Red Light

A Glimpse in the Future

23 September 2021

"Any questions?" The teacher asks.

My eyes scan the room full of teenagers. Brandon just did his anti-youth violence presentation at his old school. He's done several of them now, this is the first time I've attended with him as it usually clashes with work. I've been stood by him at the podium, throughout the presentation. He wanted me to give the female perspective, seeing as people used to know me as Hook lol. Known for spinning jaws with that deadly right hook. My signature move. Those were mad days you know!

A black boy with cornrows puts his hand up.

"Yeah, you over there." I say.

Brandon nods towards the guy but the teacher pauses them. "Sorry, we forgot to ask for your closing remarks before you go into questions. Is there anything you can say in closing to encourage them?"

Brandon nods then scans the room, taking in a long breath and releasing it before he speaks.

"Sure.... Listen everyone, that life ain't sweet you know. People get gassed from the outside looking in. They see the money but don't see the pain. Kyrah will tell you! She's been kidnapped and beaten up just for being my girl." I nod in agreement. "There were times we were chilling at a friends house and opps would break down the door. Times where I'm sleeping and I get a phone call saying we need to ride out. I couldn't even sleep. I still can't sleep sometimes. Listen, people get gassed coz they hear the music, see the cars and the money. But don't forget about the scars. Most guys end up in jail or dead, it's a miracle that I'm here right now."

He pauses for a moment, running a hand down his face. I squeeze his arm quickly, mentally telling him we got each other. We always have, and we always will.

"Let me show you lot a picture, I dunno if the media team can get it up for me?" He continues.

He gestures to them to bring up something on his USB.

After a few minutes, several gasps and sharp intakes of breath fill the room, as it appears on the screen behind us. It's a picture of Brandon in hospital, with tubes everywhere and his eyes closed. The machine was literally keeping him alive and you can see that. He was practically in a coma at the time. Rakai, Daniel and Reeko are sitting next to him in the photo, throwing up gang signs and spudding his lifeless fist.

I actually remember the context behind that picture. The rest of our friends were in the waiting room and the olders were patrolling the corridors, making sure no one tried to come after him in hospital. I was the one that took the picture.

"I thought I was dead that day. I remember while I was out, I had a dream of my boys that had died. We were just talking about all the things they wanted to achieve. That was God's first warning to me, that dream reminded me how this life ends if you don't get out. I didn't listen straight away, but it was a wakeup call... in fact, look at this."

He sighs then lifts up his shirt slowly, showing the side of his torso. There's a deep slash wound across it. When he turns around you can see the mark of a bullet on his back as well. Everyone is dead silent, staring intently.

A few tears roll onto my cheek as I deep the mercy of God. This boy should be dead. I know how he got each of those scars. One of them was because he protected me.

"Now I know what you're gonna say next. 'Leaving ain't that simple'. Because it's true, it really ain't, I still got opps. But with the right help, you can get out of the lifestyle. To be fair, for some of you it really is simple, you're not deep in it so it's not hard for you to step out. For some of you, the only reason you're involved is coz you don't wanna be called a neek. But do you really wanna waste your life over a title? I've been stabbed 6 times for what? Street cred? My boy is dead. Most of the mandem are in jail. Is that the life you want? Everytime I see my boy's grave, I wish I could take it all back."

He pauses, then runs a hand down his face.

He shakes his head.

"Some of you lot are rich but you're shotting. Even if you're broke stay broke and alive, or work part-time. Come chat to me after, I'll give you a legal job, big man ting. If someone offered me easy legal money earlier I would've taken it. Shotting only appealed to me coz of quick money."

He sighs.

"So let me introduce myself again, my name is Brandon and I'm 25. I was known as Smokez on road. I'm an engineer, I own a business and also a charity with my girl, Kyrah." He nods to me briefly then back to the crowd. "We help young people out of gangs by helping them make legitimate money. Our programmes help you to pursue your dreams. The team guarantees jobs as we're partners with a lot of companies, including my own. 95% of our alumni have moved into permanent roles, some part-time and some full. And we own several houses and refurbished apartments in safe locations if you need it. You can get your own studio to yourself or share with someone depending on age. Security, food and entertainment is on us too. We even help you get an education if you got kicked out or can't go back to your school. There's more I could say but I'll be leaving our flyers in reception, follow us on instagram and twitter, @s are on the screen. Everything is kept anonymous, we don't expose any locations or people and we do background checks so you won't live with opps. Our Charity helps you wherever you're at. Make sure you pick up a flyer on your way out or come chat to me. Thank you for listening."

A loud round of applause fills the hall. The staff give him a standing ovation. Brandon half smiles as he blinks back tears. I wrap my arms around his waist, I'm so proud of him man. If you knew him 10 years ago, you'd never think he's be here doing this talk, at his old school of all places.

"Now, back to that question." He says.

Everyone laughs. That ship has sailed mate.

The original guy shakes his head. A new person puts their hand up though, a brown skin girl with her hair slicked back.

"So, how did Kyrah get out of that lifestyle? And how did you guys get together?"

We both chuckle, Brandon looks over at me. "Hook, would you like to answer that?"

I chuckle at his use of my tag, no one calls me that anymore!

"Sure. So, we met each other in primary school, but didn't speak from year 7 to 9 when we got to secondary. We reconnected in year 10 and it all started there..."

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