Old Man

Act 1: The Beginning (Chapter 1)

December 3, 2006

"Old Man you need to wake up or you're going to be late for school", my mom said as she opened my room door. "Yes ma'am I'm getting up" I replied slowly. 

"And make sure you have everything you'll need for your play this evening, or are you coming back home before the play?" 

"No ma'am I'm not" I replied. "Well then make sure you have everything you need before you leave, ok? And hurry up down stairs so you can put some food on your stomach", my mom said as she left outta my room . That was just like my parents. Over protective. Being an only child, i always had the fresh Jay's when they dropped or the newest pair of Eastlands in school, but the downside was my parents sheltered me. They allowed me to do what I wanted--as long as it was at my house or they were around. Both of my parents received their college degree's, and now taught at the local college. They always told me that they worked hard to "Keep me away from things that endangered my future". They said it would make me a part of the 'in' crowd.But the feeling i best remember having though was that of an outcast. Its some things your parents couldn't protect you from and the niggas at school was one of them.. I guess no matter how much money you have, nobody likes a fucking nerd. And everyday at school the niggas who had nothing else to do made sure i knew that.

The first time i truly felt hate was at the age of eight. There was this nigga name Curtis Tombs, who made it a career outta being in elementary. He was the only nigga i knew who made it his life purpose to make my life a living hell. He would wait forty-five minutes after school just to catch me walking out the building. "Where my money at?" Curtis would demand. Before i could answer Curtis would knock the shit outta me until i was balled up bleeding. "Stop crying you fucking bitch", Curtis yelled out as he kicked me in my head. One day in class we were giving oral reports on What I'm Going To Do For My Winter Holiday when the teacher says, "Up next, D'Angelo O'Bryan".

The class gave a pitiful hand clap that made it obvious they were only clapping because the teacher was making them. I stood up and walked to the front of the class.

" 'What I'm Going To Do For My Winter Holiday' by D'Ange..."

Just then Curtis interrupted me mid sentence yelling, " Shut up you gumpy bitch", and threw a book which hit me directly in my right eye. The class immediately started laughing as I immediately started crying. Mrs. Wallace jumped outta her seat yelling, "Curtis Tombs to the principle's office NOW! And unless anymore of you want to join him-- i suggest you be quiet". Mrs. Wallace walked over to see if I was alright and stared Curtis down while he walked outta class smiling. No matter what they did to him, the damage was done. I got punked out by Curtis in front of the class-- and all i did was started crying.. It was only a matter of an hour when recess would come and the word would spread. Any respect I might've had was now gone.

" Come on D'Angelo. Lets go get you some ice and call your parents. Shawn take names." As we walked outta class I could feel everybody looking at me with pity-- waiting for me and Mrs. Wallace to leave so they could burst out with laughter. Mrs. Wallace sat between me and Curtis in the principle's office.

Mrs. Blue asked, " So D'Angelo do you know why Curtis threw the book at you?"

I'm sitting there thinking, " Probably the same reason he kicks my ass every chance he gets".

I replied, " No ma'am. He does this all the time. He beats me up after school and during recess. He even takes my concession money and still beats me up".

" And how often does this happen? " asked Mrs. Blue

" Everyday."

See at the time I was young and sheltered, so i didn't know the rule about snitching. I only saw it as telling the truth like my folks always told me to do.

" And what do you have to say for yourself Mr. Tombs?" Mrs. Blue asked. It was then when i realized what I did... Maaayyyy-be telling the truth wasn't the RIGHT thing to do because if looks could kill, then that nigga just shot me in my head. Curtis then turned-- stared at me and said, "You fucking snitch!".

It was then i became petrified. I didn't know what he would do next.

"That's ENOUGH Curtis..I will not have you coming into my school terrorizing the students who come here to learn-- and disrespecting my staff. Curtis Tombs you are no longer allowed to attend Minnie Ruffin Elementary." She slid Curtis her office phone and said, " from this day forward you are prohibited from entering the school grounds. If you are found on this campus at any time, you will be arrested for trespassing. Now call your Aunt to come pick you up". 

The look on Curtis' face said it all. I could tell he didn't give a fuck about getting ex-spelled. I also could tell that i was a dead man walking-- and it didn't take long for word to get out that i was a snitch. The next day at school was worse than the day before. Everytime I passed someone in the hall they would yell, "Snitch bitch" or " DAAAYYYYYUUUMMM! Look at that nigga eye." Then everyone would start laughing. Curtis had the school shook and he didn't even go there anymore. Everyone was scared to be-friend or even talk to me outta fear of what Curtis or his remaining friends at school would do to them.. So.. They fucked with me-- so Curtis wouldn't fuck with them. I was eight years old and traumatized to go to school. For the rest of the day everybody fucked with me, which really was only setting the scene for what would occur after school.

I sat in class staring at the clock on the wall-- waiting impatiently for the bell to ring. It seemed like that clock was fucking with me.. It read 2:59 p.m. for at least ten minutes. I sat there with all of my shit packed-- ready to go.. Finally the clock read 3:00 p.m. and the bell rung. I jumped outta my seat, grabbed my bag and ran towards the door. I figured if i hurried up and left, then nobody would have time to fuck with me.

" D'Angelo?" I stopped mid-step and turned around to face Mrs. Wallace. "Could you come here for a minute? I would like to talk to you for a minute." Approaching her I'm thinking "FUCK", but i said " ma'am?".

" Is everything ok? I noticed you have been having a difficult time today." 

" Yes ma'am. I'm ok." I replied.

" You know if some of the other students are picking on you, you don't have to take it. You should tell somebody so we can stop it." As much as i wanted--NEEDED her help, i already had enough problems from snitching. So this time I kept my mouth closed..

" No ma'am. I'm ok. i just want to go home." she could tell i was lying, but decided not to pressure me.

" Ok." She replied. " Well have a good evening D'Angelo and I'll see you tomorrow." 

" Yes ma'am. Bye Mrs. Wallace." 

When i turned to leave the class, i noticed that the hallways were somewhat still full which meant not to much time had been wasted with the talk with Mrs. Wallace. Except for a few whispers, I managed to make my way through the hall unnoticed. I was almost home when fear consumed my body. I was standing less than ten feet away from Curtis and his three niggas-- B.J., Dupree, and Lil Willie. From the look on their faces i knew what was about to happened.

As they approached me i slowly started backing up. I started to back up faster-- then I thought about the only two options i had-- either drop my book bag and take this ass whooping head first, or run the other way and keep running from that day forward. Running everyday from an ass whooping just didn't seem like something i wanted to do, but facing four niggas bigger than me wasn't a time to be a hero either. I turned around and started to run, took three steps before the unnoticed brick in Dupree's hand hit me in the back of the head and I fell to the ground face first. I layed on the ground holding my head. I turned around just enough to see the four of them approaching me smiling.