Little Stranger Danger

My syndrome may be down, but my alert is always up!

That's what I told Big Mama to let me walk to work. I am always, and I mean always, alert.

Not tonight though.

Big Mama said I shouldn't be working the night shift at the supermarket because I'm too easy a target for the ghetto wolves, the neighbourhood thugs.

She was right. They got me y'all.

They put me in the back of their car, knife to my throat and a pillowcase full of money on their lap. We're driving to my house now so they can rob me more. Big Mama is going to kill me.

I started my evening simple and fast as usual. Wake up at 6pm, watch the sunset, get ready, and walk to work. Today I wore my red hoodie. Red is my favorite color. Big Mama gave me one rule I always follow.

Do not talk to strangers.

Do not talk to strangers.

Do not talk to strangers.

I am supposed to work my shift from 7pm to 2am, wait for big mama, do not talk to strangers and go home. That is the routine I begged for. Big mama is always so worried but nothing has happened so far. Except for tonight.

" These streets too ghetto for a sweetpea like you Pery. You shouldn't be working the night shift at the crusty place. I'm glad the police are locking up most of those ghetto wolves but you don't gotta prove nothing to nobody."

"I can do anything Big Mama. I'm proving it to myself."

She asked me to pick up some things for her at the end of my shift. I recited them as I walked the short journey to work.

Red Wine and Red Velvet cake...

Red wine and Red Velvet cake...

Red wine and velvet red cake..

"Hey Downie!" a deep voice behind me called.

Red cake and red velvet wine...

"Downie! Let me holler real quick."

Red vine and toc...late cake....no

Urghhh!

I turned around, looking for who called me. A chocolate-skinned boy in dark clothing, thick twists, a black hood, pulled down ski masks, face tattoos and a wolf sewn on his jacket walked up to me. I knew what it meant.

"Do not call me that," I said.

"My bad cuz. I'm new to these parts. My name JJ, I'm just looking to talk," he held up his hands and had a slick smile, with a single shiny gem on his incisor tooth. It was so shiny even in the dark.

"I do not talk to strangers." I turned and continued walking down the dimly lit road to the supermarket, picking up my speed. He skipped to my side. "Relax, cuz, I'm just trying to holler at you real quick. For real though, I ain't never seen a black one of you before."

"I am not a bird to sightsee. I have work."

I entered the lot, and JJ stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

"That's enough cuz."

"I have to go to work. Pick up red wine an-" I stopped when he pulled a knife out.

"I know. And you're going to help a brotha out cuz."

He then instructed me to walk into work normally and calmly empty the cash from the register into the pillowcase he pulled from his left pocket. If I didn't or alert anyone, he would stab me right in my face.

"I've been watching you for some time. I know the security guard in the back with your manager. They too cheap to hire anyone else. Hurry up, and no one gets hurt.'

I obliged, walking into the supermarket with him closely behind me, and did as he asked.

"Yeah, all of it, you weirdo! Don't be holding back on me now. I know you got the goods," he licked his greedy lips. He was right. The security guard was in the bathroom for his long 'bathroom break' with the only worker in this place. They would not be out for another 30 mins as always. I kept quiet and handed the sack to JJ.

Then a small car pulled up outside, another hooded figure with a wolf sewn on his jacket and even more shiny gems in his teeth.

"Good," JJ smiled, "Now. Get in."

I was confused. Before I had time to ask, I was grabbed by my red hoodie, dragged from the counter and forced into the car. JJ was sitting beside me, still holding a knife to my neck, and we drove off.

"You get everything?!" asked the driver.

"Yeah! Didn' I tell you how easy it was going to be?! Now just drive down the road and it's the first house on your right, blue walls and white windows."

I recognised the directions.

"JJ, I already did what you said. Why are we going to my house?" I asked.

"Yeah, JJ...we already got the cash...Why are we driving to his house again?"

"Cause! His grandma is loaded! I told you I been watching them man. You can't tell me that washed-up rag drive that kind of car, have that kind of house and can afford to take care of this loser and aint got some loot stashed in her drawers. It's this one!"

They pulled up to my house, little red by riding hood playing on the car's speaker.

She say oh! What big teeth you have!

I say oh! How thick you gat!

She say oh! how big your wand!

I say girl as big as you want!

Ohhhhhh!

I bobbed my song to the lyrics. It is my favorite song after all. It wasn't long before we were at my house and they forced me out the car. They have been tracking me, so they know big mama ain't home.

As they forced me to open the door, I could only think of how sad big mama would be I didn't get her red wine and cake, and how unhappy she would be when she got back.

Once in, both started ransacking the place, pulling drawers and flipping tables.

"Hey JJ, I can grab big mama's money bag if you want. Its under the bed in her room. If I give it to you will you leave?" Then JJ grabbed me and told me to take him to her room. I led him down the hallway, by passing her room and taking him to mine.

"It's just under the bed. That's big mama's gem jacket by the way," I pointed to the shiny leather jacket decorated with gems, "I made it for he-,"

"Man shut up and get me that bag!" he grabbed the back of my head and threw me to the ground. I remained calm and crawled on all fours to reach under the bed.

"You know JJ... it is really dangerous to talk to strangers..."

"The hell you-"

I pulled a long gun from under the bed and shot JJ in the shoulder. The words pick axe inscribed on the side of the weapon. He fell against the wall, confused and shocked.

"JJ! Did you fire your glock again man! The kid got a disability, he harmless. You ain't have to do him like tha-" the driver friend walked in and I shot him in the head. JJ screamed as he fell by his side, tears falling down his face as I slowly approached. He yelled for mercy. His gemmed slick smile now a frown.

"My bad cuz I didn't know you got down like that! I'll give you back the money, and clean up! PLEASE!"

"Oh my," I pointed the gun at him, "What a weak punk you are. All the more to kill you with,"

and fired.

The next day I woke up at 6: 12 pm. I missed the sunset, but it was okay for today. I passed by the supermarket. Not to work, just to get some things.

"Oh heyyy Pery," said Rita nervously, "Sorry to hear you were sick. I got your package ready. Isn't it crazy though? I was so busy in the back I missed your call. The store was unattended for over an hour. Its a miracle all the money was still in the register with those ghetto wolves around. Anyways, I hope you feel better soon."

"Okay, bye."

"Pery what have you done?!" Big mama was at the door when I got back.

She ran and gave me a big hug. "All that feast just for me?! And yesterday you cleaned the whole house?!"

"I wanted to say thank you big mama, for letting me work, and for everything."

"Oh what did I deserve to have an amazing grandson like you!" She smiled as we walked in. We filled our plates with the mashed potatoes, greens, chicken, rice and salad I made and ate beside the TV. Her on her rocky chair, I on the floor. Riding Hood was performing their hit song Little Red on the TV.

"There is red wine and red velvet cake for you too," I said.

"Oh tha- ow!" she cringed and pulled something out of her mouth.

It was a shiny gem.

"Now how did that get in there?"

"Oh no, I must have dropped it in as I was making you this." I pulled out a gem bracelet from my pocket.

"Oh Pery, where do you keep getting all these gems from! You've been gifting me so many gem crafts since last year!" she smiled as she put it on her wrist.

I shrugged my shoulders, " I collect them from the streets."

And I bobbed my head to the TV.