Fuck that! You think I’m gonna let the nigger get a gun? I’m gonna handle this shit now.

K.C. wanted to look fancy for the crowd. I just wanted to kick his ass and embarrass him in front of everyone, to get him back. I did just that.

After that everyone understood that if they had to fight me, it was going to take a while, and like all bullies, they wanted an easy target.

Guy, go get me a switch. This muthafucker done pissed the bed again.

I went home later that night, thinking about everything. I wanted revenge for my cousin, but what did I know about revenge?

I forgot about his boys surrounding me. I was too focused on not getting stabbed with the broken bottle.

I ran back into the emergency room crying, yelling, and screaming, “Somebody please help my mother. He is going to kill her!

If Denise doesn’t have her money by Friday, you won’t even see it coming. You’ll just wake up in the hospital. Now, try me bitch.

Then the cop said, “Now, you guys could just start over. At least you’re not going to jail tonight.

Christmastime was coming. I didn’t even know what that was. I was six years old, and had never had a Christmas.