Downtown

    Chapter1: Life

Downtown it has so many meanings but the first things that may come to your mind is the 'hood' or maybe its the shopping area with all the tall buildings and elegant cars . That's not the hood I am referring to though I am talking bout the true downtown the place people are afraid to drive by or walk through. The stereotypes are all very true unfortunately but its all for the right reasons we just all handle it wrong; the 'thugs' are just trying to provide in the only way they know how to, 'ghetto chicks' are trying to be strong for their family and put food on the table for the kids to eat.  It is a never ending cycle of misjudgment and grieve.

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Kasey!

Kasey!

Kasey!

 

"Kasey ma said don't act like you don't hear her calling and she would appreciate it if you got your lazy--"  my sister couldn't finish her sentence before my mother began screaming and ruining my sensational nap"

"I told you not to say it Kayla , you know better than to curse inside my house!" my mothers Northern accent came soaring through the house. You see this is our beautifully dysfunctional apartment in Brooklyn ,New York . No there isn't a father inside this house hold because that's just the way it is.

"Shut up and get out before I take my laptop back and punch you in the face " I let my peace of mind be set free in my morning raspy voice. My sister being her was not fazed and just blinked repeatedly, " anyway mom told me to tell you to go get her some lays potato chips from the corner store." ugh she is always making me go to the store to get senseless things because she is just to lazy unless there is reason to believe  she is a undercover handy cap . Kayla hastily walked out  making sure  to slam my door in the process. She is annoying I don't understand her at all. in fact I don't understand this whole family. Walking to my  white door leaning out of my watermelon pink room, "Ma why cant Kayla go I went at her age plus the fact that she is only 2 years younger than me, I was sleeping!" I yell down stairs so she could clearly hear me from the living room. I am 17 and my 'lovely' sister is of course 15 and the fact of it is she does nothing while I have to do everything.

"There is no room for discussion and I don't believe there was a question somewhere in the middle so go get me what I asked for now!" my mother screamed the vibrations making it up the steps . I just wanted a nice nap ; Something that I never get these days.  I unwillingly put on black leggings and a 'pink' hoodie that was blue while I slipped into my blue, white, and black Nike shoes. My hair was in a bonnet  and that was the way it was going to stay(who am I trying to impress). My self insecurity  got the best of me so I put my big gold hoop earrings on to make myself look more presentable . Grabbing the money of the counter and the apartment keys I walked out into the Brooklyn winter air without a word.

Everything about this area screams stereotypical trouble the long gone and worn down buildings with graffiti now sporting them on  full display. Broken swing sets and rotten slides rusted handle bars   its all the same it shows that people rarely make it out of here and its sad but true. I would love to be one of the few who make it out but I know it is a very slim chance there is no money or hope for that.

Something stopped my internal thought process(sorry this is not the part where I hopelessly fall in love with the first person that bumps into me not that kind of story maybe later) gunshots.  Well of course there was only one thing to do duck and run get to your location of interest. I ran through the corner store door allowing the tiny bell above the door  to jingle in announcing  way  of annoyance .

The store owner looked at me knowingly " Kasey ! Hey they're out there shooting again aren't they I guess things are never going to change. " I just nodded knowing that it was all so very true. I walked down the first isle getting the chips and a few things for me.

 

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Hoping and wishing and sometimes praying isn't even enough to end the pain and hurt. Why cant we just love why does there have to be repercussions and never ending pain? 

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thank you for reading see more of me through YouTube: https://youtu.be/JTsqHmk1I2k