Chiraq V

Chapter 5

By the end of the night, Big Shorty was on the block slinging crack with Jello and Al. Al was fresh out of high school and had proved to be dangerous with his hands. Al was always participating in boxing tournaments and was a rough young man with a beard that always needed trimming. Big Shorty lived with Jello and Al on most nights, but all that ended when, at about 3:00 A.M. that morning, Eddie, Big Shorty's grandfather, drove up the block in search of Big Shorty. Only one street light worked, which marked the proverty of the neighborhood. Signs posted up saying, "R.I.P.", and six-point stars were graffitied all along the sides of the touwnhouses.

Spots of dried blood from gun shot wounds stained the sidewalks. Eddie spotted Big Shorty standing on the corner with Jello and Al and yelled, "Tyrone! Get your butt in this car! Out there with them hoodlums!" Eddie then nervously felt for his Smith and Wesson that was under the seat. The three young men stood on the corner surprised as Big Shorty replied, " Yes Grandpa!" Eddie then reached over and unlocked the passenger side door for Big Shorty. Big Shorty restlessly opened the door, got in and closed the door behind him. He had a derelict expression on his face.

They drove off in Eddie's black Lincoln towncar to his grandparents two bedroom apartment on 79th and Halsted. Big Shorty's grandfather was a retired road construction worker who had hurt his lower back and was waiting on a settlement. Eddie was plain-faced with a tidy grey goatee. Eddie examined his way across Big Shorty's afro and then noticed his black eye. "Your grandma is worried about you and wakes me up in the middle of the night crying for me to go and find her grandbaby," Eddie said frowning. "There's a lot of crazy fools out at these times of night and you got me searching the streets looking for you," he added.

The streets were swamped with thugs collecting dough from the creeping crack-heads in the darkness and there was a small amount of traffic on Front Street. Big Shorty looked down the gloomy side streets. They seemed to be driving in slow motion, when shots rang out, and Eddie ducked down to reach for his Smith and Wesson, then he quickly sped up. Fighting and shoot-outs were inevitable in this part of town. Then suddenly, as they drove along, there was a strange emptiness where there was no talking or sounds at all.

Big Shorty, leaning back in his seat, finally opened his mouth and said, "Grandpa, can I live with you and grandma?" Eddie slightly released his grip on the steering wheel and spoke intently, "You have to take that up with your grandma." Big Shorty was restless from standing out hustling and getting money on the block. He looked out the window at the cars racing past on the expressway. Big Shorty's grandpa then stated, "I know that you don't want to go home because your mother wants to whoop your butt for being missing for days at a time, out there selling crack and worrying everyone."

Moments later, after exiting the expressway, Eddie pushed the button on the garage door opener, which was clipped to the visor as they approached the two-door garage. Above the door was a night light that lit up the porch. Eddie and Big Shorty walked through the back door and saw a reflection of the television coming from his grandma's room. A mild, humid wind blew through the window. "Honey, did you find my grandbaby?", she asked. "Yes grandma, I'm here", replied Big Shorty. He took off his Timb's at the door and rushed to meet his grandmother.