Loyalty: Something Dishonest

T H I R T Y- F O U R

K E Y O N

"15 years to life!", the judge announces. I close my eyes and wanna die. I hear my mom cry out loud and I don't bother to look back. Seeing her sad and not proud of me is gonna hurt worse than knowing I'm about to spend the rest of my life in prison. I'll be 33 when I get out of this bitch.

They handcuff me and walk me into the back. They won't transfer me to the prison until tomorrow morning. So I'm gonna have to stay in the county until then. I get back in the cell and they uncuff me. I rub my wrists finally able to rest my arms.

All the previous shit I've done wasn't worth it. I'm not fit for this life or prison. But it's too late to get a second chance. I lay my head on the hard pillow and try to relax. The sound of a buzzer going off was heard. My cell door open and I open my eyes and lean up.

"Jenkins you have a visitor.", the cop tells me. Who could be here to see me? "Are you coming or not?", he asks with an attitude.

I walk out and let him handcuff me again. We walk out into the visiting room. I look around and he lets my wrist be free again. Looking around I don't see anyone I know. Then I spot Ms. Jones. She looks up at me and gives a slight smile.  Walking over to the table so many thoughts run through my head.

"What are you doing here?", I ask her. Ms. Jones shifts in her seat.

"Keyon I am here to help you.", she answers. I smack my lips and fold my arms.

"Heard that before. I don't know why you wasting your time. It's not like you care for me anyway. You wouldn't be with someone like me.", I respond to her.

Ms. Jones laughs and smiles. "You don't know what I like Keyon. If you knew me you would know I think you are smart, and a handsome boy that needs to grow up. If you actually had a good education and a good mindset to go along with it, you would have a chance if you weren't my student", she replies calmly.

"Fuck you, you know that. You don't know what it's like to be in my shoes. You'll never know either. So keep the bullshit.", I spat. A few people look over at us and I mean mug them.

"I'm done Keyon. I will not let you disrespect me. I don't know what it's like to be you, I don't. I don't wanna know either but just remember.", she gets in my face. "You don't know what it's like to be Aniya Conley either. But I suspect Detective Belvins told you that already. ", she whispers.

Looking up in her face I felt dumb. I feel like a dumb ass. Why would I want to ruin someone's life so bad? Ms. Jones leaves a card on the table and walks out of the room. I tuck the card in my shirt pocket and watch her walk away.

C A R M E L O

We all sit around Justin's table and play cards. This has been the first time in a long time we just spent time together as boys. And for the first time in forever I'm feelin good.

"Tunk!", Justin announces. We all throw our cards down and Justin shuffles the cards. "TIERRA!", he yells.

"WHAT BOY!", She yells back.

"WHEN THE FOOD GETTING HERE?", he yells back. They continue this conversation yelling back and forth. Juno picks up Tyler and starts playing with him.