THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 26, 1994 TAG: 9406240256
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940626 LENGTH: COURTLAND
The Southampton Middle School sixth-grader followed publication in fairly typical fashion - with a June 4 autograph session at the Book Haven Bookstore in Franklin.
{REST} It all began with some proper guidance by guidance counselor Sandra Benson and reading instructor Mary Warren.
They read about an earlier edition of a similar book and decided to give the school's sixth-graders the opportunity to contribute.
The entry of 13-year-old Nadirah caught the eyes of the publisher, Conari Press of Berkeley, Calif.
A company spokesman said they considered thousands of contributions before narrowing the list to a fortunate few.
The handwriting is part of the book, each page printed in the youngster's own hand.
Nadirah's was neat - no problem with interpretation.
Her 18-year-old sister, Nikita, was her subject, and her inspiration.
``Friday night my sister was going to the game and she needed some sneakers,'' Nadirah wrote. ``She asked me could she wear my Reeboks. Most of the time we can't get along with her, but I let her wear my Reeboks.''
That simple act of kindness netted Nadirah her first shot at fame.
Later, during an interview, the youngster explained that her sister was going to a Southampton County High School football game that night and had a purple and white outfit for the occasion.
``I had purple and white Reeboks,'' Nadirah said. ``She asked if she could wear them. She'd been nice to me the whole day. I think she had it planned.''
Normally the girls, daughters of Joyce and Melvin Bradshaw of Sedley, act in what some people see as typical sisterly fashion, which includes some fussing and fighting.
This day was different, and, for Nadirah, it meant a happy ending - space in a nationally distributed book.
She hopes to see more of her contributions in print.
``I'd like to write kids' stories,'' Nadirah said. ``I want to tell what really goes on in life, about the world and about how we can recycle.''
She also wants to be a professional model.
``When I talk on the phone, I try on clothes,'' said Nadirah, who is determined to get a college education. ``And I like shopping. I'm working all the way through college so I can be something.''
Thanks to her little act of kindness, Nadirah is getting off to a good start.
by CNB