DL Thug Life

how it is

Our tenth grade school year was finally over. Q and I had banged out our finals and were prepared to have a good summer. Things were going great between us. We still wore our rings like we were a married couple. No one at school said too much about it because they all knew how close we were (well not really). As a matter of fact we set a trend at our school. Everybody had started to wear rings with their best friend's initial on it. The only one who even made a bad comment about it was Big D. After a threatening look from me he never mentioned it again. Now Q and I both had jobs for the summer. Q worked at our local amusement park. He loved it because he got to be seen by all the girls who were sweating him. I worked at a community center with kids. I loved my job. I had a real connection with the kids and they made me feel very important. One day after I was leaving work I noticed a bunch of guys standing around by the basketball court. I seem to have radar for trouble so I headed to my car without really paying too much attention to the crowd. Just as I am putting my things in the car I hear a familiar voice behind me.

"What's up punk ass nigga?"

I turn around to see Big D and some of his homeboys standing behind me. I instantly get paranoid. I know that I am in a fucked up situation.

"Yo Big D I don't want any trouble."

"Well you should have thought about that when you put yo mutha fuckin hands on me."

"So this is the little nigga that knocked yo ass out. Yo pussy I don't like for nobody to put their hands on my little brother. Do you know what I do to little pussies like you?"

Just then this nigga pulls out a pistol and puts it up to my head. I just stood there looking at this nigga. He looked just like Big D but he is a few inches shorter. I swell up my chest and try to look like I am not scared. I give this nigga a look like if you don't pull the trigger now I will get your ass later. This starts to irritate him.

"Oh you think you are a tough little nigga huh? Well I am about to make your ass famous."

I close my eyes and expect the worse. Instead of a bang I hear niggas running away. I open my eyes and see a police car heading towards me. The car pulls up and two officers get out.

"Is everything alright sir?"

"Yes officer. I was just getting off of work and a few friends stopped to talk to me."

"Well would you mind explaining why they decided to run?"

"Some of them are on parole and didn't want an interview I guess."

The other cop looked at me. I could tell that he knew I was lying. There was no way I would tell them the truth. Even though I had no doubt that nigga would have shot me, I was not a snitch.

"Ok sir, well have a good night."

"Thank you officer."

I got in my car and drove off. When the police were out of sight I started cursing at myself. I had forgotten that Big D's family made up most of a local gang called G.A.P. (Gangstaz and Pimps). I had allowed myself to think that Big D was over the confrontation we had over a year ago. I guess he was just waiting for the right time to get back at me. What was I gonna do? There was no way I was gonna let these niggas keep me from school. I decided I had to talk to somebody about it. I pulled up to a phone booth and called Q at home.

"Hello."

"Yo Q what's up?"

"What's good baby boy? Where you at?"

"I am like a block from my job. I just had a run in with Big D and some of his boys. Some wild shit happened and I need to talk to you. Can you meet me at my house in about fifteen minutes?"