bags filled with goods, making small chat along the way. They discussed possible reasons for a few shootings on Foster Lane a week prior. One person was killed during one of these incidents directly in front their yard. Things were heating up in Southside and only showed signs of getting worse.

Cutie noticed a group a street up from where she and her mother were. Familiar with Tel Aviv and Southside's current conflict, she figured it best to take another route home.

"Mommy, I think it's best for us to take another way home," she warned.

"For what?!" spat her mother, continuing to walk on Barry Street. "You think I'm afraid of these little boys in this neighborhood? These guys have nothing on the guys from back in my day."

Cutie, reluctantly,_big man. Things had definitely changed._

__ Entering a yard on the lane, Roger smiled when seeing Desmond.

"Oh shit!" yelled Desmond, grabbing and hugging Roger. "You forgot about us?"

"I could never do that, family. Just been out west kicking up dust," said Roger.

"So why haven't you linked me?"

"A lot of things was going on in Tivoli,' so I was caught up."

"Well, you're home now, so you know that it's your word over everything."

Roger smiled, glad to be home.

_____

Infuriated by Desmond's blatant disrespect, Dog Face made the decision to kill the other youth when the opportunity presented itself. _That nigga has to die._

__ Since the insult, he found it hard to think clearly. He'd been a defender of Southside for a long while, therefore, a neophyte should not have the