The Hard Way

    “Open the register and put the cash in the bag! NOW!” Devon said to the corner store cashier while holding him at gunpoint.
    You couldn’t expect much more from a 15 year old street thug who lost both his parents to an auto wreck, while living with a best friend who isn’t any better than he is. But that’s what happens when you grow up in Compton.
    “Please don’t shoot, just take it and go. Please I have a family.” said the Cashier as he handed Devon the bag with the money inside. Devon grabs the bag and bolts out the door, down East Compton Boulevard as he hears the police sirens not too far off.
    He can see the cop cars down the street, so he makes a quick cut down Sante Fe avenue only to see another patrol car at the other end of the street. He dashes up a residential lane way and hops the back fence into the alley way behind Pearl Avenue. He follows the alley way towards the Sloan Avenue meat shop, there he finds a bunch of crates and large containers, he opens the door to one and hides inside.
    Then he goes dead silent, listening, for the slightest sound, the slightest hint, to signal whether they realized where he was or not, so he could bolt outside. A few seconds go by and he hears a car pull up, in front the meat shop. He hears the heavy doors open and close hard. He hears the sound of leather patrol boots crushing the gravel, and the beam of a flashlight. He dare not move, not until he was sure they knew where he was.
    A few minutes passed, and he heard the foot steps return, followed by car doors opening and then closing, and then the car starting and driving off. He idles for a few moments, to calm his nerves. Then he slowly opens the crate door, scanning the area to confirm the coast is clear, then walks back out to East Compton Boulevard.
    He makes his way down, and turns left on Long Beach Boulevard, passing the usual stores every time he takes this route home. But every time he goes down this road, he always stops at the Long Beach Nike Sports/Athletic store. He stops and watches the new Nike Gold Hyperdunks on display. Imagining what it’d be like if he had them. And he easily could, all he had to do was break the window. But not for these he would say to himself. He wanted them, but he wanted to get them the right way. By working hard.
    He hesitated for a second, but suddenly his phone rings. He looks at the screen; “Abdie”.
    He answers the phone. “Yo Abdie, what’s up?”.
    “Nothin’ man, where you at? Your missing out everyone’s already here. Hurry up or there ain’t gonna be any booze left.” Abdie says, trying to talk over the blaring music in the background.
    “Aight  man, I’m on my way” Devons says, flipping his phone closed.
    He can hear the music from the end of his street, and the endless cars parked along the side walk. He walks up the steps to the front door and steps inside.
    “Yo ‘D’, what took you so long man.” Abdie says handing him a beer, as he notices the bag on his shoulder. “What’s in the bag man?” Abdie goes on eyeing Devon.
    “Nothing man, don’t worry about it. Listen I’ma call it a night aight.”
    “Alright man whatever you say.” says Abdie as he rejoins the rest of the people at the party.
    Devon walks upstairs to his room. Takes his keys, wallet and phone out and puts it on the desk. Then opens the bag and dumps the cash onto the bed. He sits down next to it and begins counting.
    “100…200…250…270.” $270 he says in his head, expecting to have at least crossed $300. He puts the money back in the bag, and slides it under the bed.
    He pulls the covers and crashes down into the pillow, exhausted. He finished the last of his beer, sets the bottle on the side table, and slowly drifts off into a subtle slumber.
    The light begins to pour in as he starts to gain consciousness. Slowly he opens his eyes as the light begins to level out. He turns to his side and looks at his clock; 8:47AM.
School started forty three minutes ago…
    By the time Devon walks into his science class, there’s only about five minutes left for first period. “Why hello there Mr. James. Finally decided to join us now did you.” says Mr. Adamson in an angered voice.
    He sits down in his usual seat and takes out his books. As he sets them down on the desk, he can hear other people whispering, and can feel the piercing gaze of everyone staring at him.
    The bell rings and he gets up to leave. The teacher calls him to his desk.
    “Listen, Devon. This is your third late this week. You behind on about six different assignments. And I’ve also been told that you’ve been getting into a lot of fights with other students. Now listen you have to pull yourself together if you want any chance of making it through high school, because I’m not going to help you if you can’t even get to class on time. Is that clear?” Mr Adamson says furiously.
    “Crystal, sir.” Devon says with a lack of commitment, and heads to his next class.
    After second period Devon heads to the cafeteria to look for a kid who owes him money.
    “Hey, Steven. Where’s my money?” Devon says as he walks up to Steven with hostile intent.
    “O-oh H-ey Devon, what’s up man. Your money, what money man I don’t know what your talking about.” Steven says in an attempt to lie.
    “Don’t play dumb with me, I’m talking about my $220 that you owe me for the last 2 weeks.” Devon says as he grabs him by the shirt collar and pushes him down onto the table.
    “Listen man I’m not giving you a cent, so just get out of my face.” Steven said foolishly.
    And that was it, Devon decided not to mess around anymore. He picked him up from the table and threw him to the ground and started kick him in the chest. Then picked him up and punched him in the face numerous times.
    “Ok ok ok I’ll get you your money, I’ll get it. I’ll  bring it tomorrow ok I swear man.” Steven said shaking and trembling.
    “For your sake you better.” Devon threatens as he walks off.
    After school Devon heads to the Church’s Chicken on East Rosecrans Avenue.
One of his usual hang outs with his friends.
    He walks in and sees all his friends sitting on the far side, they wave him over.
    “Yo D what’s up, we heard about what happened at lunch, kid give you your money yet?” Damian asked. “Nah man, says he’ll get it to me tomorrow.” Devon replies.
    “So what you just let him off?!” Abdie asks shocked.
    “Naw man, don’t worry I gave him a taste of what’ll happen if he doesn’t.” Devon says grinning.
    They all continue to talk and chill, till about half past ten. Devon gets up and heads home to go relax.
    When he gets home he pulls out a bottle of Hennessy, and pours a glass. He goes and sits on the couch and turns the TV on. Changes the channel, but doesn’t find anything. He heads upstairs and sits down at his desk. 11:15; He reads on the clock.
He relaxes till just after midnight, as he finishes his drink. Then as always he pulls the covers off the bed and crashes into the pillow.
    The next day Devon searches for Steven as usual. When he finds him and approaches him, he’s standing amongst a group of guys, some of which who are on the football team.
    “Where’s my money Steven, no more excuses. Cough it up.” Devon says sternly.
    “ Like I said yesterday, I’m not giving you a cent.” Steven says confidently as the other guys around him gather at his side.
    Devon then decides right there and then, that he’ll just rob his place that night. If he didn’t want to give him the money. So he walks away not attempting to start something, while being outnumbered.
    He pulls out his cell phone and calls Abdie.
    “Abdie. It’s ‘D’, listen grab the guys and meet me Lueders Park. Don’t worry about it I’ll explain it all then. Alright, Peace.” Devon flips his phone closed and heads to the meet up.
    5:30PM. Devon reads on his watch, as he see’s the guys pull into the parking lot. They get out of the car and make there way to him. When they all arrive. Devon begins to tell them about his plan to rob Steven’s place that night. When everyone agrees that there in. Devon gives them a rundown of how there going to do it.
    “Alright so we’ll all meet up at the corner of Stoneacre Avenue. We’ll hit his place at midnight. Everyone good?” Everyone nods in acknowledgement.
    Night time hit, as everyone begins meeting up. It was a night as clear as day with the full moon out.
    When everyone arrive they waste no time and head straight to Steven’s house.
    When they get there, Terrence, Elgin, & David head around back, and sneak in through a back window. While Devon, Abdie, & Damian pick the front door lock and go inside.
    They begin searching through everything looking for cash or anything worth selling. Devon and Abdie head upstairs, and clear the rooms of anything of value.
    It was about 12:13 when they heard someone coming out of one of the rooms.
And then the light’s flicked on. And chaos struck. Yelling, running knocking over of tables all at once as the guys scrambled out of the house.
    They all split up heading down different streets. Trying to get as far as they can before the police arrived. Devon was heading down Thorson and cut left On McMillan. Towards East Compton Boulevard. When he found himself in a similar scenario, with sirens and flashing lights behind him.
    He sprints down and across the street, trying to get away from the squad car. But then suddenly a second squad car pulled up and boxed him in. Leaving him no where to run.
    “Drop the bag, turn around and but your hands on your head.” The officer said through the microphone.
    Devon hesitated, not knowing whether to try and run. He dropped the bag slowly and followed the rest of the officer’s instructions. The cuffed him and put him in the squad car. And started driving towards downtown.
    Jail. He was going to jail, at fifteen. Devon was thinking to himself. How could he let himself get caught.
    Then the officer spoke.
    “So what is it that made you go to the lengths of robbing someone’s house? I mean it isn’t typically for a fifteen year old to be robbing a house with the rest of his friends.” The officer questioned as he pulled into the Starbucks drive-thru.
    “What can I say, I needed the money, and this guy already owed me.” Devon said
    The cop turned and looked at him. He had a confused expression on his face.
    “You want anything?” The cop asked.
    “No.” Devon said simply.
    “Listen kid, I could probably guess at a bunch of other things that’s your going through and stuff that’s going on and probably get it right. But it isn’t going to change anything. You can’t live like this. Your not going to get anywhere. Trust me I’m a cop and I see kids like you everyday.” The cop said strangely.
    “What would you know? What would you know what’ it’s like to do what you have to do, to get through the days.? Devon asked partially offended.
    “I know that if I take you to the station your looking at at least three-five years in jail.
    Devon stared puzzled as the cop got out of the car and opened his door.
    “What are you doing?” Devon asked puzzled.
    “I’m giving you another chance, what else do you think. I’m giving you a chance to straighten out your life. Alright, I’m breaking a lot of rules here. So you better realize that. So go and find something to commit to, and make something of yourself. Not this kind of crap ok. No go on get out of here.” The cop said, un-cuffing Devon.
    Devon took one look at the cop and realised he was serious. He turned and started to walk. But then the cop asked. “What’s your name kid?”
    “Devon, Devon James.” Devon replied. As he walked off into the night.