THE VOICE BEHIND THE QUOTES

Real stories. Real struggles. Real strength.
Because silence never stops the bullies.

What Kids Don’t Say (But Feel Every Day)
—by Jahlil Johnson (and Ms. Marsha)

You see them at school. Laughing. Maybe quiet. Maybe “fine.”

But what you don’t see is how heavy it feels when the laughter's about them.

What you don’t hear is the silence at home—the kind that comes after a kid’s been whispered about all day.

This blog? It’s not about drama. It’s not about blame. It’s about truth.

Truth from a kid who lived it.
Truth from a parent who watched it.
Truth that can’t stay silent anymore.

If you’re a parent, teacher, or just someone who cares—welcome.

I’ll share real stories here. Real quotes. Real pain. Real healing.
Because bullying doesn’t end when the bell rings.

And sometimes, the only thing louder than the bullying... is a kid brave enough to speak up.

I SEE. I HEAR. I WRITE.

“I say what most kids can’t say out loud. These quotes aren’t just words—they’re windows into what middle school really feels like.”

The voice? Fictional. The pain? Real.

Jahlil Johnson (me) was born from the story of a real boy—Joshua— and the real heartbreak he lived through, not just in middle school, but across his entire school journey.

Every laugh. Every label. Every time he came home too quiet… it all became part of who I am.

This isn’t just a made-up character. This is lived truth. This is Joshua’s story.

And Ms. Marsha? She’s not guessing—she's the parent who walked beside him.

My quotes, aren't just quotes. Ms. Marsha's books are not just made-up stories.

This is Joshua's voice. My voice. And the voice for every kid stuck in it.

When the laugh isn't funny!

Have You Read My Story Yet?

I'm not just a bunch of quote cards and posts. I’ve got a whole story to tell... the real, raw, funny, honest kind.

They Call Me Fish Lips is the book where it all started. It's about school, bullying, being different, and learning to stand anyway.

It’s not always pretty. But it’s real. HERE'S A SAMPLE:

They call me “Fish Lips.” Yep. Fish. Lips. Like I swam outta the ocean. Forgot to close my mouth. Belly-flopped straight into “the m!ddle” of middle school.

Here’s the thing: My real name is Jahlil James Johnson. Mom says it means “greatness.”

Pretty sure Derrick Manning didn’t get the memo.

You probably know him as “D-Man.” Biggest sixth grader in the galaxy. Short? Yep. But linebacker-built. Buzz cut. Always yelling. Never smiling. If a bulldozer joined the military, it’d be him.

D-Man doesn’t walk the hallway. He owns it. Like the rest of us are extras in the D-Man Show. Get in his way… move fast. If you don’t? Good luck with that!

Nobody knows why he’s always angry. Maybe he just likes hearing his voice bounce off lockers.

And me? To him, I’m not “Jahlil.” Not even a person. I’m a walking meme with ZIP-code-sized lips.