Rosewood High

Letters

In the passengers' seat of William's car, Michael remained staring out the window, drowning out the sounds of Jackie Wilson's Workout booming through the speakers and Ricky loudly ranting over it." Man if I was Mr. Charles I would've gave that cracka a mean left hook!"

Patrick chuckled sitting between him and Shawn. " And they would've gave yo black ass some mean ass blows to the head, ain't that right Will?" Patrick nudged his shoulder.

Yet William remained silent with a clenched jaw at the sight of what they were passing by. Another carnival and not just any carnival but the ones colored folks weren't welcomed to.

William slowed his driving as they all observed the smiling young white faces having the time of their lives as fireworks then popped and whistled louder than anything they've heard before.

Shawn scoffed before shouting over the loudness. " Oh, but we were disturbing the peace?"

" Hold on ... say ain't that the same pigs that shut down our shit?" Patrick pointed, spotting Sheriff Reckons and a few officers laughing at the teens bobbing for apples in a barrel.

William shook his head once one of the officers made eye contact with him, nudging the sheriff who began to smirk then winked towards him.

" Fuck them. " William stepped down on the gas but Ricky continued in rage.

" No fuck that I'm sick of them taking everything from us." he sat up, grabbing the back of the driver's seat. " You know what we should ruin their carnival-like they did ours." he spat causing Michael's head to snap around.

"Oh please, Ricky you sound as dumb as you look," Michael stated, hinting at the overly large shades Ricky wore that he won from a ring toss game.

Ricky smacked his teeth. " Man whatever it ain't fair ... they get away with everything and you know it."

Michael shook his head and converted his attention out the window again." Well at least we raised the money and at least we had fun while it lasted," he shrugged causing William to peer his way with a snort.

" I'm sure you had more fun than all of us."

The boys chuckled from the backseat at his sly remark. Shawn laughing more than the rest of them as he poked Michael's back.

" Right man, I see I'm not the only one that like chocolate."

Patrick snorted at Shawn's statement." Since when?"

"Since tonight-"

" What the fuck is that supposed to mean, huh?" Michael's eyes squinted back to him between the seat.

" Wow, Mike catch some breeze man it was just a joke." Shawn eased back in his seat.

Michael could feel the temperature in his face rise while he continued to eye him, filling Shawn with utter discomfort. " Look I'm sorry man you don't gotta grill me like that."

" C'mon Money cool it." William frowned and softly patted his back which seemed to snap him out of it. " If I didn't know any better I'd say that -"

" Fuck off Will." Michael gritted causing silence between the five of them.

William looked over Michael's side profile before peering at the rest of them through the rearview, his thoughts creating an idea suddenly.

" Say Shawn didn't you win some of those firecracker – sparkling things tonight?" William asked as he abruptly made a u-turn.

Michael's eyes immediately snapped towards him. " Aye, what the fuck you doin' man?"

" Taking up Ricky's offer. Aye, any one of you dope heads got a lighter?"