We got to school in opportune time, the bell rang as we all parted ways except for Diz and I. We had a majority of our classes together. He grabbed my hand and grinned and I looked back at him as we walked into our Art class; ready for the day to begin. The day had passed fast and then started slowing down towards the end of the day which I hated. I was ready to be done with school. Diz walked me to my last class of the day and hugged me goodbye before going to his class.

My last class of the day was Ms. Green's class. Ra, Zeke and I all had it together. I was sitting at my desk talking to Ra, as Ms. Green started to speak.

"Alright, listen up! I know some of y'all are gonna want to make some money this summer, so remember, Francisco Cruz is offering paying summer jobs and internships. Make sure you visit his center, tell him Ms. Green sent you. I want you to live with confidence this summer, okay?" Ms. Green spoke loudly to us, it was our last class of the day and everyone was chattering and they wouldn't be quiet. "Okay! Settle down! Settle down! We are not done yet. And I got plenty of detention slips if y'all want to keep acting a fool. Now, as promised, it is time for me to announce the winner of the poetry writing contest. The winner for the best poem is Ezekiel Figuero. Everyone applaud."

"Faggot" One of the guys said in the back of the class, Ms. Green warned him with a 'hey'. I sighed and shook my head, Zeke looked really uncomfortable. Another kid said, "Faggot" and I turned around irritated, "If you call him that again, I'm gonna beat your face in."

"Oh really, bitch? You're gonna hit me?" He replied trying to make fun of me, "Look bro, I'm really about to knock you the fuck out." I said warning him one more time. Ms. Green shook her head, "All right, that is enough! Zeke come on up and get your prize and recite your poem."

"I can't" He replied making an excuse, typical Zeke. Ms. Green raised her eyebrow, "Is that right? I'll just come to you." She walked over to him and handed him his candy bar. "Thanks Ms. Green"

A boy mocked him and Ra turned around saying "Mock him again and I'm gonna go Lady Macbeth on your ass!" I laughed and snorted before Ms. Green tried to get Zeke to stand up and read it out loud. He kept making excuses like he didn't write it and he apologized. The bell rang and everyone stood up leaving the class. Ms. Green said she needed to talk to Zeke, I walked out the door past Mylene bumping shoulders with her. "Excuse you," She said with an attitude, "No, excuse you."

I walked out into the hallway, waiting for Zeke. Mylene came out of the classroom and told me I should 'watch where I'm going'. "Maybe don't stand in people's way, you dumb puta. Get the hell outta here. Watch what you say, because your next words might be your last." Mylene rolled her eyes at me and kept walking, "Yeah, keep walking. Bitch is gonna fuck around and get smacked." I muttered loudly enough for her to hear me before going back into the classroom as I heard Ms. Green talking to Zeke.

"Leaders lead, Cowards cower. Now I understand that your poem is personal. I understand that it might make you feel uncomfortable to share it. But take a look around. The Bronx is a war zone. Our community is dying. And it's gonna take leaders to save it. That means you and you, Kari. That is why I have been trying to get you to stand up and share your gift with the class. But every time, you take the easy way out."

"That's how Zeke is, Ms. Green. That's his personality." Zeke looked at me a little ticked off I'm not defending him, I said he was a great guy, not a great person. He has issues with standing up and speaking his mind. "Well, luckily for you, I'm probably not gonna be in school next year." Zeke said looking at Ms. Green after looking away from me.

Ms. Green sighed and continued talking, "How would your mother and father feel if they were alive? To hear you talking like that? You guys live with your aunt and her boyfriend, right? Do you think that they took on the burden of raising you both just so you could drop out of school? Be dead, be in jail by the time you turn 21?"

Zeke looked down and muttered a 'I don't know', Ms. Green started going on about maybe she was wrong about Zeke and maybe he didn't write the poem. He told her that he did write it, she handed him the papers and told him to prove it. He set the papers down on the desk and looked at me then Ms. Green.

"Boom, then crash. The shattering of glass, I dived to the floor." He started reciting the poem, not even bothering to look at the paper.

"Busted my ass "What the hell was that?" Was all that I said, Then I seen a pool of blood. Then I see my moms was dead, No emotion in the commotion; I wasn't even sad. Even when I learned. That the bullet was meant for my dad. Vietnam made Pops crazy, He was already half-dead. So, why couldn't that have been him that they shot in the head? All the news that fits the print Mama's death went unreported. Not a whiff, word or hint. "They don't care about us niggas" Is how my pops explained it. But I didn't know I was a nigga, until my dad proclaimed it. Six months later, My pops was dead, too; Drug-related. Shots fired, His skin turned cold blue." He paused before continuing on with his poem.

"On the news that night, The president's wife got a new hairdo The news guy said "I like it. How about you?" No word about my pops. In the Post or on CBS, Why was that, you ask? Take a fucking guess And, yeah, why is that? Is what politicians should be asking? But who's got time for questions? When y'all skiing up on Aspen? Bronx get gunshots to the head, And all y'all swerving us is Aspirin. My mama was so lovely. She would have made your head spin. Level the playing field; And y'all would see who would really win. And, yeah, I got anger, But I don't let it take me down. Because my mama taught me better, And she holds me up when I fall down. Rest in peace, Moms. Don't worry about your daughter and son. Someday We'll make you proud Because, yeah, we are the ones."

I felt a dark, sad feeling come back when he spoke about our parents that way, I left the classroom before Mrs. Green and Zeke finished talking. I saw Diz in the hallway, I walked over to him and grabbed his hand as we walked out of the school together. "It's gonna be alright, Kari."

I started walking back through our shortcut when Diz and I parted ways, I climbed the big rock and saw Ra-Ra and Zeke talking, "So what does she like? Perfume? Clothes?"

I snorted cutting into their conversation, "She wants a vibrator shaped like Jesus Christ." I chuckled at my own joke before Zeke glared at me then said the Far, Far Away song; not the Misty Holloway one. The Pakoussa remix. They started talking about where to get it before I cut back in, "The Jamaican joint on Charlotte Street."

Ra high fived me and said, "Boom! Get that shit. Get in the club, and get the DJ to play it. Yeah, right? Then take her in your arm, sweep her up and you dance a sexy hustle." I laughed loudly, "You are so lame man, hustle is old school."

I went with Ra-Ra to his place, his parents had invited me to dinner also, Ra said he had just gotten some new Marvel comics and I wanted to check them out. Ra-Ra and I were sitting outside while I was smoking and we saw Zeke coming. Ra started asking Zeke questions about how he got the record. I went in and asked Ra's mom if she needed help but she said no and thanked me, I saw Ra's dad and he smiled; "Well, well Bhakari! How are you?"

"I am quite well, Mr. Kipling. School is over so now it's money time." He shook his head and fist bumped me before saying, 'Right on.' I saw Yolanda, Regina and Mylene in Yolanda's room, I muttered a hey to her before I walked back to the kitchen and sat at the table as Mrs. Kipling called, "Dinner!"

Everyone came out of their rooms and sat down, they all started digging in as Mrs. Kipling started talking, "So all y'all kids going to the movies tonight?"

"Regina and I gonna go see that new horror flick," Yolanda replied before taking a bite out of her food, "Which one?"

"Satan's Cheerleaders" Yolanda said as she continued chewing on her food, Mrs. Kipling looked at the boys, "Satan's Cheer? You boys going with them?"

"We're gonna see that new metagalactic one, um, Wars on Mars-" Boo cut in and said "Mars Wars" Ra looked a little irritated and corrected them, "It's called Star Wars, fools. Star Wars." Mrs. Kipling looked to me and Mylene, "What about you, Mylene? Kari?"

I stood up cleaning off my plate into the trash and washing the dish off, "I have to work tonight." I dried off my hands as Mylene replied with, "Oh I,-I have to be home soon."

I snorted before Zeke looked at her pointedly, "You sure you gotta go?"

"Yeah, my chariot turns into a pumpkin at 9:45" I snorted and rolled my eyes before excusing myself, I got up from the table and went into Diz's room, I grabbed my knapsack which contained my night clothes and my spray paint. Diz came in as I was leaving, "I'll see you at the rock tonight, Diz. I'm gonna go create something beautiful."

I left the Kipling household and walked towards the yards, I walked a few feet from Shaolin Fantastic's newest creation on one of the train cars. I looked around for twelve before setting my bag on the ground and putting my gloves on. I pulled out one of my cans before starting to sway with the music inside my head. Spraying is something that I really enjoyed to do, usually I do it with Dizzee but tonight was my night to make my biggest masterpiece.

Eventually, I had finished my piece on the car and looked at it, I felt complete. I've been sketching this piece for weeks. I threw my empty Krylon cans inside my bag shortly after pulling out my night clothes. I walked to the next train car before climbing in and changing.

I climbed out of the train car just in time to see Diz and Boo, I pulled my knapsack onto my shoulder and waved a 'hey' to them before walking towards downtown. After walking a couple miles, Markie picked me up in his car and we headed to Les Inferno. Whenever he pulled up, there was already a line around the corner. I saw Pito at the door asking who wanted to get in. I laughed as I walked past all the desperate people trying to pay him to get in.

I walked throughout the club getting 'hey's from people, I went over to the bar and got a drink. Sipping on it, I looked around the club seeing Mylene and her group of Holy Rollers. I walked over to them before saying, "Regina, y'all know you don't need to be here. You know you're too young."

"Look, Kari. Don't tell my mom. We're just trying to help out Mylene get her tape to Malibu." Regina explained looking worried, "If Mylene wanted her tape to Malibu, she could have asked me-OH! Wait, Mylene doesn't like me. I forgot. You guys forget I have connections. Everywhere." I replied looking at Mylene before snapping my fingers in her face and walking off to the VIP section where Cadillac was with Little Wolf and Slim. I walked up and Cadillac stood up smiling like a child getting offered some candy.

"There's my favorite girl," He said as he hugged me happily, he let go and I rolled my eyes at him before sitting down across from him. He was definitely high or drunk. "Where you been, my brown sugar?"

"At school, Cadillac. Working the streets for some cash. Busy. I can't make time for you all the time." I replied sipping on my drink, he looked at me faking hurt, "That hurts my heart, you know-"

Cadillac stopped talking and spotted the Holy Rollers. He then pointed out Regina, Yolanda and Mylene to Slim telling him to bring them to him, I rolled my eye and stood up, he grabbed my hand and asked where I was going. "To hell if I don't change my ways. I'm going to dance or something man, I'm not trying to get into a cat fight with someone." I walked off towards the dance floor.

The night went on, I watched everyone in the club as the dance off started. Zeke started dancing with Mylene and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cadillac making his way towards them as Devil's Gun started playing. I rolled my eyes and started walking towards the door as I was walking out, I heard gunshots and screaming. I looked back for Ezekiel and saw him with Mylene and the girls running towards the door.

They made it outside, "Are you okay, hermano?" He nodded as I hugged him tightly, letting him go I saw that Regina, Yolanda and Mylene looked scared. "I told y'all that you didn't need to be here. But does anyone listen to me? No. Next time I catch you guys somewhere where you ain't supposed to be, I'm calling ya parents. I'm gonna go, make sure they get home."

I walked around looking at the streets that I passed, the Bronx was so beautiful at one point. Our town was dying and it was depressing, I headed towards the big rock where the boys always hang out when I ran out of streets to walk. I thought about everything that led me to this point, my parents passing was the biggest hit I took but I was strong for Zeke. Eventually Ra, Boo and Diz showed up with Zeke following. He was crying, "Hermano, estas bien?"

He just ignored me and chugged his forty, "Puta." I mumbled towards him before Ra said that Zeke had a long night, "And she's right. I ain't shit. I ain't ever gonna be shit. She has no business being with me. I just I'll probably-I'll probably end up working in a fucking supermarket my whole fucking life!" Zeke cried before smashing his beer bottle, I stood up angrily and stood in front of Zeke.

"Don't you ever, down yourself like that again. I swear on everything, even my own grave that if you do, we are going to square up and you're going to get your skinny ass beat by your sister."

Boo laughed at what I said and waited for me to finish reaming Zeke out before he started talking, "Can you fill us in with anything about Les Inferno? The shoot-out?"

"My heart got shot out. My fucking heart got shot out." Zeke yelled at Boo, I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest, "Stop being over dramatic, Ezekiel. She's a bitch. If she can't see you for who you are then fuck her." Zeke sniffled and glared at me, "Easy for you to say, you're not in love." All of a sudden this guy in a red jacket and black leather pants popped up at the top of the rock, "Yo, osu, wordsmith."

"Who the fuck is that?" Diz spoke before I added in, "My thoughts exactly." He slid down the rock and stopped right where Diz was. "Some wild, wild west shit back there." Zeke looked irritated and spoke, "This motherfucker with the fake karate and shit."

The guy chuckled and retorted, "Now what did I do? Hm? I got you in. I got Malibu, who's dead, to play the record, which in fact is the last record that he'll ever play. While motherfuckers shooting from both sides, while your stupid ass is trying to get the record off of Malibu's turntables, all for a bitch - who thinks she's better than you."

"Hold up, your dusty ass is the one who got my brother into Les Inferno and you're the reason that his little skinny ass got shot at?" I spoke crossing my arms across my chest, he looked at me and rolled his eyes before Zeke cut in and said "Don't call her a bitch."

"A motherfucking bitch!" Zeke stood up and shouted "Don't call her a bitch!" He pushed Zeke back down to the sitting position and told him to sit his ass down. "Yo, you got the gift. But you look like a bitch crying over a bitch. I don't understand all the crying over a female."

"You don't know. You don't know." Zeke said loudly as this guy continued to go in on Zeke, "I don't know? I don't know? About what? Not about to say "love," are you?"

"What if I did?" Zeke cut in before he continued, "Then I say you're fucking right, I don't understand anything about love." Ra was getting fed up, and I could tell cause he looked mad and confused at the man who was speaking volumes of truth to my brother. "Who is this dude, man?"

"Yeah, who the fuck is this dude?" Boo added in, trying to be just like his older brother, he trying to act tough in front a stranger but I know Boo and he is the last person that needs to be trying that. "Boo! Sit yo ass down before you get us shot by this random ass nigga!" I snapped at him, tensions were very high, I could feel it; mostly because this complete stranger just shows up and starts putting Zeke in his place like we've all been trying to do.

"Yo, - who you getting loud with, shortstop? You better listen to your bitch." That's strike two, this man is about to get stomped by a female and he's gonna be the one crying like a bitch next. "You, nigga. And don't call her no bitch!"

"Aww, little munchkin." The guy put his hand on Boo's head and started ruffling it, I chuckled lowly at it before I heard Diz speak up, "Hey, man. We're all cool. We're all cool." The guy grabbed the spray paint out of Diz's hand, "Let me see this. I write, maybe y'all seen me up." He walked up the rock a little then laid on his side and started spraying as he slide down the rock. Shao 007.

Boo and Diz started freaking out, not believing him at all; they both spoke at the same time, "You're Shaolin Fantastic?" He threw the spray paint back to Diz, "The lady-killing romantic."

I watched them try to really figure out if it was Shaolin, I had my own disbeliefs. There was no way that my icon, the artist that I look up to was this arrogant and disrespected females like that, calling them bitches and whatnot. I zoned back into their conversation when Diz said, "Hey, man. Just look at his shoes. Bro, this little guy, this is my brother, Boo-Boo. And that's my other brother, Ra-Ra. Do you know who I am?"

Shaolin shook Diz's hand and looked around, "Rumi 411. You stay up with Crash and Daze. You also down with the Soul Artists?" Diz smiled and looked at me before adding in, "We spray all-city."

"We?" Shaolin asked before Diz walked down the rock next to me and smiled, "This is Bhakari. She's also StreetQueen. She sprays all city with me." He chuckled before actually looking at me, checking me out; I rolled my eyes, "Didn't know bitches could be talented?" I snapped at him angrily, "No, I figured StreetQueen was a bitch, I just thought she'd look a little more manly."

"Oh, I'm so sorry that I've exceeded your expectations." I replied sarcastically before Shaolin laughed and continued on Zeke, "Yo, where's my record at, man?"

"You like Misty Holloway that much?"

"Where's my record?!"

Zeke was steaming mad at this point, "Here's your fucking record. Here. Go fetch." He tossed it to the very top of the rock, Shaolin ran after it and picked it up making sure it wasn't cracked. "Why do you need the record?"

"It's for The Get Down."