“In other news: Some are calling a 15-year-old boy a hero after he subdued two attackers in Northern Durham. WRAL’s Craig Knighton has the story.”
“A boy, whose name we cannot release because he is a minor, was walking along this quiet street after school, when two assailants on a motorcycle attacked him. Little did they know, the boy was a third degree black belt. One of the assailants, 26-year-old Carritta Douglas of Raleigh, is still at Duke Regional Hospital recovering from a broken tail bone, shoulder, and finger; while her brother, 32-year-old Carlotto Douglas died at the scene. Both are well known members of the Bloods gang of Durham.”
“I still can’t believe it,” Kimberly said as we ate pizza together at the Pizza Hut on Guess Rd. “I just don’t have an explanation for what happened with your *friend* and the colored mist, much less somebody being dead.”
“Allah has made you a warrior, JET,” Mo said as he ate his salad. “I do not know why you have such a hard time believing, Kimberly.”
“That’s because his friend didn’t say he is Allah or a god at all,” Kimberly argued back.
Those two have always bickered about religion — this didn’t help.
“You two!” I laughed. “You’re going to be married one day if you keep that up.”
“As soon as she converts,” Mo laughed.
Kimberly pushed Mo’s shoulder. “Keep dreaming, handsome.”
“You two should have kept up your Taekwondo like I did,” I said. “I could use the backup in case the Bloods come after me.”
“Don’t even joke like that,” Kimberly said. “Its not at all funny. Those people are serious.”
“I’m not in a gang, unless you two are my gang. They have to watch the news like everybody else. It was self defense and I didn’t mean to hurt either of them, much less kill someone,” I explained.
I had no remorse from the incident. Not even a little. I chocked it up to my gift. When it came out that they were Bloods, I didn’t get scared, either. I’m not completely sure that I should yet, but I trust my friend.
“I’ll have your back if you need help, JET, I am not afraid of any thugs,” Mo said. “Besides, you know my Tahtib stick fighting and knife handling are perfect.”
“Thank you, Mo,” I said as I rocked him side to side by the back of his neck. “I don’t know about ‘perfect’, but I trust you’ll always have my back.”
We all laughed.
Kimberly said, “I don’t know how much good your confidence will be against machinegun fire. I’ll just trust that if it goes down, I’ll be able to get to cover while you two have it out with them.”
“Perhaps my friend will give you gifts too, Kimberly, then maybe you’ll be able to fight off machine gun fire.” We all laughed, but I was serious. I could think of no better people to get gifts from my friend too, but I had to wait until it was time — besides, I didn’t know how yet, either.
Our favorite waiter, Mr. Lee, came over and said, “I have a message for you, Josiah.”
I said, “Oh? What’s the message?”
Mr. Lee said, “Our friend said you may give gifts to Kimberly and Mo.”
We all looked at each other, stunned.
I said, “Our friend?”
Mr. Lee said, “Yes, our mutual friend. How else would I know about the stone in the bottom of the divot where your grill used to be? It’s been there ever since your conversion that night when you were just a boy.”
I was shocked! I looked at Kimberly and Mo and they were shocked, too; we all just sat there and looked at Mr. Lee.
Then Mr. Lee said, “You three musketeers going to have anything else?” as if nothing had just happened.
Kimberly asked, “What about your mutual friend?”
Mr. Lee looked at Kimberly, puzzled, and asked, “Which one would that be, little lady? “
The three of us looked at each other again, then Mr. Lee chuckled and asked, “What are you three up to now? You have a new friend you’re going to bring in with you next time? Somebody I know to surprise me?”
I said, “Maybe so, Mr. Lee, but it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if we told you *now*.” We laughed together. Then I said, “That’s going to be all for this time. It’s my turn to get the check.”
JET (The Hero) 