The opening in the alley led back to King Blvd. He ran passed King with no regards to any traffic. A horn from an oncoming vehicle was heard but he didn’t have time to stop. He made it across the street and ran pass eight houses before jumping a brick wall to get to the backyard of his house. He entered through the back door unharmed but very distraught and upset. While catching his breath, he walked directly to his room to retrieve his weapon. He didn’t want to wake his grandmother so he attempted to be very quiet. He chose not to turn on any lights as he made his way into his bedroom. The only thing he needed to see was his black 9mm semi-automatic that was stashed in the bottom drawer of his nightstand. The time was at hand to prove that he wasn’t the one to be messed with. He placed his 9mm in his front right pocket and an extra clip in the left.

Laa la la la wait till I get my money right

Laa la la la then you can’t tell me nothin’ riight

     Jay flipped his cell phone open. He hoped his grandmother was not disturbed by the ringtone. “Yo,” he answered in a heavy whisper.

     “Hey, what happened out on the block?” Bran asked.

     “That muthafucka Lazy B and two other fools shot at my ass. That’s what happened.”

      “Shot at you?”

      “Yeah, but I’m about to go back and properly introduce myself now.”

     “Wait!” Bran raised his voice. He didn’t want to see his homeboy go out like most in the streets. He knew that he was working on emotions alone and wasn’t thinking. This was one of the main reasons why so many young black males were in prison. They would make decisions based on ego and emotions only.     

     “Let me go and straighten this shit out first and I’ll call you back in a few minutes.”

     “Fuck that! You know I’m not about to let that shit go down like that. Them muthafuckas got a date with death and yo’ ass will only make them late.”

     “Don’t play yourself like that. This is part of the game where shit can really get fucked up. Chill for a second.” Bran pleaded.

      “You don’t get it. I’m about to show these fools how the game is really played.”

     “You not listening to shit I’m sayin’, hold up for a sec and just wait!” Bran was hoping to prevent a tragic event that was bound to happen if his homeboy returned to Palmwood.  

     “Wait!” Jay’s temper was making him impatient and more upset each second that Bran was holding him up.

     “Yeah, wait and think about this shit!”

     “Fuck that, you should know just like I know!”

     “Know what?” Bran asked.

     Jay paused, gained his composure, and simply said before he closed his cell phone, “The game don’t wait!”