The Battle of the Century

The Wanderers

It had been three days since Sharon kicked us out. We tried to get back in when we saw Dad's car at the house but all doors and windows were locked. We went to our friends but Dale's family went out of town for the holidays, same with Fred, and Luther. Denise said that her dad doesn't allow boys over. Manny's household came down with a sickness. So we were on the streets somewhere in California. I had no clue if we were even in L.A. anymore. We walked down multiple-lane highways, streets and signs we never even saw.

We came up to a sign

WELCOME TO SAN DIEGO

We had walked all the way to San Diego. I wondered of Dad knew. I wondered if Uncle Henry knew. I wondered if Great Uncle John knew.

"Tom," Wes said. "We ain't in Los Angeles anymore."

"Yep." I stared at the sign. "I hope Dad knows about Sharon giving us the boot."

"Man, I really wish Marie was here. She would know what to do." Wes sighed.

"What?" I shot a confused look. "Who's Marie?!"

Wes got down on his knee to tie his shoe. "Marie is sort of like my friend but she never really talks to me." He got back up. "She's really smart and pretty and knows how to get out of bad situations."

"Ohhh." I said. "I get it."

We continued to walk. San Diego was a confusing place. We walked in circles, avoided shady figures, and Wes even pulled a boot dagger on somebody.

We were both miserable. We hadn't showered in days, I had missed a lot of school. Wes was hungry and we had no money. And we were miles from L.A.

"Are we gonna starve?" Wes groaned.

"No." I said. "I'll get us food. Even if I have to steal."

When night came, I made my way into a restaurant. I grabbed a rat from the alley beside it and let it loose on somebody. That person freaked out.

While everyone was diverted, I grabbed a plate of two burgers and some fries and made my way out of the door. Wes was in the alley when I got outside. I handed him a burger and we shared the fries. We ditched the plate in the alley and went to find someplace to sleep.

We squatted in an abandoned building that looked like it once was a diner. It was dark and ominous in there. The windows and the outside doors were boarded up, the floor had aged, the walls were dilapidated, and all the inside doors were either busted or gone.

Wes and I fell asleep at about the same time. I was huddled up in my jacket. I had woken up to a man with a glasses trying to get ahold of Wes, who was screaming.

"What the fuck?!" I shouted and hit the man.

He staggered then hit me. I kicked him and started hitting him again. I repeatedly slammed my fist in his cheek. He managed to shove me into the wall. I went weak for a second and couldn't get up on my feet. I got back up and the strange man got another hold on Wes.

"Get off him you sick fucker!!!" I tackled him, started hitting him straight in the face, and didn't stop.  I heard him stop breathing so heavily. I felt his pules and thankfully, I had only knocked him out.

We left that abandoned building after that, Wes and I slept in an alley that night.

The next morning, we ran into Don and Marshall.

"Well, well, well." Marshal sneered. "If it isn't the homeless brothers."

"What are you two doing here?" Wes asked.

"Visiting family." Don said. "Also maybe giving Ellis your whereabouts."

"How did you know we weren't in L.A.?" I raised my voice.

"The police were asking about you. Your dad reported you missing."

Dad knew.

"Anyways." Marshall said. "We'll let you be this time. Ta-ta."

We carried on after that. It was hard to believe that the Raigners let us go without a fight. But, hopefully someone would be looking for us in San Diego. I couldn't stand another day there.

Wes and I strayed out of San Diego eventually. On Christmas Eve, we found ourselves in San Fransisco. It was worse than San Diego. We were standing on the boardwalk, looking at Alcatraz which was abandoned. A girl bumped into us.

"Oh! Sorry." Wes got down to help her pick her stuff up.

"Thanks, Davidson."

"Um, excuse me?" Wes sounded confused .

"It's me, Wes." A girl who looked to be about my age with dark hair and a tan sweater stood up right after Wes.

"Oh." Wes chuckled. "Hey Marie. Sorry I didn't recognize you." 

"It's fine." Marie said. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Not gonna say." Wes brushed the dirt off his knees. "Let me guess, you're visiting family."

"My dad. I live with my mom and stepfather."

Wes and Marie talked for a while. I sat there and recollected the past weeks. My hatred for my own aunt grew even more. 

Wes came up to me. "Can I go hang out with Marie?"

"Sure." I said. "But meet me back here in a few hours and stay out of trouble."

"Aye aye, captain." He saluted.

"Go. Have fun with your girlfriend."

"She's not my-" His face turned red.

Wes and Marie turned around and walked off.

I went looking for the nearest convenience store when I ran into Jerry Garris.

"The hell you doing here, Davidson?!" He grabbed my jacket collar. "I have half a mind to throw you out in the middle of the street and let you get run over."

"That wouldn't do any of us good, now would it?" I scowled. "You'd have to explain to that patrolman on that corner there why I was flattened by a car right here."

"Look," Jerry spat in my face. "I hate you more than Ronaldson or anyone else in my group. I know all about you, Iron."

Iron was the name I had when I ran with Anthony. I got it when I attacked a guy with a tire iron.

"That name is irrelevant." I spat back in his face.

We both were surprised by the sound of guns. The patrolman I mentioned spring into action.

"I bet it's those damned Crips, again!" He shouted.

Some Christmas eve this would be