The ghetto had its own bitter sweet melody of crime and poverty wrapped into one. It was a place that most people had nightmares about, but for me it was my reality. It was about four in the afternoon, and like always the ghetto was live and ready for some drama. I watched the boys on the court run back and forward with the ball, and finally leap into the air for a perfect lay-up. Let me introduce Myself I'm Cookie, at least that's what my friends call me. I been livin' in this ghetto all my life, and somehow I had a feelin' for the rest of my life.

True enough I was dirty south bred, but one day I wanted out. A feeling inside of me was urging me telling me to get out of here. I wanted to go to college I wanted to be a singer, and all that when I was a kid, but now that I was about to graduate It got harder for me to believe. My mama always told me dream big or not at all, that was before she died a year back. she was the only one who believe in me, and now that she is gone, I have put all my dreams to rest. My older brother Rob Had gone wild in the streets since mama's death. He started using hard drugs, and hangin' with some foul ****** from around the way.

I prayed every night that he would survive the life he was living, but I guess he was going to have to learn the hard way. He was also sellin' dope, which I knew would only get him too things around here. In a ditch, or in the pen, and he was heading to one soon. As usual a fight had broke out in the park, two boys I recognized from school were throwing down on the grass. Like always it was over a gambling debt to be paid. The boys in the projects played dice on the side walks of lakewood night and day, when somebody didn't pay up, it was time for war. Everybody knew that Magail Semsters brother Rodney was a drug dealer and the leader of one of the worst gangs in lakeside. anybody who fought with Magail would have to face Rodney sooner or later, and for Demetrius Thomas more sooner than later. I don't know what Demetrius was thinking, but he pulled a knife from his pants, and jammed it into Magail's torso. The crowd got silent.

Magail fell to the ground bright red blood appeared on his white T-shirt. My eyes widen and my heart thumped as I watched the ongoing scence in the distance. Demetrius wiped blood from his mouth, ans tossed the knife onto the ground beside Magail, and spitting at near his face. That fool must have head a death wish, because he knew who he was going to have to face, and It wasn't gonna be pretty at all. Demetrius looked at the silent crowd, and started running towards Helen St. The point is he could run all he wanted, but he was sure to be dead by sun down.


Like I said they found Demetrius Thomas's body this morning under the levy near madison and Spring st. They say that he had was so badly beat up that his face was just a muddle of smashed flesh and broken bones. My bestfriend denise came running to my house that same morning, begging me to come down to the levy to watch the coroner put the body in the bag. I swear that girl was crazy, she was always getting me into some **** neither of us could handle.

When we got there, they were still takin' pictures, and marking evidence. A red cutlass with tented windows and 20 inch spokes cruised by. I already knew it was Rodney and his crew, checking out the scence to see if homeboy was really dead. Even thought Magail didn't die, that didn't touch Rodney any. he wanted to let everybody know that messing with his little brother was a no no. and Demetrius's murder was a blunt uncanny example. "Come on girl let's go under to get a closer look," Denise said excitedly. "Excuse me," I turned her way. "Let's go......." I jumped in. "Oh I heard ya *** I just think you have lost ya **** mind,"O had a hand on my hip. "Fine I'ma go on my own," She climbed under the yellow tape. Now I couldn't just let her go alone----could I? "Wait a minute girl," I whispered. We didn't get very far at all, because two policemen escorted us back before we reached the body. "See Dee I told ya *** we was gone get caught," I said angrily. "We would have made if you hadn't been so worried about ya shoes getting muddy," She threw back at me. I fixed my jacket on my shoulders, that the cop had escorted me by. I rolled my eyes at her, and walked away. Denise was my girl but sometimes she just hit the wrong nerve.


We had been friends since she came to Lakewood four years ago. I was twelve when she moved to Lakewood, and hit it off automatically. we shared our deepest secrets with each other. she told me about how her brother molested her, and I told no one. I even spent the night with her to keep him off her. She was too embarrassed to tell her mama, and so it never stopped. Her brother is locked now for raping a girl, and sliting her throat. Both denise and I prayed that he didn't get out soon.

And with the color of the girl he had murdered he would not be out for the next forty years. Like I said she and I shared some of deepest, darkest secrets, but there was one she never told me about yet, but when she does, it might just put our friendship on hold-------forever.




copyright VJL 2002

This is real.
I enjoyed the read.
Keep'n coming! :)


CCBSKYN :heart:

living in da world of getto life !!!
dis story comes alive with realem
nice work poetess............keep flowin

I sat on my cousin Nu Nu's bed as Tupac bumped on the stereo, and she rolled a joint with her long nails. I was living with her, and my aunt Julean, who my mama had gave the right to take care of me until I was 18. My Cousin Nu Nu was like my big sister, we hung out, got high together, lied for each other, we even fought for each other.

She was my blood, and It didn't come no thicker. Nu Nu's was also pregnant, she had gotten pregnant from sneaking out the window all times of the night and me covering her ***. Aunt Julean must have tore the house up the day she found out Nu Nu was pregnant. She cussed and called on jesus at the same time. I guess she was prayin' that it would have been me instead of her precious Nu Nu.

"Girl you don't need to be smokin' you know," I said as she lit the blunt. "Girl please, my baby gonna be just find, if it can survive a little lah I know it can survive this ghetto then, just gettin' it prepared," she smiled. She passed me the joint, and I puffed takin' it in deep. "So ***** what's up wit you and Tyrell, I saw ya'll at Al's the other night all cozy and ****," She sat back on her pillow and looked at me. I almost choked on the smoke, "Tyrell, man don't even mess up my high girl, you are trippin' hard," I lay down at the foot of the bed.

Now tyrell was fine, but the fact was he was a ganster, and If I got involved with him my neck would be on his enemy's list. "Girl you crazy tyrell is fine, with that fly *** ride, and then he gots stacks of chips----come on girl," I sat back and thought about me being the gangs first lady, I would be the most resecpted broad around the PJ's....... What the hell was I talking about, I wasn't cut out for that ****, I wasn't a thug ***** and I sure wasn't about to try to become one. The door to the room clicked, and aunt Julean walked in.

"Oh no ya'll ain't smokin that **** in my house, both of ya get ya ***** up now," She pointed a long thin finger at me and Nu Nu.
While aunt Julean snatched the joint out of Nu Nu's hand, and cussed her out i went outside, and watched the sun set over the projects. The cool breeze at the nape of my neck, cooling down the sweat that had appeared suddenly. There was a feeling in the air, a feeling that something was about to go down, what I didn't know but I had a feeling it was gone be some major drama.

TELL DA STORY OF REALITY LIFE IN DA GETTO !!!!! KEEP FLOWIN'

On saturdays all the young people were at Al's a spot that made the name Clubbin. There was always live music from local artist, and the crowd was always hyped. Tonight they were more hyped that usual. There had already been two fights outside, and there was another one brewing. Me Dee Dee, Nu Nu, and my Latino homegirl Lupai watched from the sidelines. Jamon and his girl Tia were into it again, just like every saturday night. The next week when she came to school, she would have a busted lip, or black eye. He was always sending her to the hospital with broken ribs, and once a broken jaw. Jamon wasn't nothing but a trifling, thug who was headed no where fast. She had his kid and all, but that never stopped his beatings. He treated her worst that an animal he shouted at her, and demanded she do what he said, and she did. He would by her some candy from concession at school, and toss it to her. Like a fool she would pick it up, not me. He grabbed her by her arm real hard and twisted it. It looked painful Lupai flinch as well as Nu Nu and Dee dee. Jamon's boys tried to calm him down, but he cursed them out, and almost started a fight with them. He slung Tia to the floor, where she held onto her stomach crying. I felt sorry for Tia she didn't deserve what he was doing to her. She thought it was love, but love isn't that crazy. He went out the door, Tia still on the floor. I dropped my head, and felt my heart drop in my lap. We all knew what would happen sooner or later if didn't leave, she would end up dead, her son without a mother.

"Cookie---gone up and sing it's a open mic tonight," Big Al who owned the place stood at the counter. "Yeah Cookie gone girl do that,"Nu Nu pushed. "Naw I'm straight," I protested. I didn't feel like singing tonight, not after what I had saw. "Come on girl cheer the crowd up with that pretty voice," Dee Dee said. I smiled at the words that she spoke. I got my voice from my mama, she had the voicec of an angel. Use to sing me hymns when I was smaller, especially when I was sick. "Ight Ight I'll do it," I gave in. They started clapping loud and shouting. Al went to the stage to introduce me to the crowd. Everybody already knew me though, from arounf the neighborhood. Me and my homegirl Wakesha use to sing in the park way back when we were about fourteen. Wakesha and I hadn't talked since she went off to Jersey with some ***** who promised her the world. That's the way life goes, we all grow up and go our different ways. I told the band which song to play, which was I beleive in you and me by whitney houston. I started out slow----then towards the end let all the anger, hurt and sorrow out through my lungs. My singing was a way for me to release my most inner feelings. I had forgotten I was surrpunded by people, and when they began to shout and clap, I was startled. It felt good when I knew I was doing something I loved felt like I was on cloud nine about to excel onto cloud ten. Singing was all that made me happy, singing was what I loved. To bad I was stuck in this ghetto---the land of no happiness---only the land of tears.

Early Sunday morning Aunt Julean dragged me out of bed to go to church. Nu Nu pretended to be sick and all because she was pregnant, and got to stay home. I listened to reverend Peters shout and slide all over the pulpit, half asleep. Marcus Murray turned around and blew a kiss to me, I smiled, then aunt Julean plucked me on the thigh with her bibile, and kept saying 'alright preacher,' I swear when I left that womans house talk about shouting. Marcus Murray had been hot on my trail since middle school, but he wasn't my type he was one of them goody-two-shoes types. His parents weren't even from the hood, they just came to Mt Zoin for church. they had money and all, and were stuck up as could be. His Mama was always wearing these big hats to church, that blocked your veiw if you were sitting behind her. His Daddy was a decon and thought he owned the church just because he paid more money than anyone else. Now Marcus' Sister Tatumn wasn't like them at all, she was just laid back, and cool. we had talked a couple of times, and conversated at choir pratice, from what I had heard her family got on her nerves as well. Now I haven't ever said I was an angel cause that would be a flat out lie, but somehow when I went to church I had a feeling that everything would all work out. That is my life and all. Dee Dee sat behind me and passed me a note under the bench. I laughed at what it said, and dropped my eyes when aunt Julean sent me that violent look. I pretended to be reading my bible and wrote Dee Dee a note back. She laughed out so loud some people on the front row turned around. You wondering what the note said right. It said what everybody else knew aunt Julean and Pastor Peters had been seeing each other undercover. Only person who was nieve to the fact was the Pastor's Wife. She was too blind to see that, that man wasn't any good to save his soul. They had been together for awhile I guess, maybe she knew and just didn't want to face the facts.

After Church Aunt Julean stopped by My Aunt Maybelle's house, to gossip about who was wearing what at church. I swear those two was gonna burn in hell together. "Child I'm so broke If I try to pay attention It might slap me a shut off notice," Aunt Maybelle came down the steps of her house. I Leaned on the car and watched them began to gossip. I missed Mama so much she was the one out of all six of her sisters who was mellow, and not into gossip. I could see her so clearly in my mind. Standing by the stove in the kitchen or at the sink washing greens off. Don't tell me you are surprised? I said this was the ghetto, never said we didn't eat the greens. Anyways mama, was what kept me going, she was my best friend, and my strength. I don't know why but I believe that mama would have wanted me to go to college and all. somehow I could hear her saying, 'Denise Michelle Heartman girl you know better than that, girl you better get on the ball, life waits for no one, take this chance and be the best at whatever you do,' Thank you Mama.

I want you to know
I'm still reading.
Thanks for keep'em com'n :)


Scribeaboutit!
CCBSKYN :heart:

I haven't seen my friends or been around the way for about a week, finals were coming up, and if I wanted to pass I had to study. I had my headphones on jamming some funky melodies, with my trig book on my lap. I didn't notice that nu nu had came into the room looking like a zombie stumbling to her bed. I pulled off my head phones when I glanced up and saw her. "You alright girl," I asked in a concerned voice. She stared blankly at the floor her eyes wide as she sat on the edge of her bed. I looked down at her coveralls, and spoted dark blood stains covered by her bloody hand. I looked her in the face, and felt something was wrong. "**** girl you bleeding, you bleeding," I ran to get aunt julean. Aunt julean rushed in wiping her hands on her apron. "lord have mercy Cookie baby go call the ambulance," she ordered. somehow as I looked at nu nu that look in her eyes seemed more guilty than shocked. before long what nu nu had done was all over lakewood. people whispering to each other about the girl who killed her baby, by tossing her away like garbage. right after what happened nu nu started having these spells blanking out and, fainting at the drop of a dime. maybe her conscious was healthier than she thought I would be. nu nu stayed in the bed mostly, she didn't even talk to me like she use to she just stared at the dinner table, and refused to eat. she was going down nuthouse lane driving 100 in a 55 zone. all I can do is pray for her and ask god to watch over her sick soul, but she is really going to have to pay for what happened that september night.

this really is awesome loving ya work of art .......u go gurl!!!!!!

thanks rich I'm going, I'm going.
The deepest of them all
DEEPSISTAHSOUL

The results for finals were in and I was so nervous I couldn't concentrate. Mr. Bowers my homeroom teacher came around individaually with the test booklets, when he got to me my heart was beating so fast I thought it would run out my chest. he kneeled down at my desk, the look on his face made me want to fall completely out my chair. The look that said uhuh girlfriend you gotta do this **** again. Then he smiled, "Passed with flying colors," he handed me the booklet, and got up. I almost started to cry at the sight of my perfect score. I rushed home after school, and called denise on the phone to see what her results were. To my surprise her mother said she hadn't came home yet. That was strange because she always came right home after school. I was worried, so I followed the path she took home from school, to see if she had stopped and talked to one of our other friends or something. What I saw wasn't pretty, and it sure as hell wasn't cute. I was praying that I was dreaming, I was hoping I had lost my mind. Denise was in a lip lock with Big san, who we all knew was straight up dike. 'hold on cookie you trippin--wake up girl wake up.' this wasn't real couldn't be. Big san's impala was parked on the curb, and denise jumped in. **** I was trippin' hard---how could my best friend be a ----hell no I was gone get some answers and soon.


*** "You was spyin' on me **** Cookie," denise flashed to her bed and slung her body down. "No I was looking for you ya mama said you hadn't came home yet so I traced ya steps and......." I couldn't even say it. "you can't mention this to my mama," Denise said. "I love her she treat me better than any ***** would," she looked like she meant what she said. "come on girl think about what you sayin, come on" I was gonna get it through her head that this **** was foul. "I know just what the **** I am sayin' you don't know ****---a ***** the one that made me this way, so think about what you sayin', " she looked at me with fire in her eyes. "You know how long I been like this," she stood up. "since I was sixteen, and I found out the love I had for women wasn't just as friends, then I thought about all the times my brother forced his **** in me, and how much I hated it. I thought about how you touched me and told me it would be alright, I'm in love with you Cookie," She stepped up to me, and I stepped back. "San taught me a lot, she been my mentor sort of, she taught me that a womans love is deeper than a man's she----" "Look girl you done lost your mind, or you just confused I can't deal with----what hell, you in love with me," I started to scream almost. "Look I know you don't feel me----," "Feel you, look this is bull**** you talkin' i'm not even sure if I know who the **** I am talking to, either you tell me this is all a joke or--------I'm sorry we not even cool no mo'," She stood by her window and looked out. "Well I guess we not cool anymo," All I could do was walk out the door, this **** was crazy my best friend was now, my ex friend, all because she was in love with me. I had to go ly down, before I fell down.

!!!!!!URGENT!!!!!!!!!!

I NEED SOMEONE TO FINISH THIS STORY PLZ!!!!! if you want to finish it drop me a pm and i will give the go ahead.
ty

only u knows da ending flow on sistah!!
as i watch from above

By the time i woke up it was 10 at night, i stumbled out of bed and noticed the window to the room was open. I hadn't remembered opening it but i closed it anywayz. I looked around the room trying to rub the sleep out of my eyes in the misty dark. I looked over at nu nu's bed, wishing that i could see her there like old timez. I don't know what happened next, because i was face down on the floor from a blow to my head with a blunt object. I tried to squirm up but my attacker held me down, and violently flipped me over. I couldn't see the persons face it was to dark in the room. blood streamed down my face, and i held my hand over my wound. I tried to scream, but a kick to my side prevented me from screaming. The person was close enough, for me to tell by his body sturcture it was a man. I prayed to god that i didn't die tonight. i could barely breathe now as he ripped off my garmets, I lie in a pool of blood, blinking in and out of conscious. What happened next was to horrible for me to even explain. My insides felt as if they were being ripped out, his thurst inside my body felt like knives in my heart. I couldn't scream, I wouldn't scream fearing i might die. If i didn't scream i still might die, all the pain all the hurt that he was forcing upon me, i let out a loud cry, hoping to be heard. "*****," he scrambled up. He was about to strike me with what appeared to be a pipe when my aunt bursted to the door. He was halfway out the window, leaving me half naked and battered on the floor. My aunt knealed down and held me in her arms. That was the closest she had ever gotten to me. Why had this happened to me? i didn't know, but now i knew i had to get out of this ghetto if i lived through the night.

another sad song to da reality of what is and what can be
we get lost in the myth of da feelings aboard us to find out
real love one see in us .....i tell u big San done took dis to new
high .....gurl dis story had me on edge the whole read
bring on mo !

I woke up in a stiff hospital bed, barely able to move numb from the waist down. my head was still tender, and from what i could see so was my aunt. She sat by the window and looked out towards the sun. she held the bible on her lap and kneeled her head. she noticed i was up when i moved a bit, and came my way. "how you feelin baby, you been sleep since thursday," she smiled. I couldn't answer how i felt, i just turned my head as that night flashed inside my head. "you rest now child i'll be here," she patted my hand. A tear rolled down my honey colored cheek. "aunt julean," I sobbed. she rushed back up. "y did this happen to me, does god hate me, first mama now this," i wanted to scream.

"i'll kill you with my bare hands i hear talk like tha again, god doesn't hate you baby. God loves you, things happen for a reason. even though they may be unknown sooner or later the reason will be reaveled." she had a firm look on her face.
I was silent for a while, because i was repenting for my actions. I looked back towards the wall, "how's nu nu auntie," i said. she shook her head as if to clear a thought. "nu nu can't be saved baby what she did was wrong. I alwayz wanted her to be so perfect to not be like i was when i was young, but i guess i failed." she shook her head. "I'll be back later, need to go home and straighten up," she picked up her purse. "if you need anything baby you know the number," I was shocked that she kissed me on the cheek.

I could hear mama's voice so clear like she was sittin in the room next to me. "DOn't Give up baby stay strong"
I will mama, I will.

Come on Deep Sista, I'm waiting for the next installment.
Lovin your work. Cna't wait to see what happens next.
*Emma*

Deep Sista:
gurl, you got me addicted. i gots to have more.
much love
PoeticAlize

All I can say is sistah do your thang! Ghetto dreams is a piece of art! Pageturner 4 sure!

Awwww, ****! ****! ****! I know you not going to leave a sista cliff hangin like this! This is one of the most brutal, undeniably raw, and powerful stories of cold ghetto reality that I have ever read! ****, why did she have to be raped, and God I hope she makes it out! Please HURRY with the next installment!

i'm feelin this... great read. it reminds me so much of my neighborhood...

i hope you continue
deepsistasoul...these pieces
are so real...ish like this happens
everyday...please more more more
peace
khasm

i've sat here and read this whole thing...i could not take my eyes away from it...this is a beautiful story and you are a wonderful writer...i hope you continue it. much love

much love my brothas and sistas,

the deep one returns and i am truly thankful for your love and support, Ghetto Dreams continues and with full force so watch out you shol don't wanna get burned

in my lord and saviors name whom i give the glory and the honor AMEN