WHEN THE WOMAN GOT HOME AND SAW HER SON, SHE WAS GLAD.
TOLD HIM ABOUT THE BIG SCARE SHE JUST HAD.
“BOY, WHERE IN THE HELL IS YOUR SHOES AND JACKET”?
A BULLY PULLED A KNIFE ON ME, SO I LET HIM HAVE IT.
I DON’T LIKE TO FIGHT, MOM, AND I’M NOT A FOOL.
MY LIFE IS WORTH MORE THAN A JACKET AND SHOES.
JUST SO HAPPENED THE BULLY’S TIME CAME,
WHEN HE PULLED OUT THAT KNIFE ON A DUDE IN A GANG.
HE DIDN’T SEE THREE OTHERS, ALL WEARING RED
THEY BEAT HIM, THEN SHOT HIM AND LEFT HIM THERE DEAD.
LIFE GOES ON, NO SWEAT OFF THE BACK.
IT’S NOT THE FIRST TIME SEEING SOMETING LIKE THAT.
FOUR YEARS LATER, THE BOY IS FOURTEEN.
A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL, A WHOLE DIFFERENT SCENE.
HE STAYED WITH HIS WRITINGS, BECOME MORE POETIC.
ACUTE AND PERSUASIVE AND SOMEWHAT PROPHETIC.
AN HONOR ROLL STUDENT, THE TOP OF THE CLASS.
THE ODDS ARE AGAINST HIM…HOW LONG WILL HE LAST?
SENIOR YEAR, GRADUATION IN SIGHT.
LOOKING FORWARD TO FUN ON PROM NIGHT.
BUT DEEP IN THE SHADOWS WATCHING THE FIX.
PEER PRESSURE AND TEMPTATION… TWO THINGS THAT DON’T MIX.

(part 3 coming soon)

VERNON BROWN
DOC #A482002