Today I was going to the fire station cause I had been suspended from school.
Shay: AJ come on we gotta go
Archie: give me 5 minutes I need to find my phone
Shay: I've got it it's down here.
I ran downstairs and shay passed me my phone.
Shay: you left it in the bathroom. Kelly picked it up thinking it was his
Archie: sorry
Shay: there's nothing to be sorry about. I do it all the time. You ready to go?
Archie: yep
Kelly: without your shoes?
Archie: shit
I ran back up the stairs and grabbed a pair of air forces. I put them on and ran back downstairs. We got in the car and kelly drove us to the firehouse. We walked in and I went to sit at the squad table
Capp: hey kiddo
Archie: hi
Kelly: Arch you wanna come help me with this?
Archie: sure what is it?
Kelly: checking the oxygen tanks
Archie: yeah
You're probably wondering why a kid is checking the tanks but don't worry I've been doing this since I was 7.
Kelly: we're done here why don't you go and grab something to eat
Archie: you want anything?
Kelly: no I'm good
I went up to the kitchen Andy was making a sandwich.
Andy: you want a sandwich too tigger?
Archie: yeah please
He made me a sandwich and we sat down to eat
Andy: so how's school?
Archie: shit. I got suspended for a week
Andy: what did you do?
Archie: I threw a chair at Freddie and called the principal a fat ginger bastard
Andy: damn kiddo
Archie: I know not my best moment
Andy: You ready to watch the sox game on Friday?
Archie: yep. Who's going?
Andy: me, you, griffin and ben
Archie: cool
The tannoy rang and everyone left. I was walking around and I saw chief Boden
Boden: Archie
Archie: yeah sir
Boden: you got any thing to do?
Archie: nah not really
Boden: you got any schoolwork to do?
Archie: I've been suspended and they haven't sent my work.
His radio started going off
Kelly: chief we need your help down here
He got up and left leaving me by myself. I walked around the neighbourhood. I went into a store and picked up some sweets and a drink. I could feel someone staring at me. I turned around and it was a security guard. I went to pay and he was still following me. I paid and made my way to the exit
Security: excuse me but did you pay for that?
Archie: You literally watched me
Security: can I have a look at your receipt?
Archie: I don't have one
Security: I can't let you leave the premises then
Archie: what do you mean you can't let me leave?
Security: the cops have been called
Archie: but I haven't done anything
Security: you've been looking suspicious and now you don't have proof of receipt
Archie: you fucking watched me pay
After a few minutes the police turned up
??: what's going on?
Archie: I haven't done shit
Security: been caught stealing
Archie: I haven't stolen shit. You were literally following me around and watched me pay
??: I'm officer Atwater.
Archie: Kev?
Kev: hey kiddo
Archie: I didn't steal anything I promise. Shay would beat my ass if I got caught stealing. I have no reason to steal. Shay makes sure to give me money so I can buy snacks and stuff.
Kev: I know
Archie: Shays gonna kill me. I'm in enough trouble and this is gonna make it worse. She's gonna put me in care
I was feeling overwhelmed and started pacing around
Kev: hey let's take a breath okay. I'll speak to shay I'll explain everything. Can you take me to the CCTV?
Kev sat me in the police car.
Kev: I'm gonna have a look at the cctv and then I'll be back
My phone started ringing and it was Shay
Shay: hey Arch where are you?
Archie: at the fire station
Shay: no you're not cause we came back and you're not here. So where the hell are you?
Archie: I'm at the store
Shay: Well Connie said you've been gone ages. I want the truth Arch. Where are you?
Archie: I am still at the store but there's a bit of a problem.
Shay: what do you mean 'a bit of a problem'?
Archie: please don't freak out or be mad
Shay: what's happened arch?
Archie: I got accused of stealing and they called the police. I didn't I promise. The security guard was following me around he saw me pay but stopped me for stealing. Kev is watching the CCTV
The car door opened and shut
Shay: is that Kev?
Archie: yeah
Shay: give him the phone I wanna speak to him
I passed over the phone and they were speaking for a while. The call ended and Kev started driving
Archie: why did he accuse me like that? He knew I didn't do anything wrong
Kev: have you had the talk?
Archie: no not yet I'm only 13. I'm not interested in that yet
Kev: no not that talk. A talk on racial profiling. You think that would've happened if you were white?
Archie: er no
Kev: if you ever get stopped by an officer you don't know stay calm. Make sure your hands can be seen at all times, always do what they say, don't retaliate and no sudden movement. If you buy something always get a receipt even if it's just a bottle of water. Always make sure the interaction is recorded.
Archie: but I'm doing nothing wrong
Kev: I know that Archie but you're a young black boy living in a white world
Archie: but I'm half white
Kev: but to some people that doesn't count. If you're not white then you're black. It doesn't matter if you're mixed. They will still see you as black. Because of this people may abuse their power.
Archie: but it's not fair
Kev: I know arch but that's just how it it. Am I dropping you back to the firehouse?
Archie: yes please
I went back to the firehouse.
Shay: hey arch you okay?
Archie: yeah I'm fine
I just went to Kelly's quarters and laid in his bunk. I was just laid their zoned out
Kelly: Shay told me. Are you okay?
Archie: why should I be treated differently because of my skin colour? I'm just a kid
Kelly: I want to tell you that this won't happen again but it will. That's just the way things are.
Archie: but it shouldn't be like that
Kelly: I know arch I know. But until people start treating each other equally you need to keep yourself safe. I'm sorry you have to deal with this and if I could stop this I would.
Archie: can you make me a sandwich?
Kelly: Cruz should be cooking. Why don't you see if you can help him?
Archie: okay
Kelly pov
I went to Shay
Shay: he okay?
Kelly: he's mad and he has every right to be
Shay: where is he now?
Kelly: I sent him to help Cruz. Give him a distraction
Shay: I hate that he's had to go through that
She gave me a hug
Kelly: I know
We continued talking until we heard shouting.
Andy: Arch come on just calm down okay
Archie: get the fuck off me Andy
Andy: not until you calm down.
Archie was crying and screaming and shouting
Archie: Andy please I don't want to hurt you
Andy: Arch we need to calm you down. You're watch is going mad
As soon as he said that we ran into the kitchen.
Archie: Andy get the fuck off me
Shay: what the hell is going on?
Andy: Hermann said something and he just exploded.
Shay: what did he say?
Andy: about not understanding why people hate the police when they literally catch criminals. Archie said about what happened earlier and said maybe you're a criminal like your dad
Kelly: for fuck sake
Shay: AJ come on take some deep breaths for me.
I had a look at his watch
Kelly: shit shay 138
Shay: AJ I really need you to calm down
I went over to hold him so Andy could go and he punched me in the stomach
Shay: Archie Jackson Shay
Archie: I'm just like dad. I hurt people just like him. I hit Kelly like he used to hit me.
I had a Quick Look at his watch again
Kelly: shay 159. Arch how about we go for a drive hmm?
He stood still and his eyes were rolling
Shay: Kelly I need you to lay him on the floor he's gonna start seizing
