First Job
Here it is, I’m 15 in high school, a ninth grade freshman… going school shopping with my moms… in October! That’s when I told myself that this was the last draw. It’s bad enough I’m the only kid on the block who has to be in the house by sunset. Let it be dark before one foot is in the house and the saying was.
“That’s ya ass mista postman” and she meant it.
Two years ago I called myself running away with no-where to go, so I went to the safest place I could think of, Aunt Rosie’s. Aunt Rose lived in Queens, New York. A quiet getaway off of Linden Blvd.
My secret mission of disappearing till I was 18 started on a Thursday and ended on Sunday afternoon when the phone rang and Aunt Rosie passed me the receiver…
“Hello?” I said, hoping it was this female I was just talking to “Hope you enjoyed your fuckin’ vacation, get your ass home now!, before I put my foot up your ass and bury you after!”
“Yes Ma”, eyes watering predicting the awaiting torture.
Being I don’t like the way that event ended, I’m wise enough not to take that same road twice. There’s another way, is it a better way? I don’t know but I’m willing to try it. I understood I lived in a single parent home and moms did all she could with work, but one person can only take so much of anything. It felt like I had a double dose of shit in my life to deal with. Between being a teenager with a $5 a week allowance, in the house by dark (even on the weekends), still getting my ass beat, home bowl haircuts to save money, chipping in on nickel bags… shopping with my moms for clothes that I get laughed at in school and some other stuff that extends my list of loose bricks. By the third month, I created four more stash spots within the building.
I learned all the emergency exits and escape routes. When business was slow, I practiced picking door and key locks, never know when that skill may be needed. Tested my timing on ‘Stash and Bounce’ drills. In two minutes and eighteen seconds I could stash the drugs, grab my shit and jet out the back third floor window, cross the wooden plank which connected to another buildings fire escape, drop the board, hit the roof, go five buildings down, hit the staircase inside the building and end up on the opposite block walking in the corner store to buy my favorite snack… flavored peppermints and sunflower seeds.
It wasn’t hard to tell or see things were changing for me, I went from spending a dollar a day at school on a slice of pizza and drinking water from the sink to earning twenty dollars a day just from standing behind a door where I can buy breakfast and lunch with something to drink while at school.
Every day after school, I went straight to work. Stopped at the safe house where Champ, his brother and their b.m’s stayed. All the runners always went there first to pick up or drop off their bundles they didn’t finish during that shift. Though it was a place for business, I felt the LOVE like family, before I put my few hours for the day in, they always fed me a plate of food whether I asked or not.
I was invited to their private parties, business get-togethers, family dinners and birthday parties. And then, one day after I thought I had everything with this hustling career, I was pulled to the side and given a piece of paper with chart measurements.
“How good are you in math?”
“I’m type nice” I responded confident”
So, how long would it take you to answer all twenty questions?”
Not to jump the gun… “how much time do I have?” already figuring most of the answers in my head.”
I’ll give you fifteen” as he left me at a table with a drink, pen and paper to answer some questions.
I was done in eight and started drawing with the scrap paper. When he returned in ten to check on my status, his face looked familiarly surprising while carrying a plate wrapped in aluminum foil.
“You done already?” pulling out a calculator and a box of Philly blunts “Yeah, I guess.” I responded unenthused.
“You know how to roll up?” as he dropped the box on the table.
“Yeah!”, I said with a big smile
“Do three nice ones” tossing a large zip-lock bag in my lap.
Til this point of time, no one I know ever had this much weed at one time to freely smoke. It was bright and dark green with fuzzy dark hairs on it, this was my introduction to the stinky smell of skunk. I was good just sniffing deep breaths of air from the bag for the first minute.
The only nails I kept manicured on my hands were the thumbs and it was basically for this reason.
Split, crack, gut and cleaned the blunt, removed the filtered tobacco sleeve at the head then began ‘operation refill and burn’.
I concentrated so much on what I was doing, I didn’t notice Champs girl Sandra enters the apartment with a group of her friends and was staring at me roll with smiles on their faces.
“Yo, Champ! Who’s the baby face cutie?” one of the friends asked.
“That’s one of my lil’ mens, ask him his name.”
“Excuse me Sexy” she said with a smile
I looked up and was stuck on her eyes, she had the first set of hazel colored eyes I ever seen and they kept my attention. Too much actually, cause all I could see was her lips moving, all I heard was ‘Do you mind… blah blah blah…blah blah, and all I thought about was her pink glossy lips touching mine. I don’t think I blinked at all when she spoke.
“So, will you?... Please…” as she caressed my face.
“Now or later” I responded, not even aware of what I’m agreeing to.
“Whenever you have time, what’s your name again?” sounding all soft and sexy.
“Mort” I said firmly “..And yours?!”
“Latoya…Jackson, if you’re nasty!” with a giggle.
“You serious!?” not sure if she was joking.
“Nah, but my first really is Latoya, but call me Nikki.”
I can’t front, she had me open. Pretty eyes, light skin with a gold tint to her complexion, hair styled to a ‘Bob’, about my height with heels on and an ankle bracelet that read ‘Do You Love Me’ inside a heart.
As soon as Champ returned, even though I didn’t know he was actually gone, I lit up. The first, I only burned the end enough to stay lit while I passed it to Sandra out of respect for her man, my boss. The next I did the same procedure and handed it to Champ and replied with a head nod to his thanks. The third was something like a personal victory blunt, I don’t know what for, I was just proud. I lit and pulled on it slowly like a real champion, taking long pulls and holding it while watching everyone else choke. ‘Amateurs.
I went and sat next to my Nubian princess with the interest of continuing our earlier conversation. In a true playa’s eye, they might consider my move or thoughts as ‘Thirsty’… and right now… I’ll accept that!
After smoking I popped a blue peppermint and started my spit game. It was one of those moments that when you realize what you said, you wish you could write it down exactly how you said it.
I spoke soft to have her lean closer to hear me while I leaned closer to smell her perfume.
Here’s a gem that was once dropped on me, so I will share with all who read this:
When someone has interest in you then there’s no such thing as violation of personal space.
Their air is your air to breathe. How much and how long depends on what you say or do!
Back to the reading….
My words were soft, and breath warm on her neck while my lips nearly nibbled on her lobes. I could sense her body cringe in my presence. And just when I figured I had everything planned out, there was a tap on my shoulders. Sandra whispered in my ear that Champ wanted to speak to me.
I whispered in her ear ‘I’ll be right back’, this time caressing her ear lobe with my hand as I stood up and left. Flicked off the ashes from the sweat suit, stopped to look back and check on my sweetness. Yeah, she was watching me too.
Walking through the kitchen door… Back to business On the table was a pile of milky white powder with gleams of light sparkling from the crystals.
The last time I saw coke in abundance like this, it was in a movie. I just stood there in amazement…stuck.
“You ah-iight?” Champ said, breaking my trance.
“Yeah… yeah, I’m alright”
“You look shocked, like you never seen this much before”
“Truthfully, no! I haven’t… how much is it?”
“Jus over half a bird, grab some gloves out the sink drawer.”
“Damn, you doing it crazy!”
“Nah doggie, this ain’t shit. We already moved two this week!”
“Word?!, say word!” all excited.
“That’s word, but I didn’t call you in here for that. I need you to strap up and help me break it down so I can have it picked up.”
“What exactly do you need from me?”
“Put on the gloves. First of all, don’t ever touch this shit bare- handed. It’ll seep into your skin, you’ll get all sick, catching heat flashes and next thing you know… you’re scratching and nodding.”
“That won’t be me, that’s my word!” With that, there was nothing else to be said. I grabbed the first digital scale seen by my eyes and got to work. Made three zip-locks of a hundred grams and the rest went into little sandwich baggies packed with twenty- eights. It took me about forty-five minutes from start to finish.
And when I was done he showed me how to remove the gloves like the hospitals do and cut them up for disposal, they say, “No evidence is the best defense.”
“Anything else?” while still thinking of what he just said.
“I’m good, somebody else will clean this shit up after I handle something.
“Go back out there and roll this box..” as he tossed it “besides, it’s 9:30, you gotta be home in a half. You want me to call a cab?”
“Nah, Herkimer is only 15 minutes away walking”
“O.k. then, take two with you for your walk and I’ll see you later!”
“Thanks C!”
“No, thank you.. matter of fact.. here.”
He gave me dap with two folded bills to the palm of my hand. How much was it, I didn’t even bother to check, my mind was only on two things right now… rolling these blunts and getting home.
Once I left the kitchen and returned to the living room, it suddenly flashed that I never finished talking to Nikki.
While crackin’ an guttin the blunt for phase 2 of operation ‘Refill and Burn’, I scanned the room for my baby, but didn’t see her or Sandra. I did as I was asked and grabbed my two cuffed behind the ears. And as I peaced out everybody and headed for the door, Sandra comes in” Where you going?”
“Home now, where’s ya friend?”
“Who Nikki?!”, as if she really wanted an answer “she just left, hopped in a cab.”
“Damn, I was trying to catch up with her before she left!”
“Ain’t that cute, she like you too. She said to give this to you” as she handed me the piece of paper with Nikki’s number on it, continuing “..Do you know she’s much older than you?”
“No, and don’t care! Age ain’t nothing but a number.”
“Ah-iight then, get home safe. I’ll see you tomorrow” as she gave me a quick hug and a peck on the cheek.
I walked off sparking one of the two blunts heading back to the block.
Once I turned onto Herkimer from Bedford Ave., I could see kids still out. Most were younger than me, running around and enjoying themselves.
It didn’t take long for that miserable reminder of reality to kick in… asking me, ‘How much longer are you gonna take this shit son?!’
The once proud and confident Mort was now subdued to the more passive alter ego known to the government and world as Shaun.
As I got closer and closer to building 64, it was without a doubt that the music I was hearing was definitely coming from my apartment. This caused mixed thoughts only because music this loud meant one of two things, either my moms was enjoying herself with a drink or company, if not both. The other option was the possible ass-whoopin’ awaiting me, which the music would muffle out the cries of pain. What’s amazing is how I involuntarily memorized the number of steps it took to walk from the front of the building to the first floor apartment doorstep….13.
And in the one minute it takes when moving slow I recapped the promotion of punishment. I started as a lowly Private in ranks of ass-kickings. I went from belts to a whip that my drunk aunt gave to my mother as a gift. Some fucking Christmas present that was, fortunately enough I learned quickly how to elude most of the contact and put the cry-game character into effect to exaggerate the actual pain.
From there I graduated to the skillet which lasted only one session since she missed every swing, but the one that knocked me down and out.
After that, I stepped up to‘2×4’s’ and a lead pipe she kept over the front door. At that time I was a Lieutenant in the ‘Pain Game’. Now.. I’m a full blown General, nothing but fists and bats from the Louisville slugger.
‘Damn, is this how ya mind flashes when you’re about to die, if so I’m ready to get this shit over with!’
Give it some time and everyone learns every loose floor board and squeaky spot in the house, so as I walked in, I clung to the walls down the narrow hallway and went to my room. Just when I closed my door…
“Shaun!”
“Shit!”. “Yes, Ma?!” yelling over the music
“Come here..”
As I entered the living room I seen her group of guest, all with a drink in front of them and a smile on their face.
She reached around my waist and pulled me closer for a hug so I felt privileged to give her a kiss. My mother introduced me to everyone before sending me on a beer run.
My moms had seemed to know everybody. Because of her, I was able to go anywhere and get anything. Shit, if the Arabs had sold cocktails bombs and grenade launchers, I could’ve got deals on those as well. The most anyone ever said when I entered their store to get my supply of liquor, beer, weed and blunts… “Tell your mother I said hello” which I did. I didn’t mention where I might’ve seen them at… and if she asked, I simply said…’on the way to the store’
I practically ran to the store and back knowing when there’s a party going on, she would prefer me to be out the house. Got back, dropped off the case of Bud and packs of E.Z Widerz, took my tips and headed to my room. Re-dressing for the nightlife. Grabbed the phone and called my baby… Nikki.
On the second ring “Hello?” I questioned the voice.
“Umm, hello!” the person responded “Yes?”
“May I speak to Nik.. I mean Latoya”
“Who’s speaking?”
“Mort”
“Hey Sexy!” changing her voice.
“What are you doing?”
“Sitting back sippin’ Wha’chu doing?”
“Thinking ‘bout you! Can I see you?”
“When, tomorrow?”
“Nah, I would like to see you now.”
“I’m not even dressed.”
“That’s even better!”
“You wouldn’t even know what to do with this…”
“You willing to make a bet on that…” ready to lose my money just for a chance with her.
“Where do you live?” she asked.
“64 Herkimer St., between Bedford and Nostrand Ave.”
“Can you come out?” ignoring my quick response.
“Can I come over?”
“How ‘bout I meet you over by Kentucky.”
“In how long, I can be there in 15..” sounding straight thirsty.
“Give me a half to touch up and catch a cab. See you in a minute.”
After we hung up I ran to the bathroom, fresh’n up and got dressed. Headed out not worried about a curfew for the night. Stepped out ready for the world, holla’d at my boys for a minute and then left to meet Nikki. I felt like a little kid waiting for his birthday present, not able to sit still. For some reason I get the urge to eat when I get nervous, so I went to stand in line to order something just to hold me over. While checking the menu for my snack, a familiar voice whispered in my ear from behind.
“Hey sexy”
“Hey pretty” not even turning to acknowledge her “..would you like something?”
“Your attention with some of whatever you’re ordering.” I put the order in and turned around shocked at how sexy she looked.
“When you finish staring at me, can I get a hug or something?” That request was not difficult to fulfill, as I wrapped my arms around her waist, I wondered if she felt my man come to attention.
I paid and grabbed the tray of food to go sit down. From the first moment I hung up the phone after our conversation I had so many questions and topics to talk about. I can’t lie, looked into her bright eyes and dumm’d out.
“Can I have you?” which I really didn’t mean to say, it just slipped.
“Excuse you” she replied with a sexy smile.
“I’m saying” think quick I keep telling myself, “As mine.”
“I like you-n-all and I feel your style, but truthfully I don’t think you’re ready to hold a lady like me down”...
“What makes you think something like that?”
“You don’t seem to be ignorant which means you know how I am”
“I’ll tell you what, let’s spend some time here-n-there and see what happens from that point!”
“What’s your plans for the night?”
“Getting at you”
“No I meant besides me..” still staring at me with those sexy eyes.
“Oh in that case, my man I ball with is having a party since he’s about to go to college and do the damn thing. Me and my nigz will catch up and bounce later”
“Where’s the party?” as she wiped the moistness off my lips from my drink with her napkin.
HINT: Unless you’re married, engaged or dedicated to someone who’s got the same thoughts and feelings for you. DON’T… I repeat You Do Not Bring Sand To The Beach!!!
“At the Restoration”... I thought Sugar Hill and Mahogany, but for some reason those words never were said.
“Tell you what, next weekend right after work I’ll meet up with you at Champs and we’ll dip out somewhere on the low, o.k.?”
Shit.. anytime is better then no time “That’s Love!”
“I gotta go handle something” as she stood up, I stood. Gave her a hug and helped her put on a nice designed soft leather jacket.
“You need help with something?” knowing that I can barely help myself.
“No Sexy, I’m a big girl, but thank you tho’!” Just then something convinced me to try something I seen on television in some movie I watched. I reached out and lifted her chin with two fingers while eliminating the space between us.
“I got something for you” I said with a smile.
“Oh yeah, what’s that?” returning a smile as she met my lips with hers.
After a kiss, it didn’t take long before she flagged a cab on the ever busy corner of Nostrand Ave. and Fulton St.. I left to catch up with my peoples on the block. They were standing on the steps of building 99, known to those of us as ‘The Hall of Doom’ slash torture chamber.
“Yo! Mort”
“Wha’dup B.O!”
“You going to Ben’s party tonight?”
“No doubt, when y’all ready?” sounding over-excited like I never been out before.
“Damn… calm down and hit this..” passing me the chocolate philly blunt packed with weed, “are you thirsty!” I could hear Troop say from somewhere behind me.
“Nah, I’m saying..” nothing! After I realized I was stuttering, I just figured to shut up and smoke…
“Exactly, shut the fuck up and smoke! You fuckin’ up my high with that babbling bullshit”
“I know, he always got something stupid to say” Dezo added joke riding.
“You ain’t no better!” B.O had cut in “..at least he got a cutie on the low.”
“Word!” everyone said at the same time as if it were synchronized. I looked over at B.O with a face of confusion. In one way grateful he stood up in my behalf, but wondering why he put me on blast.
Every question asked that I couldn’t answer, B.O did. It was if he was my personal manager, consultant, trainer and promoter all in one.
After the thousand and one questions, we decided to all walk to the store and get more blunts and beers. B.O pulled me to the side.
“Mort, where you meet shorty at?”
“Over at my mans crib by the Parkway, how’d I do?” checking his approval.
“Where she from, she look familiar..”
“From the East, on Livonia..”
“She got any sisters?”
“I don’t know yet, I had a bunch of questions I meant to ask, but forgot when I seen her.”
“I see why, you didn’t even notice me by the window watchin’ y’all”
“Ever since the first time I looked into her eyes I’ve been feeling her..” after a short pause and a sigh “..I think I love her”
Whatever I was thinking about at that moment was clearly pushed to the side with a pop to the jaw.
“Reality check, stupid! You don’t know her like that!”
His face showed signs of irritation.
“But I know she likes me..”
“You want me to punch you in the face again huh?, stop being a ‘Sucka fa LOVE… ASS!”, he checked around us to see if anyone came out the store before he continued “..most of these chicks that’s eyeing you now wasn’t paying you attention before you had a few dollars in your pocket. Listen and learn something, when a female is into you it doesn’t matter how much money you got. Whatever you need, it’s on the back of her mind to help you get. She’ll make her own way and help you with yours…”
“And how do you know all of this?” I interjected
“Cause when I’m around mine, I see everything she offers and when I’m not, I don’t mind going back..”
I had to stop and seriously think about what he said. He has a king size bed compared to my second generation twin. They have all the up to date electronic stereo systems with three large screen tv’s compared to my one 13” color with a wire remote. Plus to top it off, for the last three years he’s been with her, she bought him a different Sherlin each year faithfully. Yet, I just got my first leather goose-down after four years in my previous coat which was bought too big on purpose.
While stuck in thought, he left me with a clip he had snatched earlier while going to speak to one of his female friends.
As I finished the four hit wonder and flicked it, everyone was coming out the grocery store laughin’ and crackin’ jokes.
We all walked back to the ‘Hall Of Doom’ steps, opened and passed bottles of beer and blunts around to prepare for our always expected night of fun.
It was about 11:00 pm when I was dancing with this ‘B4’ (which stands for Black or Brown skinned, depending on the complexion… Beauty with a Bangin’ Body), when I gets a tap on the shoulder. Thinking to myself ‘Dammnnnn! Who’s hating now’. I already had two people try to sandwich her and now they want to take me out the picture period. I looked over my shoulder and noticed L dancing with another chick and signaling for me to come closer.
“Yo!” practically yelling in my ear “B.O is looking for you!”
“Ah-iight good looking” I yelled back, mentally it sounded more like ‘FUCK’!
I pulled her close to me letting her know my man needed me and I’ll see her again before the night was out. She smiled and nodded while stroking my open shirt and ego. I left to check on my man who was like my big brother.
As I got closer I noticed more of peoples hoarding around a small group of females. I never been one for cock-blocking and I already seen about six guys to four girls. Simple mathematics will tell you that unless you’re running a trizzy, two cats will be either salty or on straight cut throat shit. So step ya’ game up!
“Yo! B.O.” not wanting to be involved in tonight’s game knowing I got something for sure on the inside waiting for me to come back.
“Stop being scared and come here!”
“Ain’t nobody scared!”, as I slowly got closer I could hear a female voice within the group.
“O.k., that’s what’s up” and then Nikki stepped up.
“Oh shit!” both shock and amazed.
“What?, you not happy to see me?!” she said.
“No!....I mean, Yeah..I’m happy to see you..I just didn’t expect it, being you, you said you had things to handle…”
“My business is done, can we have some fun now?”
She grabbed my hand and led me back to the party, everybody else followed suit right behind each other til we all was on the dance floor. While dancing she pulled me closer to put a bug in my ear.
“I know you were dancing with someone.”
“Oh yea, how you know that?”
“Cause her lipstick is on your shirt near your collar”, and while checking for the evidence she continued “I already scanned everyone” without even waiting for a reaction or a response “….it’s one of three bitches, but my money goes to the slut in the white jean suite staring at one of us and she damn sure don’t know me” I looked over to see who she was talking about, hoping she was off.
Damn, how the fuck she do that!
“It’s o.k. though, if you was ugly I wouldn’t be here with you either. Just don’t get it twisted while I’m around!” she said with a smile on her face and started Dirty Dancing. Grinding on me to some reggae.
The music stopped and the D.J made an announcement letting everyone know Ben(our college bound baller) had just entered the party. For the night, he was our ghetto celebrity, and the intro music was fitting for the occasion. O.D.B.’s voice controlled all effects with the words “Tonight, is the night of all nights…when most people gather around”...
And those words took it to the next level as the d.j. started to blend in some Mobb Deep. Drinks were literally everywhere as everyone was bouncing to the beats. Everyone there had some type of drink in a cup or bottle of liquor in their hand. It didn’t take long for the epidemic of smoke to fill the air. It was apparent everyone was waiting for that one person to start it and once that first blunt was lit, it felt mandatory to have a blunt in one hand with a drink in another.
The only problem is that a lot of people can’t handle their liquor and start acting up which was why I noticed some commotion at the front door. Last I remember, my man Hex was talking to someone by the door so I figured to go check on the kid. I couldn’t see who were the center of attraction, but I heard a lot of ‘Fuck You’s and Fuck That’s’ being shouted. All of a sudden, I heard somebody yell ‘Oh Shit! Chill son!’, and then a female scream followed by BLOCKA BLOCKA!
That same crowd that needed to know first-hand outcome of the situation, so when they tell the story they can say…’I was there’, were victims of their own disease… being nosy!
Though the crowd was scattering every which way with the constant gun blazin’ in the air, I wasn’t sure on whether to take flight with the crowd or get a little closer to see if my man was involved. I didn’t have the first idea of what to do if he was in the middle of this blood bath. Other than to check and see if he was still alive, maybe drag him to safety, if possible.
I stayed low and crept by the bar. I always wanted to be an actor, but I definitely wasn’t feeling this role I was playing. Bodies were sprawled out around the room. Some innocent bystanders and some casualties of war, but none-the-less a bullet has no names.
In the middle of forever of shots being fired, I finally asked myself ‘Son, What the fuck are you doing here?!’. I couldn’t come up with an answer.
Check this, I’m crawling on the floor checkin’ possible bodies of my people and I felt someone grab my ankle. Without another thought I felt like I wanted to piss myself.
I slowly turned to see the face of shorty in the white jeans I was dancing with earlier.
Her eyes were wide and glossy with blood dripping down her face, mumbling ‘Help me..Please’
What the hell she expects me to do… the only thought that came to mind was a scene from a war movie I just watched the day before, but I’m not ready to just snap someones neck. I sat her up in front of me so her back was pressed against my chest, whispered in her ear ‘It’s over now’ and applied the sleeper hold with tears falling til she was gone.
This shit is crazy, I shouldn’t even be here, somebody gotta pay were the only thoughts circling through my mind. Just then I seen my prize, there was somebody's chain on the floor…excuse me, MY CHAIN!
After that, something convinced me to start checking pockets. Shit, they won’t need it no more. I hit about five guys and two girls then decided to bounce.
Got outside, still shook, but alive when I heard someone yell from the doorway “Who dat?”
The voice or face wasn’t familiar so I started running. I felt two shots weeze pass me, by the clouds of dust that appeared on the nearby wall. I could tell the shots were meant for me, but all I heard was the pounding from my heart.
For some reason this reminded me of watching movies where somebody's running for their life, trip and fall. I would think to myself, ‘That stupid motha’fucker deserved to die’ …and now here I am running thinking..’Run! Mutha-Fucka’ run!.. Just don’t fall’.
I got to the corner of Fulton and Arlington thinking ‘just turn to Halsey and I’m good’, but before I could turn I slipped, fell into the trash can at the curb. Maybe it was fate because the next shot nipped my ear and knock the trash can five yards back.
‘Nah, I can’t go out like this’ talking basically to myself. I hopped back up and took flight. My thought process went from running to a specific destination to just running wherever the bullets weren’t coming from.
“Yo, son!” I heard someone say...“come this way!” Without a second thought I headed to my savior. When I got next to him I immediately checked to see if anyone was following.
“You alright?” he asked.
“Yeah, I think so…” I replied breathing heavy.
“What happened back there?”
“Dog, I don’t know. I noticed some shit about to pop off… went to go grab my man so we could bounce and shit got hectic right after.”
“You got blood on you, are you hit?”
“Must be the ear, ‘cause that’s the only shit burning right now.”
“I hope this ain’t your beef” sounding like a question.
“Nah, it was suppose to be a surprise party for my man going away to college and from there I’m lost!”
“Did you see who was shooting?”
“Nah, and wasn’t looking either..” thinking to myself, ‘this nigga got a thousand and one questions’ which was followed by a familiar sound… click chink.
“What the fuck..” was all I could mumble in a low voice.
“Sorry homeboy! Gotta make sure my peoples are safe…” as he pointed the big barrel at my face. My mind said get up and run, but my body said, ‘What For?’
He pulled the trigger, but nothing happened, no bright light, no pop, no sound, no pain..”Shit! I told him bout these cheap guns..” he said more or less to himself as if I could find something to complain about with his defective weapon at the moment.
“You lucky motha'” he continued, so infuriated he raised his arm as if he wanted to throw the gun at me, but wisely thought about it as he ran with the gun hearing the sound of police sirens in the distance.
Really, I wish he would’ve thrown it at me. I would’ve kept it with thoughts of him.
So busy staring at the gun pointed in my direction I never considered looking at his face for our next encounter.
I slowly got up and walked to the open window of the Arab spot, got a couple of phills and went to sit on my building steps to roll up. I literally destroyed two blunts before getting one at least smoke-able.
Next morning, that was the topic everyone wanted to speak about, except me.
I found out Ben, his brother and three others and their crew got murked along with ten other innocent bystanders.
One of the newspapers had it on front page saying in big print ‘BROOKLYN BLOOD BATH ‘, through the day I kept thinking to myself.
‘Damn, another good brother gone!’
As I walked down Herkimer on my way to Kingston Park for my weekly game of ball with a blunt as my eye opener, I can proudly feel GOD gave me another chance…
Thank You.