Livin Big

Chapter One

I was walking in an alley. Carefully eluding all of the broken glass and debris blocking my way. I was very cautious. Even though it was broad daylight, I still wasn't going to allow anyone to mug me. Then again, I thought to myself I can always grab a a piece of glass. If they hadn't shot me yet. The end of the alley was near. I was close to my house. After the day I had just had I needed to wind down. I shifted to the center of the alley and turned my slow, steady, strut into a fast paced walk. The dogs on the left side of the alley were barking up a storm. And although they were behind a chain linked fence, I still decided to stay a safe distance away from the dogs. I've seen one hopped over that very fence once to maul a cat. On the right side of the alley there were some gang bangers tagging on the walls or smoking some weed. No doubt one of them probably had a gun. I decided to stay in the center." Ay kid," a deep voice called after me. I didn't recognize the voice so I kept waking. The voice grew louder "Ay kid!" I turned around abruptly, hoping the man wasn't going to ask for trouble. "My name ain't kid." I responded rudely. That was dumb, I thought. I should've just given a nice response or something. "What you say to me kid?" He asked. "I said my name ain't kid" "Oh," he remarked "Then what is your name?" "Andre," I answered through gritted teeth. "Okay Andre," he said while pulling a small Ziploc bags out his back pocket. It had something green in it. Something I'd smell from a mile away. "I was wondering if you'd be interested in buying this off me, you know so I don't get tied up with the Po-po's."
Really, I thought. He's really trying to sell me weed. What kind of sick world is this? "Nah," I replied finally. "I'm good." "You sure?" He asked. "I mean you don't have to smoke it. You could just sell it to one of your little homies" "I said I'm good." I snapped at him. He looked a bit taken aback. "A'ight," he said. "I thought you'd just want to get ahold of some weed. I was just giving you that opportunity and make a little profit off it." "Really?!" I yelled. "You really think I'm stupid enough to buy some weed off you. Well I ain't so you can piss off and go try to 'make profit' some where else." His shock turned into anger. "Piss off?" He asked. "Do you know who you talking to?" I wanted to answer by saying "A bum" but I thought it'd be safer not to. I just simply nodded. "Wesley Richardson. Gang Leader" he said with a proud expression on his face. He stepped closer. "And I don't think I like your tone." He looked up and down, scoping me. "What set you from?"
I gulped. He's really going to mug me. Right here in front of everyone in broad daylight. Sweat strolled down my face. "I said," he started. "What hood are you from?" I panicked "It's none of your business." He only tilted his head. I knew from the expression on his face that I said the wrong thing. I was trying to avoid fighting him. He was muscular wearing a long sleeved black T-shirt with baggy blue jeans. A black baseball cap with a rag underneath which was tied to his head, clean white Nike's with no dirt to be seen and crimson red shoe laces. I was skinny for my age, I wore a white T-shirt, and creased black Nike's I've had for years, and a black Jansport ™ backpack. No muscles seen any where. I wasn't going to win this one. He stared me down, and I stared back. "I'm gonna ask you, one more time. What hood are you from?" I was getting irritated. "I already told you. None of your damn business." "Hm, is that so?" He turned and whistled. Two other guys stood up wearing the same thing he was wearing. Black T-shirt, baggy jeans, white Nike's, and red shoelaces. I was scared, so I tried to book down the alley, which wasn't easy. I was wearing black slacks that were a size too big. They eventually caught up and locked my arms together. One said, "Where ya going kid?" I only struggled and squealed. Wesley was punching me in the gut and talking at the same time. "Next time (punch) I ask you (punch) you better (punch) answer." A cop car strolled by eyeing the situation. "Wes!" One of the guys yelled "The cops!" Wesley jerked his neck in the direction of the cops. He cursed. "Book it!" He yelled and started running. The cop car drove down the alley towards me. The cop stepped outside the car. He put a hand on my shoulder. "You alright kid?" I nodded yes, avoiding actually saying any thing because I knew my voice would crack. "I've never seen someone take a beating like and not shed a tear." I simply shrugged. "Need a ride?" He asked. I shook my head. "No thank you." He smiled. "Looks like I have some hoods to catch. That Wesley has done some bad things with his life." The cop looked at me. "But you make sure you do some great things with yours." "Okay," I said " I will." Without another word, he hopped in his car, turned on the sirens and sped off. I turned on my heel and walked away.