"…And winner by a knockout and the new heavyweight champion of the world …Jake the "wolf" black!" I can't believe it I won my first real fight. I was handed the belt in all its glory I smiled big and proud and held it up for all to see, then I slung it over my shoulder as people crowded around me and trying to squeeze through. There were reporters asking so many questions at once it would make your head spin. But I had to admit it felt great. Sure I felt like a million bucks despite my face being busted. I was enjoying the glory of it all until the dream faded and I awoke to the sound of an annoying alarm I slapped my palm over the snooze button and sluggishly sat up in bed and sat there for a good six seconds before actually getting out of the bed.

It felt really cold in my small house and I was only in my boxers and a sweater I looked out the window and it was frosted on the outside. I turned on the radio and the guy said it was 29 degrees out and that we were only going to get up to 40 degrees today. I put on my sweats, another sweater, and put on my converse and hat and stood outside stretching, it was sunrise but still a little dark out. As I closed the door behind me Mr. Kostas greeted me he was Greek, short and skinny with darker shade of skin than most people on this block. I waved back and started my jog around the block even early in the morning I see a group of singing guys standing around a fire in a barrel with a beer in their hands and the girls stood around too, sometimes they'd offer me one but I didn't need it right now. After this jog I'll head back home and get dressed for my job with . I was halfway across the street at the little convenience store, I sighed then across from the store was the gym I go to, I turned away from those fading building a lot of the building here looked a little run down. And I ain't too happy where I'm livin' but its somethin'.

I walked into the little convenience store to buy some milk and these girls that always work here were behind the counter, one which her name was Jessie and was the owner of the store, the other girl was named Dana they were both stocking the shelves. Dana was the shyer one with a black short-ish bob haircut and Jessie had curlier brown hair and was a little taller than Dana. I went to the back of the store to get the milk "Hey, Jake." Jessie said while chewin' gum "how you doin jess?" I put the milk on the counter "hey, Dana could you ring him up please?" I looked at her nervously stood in front of the cash register she barely looked up and made eye contact with me in a timid voice she said "that'll be $1.99." I handed her the cash and she put it in the register and gave me a receipt and change she smiled slightly and I smiled back finally some response from her. Let me tell you she was not the greatest dresser she dress very uninteresting and in somewhat muted colors and she had these cat eyed glasses that were not ugly but interesting behind those glasses was a pretty face but I don't think she knew that herself. Every time I'd tell her a joke she wouldn't respond or briefly look up at me like I was crazy but Jessie on the other hand would try to be smart with me and wisecrack and say "startin' with bad jokes this early in the mornin', Jake?" I picked up the jug and waved them goodbye, I gave Dana one last look before heading out.

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