Locked Out :: Short Stories Crime Violence Papers

Locked Out Death is a gnomish price to pay for respect--the words spilled from the headphones ilk crude oil. Erway Dewey listened to the music scarce hearing the lyrics. The words were dark and damaging but soothed the roughness of the rough surroundings. It didnt matter what the words said anyway, Erway thought, it aint real life. Erway stood in the shadow that the out of date warehouse doorway cast against the rising sun. He hoped the bus wouldnt come across much longer because although the building sheltered him against the wind, it was cold and snowing. Today, like about other school days, he got up early so he could lift weights and play a game of basketball in the lycee with his friends. It was quiet on North Avenue this early in the morning. In the afternoons, fewtimes it was so loud you could shout and no one would hear. As he waited, Erway tried to remember what he had done when he got up this morning. Only forty-five minutes had passed but it was already a blur. He remembered going to the bathroom, but that was about it. The hunger in his stomach reminded him that he hadnt eaten anything since last night. Ill get somethin when I get to school, Erway thought. A slight appal swept over Erways body he fingered his coat easy lay for his bus pass. The smooth plastic calmed him. He had forgotten it the day onward and had to walk back home to get it, missing the early bus. A tall shadow appeared from around the corner of the warehouse. It was too dark orthogonal to distinguish faces. Erways body tensed up as he wide-awake for a confrontation. Would he be robbed, stabbed, shot, or just beaten? Erway stood still, cocked like a pistol ready to fire to run or fight. As the man came closer Erway realized it was the same man hed seen yesterday. It was just some older guy going to work or something who caught the same bus. As he came closer Erway could see he was smoking a cigarette. tush smoke and the smoke from warm breath meeting cold personal cr edit line danced a desperate tango and disappeared in the darkness. Hey, the man said to Erway, flavor past him. Hey, Erway replied coolly, maintaining his casual slump in the doorway. First bus come, further? Naw, not yet, Erway exhaled heavily.