The Grab

Mind of Hunger

Andre wakes up in the fresh hot summer day in the middle of August 2003 in Baltimore MD. The radio in his kitchen playing R&B, the old folk outside talking about the time they lost their virginity like boys, meanwhile the actual boys yelling what they got to sell on some cracked down spray painted corner. "We got that plasma!" Or "we got that Rite-aid!" The corner spray painted with the symbols Andre gets up after soaking in the fresh morning as his mother yells at the kids to wake up for school. "Get up Yvonne! If you don't go walking now you will be late and you know damn well I am not gonna drive you to school!" She exclaims. Andre gets up and puts the same clothes he's been wearing for three days as he is too lazy to learn how to wash, and his mother is too busy to even do it. He flosses and drinks mouth wash and spits it out as he lost his tooth brush. He has tried to shoplift one from his favorite corner store but he respects Mr. Wong too much. He heads downstairs and shoots his friend Ant a text message. "Yo when u coming." He continues to walk downstairs and grabs a bag of Doritos. "Hey Dre." His mother says. "You sleep good, baby?" She asks. "Yeah I'm good, Ma..you?" "I'm good, baby. Going out with Anthony?" She asks. "Yeah Ma, I'll be back soon." He says. He blows her kiss and she blows one back as he steps outside. "Hey yo Andre!" A boy exclaims in joy. "Sup man, what's up with you?" Andre says as he comes out his house, putting his jacket on. He wears the jacket every day all day. Except if he's home, his mom hates the damn thing. "Nothing man it's just Tina asked me to go with her to the movies yo. She said bring a friend and I'm thinking that can be you. You up?" Andre frowns a bit knowing Tina is the type of girl who messes around. The kind his friends say don't talk to, the kind who breaks your heart and moves on to the next mother fucker to do it again just because."Shit man I don't know. You know how the fellas see Tina yo." Andre says. "Ite man but don't be sad when yo ass gets no pussy. Bad reputation or not, bitch got ass you hear?" The boys both laugh as they walk down the street to the local corner store. Every day they head there to pick up some Pepsi and popcorn. Same shit every time. "Yo Ant, why you even messing with her anyway yo. You know how she like." Andre says. Ant looks at Andre with a "man you should already know," look. Ant, real name Anthony, is a short thin dark skinned boy with a fro. He was nicknamed Ant for his appearance by bullies but it stuck just like that anyhow. "Pussy is pussy yo. That's why" Ant replied. "Shit if pussy was just pussy I would have been fucked your moms. Gave your sorry ass a brother, mother fucker." Ant jokingly pushes Andre and the boys laugh.

BOOM! A loud crash booms in the corner store. "What the fuck was that?!" Mr. Wong, owner of the store, exclaims. "Sorry dad it was an accident." His son, Lee explains. Mr. Wong looks at the broken box of red cheap corner store wine in dissatisfaction. The red wine leaking all over the floor forming a red pool. Andre and Ant walk in and see the mess, "Damn Mr. Wong! Someone get shot or something?" Ant asks. "It's fine boys, just my son's accident. You want your regulars?" Wong says. "Yeah man, can I get sour patch kids too?" Andre says. "Sure, say hi to your mother for me." Wong says with a smile. The boys exit the store after their purchase and Lee cleans up the mess. "You have to be more careful son." Wong says. "Sorry dad I will cover the charges if I have to." Wong gives lee a look and exclaims "Of course you have to! Damn boy! Thinking I run a charity or some shit?!" Wong and Lee were both born in Baltimore and know their community well despite the fact they have been targeted before. Robberies, threats, hate crimes, and harassment plagued them but over time it got easier as the community eventually cared for them. "I'm sorry okay! I am!" Lee exclaims.

The boys continue walking through the street passing kids running around with water guns spraying each other screaming in joy, toward a corner Andre's mom tells him to never go alone, Monroe Street. "Yo man this Monroe Street?" Andre pauses. "Pfft why? You a pussy, bitch?" Ant laughs. "Nah man. I ain't scared of shit yo. Just saying, we should be careful man." Andre says. "Look man, no one will mess with us on this block. You know why?" Ant smiles. "Why?" Andre asks, confused. "Cuz, B...I'm selling for Tee Tee." Ant smirks. "Yo what the fuck! You're selling drugs?" Andre says with worry. "Shhh shhh be cool yo be cool. It's only side work. How you expect me to go out with a thot like Tina and have her give up that Pussy without me buying her some shit yo?"Ant explains. "I'm just saying man I don't want to get caught up with your bullshit." Andre complains. "You won't, B. Just watch, imma pick up something, give it to my guy, help him sell on his corner and just to calm yo pussy ass down I'll give you a cut. Will that work bitch?" Ant asks. "Yo fuck you, I ain't no buster or nothing man I just ain't gon get my ass shot or in jail for you bitch." Andre scoffs. "Bet, come on then bitch." The boys continue walking toward a man yelling the corners brand new name. They switch the name a lot and now it's "CAPRI-SUN! CAPRI-SUN RIGHT HERE!"