Tales of the Underground: Blinded

I woke up excited and ready to go. I looked towards Aaron, who was sitting at his desk reading once again, does that kid ever do anything besides study? Today’s schedule: play basketball and hangout…just be a teenager Riley…I nodded my head lightly, I can do this.

I grabbed the pillow from under my head and threw it at him “Fuckin nerd.” I taunted, sitting up

He let the soft pillow bounce off his head and let out a small sigh “Real mature.”

“That’s what you get for studying during summer.” I shrugged.

He shook his head, and stood up “It’s 11, Carters been waiting to hear from you for like an hour now.”

Been waiting to hear from me? I found myself fighting off a small smile as I headed towards the door “Tell him to chill out, I’m gonna shower then we can go.”

He sat back down and returned his attention to studying “Okay, just hurry or moms going to try and schedule you a tutor today.”

The second I heard those words I grabbed a change of clothes and jumped into the shower. When I got back into the bedroom Aaron tossed me an old pair of his gym shorts because “Jeans aren’t good for basketball”.

As I walked downstairs into the kitchen Aaron let out a small laugh seeing me clean for the first time. My natural shaggy hair always seemed to curl up when starting to dry, exposing a different look. I shot him a nasty look and his laughter turned into coughing as he tried to cover it up.

 “Mom!” he screamed “Can you give me and Cy a ride to Carter’s? They want to play each other in basketball!”

“You’ve made friends with Aaron’s?” she excitedly stepped out of a side room and into the kitchen “That’s so great, you know I was going to make you a tutoring appointment, but it’s just as important for you to socialize! I knew Carter would be welcoming, he’s such a nice boy! Do you have basketball shoes?”

“He can borrow a pair of my Jordans for now.” Aaron offered.

I nodded and gave him a friendly shove “You’re a chill dude.”

“Thanks?” he let out, weirded out by my words.

As we headed towards the door he reached into the closet and pulled out the most beautiful pair of shoes I had ever seen. My eyes lit up as he handed them to me “I get to wear these?”

“Mhm” he nodded, once more giving me a confused look.

“Oh fuck yeah!” I shouted, starting to throw them on my feet “These are nasty!”

His look only seemed to grow more intense “Nasty as in good?”

“Hell yeah!” I yelped

He shook his head “They’re all sorts of marked up, and worn out. Plus they’re a few years old…you can keep them if you want.”

“Seriously?” I asked smile growing.

“Yup.” He nodded.

“So long as you stop cursing!” Mrs. James playfully teased, lightly pushing my head.

I nervously laughed “Workin on that.”

She shook her head and smiled “Go get in the car.”

I followed Aaron outside and down to the driveway where a big black Bentley sat. “Woh” I sighed, climbing into the back “This is a Bentley.”

“Very good!” he sarcastically teased, taking advantage of my surprise.

I shook my head “Look man, where I’m from all this shit is unattainable. Only the best of the best get to have them. I’ve been peddlin drugs for years and I don’t even have close to the money for anything like this.”

“I know.” He laughed “I’m just busting your balls, besides you have the money now.”

“No I don’t” I shook not understanding what he meant.

“Sure you do, you’re fostered by us, and if you get adopted…it can all be yours.” He explained.

I shook my head once more “I’m not in this for stuff.”

“I never said you were. It’s just a really nice perk” he laughed.

I nodded to his words and Mrs. James finally got into the driver’s seat. It didn’t take too long to get to Carter’s but as we pulled into his driveway I couldn’t help but be blown away. His house was just as amazing as the James’. Are all these freakin kids this rich?

“Be good boys, please and thank yous” Mrs. James instructed as we got out of the car “And Aaron look out for your foster brother! It’s only his second day!”

“He can take care of himself.” Aaron sighed, slamming the door.

I lightly laughed, and followed Aaron around back to a yard that seemed to go on forever.  Towards the back of it laid a huge concrete basketball court. As we got closer I could make out Carter on it practicing his shot. A glow of sweat seemed to coat him as he practiced his shot. I took a second to take the image in before grabbing a hold of myself.

“Hey Carter” Aaron greeted, as we got into ear shot.

“Hey guys, so you actually showed!”  He flashed a bright smile that seemed to shake me to my core.

I shook my head and looked him in the eyes “I ain’t scared.”

“You ain’t got good grammer!” he taunted, taking another shot. The basketball flew through the air and got nothing but net.

I bit my lip, and crossed my arms. “We here for a language class, or to ball?”

“I think you need a lesson in both.” He laughed, grabbing another ball off the rack.

I looked towards Aaron who was laughing along with his friend “I’ll let my game do my talking.”

“Ooo scary!” Carter laughed rolling the rack off the court “We play to 21, sharing the same side, winner’s ball.”

“Street rules” I smirked pulling the hair out of my face, and forced it up behind my left ear so it wouldn’t bother my good eye.

“Street rules” he nodded, observing my change in hair “You should keep it like that, it suits your face better.”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed the ball from Carter’s hands “Yeah okay.”

“I’m serious.” He shrugged, stepping onto the court “bet the girls at school will be all over you.”

I quickly dribbled the ball between my legs as I stepped “I don’t know what world you live in, but no one wants something this damaged.”

“You’d be surprised” he warmly smiled “Girls dig scars, and you’ve got the coolest one I’ve ever seen.”

“There’s more where that came from.” I muttered under my breath.

He ignored my words and got into position “Your ball, lets go.”

“Check” I announced, passing him the ball.

He grabbed the ball and tossed it back to me. The second I felt the ball bounce off the ground and back to my hand I was off to the races. Basketball was one of the few things I was able to do as a kid. I just needed shoes, clothes, and to find people willing to let me play with them. On the bad days growing up…days my mom’s boyfriends didn’t appreciate having a child around…well the courts were my safe haven. When I joined the saints my time on the courts only seemed to increase. It’s how we spent our off time, and bonded as a gang. I mean in the southside of Chicago basketball is so much more than a sport…it’s a way of life.

I faked to the right and quickly moved to my left, freezing him and going up for an easy layup. “You sure you want this pretty boy?” I teased, grabbing the ball once again.

“Just check it.” He grunted, regaining his balance.

I nodded, and we passed the ball back and forth. I quickly scanned his stance and slowly put the ball between his legs, making sure to shoulder him on the way to getting it and laying it up.

He looked at me and went to open his mouth but quickly shut it. “You can call fouls if you want; I mean we’re responsible for calling them ourselves after all.” I smirked

He let out a half happy, half pissed laugh “No, it’s all good, there was no foul.”

I nodded respecting his game “Alright, let’s run it again, 2-0.” I passed him the ball, except this time he threw it off my foot and it bounced right back to him, he turned around and swished a jump shot.

“2-1” he smiled passing me the ball to check it.

I sucked my teeth and caught the ball “Alright” I nodded passing him the ball back. He started dribbling and took a few steps back towards half court “Go ahead take that shot!” I dared, figuring he was far out of range. Before I knew it he pulled up and launched a deep bomb that went right into the rim. “ooooooo” I teased, grabbing the ball before it had the chance to bounce away. He laughed along but I could see I had ignited a competitive spirit in him.

The rest of the game saw us constantly trading leads; we would match each other’s 3s as often as possible, while also trying to cross one another up, and of course I fouled the shit outta him. Eventually Owen and Noah came to watch, and were in awe of our close game. They tried talking to Carter while he played, but he was on a different level…we both were.

18-19 him, I thought to myself as I began to drive to the hoop, I lowered my shoulder, ran him over and went up with another open layup. “Foul?” I asked, reaching out and helping him up.

“No.” he shook with a serious face “No foul on that play.”

A mischievous grin crossed my face “Really? you can call it if you want, I mean you went down pretty hard there, personally I think it was a block, but if you want to call the charge…” I tested, seeing how far he was willing to go.

“No, I don’t.” he grunted, tossing me the ball.

I nodded towards him “You’re playin like you’ve got something to prove.”

“And you’re playing like a dick.” He shot back, keeping a friendly smile.

“Fair enough” I nodded, passing him the ball. He tossed it back and I tried my best to lose him. Finally I stunned him, moved behind the arc and went up with a deep 3. As the ball went through the white netting I let myself fall to the ground “Let’s fuckin go!” I flexed.

“Dead eye” Carter remarked, impressed by my shot.

I moved my head back and forth “I know I played dirty, but’s a low blow man.”

“Oh no, I didn’t mean like…I…I forgot that you had…I ugh..” he looked towards Aaron for support, but he shrugged and watched his friend awkwardly sputter “I just, that was a nice shot…you had a few of those ya know? Like deep 3s that didn’t touch the rim…dead eye like marksman.”

I laughed as he did his best to explain his way out of it “Relax, I’m bustin you…I like that nickname, maybe I’ll use it someday.”

He looked down at me and made a face “That’s not offensive to you?”

“No” I laughed “Cy is short for Cyclops, I’m not ashamed of this eye.”

“Then what’s your real name?” he reached out

“Beat me and I’ll tell you.” I sighed, slowly getting to my feet, staring at  the bright red shoes Carter was wearing. “Shit! I know you’re not wearing LeBrons’ right now.”

He giggled lightly, and tilted his feet towards me “Like em?”

“No!” I shouted “You’re from Chicago! Chi-ca-go!” I sounded it out “The bulls are where Jordan made his name! Why do you disrespect the bulls all the time?!”

“Bulls fanboy” he remarked giving him a shove.

I rolled my eyes and headed towards the side line “Was this kid even born here, what the fuck?!”

Noah laughed to himself and shook his head “Didn’t take long for you two to become best friends.”

I looked at Carter and made a face “I aint friends with a bitch ass like him.” I taunted

“You love me and you know it.” He playfully shoved

“You’re pretty cool.” I nodded “Wouldn’t survive for shit on the south side but still pretty cool.”

I heard him start to practice shots from behind me “Are you kidding me? I didn’t call a single foul all game! I would so survive.”

“Trust me I went easy on you compared to some of the shit I’ve seen. I mean if it helps, out of you four, youd survive the longest.”

“Okay and what makes you able to survive more than us.” Owen sneered, with a roll of his eyes “You’re just as white as the rest of us.”

I scoffed at his words “It’s not about race, it’s about affiliation.” I slapped the blue and black Saints logo on my arm “Look at you fucks, you look like you’re out of the 40s, and you reek of money.”

“So I just have to dress like a child, and be poor.” Owen shot back “I could easily get that tattoo, it’s not that big a deal.”

I bit my lip and stared him down “Yeah and when one of the rival gangs sees it and guns you down because you don’t know the turf lines…or worse when a brother sees you with it and notices you’re not a saint you’d be burnt alive.” I couldn’t help but laugh aloud “Be glad you don’t know how to survive in the hood…it’s not a life people exactly ask for.”

“Jesus Owen, you want to swap upbringings with Cy? because I’m sure it wasn’t really fun and games for him.” Aaron shot in my support “Look at the scars on his face.”

“And…” Owen ignorantly droned on. “I’ve got a scar on my arm from falling off a bike, don’t hear me complaining.”

I nodded, and grabbed onto the bottom of my shirt. I’ve never been afraid to show my scars before…why should now be any different? Before I had a chance to second guess myself I ripped it off and exposed the beaten skin from underneath. Thick scares from whips and fists engulfed my body, as my abs fought to show themselves. I saw a few of their eyes get stuck at the Saints brand which sat at the top of my chest.

“Oh no.” Noah gasped, turning away in disgust.

“Alright, don’t piss yourself.” I grunted, quickly throwing my shirt back on.

“You’ve been shot?” Aaron gasped, in awe of it all.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shrugged, taking a seat on the grass next to him.

I could tell he wanted to move away, but quickly composed himself. “That one scar on your shoulder that was a bullet hole wasn’t it?”

“I fell off a bike.” I laughed, taking a shot at Owen, before I knew it the rest of the group started to hysterically laugh and the tension was broken.

Owen grunted once more and got to his feet “I’m going home.”

“Oh don’t get all upset!” Carter comforted “You picked a dumb fight and lost, we all do it.”

“That’s not why I’m leaving.” He snarled “I’m leaving because I know to associate myself with better company than some people here.”

“I thought you were cool with gay people.” I teased leaning back on my forearms. “Sorry Carter, guess homophobes are everywhere.” He shook his head once more before slamming the fence behind him.

“Aren’t you a homophobe?” Noah repeated with a confused face.

“Carter is pretty scary.” I smiled, side stepping the questioned

“You’re weird.” He giggled “but in a good way.”

Aaron bumped me with his shoulder “Coolest foster brother yet, I mean you’re not afraid of anybody! Owen could buy and sell you a million times over, and yet you don’t hesitate for a second.”

“Like I said, I’ve got nothing to lose.” I sighed “What’s he going to do? Take my 5 pieces of clothes? Say mean things to me? What can he do to me that hasn’t been done before?”

“That makes you dangerous.” Carter added, taking a jump shot “Owen sees it, that’s why he’s giving you so much shit.”

I nodded “I know, but I can’t let myself get disrespected, he’s lucky I’m just using words.”

“You’re gonna keep using just words.” Aaron reprimanded.

“We’ll see.” I nodded

“Hey stupid, if you get in trouble with the law then the social worker might take you away and mom and dad can’t adopt you!” He yelled, getting on my case.

I shrugged and looked at him “I still don’t know if I want to be adopted.”

“Really?” Noah asked making a face “Aren’t you enjoying yourself?”

“I mean it’s only my second day so it’s too early to say…it’s been fun, but I don’t know, it’s not the streets man. There’s no real substitute for the thrill of sneaking in and out of buildings, and taking whatever I wanted.”

“You really did all that?” Noah poked, still not sure if I was real.

I nodded my head “Hell yeah.”

“Well at my house you’ll always have a bed, food and no one is going to hurt you.” Aaron reminded me, worried about what choice I would make.

I made a face and nodded “You’re not wrong… just relax I’ve got a while to think it all over.”

“Just don’t do anything stupid in the meantime” Carter sighed “Try outs for basketball are next week, I’ll put in a good word, I really could use you at point.”

I bit my lip and confidently nodded my head “So you were impressed?”

“Slightly” he let out, taking one last shot and joining us on the grass “But if you try any of that playing it rough stuff at tryouts, they’ll kick you out.”

“But that’s how I am.” I insisted, turning towards him.

Carter lightly laughed, and shook his head in disproval “Owens gone now, you can tone down the hyper masculinity.”

“Hypermasc…” I stuttered, trying to repeat the word

I heard a snicker come from one of the guys behind me but ignored it “It’s when someone tries to act super macho, and manly like you do.” Carter explained, trying to ignore his friends.

“I don’t do that shit.” I defended

He rolled his eyes and laughed “You just threw you shirt off, to try and scare Owen off…you’re the definition of the word.”

“You try and go out of your element, it’s bad enough stayin in a place with people I just met, now I’ve gotta put up with that rich douche?”

 “Are you afraid?” he poked, eager to learn how I thought.

“I don’t think afraids the right word for it, but yeah I just got outta juvy so I’m kinda on edge.” I sighed “Between the other kids in there and the guards…I had a target on my back from them both the second I walked in.”

“Why would the guards want to hurt you?” Aaron nervously poked.

I looked at him and raised my eyebrows “They have reasons.”

“Does that mean you’ve messed with cops?” he asked as shock entered his eyes.

“Shit, take it any way you want cupcake.” I giggled

Noah carefully scanned me, still trying to crack the case “Are you sure you really do all that stuff?” I rolled my eyes as he asked the question for a 3^rd time in two days “I just mean that you don’t seem all that violent.”

“Looks are deceiving bruh.” I thought back on all the stuff I had done in my time with the saints, and took a deep breath “Look I’m an inherently violent person, but shit, down in the hood you push someone and they gotta retaliate, and if you leave me with a rival gang member…2 men enter 1 man leaves, just the way it is.”

“So what? You’re a bonafide killer?” Carter teased, not exactly buying my stories.

I lightly nodded my head but stopped myself “Nah I aint a killer, I’m a thief not a solider. It got named, and I got it. Climbing buildings, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, running from sirens,  that was me...” I diverted my eyes and took a breath “not killing people.”

“Then climb that tree.” He tested, pointing to a tree on the other side of the court.

“With pleasure.” I nodded jumping up to my feet.

“No, Cy, stop.” Aaron insisted, grabbing out for my arm.

I quickly side stepped him and made my way towards it “What are you my fuckin keeper?”

“If you get hurt mom will kill me!” He yelped

“Then I won’t get hurt.” I laughed arriving at the tree

“Alright Cy, lets save Aaron the gray hair and keep you on the ground.” Carter nervously spit  “You’ve got nothing to prove, we believe you.”

I swayed my head back and forth “Noah doesn’t.” I rubbed my hands together, reached for a branch and started to pull myself up.

“No I do!” he quickly yelped, now getting as panicked as his friends.

“Jesus, you guys are so fuckin boring, it’s like I’m with grandmas” I exhaled, slowly pulling myself higher.

They stood in awe as I got higher and higher, with every branch I passed I started to feel more and more at peace. I stopped as I reached the midpoint, and took a seat on a sturdy thick branch.

“Should I go to the top?” I yelled out swaying my feet.

“No!” They all screamed back.

“Holy crap! This kids suicidal!” Noah yelped, pacing back and forth.

“Relax!” I shouted back “I know what I’m doing; if I was bad at climbing I’d be dead already.”

“All it takes is one slip!” Aaron panicked “You can’t control everything that happens!”

“I always land on my feet!” I laughed taking in the sights. Its funny Carters house was so big I still couldn’t see over it. “I want to get higher I want to see the neighborhood.”

“No!” Carter barked “We’ll show it to you on foot! I’m sorry I ever challenged you.”

A smile crept across my face and I nodded. Having heard what I needed to I started to make the short descent. When I got close enough to the bottom I launched myself down to the ground, and rolled on the grass below until I reached my feet.

“What’s the matter with you?” Aaron scolded, annoyed by my actions.

I shrugged my shoulders and laughed “If I’m gonna be around for a while…you’re gonna have to get used to shit like that.”

“If you’re going to be around a while then this is exactly the type of stuff you need to stop doing!” He protested, growing serious.

I rolled my eyes and walked right past him “Then I guess I’ll be back in the Southside in time for Halloween.”

“When are you going to start taking any of this serious?” he demanded, turning back towards me.

I made a face and pretended to think it over “Never probably.”

“Don’t you want a family and friends?” Carter poked, trying to get through to me

“Shit man, I got a family.” I sighed taking a seat on the grass.

Aaron walked away frustrated with my behavior, as Carter and Noah shook their heads “A gang isn’t a family.” Carter chastised

“How would you know? You just learned what a gang was.” I laughed, not taking him seriously

“I don’t need to.” He decided “Look in the mirror Cy! You’re tattooed, branded, beaten and only God knows what else.“ He caught a glimpse of anger in my eyes, and waved his hands as if to say calm down “I’m not trying to bully you, I’m just trying to get you to give this a chance.”

“I am giving this a chance.” I muttered looking away.

“Not a serious one.” Carter scolded, showing no fear “If you are then from now on you’ll listen to Aaron when he tells you no.”

“He aint my boss.” I scoffed, looking towards him in the distance.

“No, he’s your new brother…he’s been waiting for a sibling for years now. I see it in your eyes, you love being a part of a group, it’s probably why you’re reminiscing so much about your gang despite the fact that they probably treated you like…like…like downright crap!” I leaned back as his truth hit me like bullets “But Aaron, he’s never had that! His family served as more of a waiting place than a foster home, the kids only stayed for like a day or 2, and every single time a new one came he would get all excited thinking they’d stay, but they never did. You want to go run around and be a criminal, be my guest, but don’t drag Aaron down with you.”

“You’re actions affect others too now.” Noah chimed in

“Shut the fuck up Noah.” I bit, getting to my feet.

“What did I do? I’m helping.”  He took a step back from me out of fear “I’m on your side.”

“Chill, I’m just bustin you.” I shook, walking towards Aaron.

“Oh good, me too.” I heard him laugh in relief.

As I walked up to Aaron I let out a deep breath “You gonna cry cause I climbed a tree?” He turned and went to yell at me but I raised a hand “I get it man, I should be happy to get a second chance…to even be alive right now, but shit, it’s gonna take time…this is just my second day…I’ve been alone my whole life! I’ve never had anyone worry about me…it’s gonna take time.”

“How do I know you’ll make the change.” He sighed but still refused to look at me.

“You don’t.” I exhaled “Not even I know that…we’ll just have to hope for the best.”

He looked back at me and nodded, somewhere deep within him he could relate to what I was saying…he understood…and in a way I started to as well.