Warrior Poets a serial by Scott Walker

Drugs, brutality, power, and a peculiar lifestyle highlight this tale of a drug trafficker and the people he meets during his nefarious career. 

The Beginning - In retrospect, I probably should have said "no." But, that's the positive side about retrospect. The side that allows you to examine the consequences of previous decisions, with a full understanding of their consequences, which can be later weighed against the unknown choice. The unknown choice, the decision I didn't make, would have been if I had intelligently answered the question in the negative. But I didn't. Am I going too fast for you? Probably. I think it would be smarter if I started from "a" beginning. I can't start from "the" beginning. Although it is "the" beginning, of my story.

Three Problems - As I walked out of the house, I knew I'd face severe ramifications for putting a beating on Tough Guy. Although he was an obvious poser, he had associates. These associates were most likely the largest group of posers walking. But, sometimes even the most ignorant poser is motivated. The combination of motivation and ignorance can be very dangerous.

Two Brothers - I was once asked how I felt about being the very epitome of hypocrisy? This was normally the type of statement that would lead to a scuffle. But in this particular instance, I chose to ask this poser for further clarification to his accusational query. The poser, perhaps surprised by my question, answered tentatively. He told me that it was incomprehensible that I would be both the catalyst for good in one brother, and, all the while, I acted as the complete antithesis for my other brother. This was a fact that I had dealt with at times before, but to hear someone else say it had left an undeniable impression.

SHORTY - On the way to Shorty's, my mind ran through all types of possible scenarios. All of them dealt with the possible ramifications that my action against Tough Guy may bring forth.

THE LIGHTER WAR - I hadn't realized that it was so late until I got back into my car and checked my voice mail. I would have kept a closer watch on the time had I been anywhere else but Shorty's, but there was just something about her that made time fly by when she was around. A day would pass in a second and a weekend passed in an hour. That's why the cell phone was in the car. I didn't allow anything to break the euphoric feeling I felt when I was at Shorty's. But, when I got to the car, I saw that it was four in the morning and I was late for war.

CRAZY TIME - After the war, I decided I needed to hustle if I was going to make it to the college by eight a.m.. When I got to my car, I realized that my plans were about to change. 

SHOPPING WITH BOO - After the morning I had just experienced, I wanted nothing more than to crawl into my bed and sleep the rest of the day away. But that wasn't going to be possible. I had to make moves. There is no rest for the wicked.

COLLEGE TRIP - I didn't have time to change after I finished shopping, because I needed to hurry and get to Soft's college. He needed his product and I was sure he was getting anxious. It was four thirty in the afternoon, and it was crucial that I get to the college before the rush. I had a z and a half stashed safely in the spot and I was ready to move. After filling up at the gas station, I set out for the two-hour drive.

CONFLICT AND STUTTER - Forty minutes into the ride to the city, I still had not thought of what I was going to say to Conflict. I needed my words to be firm, yet sensitive. Basically, I needed her to know that what happened was a mistake and it couldn't happen again. But, I didn't want to upset her because I didn't want One Punch coming after to me. I hoped desperately that I could find the right words. 

C.R.E.A.M. - Considering the fact that I had a whirlwind of problems circulating through my mind, I felt really good. The car ride to Pretty's house was proving to be just as quiet as I had hoped. The silence would allow me to concentrate on my future endeavors. I needed to enjoy the cipher at Pretty's. This was first and foremost. Then I needed to re-up from Smoked. Smoked never left his apartment so I didn't need to worry about what time I got there. Sometime tomorrow I needed to meet with Conflict, in secrecy, because I was trying like hell to avoid having myself knocked out.

Smoked Out's door - On the way to re-up at Smoked's place, I dropped Stutter off at the local strip club. He loved the strip clubs. They were another place he didn't have to talk. At the strip club, he let the green do the talking. 

BACK AT SHORTY'S - Ever since I was eleven years old, I've liked to read books by Stephen King. Despite what people believe, his books aren't always scary stories about monsters and demons. The only thing that all his stories have in common, is great character description. King can describe a character in such detail, you feel like you actually know the person. But, the best part of any King book, is the moment when that character is on the verge of "snapping". He or she, is one moment, one action, or one thought from some pressure causing that person to do something that there is no way to take back. The character is about to pass the point of no return, and they will forever be changed. That is how I felt at this moment.

I had won the lighter war - I couldn't begin to describe my emotions as I pulled away from Shorty's house that night. I was glad that I had cut her loose, hopefully giving her the chance to spread her wings and be as great as she could. I hoped that the misery I was giving myself would help her in the end.

THE PHONE CALL - It's a strange thing when life presents you with a boatload of problems. Obviously, the objective is to figure out which problem needs to be dealt with first. The way I saw things, my biggest problem right now, was going to be ending my relationship with Boo. We'd dated for far too long for me to just call her and end the relationship, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to handle telling her face to face. Yes, I am a coward.

SAYING GOODBYE - A million thoughts go through your mind when you are racing into the unknown. The most popular questions that people ask themselves, tends to be, " What's going on? Am I too late?" And of course, in my current situation, " How is it possible that I get every red light in the city?"

REVENGE - There are several methods to handle every situation. These are what I like to refer to as the "keys" of life. For instance, the "key" to life is moderation. If you smoke some greens, you should do so moderately. Smoking, in moderation, is fine. Smoking every day, like I do, is probably not a good thing for your body. This should be obvious.

CONFLICT'S CONFLICT - Parallel lives. Do you ever think about what other people are doing? I do. I think about it all the time. Sometimes I find myself lost in thought when I try to compare what other people are doing compared to what I am doing.

A FRIENDLY BEATING - I sat on the park bench across from the kid's swing set. The kids looked so peaceful when they were on those swings. I wish I could go back to that time. A time, way back when, that my parents and Soft were alive and well. 

ACCEPTING THINGS - On the way to the airport, I tried, as best as I could, to sort out my life. So many things had happened in the last three days, I wasn't sure where to begin.

FINAL DECISION - A million things run through your mind when you make a decision that will change your life drastically. I contemplated the million things I may have done right or wrong that have led me to the position that I currently find myself.

SORRY ABOUT THAT - As I sit on the plane, I find myself thinking about Shorty. I am now quite certain that I had made a mistake. And, I am sorry about that.