Monster Behind Bars

Can

I've been here so long if it wasn't for my writing and planning, I would have started thinking of this hot box as if it were my home.

10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1

Officer Roy just opened the only door stopping me from interacting with society if you want to call prison mates a society.

I remember my first day in this joint..

It was a Sunday, I just walked out of the Food Joint. Why Joe called it a Food Joint when it was basically a soup kitchen; I don't know. But that was what we got caught up talking about on that Sunday Morning.

It was six o'clock in the Morning.

(Can) " Why the hell did you decide to call this place The Food Joint?

(Joe)" Man, I just want these decent people to feel at home. Not like they standing in line waiting to get food."

(Can) "But that is basically what they are doing. Why not call it what it is?"

(Joe) "Not everything should be like what it seems. You know that more than anyone I know."

(Can)" We are not talking about me. We are talking about you and this soup kitchen."

(Joe)" Shit, we might as well. If it wasn't for you this soup kitchen wouldn't exist."

(Can) " Correction, if it wasn't for your hard work, this wouldn't exist."

(Joe) " Nah Son, when you met me you where sixteen years old. You didn't have to take me in and show me a way to get off the streets. You didn't owe me nothing. You just decided to give me a chance."

(Can)" Nah, I just thought, no man should be walking around with raggedy nikes in public."

(Joe) " Make jokes if you want to but you know you helped me out because you got a big heart."

(Can) " Nah forreal, them shoes looked like Barney's limited edition shoes in real life."

They both laugh boisterously as well as other workers while they set up the dining area for the homeless. Volunteers slowly started to creep through the french double doors of the Food Joint. Although the story of the Food Joint coming into existence is old. The Workers and volunteers couldn't help but crowd around every time the story was told because the story never stopped amazing people and Can's responses never stopped making people laugh. No matter how long the hours were at the Food Joint everyone was always happy when Kevin "Can" Amir decided to drop by. Some called him Uncle Kevin or Son, he was that cool.....if you were on his good side. But not everyone in the soup kitchen knew about that part.

I stepped out of the restaurant late at night with Joe. We were throwing away boxes ,cans, and excess things leftover from the busy day. We end up feeding 20,000 people today, I didn't even know that there were 20,000 homeless people in the Woods. Maybe the rest of them heard about us from the surrounding areas but I'm glad we made a difference.

All of the sudden I heard a noise in the near by bushes in the back of the building. Then I heard some shuffling. Joe screamed. I turned to see if Joe was alright.

I see about six guys trying to hold down Joe. All these buff ass grown boys with fedoras with an S on their suits.

(Joe) "Run Son, you don't want any of this!"

In his eyes, I could see shit is going down and he had made up his mind. In his eyes, I see he is accepting that he will die today. I look at him like he is on fucking drugs and he nods his head in confirmation.

I move my whole body drop the boxes I was holding in my hand and start running like hell. Before you start thinking I'm a punk ass grown man. I had Rosa she wasn't feeling well lately and I am the only one she's got and if nothing I got to get back to her every night. I run, as I run I passed gates,people, buildings and houses but although they should be shelter .. I find none. I know what that S stands for and I know only one person can duck them boys. I ran into full on traffic. Every step I took I thought of poor Joe and what they might be doing to that man right now as I'm trying to claim my life. I'm trying to not breakdown as I run by surprise my little brother Tony bumps into me.

(Tony) " Why is your ugly ass running at 11:00 at night?"

(Can) "Why is your stupid ass running next to me at 11:00 at night, when you don't know where I'm going?"

Tony laughs as he tries to catch up with me while running.

(Tony) "Yo man, why you really running this late aren't you supposed to be with Joe closing up the Joint?"

(Can) " Weren't you supposed to be helping us?"

(Tony) "Well Tiffany had went out and bought her some Victoria Secrets...so you know how that go."

(Can) " Yeah I know how that go, that is why Joe is dead and some wannabe mafia thugs running after my ass trying to kill my ass and possibly you if they catch your donkey behind with me."

(Tony) " Stop playing Big BRO...don't put that imaginary shit on me."

(Can) " Bitch why do you think I'm running at 11:00 at night when I got a car..the f*** outta here. Now I want you to make a left and go the back ways back to your house. Use that prepaid phone I got you for emergencies call the whole crew and tell them to make sure all my employees get home safely. Then I want you to make sure to call the cops, but cloak your voice tell them what went down at the Joint and then destroy that phone."

(Tony) " Why you sounding like you ain't coming back."

(Can) " Take care of the family remember family first."

(Tony) " Kev why you sound like you aint coming back. What about Roz?"

(Kevin) "What did I tell you to do? Love you little bro don't forget that."

My brother is running with me but I hear the tears in his voice but we both dead men if I stop and try to console him. He gonna have to man up today and stop playing that young boy shit. He might be sixteen but he know the struggle too long to act foolish now. I hear his heavy breathing as he turns after he whispers that he loves me too.

I keep running my legs hurt and my chest burning I'm almost out of the city limits its been 3 hours since I saw my little brother Tony and too many hours separating between the last time I seen Joe alive.

Out of nowhere right when I feel a little relieved. I feel a cold bar bust me in the back of my head. I reach my hand behind my head as blood gushes out.

I black out.

I wake up in a room with drugs lining up four walls three men on the floor dead with either a bullet hole in their chest or head. And last but not least I see Joe's lifeless stare looking back at me with a bullet in his head and his stomach torn out. If that wasn't enough I feel something heavy in my hand.

I was framed.