The Letter (standard:adventure, 2964 words)
Author: Anonymous	Added: Apr 05 2008	Views/Reads: 3079/2159	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
With no free time of his own he, was ordered—“locked” in his room by his cruel, aunt, disconnected from his friends. He missed the days when he used to live with his mother, and every summer break she let him roam the streets with his friends, April, Koby

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


“Then move! I mean now! Take your phone and I'll call you went it's time
to come back.” 

She didn't have to tell him twice. Swiftly slipping on his sandals, he
grabbed his phone and bolted from his room, doing a small jig once he 
was out of his Aunt's sight. He was finally going to see his friends! 

Part B: Down 

“Dude, it's hot as hell.” I moaned, wiping sweat from my forehead before
taking another sip from the chilled can of Hawaiian punch. Both April 
and Julius whined in agreement as we all sat on one of the dry wooden 
benches in the humid shade of largest tree in the neighborhood park; a 
small gated octagon filled with nothing but concrete, a broken swing 
set, a pissy plastic slide, and rusted monkey bars all crammed on top 
of one another, just like the everything else in this crappy 
neighborhood. With our clothes sticking to us like a melted snickers 
bar to my fingers, we all groaned loudly in agonizing boredom. This had 
to be the worst day of the summer so far. There was literally no air 
blowing outside, even in the shade, the sun was roasting us alive, 
sitting high above us like some bogus, lazy ass king, frying everything 
in sight with his iron scepter. That bum. With nothing to do, along 
with no one outside, we just sat on the bench, watching a flock of 
pigeons fight over some peanuts. 

“Hot ain't even the word for this.” April sighed, pulling her plain tank
top from her chest with the sound of ripping paper, revealing her 
violet bra strap and a view of her Hershey colored twins. 

“Nice tits.” Julius chuckled, slowly inching a mocha tinted finger
towards her chest. 

“Don't play with me boy,” April gritted. “It's too hot for me to beat
you up, and move the hell over!! Why you sittin all on toppa' me?” 

“C'mon, girl,” The dread locked boy began in a smooth voice of
confidence, scooting his thin, sweaty body next to hers, twirling two 
fingers in her short, dark ponytail. “You know you want to.” 

“I said MOVE, dammit!” April bellowed, shoving the boy off the bench and
onto the steaming concrete, kicking him harshly. I exploded with 
laughter, throwing my head back while slapping my thigh. 

“Try somthin else and see how fast I send you to the hospital!! ” she
scowled, flopping back on the bench with fury, her arms crossed tightly 
as if she were squeezing herself. Whoa. I could almost see the smoke 
rising from her face. Moaning in pain, Julius picked himself up slowly, 
limping back over to the bench and sat next to me. Though he was in 
pain, a huge grin of satisfaction was stretched across his face while 
his hazel beady eyes were glazed over in wonder. An eerie silence fell 
over the park the next few minutes. A pigeon waddled its way over to 
our bench, pecking at the ground before tilting its tiny head and 
cooing for food. I raised an eyebrow, smirking. I wonder how they are 
surviving in this heat? 

“Move, you stupid bird.” I swung my foot at it, causing it to jump and
skip away. Julius chuckled to himself. 

“ Anybody think T-man comin outside today?” He asked, rolling his head
over to the two of us. 

“Nope.” April was the first to answer. 

“Face it, he's not coming out,” I said, sliding my moist hands into my
pockets. “His bitch-ass aunt's got him by the balls. I mean, its been a 
whole year! She won't even let me talk to the dude on the phone. You 
guys think he got any of our letters?” 

“ Tried to give one to him last month. Ol' lady said he wasn't there. We
losin everybody. First Skip, now Terrance... Who next? Me? Koby?” April 
mumbled somberly, her voice drifting away with the sound of a passing 
truck. 

“Don't think like that.” I frowned, giving the last of my Hawaiian Punch
to Julius. 

“Please don't. I thought you guys had better faith in me.” The three of
us spun around at the familiar sound of that dry, scratchy voice. 
Kicking the dark, rusty entrance gates open, strutting into the park 
like he was the coolest kid on the block; wearing a lopsided white 
t-shirt, wrinkled navy blue jean shorts and rubber Nike sandals with 
socks was Terrance. 

Final Part: Comprehension 

The sun howled with raging fury, emitting thick, intense waves of skin
peeling heat against Terrance's face as he closed the rickety 
nickel-plated gate surrounding the dried out yard of his apartment 
home. He could feel the overwhelming pressure of the summer's aura 
smothering him, making his chest tight and his breath short. No wonder 
nobody's outside. He thought to himself. Scanning the barren 
neighborhood congested with identical yellow condos lined up and down 
the dead end block like dominoes, he began his way toward the park. 
Kennard Park was located at the end of the neighborhood; an abandoned 
parking lot turned into a small playground for the many children of the 
avenue. It was ‘the spot' for Terrance and his friends when they had 
nothing to do, and like today, he was sure they would be there, even in 
this hellish temperature. His mind flashed with overflowing memories of 
the fun they had the year before, like the time they bombed a police 
car with water balloons. The officer assigned to patrol the block was 
Carl Burns, a big lazy slob with a bushy red mustache—Skip called him 
Big Willie. To this day, it still baffled Terrance at the thought of 
how he became a policeman; since all he did was stuff his face with 
sloppy restaurant food. He chuckled to himself. It was hilarious to see 
Big Willie try and chase them; his massive belly swinging loosely in 
front of him, joining the rest of the large floppy skin hanging from 
under his arms. The poor man never made it past the park gates. Damn 
Kids!!! He bellowed in his deep throaty voice, panting loudly as big 
blobs of sweat trickled down his face. 

“—His bitch ass aunt's got him by the balls,” He heard the stale voice
of one of his friends while he rounded the bend of the sidewalk, around 
the corner of the park. He could just make out the pale face and 
bleached hair belonging to Koby. “—She won't even let me talk to the 
dude on the phone.” They were all seated on the first bench in front of 
the rusted entrance gates with their backs to him. Perfect. He crouched 
low at the last apartment building hiding him from the street and the 
park. Though the blinding sunlight gleaming off of the cracked pavement 
hurt his eyes, nothing was going to ruin his moment. He sneakily 
crossed the street, hiding behind a car while remaining low to listen 
to their conversation. 

“—To give one to him last month. Ol' lady said he wasn't there. We losin
everybody. First Skip, now Terrance...” He struggled to hear to hear 
the rest of April's sentence as a burgundy tow truck sped past, its 
raggedy engine humming loudly, leaving the foul smell of burning rubber 
in the air. What happened to Skip? His stomach plunged at the 
realization of one of his friend's disappearance. He was hoping to see 
him the most. The two treated each other like brothers growing up, 
protecting one another all throughout elementary and high school from 
bullies and neighborhood crews. What is she talking about? Do they 
really think I'm gone? Standing up, he headed to the fence. 

“Don't think like that.” 

“Please don't. I thought you guys had better faith in me.” He said,
kicking open the gate with a bang, casually strolling into the park, 
his hands in his pockets. Terrance felt on top of the world at that 
moment, swelling with bliss as he saw their faces brighten. 

“Terrance!!!” April shouted joyously, jumping into his arms. 

“I don't believe it...” Koby began, his mouth stretched from ear to ear.


“Hell, I knew you was comin outside.” Julius snickered, patting his
back. 

Terrance was thrilled to see his friends; to have them smothering him
with greetings lifted the heavy burden of every excruciating ordeal he 
went through that entire year off of his shoulders. He felt 
rejuvenated, his heart was light, and he was going to make the best of 
his time while he could. He figured he would pop the question about 
Skip's disappearance later after everyone had calmed down. 

“Yep, she finally let me outside for the day, but I only have a couple
hours to hang out with you guys.” 

“Hey, a day and a couple hours are way better than spending the entire
summer without you. It just wasn't the same, last year, bro.” Said 
Koby. 

“So what are we waiting for? Let's go!! “ Terrance said
enthusiastically. 

“Ain't no where to go in this heat. Besides, Terrance...” April began,
sliding her arms behind her back. “Somthin happened to Skip.” 

Terrance's heart skipped a beat, his breath halved. They're telling me
now? He feigned interest and bewilderment, glancing at the three of 
them. They all avoided his eyes, wearing grave faces. 

“What? You guys are acting like he died.” 

“C'mon now, you know Skip too slick to be killed by one of these lames
out here.” 

“He wasn't too slick to go to jail.” Koby said flatly, shoving his hands
into his pockets. 

Terrance's limbs went numb, his mind shrinking within himself, feeling
his body sink into spiraling darkness. Skip in jail? He would never do 
something so stupid...A blindfold had been removed; he felt naked, and 
completely irresponsible. His best friend had been protecting him for 
almost his entire life, and he couldn't return the same, simple task. 
Now he probably will never see him again. 

“Koby!!” April whirled around, punching him hard on the arm. “You ain't
gotta say it like that!” 

“Why beat around the bush?” He shrugged hotly, rubbing his throbbing
arm. “Look Terrance, Skip was supposedly involved in a robbery with the 
liquor store around the corner—” 

“Shot old man West in the shoulder.” Julius chimed in, finishing the
rest of Koby's sentence. 

“When did he go in?” Terrance asked weakly. 

“In December. He sent this after the new year.” Said Julius, handing him
a tanned, crumpled envelope with the stamp of the globe posted in the 
right-handed corner. Axon Correction Facility. Julius Brown: 4908 N 
Kennard Ave. Chicago IL 60511. It read. Already opened, he pulled out 
the wrinkled white sheet of paper and began reading, his hands 
quivering. 

To Koby Nemes, Terrance Watson, Julius, Brown, and April Felix, What it
be like out there? How's the New Year? Party a lot? What's good in 
school? Is T-man still locked in the crib? Hit me back on that, cus I 
wanna hear everything. I really don't got a lot of time writin this, a 
brotha can't even fart without them damn guards knowin about it. 
Everything is good so far though, I got a cell all to myself, I made a 
couple homies... that's about it. It's no joke in here, I'll tell you 
that. I seen some newbies get jumped and raped on the first night! 
Knocked out they teeth and gave em' the business! Don't worry; I ain't 
about to let no sucker dick me though, straight up. I really don't know 
where to start... I guess I should apologize to ya'll for being so 
stupid. My older brotha Blake was fresh out the box on the night we 
knocked over the store. We was high as pigeons, and drunk off our asses 
with some of his old friends. We pulled up in the lot around the corner 
to get somore chips and beer and next thing I know, Blake dumbass was 
stickin up the store! The ol' man at the counter tried to shoot Blake, 
but I got em' first in the arm. Ya'll woulda did the same, right? Gotta 
look after your own. We all went down for armed robbery and attempted 
murder. I guess I'ma be in here for a minute— With a blank face, 
Terrance collapsed against the wooden bench, dumbfounded at the news in 
front of him, clutched in his hands. He never even knew Skip owned a 
gun. Everything seemed different as he looked up, gazing at his 
friends, his chest tight. The park began to close in on him, growing 
larger and becoming wider like an expanded picture. The eerie silence 
suddenly melted into an irritated buzzing noise in his ears. I could 
have stopped this... The dry, overheated summer air floated around 
them, burning their clothes, which stuck uncomfortably to their sweaty, 
slippery skin. 

“You okay dude?” Koby asked. 

“I never knew Skip had a gun! This is all my fault...” A lump was
beginning to form in his throat. 

“Don't be stupid T, what could you do that we couldn't?” Julius asked.
“It's our fault too.” 

He sniffed, pulling the letter back into his face. —Tell April to shut
up-I can already hear her bossy ass yappin on about how she gone whup 
my ass and all that crap, blah, blah, blah. Ya'll know me. I'ma be ok. 
While I ‘m gone, I hope ya'll look out for one another and tell T-man I 
said waaaaazzzzzh!!!! Haha. Peace, Skip. 


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