Cont’d from pg. 4
“ It ain't too late to turn things 'round, you a
youngin' – go get your life together.”
“So... what about you?” Shameeka asked.
“Cause – you sound like you never had a man in
your life to give you self-esteem. A girl usually
gets that from her father... Or a father figure.”
Shameeka folded her arms in a defensive gesture. He had her attention.
Ray continued... Thinking about his own daughter.
“So you wind up lookin' for all of that stuff from
dudes like Marvin.”
Shameeka unfolded her arms and looked
around the room. She couldn't help but wonder....
“So why you still in here selling drugs?”
Ray cocked his head to the side and thought
about her question.
“I'm kinda like you. I get settled in a routine.”
He looked over at Nate counting money.
“And sometimes greed takes over too...”
The room got quiet and Ray kept thinking
about his baby girl. He was sitting pretty. He
could walk away from the game and never turn
back.
Showing a glimpse of independence and pride,
Shameeka lifted her chin up high and said.
“I'm not the one who needs these drugs, ya
know. I can do without.”
Ray smiled at the young girl in front of him. A
girl that could easily be his own daughter in 18
years, if he weren't around to raise and mold
her.
“Meeka, me and Nate both know you ain't up
here for yourself. We been knowin Marvin stankin' ass for years. He does this to young girls all
the time. You-”
Shameeka interrupted...
“This is my last night. We all done made enough
to money to retire on. I don't need my lil' girl going through what you goin' through... And we
don't need our boys winding up like us.”
Nate knew this was coming. He prepared himself for this once Ray had his daughter. He saw
the signs 18 months ago when Rays son was
born. Nate couldn't be mad. They were like uncles to each others kids.
Shameeka grabbed her coat. She looked at Ray.
“Thank you, Ray... Nate”
Ray felt the burden of this life lifting off of his
shoulders, knowing that this would be his last
night selling drugs.
“Just stop messin' with dudes like Marvin.
You're smart and pretty. You can do better.”
“Knock, Knock, Knock”
“Okay, gotta finish up this business. Time for
you to go. Use the back door. Go to the shelter
and get some good help.” Ray gripped on his
assault rifle and sent her on her way.
Shameeka left the room with a better sense of
self. She was determined to go to the shelter
and try to better herself.
She peeked around the corner of the building
and noticed that Marvin drove off. His tire
tracks were still fresh in the snow. She mumbled under her breath...”No good piece of s-.”
The sound of gunfire echoed on the empty,
snowy streets. She looked up at the window of
the room that she just left.
The gunshots lit the room.
She felt fear in her heart for Ray and Nate. She
left just in time.
“I ain't stupid enough to think I'm the only girl
he had!!”
She hid behind the building across the street.
The gunshots finally stopped, and she heard
feet running out of the building.
Deep down, that's exactly what she thought.
She felt tears in her eyes and fought them back.
She took a deep breath.
Shameeka prayed that it was them, and they
were safe.
“Your wife's a counselor at the women's shelter
on Main St, right???
Ray looked over at Shameeka and nodded his
head, yes.
He loosened up his uncomfortable bulletproof
vest. He felt like he was reaching the young girl.
“Listen, all you gotta do is leave through that
back door and go to the shelter. Marvin ain't
gonna miss you.”
She put her hand over her mouth and gasped as
Ray and Nate came stumbling out of the building with guns in their hands, limping into the
night.
Shameeka ran in the opposite direction towards the women's shelter and never looked
back.
- The end.
-Pay attention to our young girls.
-Make better choices.
“I'mma leave him – soon.”
-Anthony Payton #12951-049
Ray shook his head and stood up.
“Ain't no better time than now. Tomorrow ain't
promised.”
Making their way into the building, were 2
armed gunmen who planned to rob Ray and
Nate.
Writers World Newspaper, VOL. IX
It's Time To End Gun Violence Everywhere!
Put The
'S Down!
PAGE 13