chapter 1-rare breed

8/4/2019 Chapter 1-Rare Breed

1/8

Chapter 1Born to hustle

Tampa, FLa. 1994

For a Wednesday night the parking lot on the side of the High-Low Pool Hall had a nicesize crowd. It was the hang out for hustlers of all types to showcase and boast of the good life

they lived playing the game that had no rules. Evan just stood there captivated by it all and like

always listened closely. Everyone saw him but never paid the fourteen year old any attention.

They knew he hung around four other kids and they did not seem to be a threat.

When Evan saw the exchange of a big roll of money and a sandwich baggie filled

with cocaine, he knew it was far more than the thirty-six dollars and four dime rocks of cocaine

he had in his pocket. One day, Evan thought to himself. Then he saw a crack addict walking,

so he ran toward him before another dealer spots him.

Whats up, said Evan as he stopped in front of the addict.

Let me see what you got, said the addict, I want a twenty.

Evan pulled a small plastic zip-lock bag from his front pocket and emptied the four rocks into the

palm of his hand, Get any two you want.

Naw jit, said the addict, them too small. Thats when another dealer ran up and revealed

some bigger rocks. Evan frowned up and walked back to the parking lot. He stood in the middle

and looked both ways at the cars parked with people standing around. He decided to walk toward

the back of the lot when he saw Lee-Mos blue Mercedes and a small crowd. As Evan caught theend of Lee-Mo tell the story about how he outran the police with a kilo in the car, three of his

friends came walking up.

He met them halfway and asked, Yall seen Chris yet?

Naw, said Kevin.

I hope he hit for a car, said Evan, cause I aint ready to go home.

Why, whats up? asked Leon, you look mad.

Yeah dawg, Im fed up and think its time.

Time for what? asked Jasmine.

To get paid. Im tired of this dime shit.

What you trying to say? asked Kevin.


2/8

Theres Chris, interrupted Leon. They all looked as Chris walked up shaking his head side to

side.

Damn, said Evan, I hate livin in the suburbs. The last mothafuckin bus runs in bout an hour.

What about the gettin paid shit you was talkin bout? asked Kevin.

Its time we rob a nigga, said Evan. He had their full attention now. This was never a

conversation for the eighth graders and the tone of Evans voice let them know he was serious.

They stared at Evan without saying anything. He was normal for a kid his age in height, five

pounds from being skinny, and a dark brown complexion. As usual he wore nice clothes and his

flat top hairstyle trimmed. Lets go stand under the light pole.

They stopped under the light pole and Leon spoke, We ain't never robbed nobody.

I know, said Evan before he leaned back against the pole. He looked Leon in his eyes since

they were the same height. Leon was lighter in complexion and heavier by a few pounds, whilewearing an afro. Its like this; I ain't never sold no dope before I did the first time. Just like you

never broke in a house before the first time. Chris is the same way until he stole his first car.

Chris stood there quietly which was normal. He is the only one who is fifteen but stands big as

an average eighteen year old and the same complexion as Evan.

You are right, said Kevin, tell us some more. You know me, if its about dollars, it make

sense.

Evan expected that from Kevin. He had the lightest skin from the rest of them, and also the

shortest, but had the biggest heart. Who we gon rob? asked Leon.

That nigga Don C. You heard what Jasmine said when he took her to his house.

Damn right, we need to get him, she said. He kicked me out cause I didnt want to do nothin

and I had to get home the best I could. Lita stayed there with the rest of them. Evan realized

how upset she got as she stood next to Kevin. She was taller than he was with flawless black

skin, and though her clothes were raggedy like Leon and Kevin, her long hair was neatly combed

back and tied in a pony tail.

I sho want to try girl, said Evan.

Why, you think we can pull it off? asked Leon.

Cause we ain't got shit, said Evan. Thats how I know we can. Look yall, we been hangin

together since last year and all we ever talked about was the come up and we ain't got shit. Leon,

you been breakin in po people shit and stealin bullshit. You too Chris, them raggedy cars you

been getting was only good for you teachin us how to drive. They just stood and listened.


3/8

You right, said Leon, I be wantin to lick bigger.

We can, said Evan Yall see I be buyin these small packs and that be with money I get from

my mama. Its like this, we need to pull tighter and step up.

What ya sayin? asked Kevin. You know I'm down for whatever.

You should be, said Evan. All them times you talkin bout tryin to get in the big card game or

dice game. It take money dawg. Just think about all the times you caught fire but ain't win but

sixty dollars. Even on the pool table, you hit for small change. Imagine if you had twenty a pop

to bet instead of two.

Never looked at it like that, said Kevin.

Ain't too late, said Evan. Hey Jasmine, you the downiest chick I ever saw, I dont even know

why you mess with our po hustlin ass. His words were sinking into their mind and heart. The

truth was dangling in the air and it hurt. Now determination is taking over as the light in theirhead had been turned on.

We need guns, said Leon.

Thats why we need you, said Evan. Find a spot that has guns. If you can break in one house,

you can break in any house. Leon just shook his head up and down slowly as he fumbled with a

thin gold chain around his neck. Chris, we need something to ride in that will get us there and

back, not like the junk you had that cut off and wouldnt start. Chris held his head high and said

nothing.

You already been thinkin bout this? asked Kevin.

Bout a month now. Im gon be straight up. I need that dope and that nigga showed Jasmine a lot

of it.

What if he findout it was us? asked Leon, He might kill us.

Thats a chance, but I doubt it. A couple weeks ago I fell asleep with the T.V. on and when I

woke up the News was on. Something like that happened in Texas, where a fifteen year old got

killed. It brought a whole lot of heat on the dope game, so a nigga told who did it. Besides, a

nigga dont want to be in the mix about killin a kid.

Makes sense to me, said Kevin.

If one of yall ain't down, we ain't got to do it. This shit kinda serious. We can get fucked up or

come up. They all looked at one another not really sure what to say. We can wait until after

school tomorrow and finish talking. Right now I got to get downtown so I dont miss my bus.


4/8

Like every night Chris doesnt get a car, they walk him to bus stop, but this time it was complete

silence as everyone was locked into their own thoughts.

The following afternoon they all got off the school bus next to Central Park Projects.

Chris lived there with his only sister and it was the closest spot to Leons room, two blocks

away. Arriving in front of the brown house the paint peeling, they walked to the wooden porchand opened the front door. The hallway was long and had four doors on each side. They stopped

at the second door on the right and Leon pulled out a key and opened the pad lock.

You got the rent money? asked Evan.

Only fifteen dollars of it, and tomorrow is Friday, said Leon.

Dont worry, said Evan as they walked in, my mama gon give me sixty dollars in the

morning. She think we goin to Busch Gardens so Ill give you the other thirty five.

Bet it up, said Leon.

Ain't nothin, but I got to chill, cause when I asked her could I spend the weekend she started

askin questions.

Bout what? asked Kevin as he sat on the Queen Size bed with Jasmine and Chris.

Nothin really, but didnt I spend the last two weekends with Leon,

What you say? asked Leon, who was sitting on the couch across from the foot of the bed, next

to Evan.

That I ain't got no friends out there. Then she said long as its alright with Leon mama she dont

care. They all laughed.

When ever Evan sat in Leons room he always noticed the few clothes Leon had hanging

on a homemade pole in the corner over the dresser. Also, the walls in the tiny room needed paint

and the wooden floor was so bad, it creaked whenever they walked on it. His heart always ached

for his friends because they didnt have the nice things like he did. Hopefully thats about to

change, he thought to himself.

The long silence ended when Leon spoke, Think I know where some guns at.

Where? asked Kevin,

Yall remember the time we left school and walked to Evan house? Leon asked.

My feet still hurt from all that walkin, said Jasmine.


5/8

In the neighborhood before we crossed West Shore, it was a police car parked in the driveway. I

skipped lunch and fourth period to see if it was still there.

So, what you sayin, asked Evan.

It mean they either work the night shirt or midnight. Its a police house, got to be guns in there.

You gon break in a police house? asked Kevin who found it hard to believe.

Leon stared at all of them with the look of a heavyweight contender, Its time for us to come up.

If I can get out there and that car gone, Im goin for it.

You gon get out there, said Chris. He hardly talked, but when he did, he was heard.

Well wait till its dark, said Leon.

Im fin to go home, said Jasmine. Ill be back fo dark. Leon want me to stop by your mama

house and tell your sister something?

Naw, next time I see that bitch nigga atthe bar, Im goin over there. She walked out and the

others sat in silence knowing how much Leon hated his Mothers boyfriend. Fred kicked Leon

out of the house trying to make him crawl back begging. Fred figured wrong, but is glad Leon is

gone.

Kevin was the one to break the silence, If we pull it off I might get a room here.

Think your foster parents gon let you? asked Evan.

They dont give a damn bout me. Long as I be round when them Crackers come checkin andthey get that check. You see they wont even buy me no clothes, but at least they dont abuse me

like some of the ones I had.

It wasnt long before Jasmine came back and obvious to them she was upset. Whats up girl?

asked Leon.

My mama found them nine dollars I had hid and bought some damn beer, she said as she sat

back on the bed.

Dont worry, said Evan we gon make it right. Tell us again what Don C showed yall?

It was jus the money and drugs. I think it was cocaine; he got it out of a cereal box when we

was in the kitchen. He went in another room and came back with the money.

How much was it? asked Kevin.

I dont know. It was about six or seven stacks wrapped in rubber bands. Some stacks was

bigger.


6/8

Had to be a thousand in each stack, said Evan. I heard thats how the big dope boys count it

up. But I jus want that dope.

You startin to sound like a crack head, said Jasmine.

Naw, its that the niggas with the big rocks in they pack wont sell me none cause Im tooyoung. So Im stuck with the small ones and can hardly sell them. And, it all about bein like

Nino Brown, Not G- Money.

The more you talk make me think you fo real that you learned about dope from the movies,

said Kevin. Everybody laughed; they knew it was not far the truth. Up until last year Evan had

never been exposed to any aspect of street life.

Hell no, said Evan between giggles, really, I have to give Chris brother credit. I be trying to

get him to give me some game and all he will tell me is, keep my eyes and ears open and my

mouth closed.

He a cool ass nigga, said Jasmine.

If All Gold was my brother, Id be tryin to be with him all the time, said Kevin. Chris just

smiled Hes used to people talking about his big brother.

It was dark when they parted and went their different ways. Chris and Leon went toward

downtown while Evan, Jasmine, and Kevin went toward Nebraska Avenue, one of the most

notorious streets in Tampa. Once on Nebraska they could turn left and go to Central Park, but

they turned right and walked three blocks to K Street.

They loved to hang out on K Street and the businesses. The Pool Hall and the parking lotwere by far their favorite spots. Walking in the Pool Hall, the smoke of marijuana, cigarettes, and

cigars filled the air as the clacking of pool balls sounded off. Only four of the six tables had

games in progress and a tonk game being played at a table in the back. Spectators stood around

watching games in progress so Kevin grabbed a stick off the wall and went to a vacant table.

Evan got a stool and walked with it to the juke box. Jasmine stood by Evan as they watched

Kevin and a young dope dealer shoot for two dollars a game.

Just as Evan finished pressing his selections on the juke box, All Gold walked in the

door. Jasmine and Evan waved and to their surprise, he came toward them. Whats to it yall,

where Lil bro?

On a mission, said Evan, but here I go. When you gon put me on? That got a light laugh

from All Gold.

Told you jit, its something bout you I like. Sow why would I put you in some shit you might

cant handle? If its goin to happen for you I cant stop it nor will I try to stop it. Jasmine just

stood there smiling and staring at him. Its normal for people to stare, he is an albino standing


7/8

62 with a dress code of a boss player, and a mouth full of gold teeth, eight to the top and eight

to the bottom. They style of his long golden hair changes regularly, today he has a packed afro

and a black derby sitting on top.

How much that necklace cost? asked Jasmine.

Not a whole lot Lil Mama see I dont like to discuss digits unless Im talkin bizness.

Okay, its just so thick I was wonderin and it match the bracelet, she said.

Why you dont give Chris nothin? asked Evan.

I give lil bro all the love possible. If you talkin bout material shit, me and him had a deal when

my mama died. He stay out of the streets, Ill do anything I can for him. Since he in the street I

have to keep my word. My word is gold. Now between me and sis we gon make sure he got

clothes, food, and a roof. Other than that I have nothin for him.

They saw you was in the street when you was fourteen, said Evan. So why you trippin on

Chris?

Ain't trippin, I jus dont give money to street niggas.

Why? Jasmine asked.

Its only three kind of street niggas, the hustler, the mark, and the junkie. A hustler got his own

so he dont need mine and if I give it to the mark or junkie, they hustler goin to end up with it. So

I might as well keep it. My brother is a hustler, he steals cars. All he had to do is chill and I

would of gave him my caddy on his sixteenth birthday. All Golds cell phone rung and heanswered and threw them a peace sign before walking off.

He has it goin on, said Jasmine.

Yeah, Evan said wish I had a brother like that.

Wish I had a sister like you, Jasmine said.

I ain't seen Elaine since I spent the summer in Chicago with her and my daddy two years ago.

How long your parents been divorced?

Since I was seven and Elaine six.

At least you talk to your daddy. I dont even know who mines it.

It hurt Evan every time Jasmine tells him that. I know girl, but it ain't like everything been

peaches. We hardly ever see them, if my mama and daddy wasnt always at work it wouldnt be


8/8

so bad, but they always busy. Even when my mama ain't at the office she at some type of dinner

or at some place where those executive people be at in the night time.

Things got quiet between them as they watched Kevin shoot. He was barely tall enough

to reach the far shots, but was highly respected by all the teenage gamblers. He seldom loses

against them but now and then he catches an older pool shark willing to shoot for small stakeswhich usually costs Kevin his whole bank roll. After Kevin won twelve dollars, Evan played

three dollars worth of music and no sign of Chris and Leon, it was time to walk Evan to the bus

stop where they talked while waiting.

I hope we can pull this off before I go home this weekend, Evan said.

Think we could? asked Kevin.

Only ifwe get a gun, said Evan. Thats when the blue and tan Bronco II pulled up in front of

them. Jasmine moved next to Evan as the dark tinted window on the passenger side came down.

Leon was grinning ear to ear as Chris was in the drivers seat. The other three got in and Chris

drove off.

We ready, said Leon. Then he handed Evan a black 357 Magnum.

All five of them stood around Leons bed staring at the riot pump shot fun, 30/30 rifle

with a scope, one 9MM and the 357. Leon picked up a pillow case that was almost half full of

quarters, dimes, and nickels then poured them out on the bed. He then picked up another pillow

case and emptied the two cameras, three Mens watches, and five boxes of bullets. He couldnt

stop smiling knowing this was his biggest lick ever, he was happy, and they were happy for him.

Evan stared at the guns with mixed emotions, he knew their life was about to change for

the better or for the worse. The only thing he was sure about, it was going down real soon.

chapter 1-rare breed

Documents