Misunderstandings

My mother raised me in priority neighbourhoods all my life. She never once acknowledged the repercussions that definitely seem to follow. I can remember the day I was moving into Jane and Finch, and we were given a tour of the home by the superintendent. I recall declaring out loud how I disliked the house. Mother only reassured me that it was good enough, and that was that. Of course at first it was scary sleeping in the area. There was a dog next door constantly barking. Furthermore, the bullet holes in two of the three bedrooms weren’t exactly welcoming either. I was too young to understand why mom didn’t just pick a normal house for us to move into. I remember almost being upset with her. It wasn’t until I matured a bit that I realized, mother was only doing everything she could for us.
Before I moved to Jane and Finch, I lived in Rexdale, which of course is another identified priority neighbourhood. The whole time I lived there, I didn’t have the slightest idea that it was so notorious. My parents allowed my sister and I to play outside unsupervised. Although the idea of this might sound insane to some, the people in Rexdale were friendly then, and probably still are. I loved Rexdale back then and I still do now. As you read this short story right now, someone in both Jane and Finch and Rexdale is laughing in a carefree manner. Neighbourhoods like these are so misunderstood. I’m surprised a cliché hasn’t surfaced to emphasize this misunderstanding yet. It is hardly surprising to me that the people living in priority neighbourhoods generally feel safe and happy. This is quite contrary to what is held to be true of people living in priority neighbourhoods. We are not especially in danger or upset in contrast to any other area in Toronto.