Testify

(1) Last Resort

Ominous.

August rolled his eyes, slumping down in the seat and sighing. It was third block. Science. He absolutely hated science. It, to him, seemed to be a true waste of space. And the instructor! Don't get him started on the instructor, he could complain about her all day. She was boring. Positively boring. That's why kids be dropping out, he thought.

Teachers want to lecture you and be bland about it. At least make it interesting so some children would actually want to come back to school. Mrs. Colden wasn't very, very old but she was wrinkly and saggy. She had skin the color of goats milk, eyes a piercing dark color and a default scowl that could even scare away Michael Myers.

She was nagging. Very, very nagging. August never could seem to understand why school boards even hired older individuals. Don't they have cholesterol and high blood pressure to worry about? Looking after children with high testosterone levels would only kill them.

August wasn't too fond of Mrs. Colden for multiple reasons but mainly because she seemed to have a bone to pick with him. Now, no one's saying that August is the best behaved teenager but he wasn't a total demon either. She tripped out at anything he did. Sure, he could be quite sarcastic at the best of times but, when he really, truly wanted to know something, she saw it as sarcasm or him being sardonic.

August rolled his eyes again, him tapping his pencil against the wooden, scuffed desk in a rhythmic manner. Mrs. Colden stopped what she was preaching about and glared at August.

"Mr. Alsina," she began. "Hm?" He replied carelessly. "Do you mind? I'm trying to teach a class. It's perfectly understandable if you aren't willing to learn but you will not hinder others." August looked up at her as if she were speaking a totally different language.

"Mrs. Colden, don't nobody wanna learn this bullshi--"
"Watch your language!" She retorted. "It's true! Don't nobody wanna learn this. And then you aggravating with it. You be blowin' it. For real." He went on. He began packing the black mesh bag that his brother managed to purchase for him when the school year began.

He knew Mrs. Colden was going to result in putting him out. He was way ahead of her. "Yes, pack your bag. You know me so well." she blandly replied. August got up, scooted in his chair and approached the door with a smirk on his face as if he were unphased.

"Just a disrespectful young man." Mrs. Colden mumbled as he left.

He smirked because he didn't want anyone to know that he was actually hurting on the inside. He smirked because he didn't want others to see that it actually angered him that he was being put out for being just a little disrespectful. He was only being honest. His brother always told him that if he couldn't speak the truth, then don't speak at all.

It wasn't fair to him. There were plenty of kids that would behave disrespectfully time and time again and there'd be no consequence. All he wanted, for once, was to be reprimanded. He wanted to be told no or be told that he needs to get his act together by someone other than his brother. It sounded odd but that only meant that someone cared about him. He had yet to understand how being cared for felt.

For the rest of the class period he roamed the halls. He couldn't go to the office because they'd have to contact his mother. His mother wouldn't be able to go and get him because she didn't own a mobile device. It was embarrassing and blood curdling all at once.

He couldn't go to other teachers because they'd shake their heads at him and send him to the office, then, he'd be back at square one.

So, he did what his seventeen year old mind only knew how to do. Leave.

He snuck out of the back exit of the school incase of fires. He knew staff that did it all of the time and if he was 'caught' he'd just hold what they did over their heads. It was nothing. He pulled his bag over his back and caught the RTA bus to canal street. For some odd reason, he liked window shopping. He knew he'd never be able to get those things on his own for a while so, he opened up a place inside of his mind called: "The Wish List." Whatever he saw that he liked, he promised himself he'd get it.

It didn't have to be the next day or the day after that or even the day after that day. It could be days from now, weeks from now, months from now, years from now. Just as long as he got it.

"You gon' be mine." He said. His fingers touched the clammy glass, smudging it a bit. He stared at the pair of Nikes that lied encased inside of more glass. The art on the shoes were crazy and he liked it. He wanted it.

TAP!

"Get away from me glass! Jhu smudgin' me glass!" The Jamaican female owner yelled as she shoo'ed him away. August cut his eyes at the woman and continued walking.

His stomach growled ferociously. He didn't have anymore money on him and he didn't understand what to do. He couldn't wait until he got home because there was nothing there either.

He sucked his teeth and looked around as if money would be on the ground. Out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted a moving figure. One he was way to familiar with. Coaster.

Coaster was local. Everyone in the east knew him for one reason and one reason only. He slung.

It was his last resort. Literally. He'd only do it a few times, just to reiterate and retain some money. Just a few times. That's it.

"Say, Coaster." August jogged over to him, careful not to attract too much attention. Coaster turned and looked at August. His eyes lit up in recognition.

"Aug, my man. What you doin' out here. Ain't you supposed to be in school?" August sighed. "Man, ain't you supposed to be in school?" He asked, flipping the script.

Coaster and August looked at one another for a moment. "Reverse psychology. Smart man." Coaster finally concluded.

"What I'ca help you with?" He asked, rubbing his hands together as if with August he saw money signs.

"I wanna..you know..sell." He said. Coaster's brow averted and he folded his arms. He didn't take the young man seriously at all. "You? Wanna sell? Nah." He said shaking his head.

"Why not?!" August asked suddenly catching a huge attitude. Hunger made you that way.

"I know Mel. If he found out, he'd beat me as--. You get it." Coaster said. August nodded. "I know, I know but Mel don't gotta know. We both know how to keep our mouths closed. Besides, it's gon' only be one time anyway. A few times at the most. I just wanna obtain enough money to eat until my moma get her check." August said.

Coaster sighed and thought for a moment. Hypothetically speaking, he couldn't say no. August's dealership would only bring more money to him.

Coaster sucked his teeth. "Alright man. But don't say nothin'. And if you get caught,"
"I know. I ain't get it from you. I got you." August said, excited that somebody finally took him seriously and spoke to him like an adult.

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