Chapter Two ( God Bless a Child That Can Hold His Own By Tyler Gore )

                                

  It was a brief ride out to the country where pokey bought his mom a brand new five bedroom, two and a half bathroom house. He was listening to some throwback Tupac “Life Goes On.” That’s easy to say he was thinking as he reminisced to the lyrics. Catching a lone tear trying to escape from his eye as the song came to an end he popped in Plies’- One Day. Listening to this song had him reflecting real hard. When he pulled up to Mrs. Queens house he noticed that her place was the one packed with all the cars. I guess Mrs. Queen still throwing parties; hate to be the bearer of bad news and crash the party, but I got to let her know pokey won’t be around no more. “Damn, how am I supposed to tell her this fuck shit,” he was thinking as he stepped out the car. Before he could take three steps, the door flew open and ran out Mrs. Queen, smiling. “Hey, baby. How are you doing,” she asked as Fatboy just stared at the ground. “Damn boy, you can’t talk no more? I said, how are you doing, “she asked again with her hands on her hips. Fatboy looked up and responded,” Mrs. Queen we gotta talk.” “Duh! That’s what I been trying to do since you pulled up. You see an old lady throwing a party and you me out here looking crazy.” “Ma, listen, we gotta talk.” “ Oh shit,” she said. “The only time you call me Ma, is if something is wrong, so this got to be bad.” “ check it, pok… “Before he got a chance to say what needed to be said the party came outside. Everyone started giving him dap and hugs.” Hold up ya’ll, be quiet, Mrs. Queen yelled over the noise.” He was about to tell me something about my pokey. Right?” “ yes Mrs. Queen, but look, “he said grabbing her arm and leading her into the house away from the crowd so they could be alone.” I don’t really know how to tell you this…” “ what, pokey in jail?” “ No ma’am.” “Then what is it?” “pokey gone,” said Fatboy. “Gone where?” “ gone, he gone. He ain’t coming back.” “ coming back from where boy? Where my son at? Tell me what the hell you talking about!” “pokey got killed today. We was walking to the park to look out for the little kids, and some niggas ran down on us blasting and shot pokey. I’m sorry. He died in my arms.” “ No, no, you lying, “she yelled.” I would never lie to you about something like this.” No. not my baby boy. He finally got his life on track. He was doing so good.” “I know Mrs. Queen, I know, and I’m hurting just as much as you.” “Where he at? Where is my baby at?” “His at the morgue. The shit happened early this morning, about three hours ago.” “ And you just now telling me this, “ Mrs. Queen started crying.” I went home to get my mind right. I’m sorry I didn’t come straight here. I was going through it and I couldn’t think straight.” “ Get out! Get out Fatboy! Please get out! You let my baby get killed,” she screamed, trying to slap Fatboy as he walked out the door. Everybody ran up to him because he had tears streaming down his face. “Fatboy, what’s up?” “ you okay?” “ Naw, I’ll never be okay. I lost my best friend today and his mother think I let him get killed,” was his response to all of their questions as he walked towards his car. Right before he got in, Re`nee, pokey’s little sister, runs up. “ Hey bro, what’s up?” Damn Re`nee. Your brother got killed today,” Fatboy told her hopping into his car. As he backed out, he saw Re`nee drop to her knees and start beating the ground. “ God, why my dawg? Why her son? Why her brother? Damn, life fucked up, but I gotta clear my mind. Niggas going to pay for this shit. I gotta get back in the game and it’s going to be hell to pay. Anybody that gets in the way getting murked. No questions asked,” Fatboy said, pulling off.