Three Deep

Bang em out

            Three days later, after Bonez’s funeral, Diamond finally decided to return to school. Oddly enough she made there early, which was something she’s never done. Smoking with Trip, Kaya, and four other black Joka’s, the gang hung behind the grocery store across the street. All seven of them wore black shirts that had a picture of Bonez on the front. Each one read the same thing ‘R.I.P Mar’kese A. Barnwell, 1986-2003’. Trip spat on the ground leaning on the wall.

            “Yo,” Trip paused to take another hit from his blunt. “If I see any of them niggas … it’s on. And that’s word son.” The other gang members nodded in agreement. “I don’t give a fuck who see either.”

            “Hell yea, how bout me and T ran into some of them boys last night,” one of the guys interrupted. “Nigga seen us first. Cuz pulled out, started bussin’ off top.”

            “I believe it,” Trip remarked. “Man we been buckin’ at niggas every day this week.”

            “Them birds trynna go hard.” Kaya pointed out. “Trynna get us, fo’ we get them. But only thing they doin’ is stirin’ up the boys.” She referred to the police.

            “You hella right bout that,” someone agreed. “Nash county got this bitch on lock. Ya’ll heard bout that new law?” almost everyone shook their head. “Aye let me fill you in, man these niggas on some bull shit dog. They got some shit were if you bangin, and got a record, they can search you without a warrant.” The gang all looked at each other with faces of disgust and confusion.

            “What the fuck?”

            “Man what kind of shit is that?”

            “Got damn…”

            “I’m trynna tell you man, that’s the straight up truth.” The guy added. “They got my bruh with that shit.”

            “Son, I aint even shocked.” Trip exclaimed. “They had shit like that in Y.O. They trynna lock us all up, either that or see us dead.”

            “Hell yea,” everyone nodded in agreement. Diamond stood amongst her friends, but wasn’t really involved in the conversation. She stayed up the night before to get drunk and high in honor of Bonez. She stood off the wall and ashed her blunt.

            “Aye the bell bout to ring,” Diamond announced. “I’m goin’ inside.” Trip and Diamond dapped everyone up.

            “Aye don’t we got a test today?” Trip asked, since he had the same class as Diamond.

            “Yea…” She nodded. Trip passed the blunt to Kaya and walked off with Diamond toward the school.

            “Oh word,” he replied. “Man I aint even trynna take that shit. I already know I’m gon fail.”

            “Yup,” Diamond agreed. The two crossed the street and slowly entered South central high. They came in through the back so they didn’t get searched. Diamond led Trip to her locker, which was on the second floor. She grabbed her notebook, and then paused in thought. “What the fuck I’m doin’? I aint need this.” She tossed her book bag in the locker and headed for class. Since the bell just rang, the hallways were packed with students. Diamond and Trip had to muscle their way through the crowd to get to class.

            The bell was one minute from ringing when Diamond arrived at her classroom. She sat two rows from the back next to Trip in her remedial pre-algebra class. Math and Diamond have never gotten along. In fact, if it weren’t for math and English, then she wouldn’t still be in the ninth grade. Diamond didn’t particularly care however, she wasn’t the only one held back twice; Trip and a few others were in the same predicament as her. After the bell rang, the teacher got up from her desk and turned on the TV.

            The teacher was making the class watch the news since a local middle school kid was murdered during the week.

            “On Wednesday March 21, there was a shooting in San Tera south section nine. Jamal A Johnson was shot in the head, and killed at a local house party. There is no indication of who shot Jamal Johnson, but the Tera police department is investigating the murder.” The news reporter paused a second. “They say that this is one of many gang related shootings to happen this week. If you have any further information or tips, please call 1-800 Tera safety.”

            “More like 1-800 Snitch!” somebody yelled. The class erupted in laughter. Mrs. Anderson was quick to quiet her class down; she looked very offended.

            “I don’t know who said that, but it’s not funny!” She scolded. “That was someone’s son, bother, or cousin. And they could have been related to you. You would think that you all would be more concerned, seeming that we lost one of our own just last week.” The teacher referred to Bonez. Diamond slightly nodded until she overheard two girls behind her in conversation.

            “Zora, who she talkin’ bout?” one girl asked.

            “Some nigga named Mar’kese.” Zora answered. “ He was down with them slimes from across the river.” Diamond’s eyes jumped wide when her ears caught wind of what she just said.

            “You knew him?”

            “Hell naw,” Zora shook her head. “But my cousin was there when they kilt him, said he had it comin’.” Diamond clenched her teeth and leaped out of her seat. Turning around, she got in Zora’s face.

            “What the fuck you just say!” Diamond exclaimed. Zora and her friend looked Diamond up and down.

            “None of yo damn business…” Zora retorted. “And I don’t know who talkin’ to like that.”

            “Ladies!” Mrs. Anderson shouted. “If you don’t calm down then your both out of my class!” The two girls paid their teacher no mind. They were lost in their confrontation.

            “Aye don’t get tough with me,” Diamond threatened. “I’ll beat yo lil ass.”

            “Bitch who you suppose to be? Aint nobody scared of you!” Zora stood up from her desk, ready to get into a brawl. She stuck her finger in Diamond’s face taunting her. “Bitch you betta get the fuck out my face!” Diamond instantly grabbed Zora by the hair, connecting her fist to the girl’s head. By this time, Mrs. Anderson ran out of the class to get security.

            Diamond continued to strike Zora who threw punches back. The class exploded in an uncontrollable up roar. Zora’s friend rushed out of her seat to join the fight, but Trip intercepted her. All in her face, Trip backed her away while he pulled up his pants.

            “This one on one right here shawty,” Trip growled. He balled his fist prepared to punch her. Intimidated, the girl eased back to her seat.

            Diamond and Zora were still exchanging blows in an even fight, until Diamond flung her on the ground. Zora tried to jump up, but got kicked in the head by her opponent’s size six shoe. Diamond then stepped on Zora’s fingers while she stomped on her torso.

            When the school’s security ran to the classroom, they were shocked to see that someone locked the door. The guards didn’t hesitant to break in the room dashing toward the fight. They sprayed mace directly in Diamond’s face and threw her to the ground. Diamond’s eyes, mouth, and nose began to burn most fiercely. She didn’t know what was going on, but felt a pair of handcuffs cling to her wrist. She got lifted off the floor and escorted to the school’s jail along with Zora to await punishment.