The Perfect Blend

Teachers miss days all the time
They catch a cold or simply need a day off
And a substitute sits in their place
When it’s time for attendance, I sit up in my chair
They read down the list and everyone raises their hand, “Here!”
Then, there is a pause in the subs voice; a hesitation
That is my queue.
I get ready to be asked how to pronounce my name
First and last
And tell them my nickname, as well
To minimize confusion
“It's pronounced Jo-haw-nuh Marshall-Puh-lie-yo”,
But you can call me Joey”

No one, not even substitutes, ever mess up the “Marshall”
The “Pelayo” is what gets them
Not that it offends me
I like to correct them and say it the right way
It makes me feel unique and different
A good different

I simply have a long name that’s hard to pronounce
And going by Joey makes life easier
For other people, anyway

“Marshall”
Long ago spelled “Marschal” with a “c” and a single “l”
And Americanized to be “Marshall”
It’s not hard to spell or pronounce
It is an easy, common name
I live in the US, so the name Marshall is my everyday life
An ordinary, American last name
Nothing that makes people stutter or stop on the name sheet

Then there is the “Pelayo” in my name, from my father’s side
Originally from Spain, and later Mexico
The people who gave me my darker complexion and affinity for the Hispanic culture
I grew up eating Mexican food on occasions
Not a crazy amount, though enough to know it and enjoy it
I also attended Spanish-immersion school
And learned Spanish alongside English
This allowed me to feel more connected to my roots
And give me an edge in future Spanish classes
Estoy eternamente agradecida.

The two names, joined together with a small hyphen
Although little in size, this hyphen is a part of who I am
A combination of my mother and father
Latina y Blanca
Hispanic and White
A blend of two amazing cultures and families
A decision that I am glad my parents made
Giving me a beautiful, yet tough name to say aloud
That everytime my teacher is absent, I get to correct a sub
And remind myself of who I am and who I get to represent

I will always be Johanna Marshall-Pelayo
But you can call me “Joey”