#22

She was devastated because she would’ve used the money to support herself through
college. She had to get a loan from her family relatives to sustain herself.
Later that day Emma got a call from her Brother. He needed to see her, so she went to
See him in their family house that their parents left for them. When she met him, she had
not seen him in two years. She was excited to see him and Hoped he was doing well.
We talked for hours and she finally got peace of mind that Her brother was all right. He told
her I needed that help. She was unhappy because she knew whenever he needed her
help, that could possibly put her in trouble.
He said he wanted to pick up some money at an abandoned building that you did not want
to go to because the police were on him and he did not want to give them a chance to
have any evidence on him.
She was reluctant to listen but he insisted and guilted her that she never visited him when
he was in Juvenile detention that he was so upset about it. And he promised he would
never ask for anything again.
This was the story Emma told me this morning When she called on the phone for my help.
she was scared to go alone, instantly I rushed to help her.
We met outside The college gates.
“Hi Emma”
I looked up at a lady in a blue chequered dress as the sun glared in my eyes.
“What’s up James I’m sorry I am putting you through a lot I know I met you at a bad time”
She looked downcasted and couldn’t look me in the eye.
“I was busy but it’s fine just a class”
“I can make up for it later”
“I am so sorry” twisting her lips to the side as she was sulking.
“No problem…I can do anything for you”
I smiled hoping it would get Her to smile too. As I caressed her face, I put her hair behind
her ears so I could see her face properly.
“I wish I wouldn’t have to involve you in a family issue but I am desperate and I’m scared
to go alone”
“I ordered an Uber to take us there”
We Entered the Uber and we were on our way.
“Hi I am Sammy I am your Uber driver hope you’re doing well”
He looked at those through the car mirror.
“Can you start the car please you’re on a time limit” Emma scolded the driver.
“OK but are you sure you want to continue with the trip? You guys are going to some
interesting place.” he said worriedly.

“well well if I didn’t I wouldn't have ordered the trip” I tried to soften the tension in the
atmosphere.
“Just try and get us there fast”
“And please could you stop with the questions”
Started the car and immediately started playing some music from his car radio.
Throughout the trip he was playing a lot of songs. But one song keeps playing the most. It
was a 2001 by ludacris song move. The speakers were blasting the bass so hard.
When we arrived at our destination the music stopped and the driver turned back.
“ Remember to give me a star rating”shouting it from the driver’s seat.
“ ok sir… noted” as I tried to get out of the small car. The driver yells
“ you two be careful now you are threading in some dangerous gang territory”
“ I appreciate your concern sir” thanking him for being so Concerned about us.
Even though I was kind of scared I tried not to show it because I was never used to places
like this. I've never been to a hood. My family is in a gated community. People are lactose
looking at us because we were the only white white people seen around in the nearest
mile. As we got closer to the building there were two people in front like they were
guarding the door of the white colored Picket fence Building. As I walked on the pathway, I
held Emma’s hand to make her feel secure.
“Are you sure this place is safe”
“Well, according to my brother, he said that as long as they know that we are from Mark,
we will be fine”
We walked closer to the door. In front of us were two men well built. If one of them places
his hands over my face it’ll cover my whole face.
“We… we are here to pick up a package for mark” The crackling in the voices gave us
away that we were not from around.
“Yo they from mark”
the man on the right signals. He mean looking eyes suggests he had no remorse for fuck
ups and would beat the life out of me if I were to behave out of line.
So the smallest one amongst them came forward.
“Yo so you from Mark”
Came closer to us trying to lead us. It was from the main entrance into a room.
“Yo I never knew Mark got some fine in his blood tho”
” That ugly ass motherfucker… who would have thought “
I stared at him jealously to try and signal hours uncomfortable with the way he was talking
to Emma.
“My brother said I should get something from you” “I am getting uncomfortable staying too
long in this place”
“It’s filled with guns”
She whispered to me as this man reached underneath a table with African figurines on top.
It seems like he was a religious man and believed in vodo and black magic.
“You see this figurines protect me and my family out there”
He smiled crookedly as he gave us a black cargo bag.
“So if your brother is trying to dupe me this figurines will protect me and I will come for your
brother “
As he lifts his shirt to show us the gun tucked in his pants.
“Ain’t nobody cheats Shaggy let him know that”
He points his cigarette at us imposing firm Demeanour on us. I was so lost and confused
why this man was treating us that way. He did a lot juxtaposing and it was just to send a
message.

I feared my life. And I thought oh so many ways of how I could just stay in this place and
no one could find me. The thought of my mother being disappointed that I was in this
dangerous place was running through my head.
She would literally not let me come out of my house if you could. I never would have
thought I would have anything to do with bad people. Our hearts were literally in our
mouths the whole time. It was like a Tom Cruise movie where the main actor made deals
with the bad guys in exchange for drugs. Because it literally was like that with tension
everywhere I was scared that this man infront of us might just get trigger happy and gun us
down.
I looked to my left and I saw Emma reaching inside her pants. She pulled out a brown
paper bag and she tossed it to the table.
“This is for you… I guess I was supposed to give you this in exchange for the money”
she pointed to the paper bag shaped in a rectangular form.
“Leave my brother alone. This should be he has something to do with your people”
He looked at Emma and smiled, walked towards
the side of the table.
“I know you are protective of your brother… I respect that… I respect family”
He smiled with his gold tooth standing out amongst the rest of his teeth checking the paper
bag to see if he got what he paid for.
Picked up a pocket knife, slipped it in and opened a nylon bag coating the crystal like
substance.