The Battle of the Century

Homeless for the Holidays

A few men came running out of a store. The police showed up in no time.

I was so glad that Wes was nowhere nearby. Jerry and I could have died. I hated Jerry but I don't think I could have imagined him dying, especially in front of me.

It was a complete Wild West style shootout. Crips were killed, cops were killed, people died while I was on the ground, hearing everything. Then the Crips took off.

Shortly after....

"This is Leanna DeVille reporting from the scene of a gang-related crime, supposedly perpetrated by the Crips."

The news team had come in.

"I am here with two young witnesses." Leanna DeVille, the reporter, approached Jerry and I. "Can either of you tell us what you witnessed?"

"Well," I started. "I was heading to a store to get a drink and then all of a sudden, cops are everywhere and I'm trying not to die. I didn't see much but I heard too much."

She turned to Jerry. "And you?"

"I was just minding my own when everything goes all guns-a-fucking-blazing." He answered. "I probably won't be able to unhear that shit."

Leanna was done with us after that, probably due to Jerry's cussing. And soon enough, we were free to leave the scene.

"I'll let you go this time, Tom." Jerry glared at me. "I won't be so merciful next time."

"Get the hell outta my sight." I said. "Don't let me see you until school starts back up."

We both went our separate ways and I headed back to the boardwalk to meet up with Wes. He came bolting toward me.

"I saw the news." He breathed heavily. "You could have died. Marie told me to go when we saw it."

"Wes. I'm okay. Just catch your breath man, then we'll find someplace to set up camp." I made sure he sat down.

I made a good call for setting up camp. It was starting to get dark. Wes and I went looking for a shelter or something of the sort. It took us a long time. It was dark by eight. Shady figures soon crowded the streets, indoor lights went out and street lights came on.

"Tom. Look." Wes tapped my shoulder.

I turned my head to an open storage unit.

"No way." I immediately vetoed Wes.

"But there's mattresses. We could use those."

"Bedbugs. Wes. What if they have bedbugs?!"

"Oh. You're right." He said.

We were walking down an alley when a van pulled up to us. Four big, intimidating, men hopped out.

"Alright kids." One of them hissed. "Give us all you got on you."

"We don't have anything." Wes adjusted his glasses. "Really."

"You better start handing stuff over or us Crips will take it from you." The second guy said.

"We don't have a goddamn thing on us!" I screamed.

A third grabbed me by my head and shoved me against a wall.

"Don't you talk to us like that, BOY!"

I heard Wes shout "Get off me! I don't have anything."

An elderly man saw this and started screaming for help.

"Help! Help! There's two boys getting attacked! Somebody do something!" He sounded louder each time he shouted. And he kept shouting.

I kicked the man who had me against the wall and he jerked away from me. I grabbed a board and started hitting him with it. I went toward the ones who were on Wes. Then I was tackled. I had forgot about the fourth guy. He pulled out a gun and put it to my head. I thought it was the end. Everything went black.