at work. I asked my co-worker. She was in a bad mood. She said I was bugging her. Then she said she was joking.

I do not like to joke like that. I told myself, "See stupid, you should know." "You should know it by now." I am stupid, but I better learn.

Then I think nobody is stupid. Not even me. All I have to do is study. Study and study.

Nobody is stupid. Not even me.

Maria Fierros was 24 years old when she wrote this story in 1996. She was born in Mexico and moved to California when she was eight. Maria is a focused young woman with concrete goals. She wants to be a civil engineer. Maria works hard and is determined to fulfill her dreams.

Rodeo by John Henderson

I did rodeo. I just always liked it. My grandfather had a ranch. I stayed with him. I worked cattle with him. You know, ride and stuff.

We got into it. I had some land. We built a rodeo. I had a night club too. We do some three-days rodeo. Ride bucking horses. Ride bulls.

Until I got broken up. I got pretty well broken up. I broke my ankle. I broke my arm. I broke my hip. Then I just quit.

I did rodeo.

John Henderson was 63 years old when he wrote these stories in 1996. He moved to California from Louisiana in 1967. John has four daughters, one son, sixteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. John is a thoughtful man who has led a very adventurous life.

He Is 18 Now by Mary Salgado

I was born in Ventura County, California. I was a baby. My mother gave me away. I was raised in a foster home. I did not learn how to read or write.

I met my real mother when I was 28. I met my half brothers and sisters. My brother from San Diego came. He brought me to meet my mom.

I did not know what to say to her. She did not know what to say to me. It was kind of scary.

I have a son. He is 18 now. He calls me. He calls me every weekend. We talk every week. To see how we are doing.

Everyone keep asking me the same question. Why don't I bring him to Oakland? Why should I bring him here? What if he gets shot or something? It will be my fault. I say no.

He has a good job. He has his own place. I do not want to break up his life. He is big now. Big enough to take care of himself.

Mary Salgado was 54 years old when she wrote these stories in 1996. She has lived in California all her life. Mary has one son. Mary is an avid Oakland A's and San Francisco Forty-Niners fan. She tries never to miss a game. She also likes to collect ornaments, cups and glasses.

Slow Class by Brenda Gordon

I was born in Mississippi. I moved to California when I was ten.

I was ten years old. I was in fourth grade. I was in slow class. I was always in the slow class.

Kids make fun of you. They call you dumb. Like we could not understand. They call you dumb.

Me and my friends would wait. We would wait to go to class. We were hiding from the other kids. We did not want them to see us. See us in the slow class.

Then my brother was in school. I spoke up. I spoke up for my brother.

They was going to do him wrong. They was going to put him in the slow class. Same teacher who put me there. I told my mom and dad. No way. I said no way. No way was they going to do him like that.

He is a sergeant in the Marines now.

Brenda Gordon was 42 years old when she wrote these stories in 1996. She was born in Mississippi and moved to California at the age of ten. She is currently working two jobs and is trying to start her own business. Brenda would like to make time to enjoy her hobbies of sewing and gardening.

I Also Had a Daughter by Marie Taylor

I had a sister. She died. She died before I was born.

My daddy prayed. He prayed for another daughter. So I came along.

I also had a daughter. I lost her. My daughter died. She died in a car crash. She died when she was four years old.

I bought my daughter a dress. I bought her a dress for Easter. It was Easter Sunday. My daughter wore the dress. They was burying her in this dress.

Time passed. I had another daughter. She is all grown up now.

She sings. She did a record. Annette Taylor. You can buy it.

We are the best of friends. I am so proud of her.

Marie Taylor was 59 years old when she wrote these stories in 1996. She moved to California from Mississippi in 1953. She began attending Charm Beauty College in Oakland in 1958. Marie has been a successful beautician for over 30 years and has owned her own shop. She has a daughter and two sons. Her daughter, Annette, is an R&B singer in New York.

Fifty Acres of Land by Curtis Garner

A fellow had some land. The land was in Louisiana. He was selling. A white man selling land.

I bought the land. I bought fifty acres of land. Fifty acres of land from the white man. I paid him off. I paid the whole thing. That land was mine then.

I built me a house on it. I built me a house on my land. I raised my kids there. I raised my kids on my land.

They went to school. They went to school everyday. They did not have to work. They did not have to work like I did.

I did not go to school much. I had to work. My kids went to school. That is good. My kids went to school everyday.

Curtis Garner was 73 years old when he wrote these stories in 1996. He grew up in Louisiana and moved to California in 1955. Curtis worked at the Oakland Army Base for 28 years. He has three daughters, one son, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Curtis enjoys going back to Louisiana for family reunions every year.

Them Words Is in My Head by Resonja Bell

I was talking. I was talking with a person. They said the words cannot be. The words cannot be in your head. If you cannot spell them. How can you say that? That is stupid.

I am talking to you. You are talking to me. I am picking up your words. Your words. I carry them with me. I carry your words with me.

I hear a word I relate to. I hang on to that. That is what I do. I hang on to that word. I use that word. I learn to spell that word.

Them words is in my head. Them words is in my head.

Resonja Bell was 31 years old when she wrote these stories in 1996. She was born in San Francisco. Resonja lived in Texas and Michigan during her childhood years. She has two daughters, Raven and Tatum. Resonja is a motivated writer and is working on a book of poetry and prose. She believes writing about her feelings and experiences helps her to understand and learn from them.