see what da fuck going on?!!… 😏. Being a teenager in a Cosby movie | by Shaunta Swain | Jul, 2025

Being a teenager in a Cosby movie

High school in Lithonia felt like a different world compared to ninth grade at Mays High School in Atlanta. I was a city girl at heart,born into the rhythm of MARTA buses, weekend hair appointments on at your friend house, and walking to see friends or cousins on a whim. My mother’s side of the family was all Atlanta, and so was I. But when I moved to Lithonia, everything changed.

Back then, Lithonia was the country. Woods lined every street, and the only bus into the city was the 86L. We had to trek through trails just to reach the bus stop. It was quiet, dark at night, and far from everything I knew. But living with the Macks gave me a sense of peace I’d never experienced in the city, or at my father’s house.

Avery and I shared her car a beat-up blue Camry we lovingly called Turtle. One day, she let me take the car to the mall after I dropped her off at work at Finish Line. I felt so grown, riding solo to Stonecrest, doing a little shopping, enjoying my newfound freedom. But that moment turned sour fast. When I backed out of the parking spot, I scraped the car beside me.

Panic hit me hard. I didn’t leave a note. I didn’t wait around. I just backed out quickly and drove straight home.

The next day, there was a knock on the door. The police.

They asked if anyone had been to Stonecrest the day before. My heart sank. I couldn’t deny it,I was the only one. I was embarrassed and terrified, sure I had ruined everything. But to my surprise, Mack’s parents didn’t scold me. They sat me down calmly and taught me one of the biggest lessons of my life:

“If you’re not guilty and your intentions weren’t bad — don’t run. Never leave the scene. Face it.”

That moment stuck with me forever. They didn’t shame me they taught me. That’s what real love looks like.

Life with Mack, was full of joy. We balanced school, work, and each other. We both had jobs. We both kept our grades up. And yes, we were even dating brothers from Edgewood. We’d go on double dates and weekend adventures, cruising through the city like two young women discovering freedom for the first time.

Mack played basketball, and I was deep in ROTC. I was on the rifle team and traveled to other states for competitions and drill meets. We supported each other’s passions. I even became part of her family’s road trips to beaches, different states, and places I’d never been. Her family didn’t just include me,they embraced me. These trips sparked deep conversations, playful arguments, and our signature peace offerings: ice cream sandwiches and inside jokes.

Even Mack’s older brother brought me into his world. He attended Tuskegee University and invited us to homecomings, step shows, and cookouts. I met Q-Dawgs, Kappas, Alphas,men who carried themselves with pride and respect. They treated me like a little sister. Not a single boundary was ever crossed. That experience taught me something powerful:

Not all men will see you as an object. Some will simply see your light.

That meant everything to me. Because growing up, especially as a pretty teenage girl with a kind heart and a mature spirit, I was often sexualized and misunderstood. But around Mack’s family, I was finally just me. Smart. Strong. Protected.

We also spent time at Carver High, where Mac played basketball. That’s where I met Money,from Herndon Homes. He became like a brother to me, and our friendship grew quickly and deeply. We connected with no expectations, no pressure,just real, genuine love. When his mother passed while he was at Morehouse, I stood by him through every step of his grief. I knew that pain too well.

He eventually dropped out. That broke my heart. He had a full ride,academic and athletic,but grief does not care about potential. He was his mother’s only child, and her loss was too heavy to carry alone. I understood, but I also mourned what could’ve been for him.

Even with the ups and downs, my time in Lithonia shaped me. Not because it was perfect, but because I was finally surrounded by people who poured love into me without asking for anything in return. People who corrected me with compassion. People who taught me by example. People who saw me,not just as a body or a burden, but as a young woman with dreams, pain, and purpose.