Pressed At All Sides... by Tyrone V. Banks (classic novels for teens txt) 📕

With an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips he muttered; "Okay, it's time for super pursuit mode!"

I knew what he meant, buckle my seatbelt, press my back firmly against the seat and hope that we wouldn't die.

I had some interesting friends growing up. We lived in a neighborhood that was placed so close to a normal life and even closer to a life of crime. People assume sometimes that the inner city is a breeding ground for corruption. Some even feel that being corrupt is the "norm" and doing something with your life was simply beating the odds.

We played the odds quite often. We played with fate, our lives and the lives of others with the games that we used to play. One such game was the "super pursuit mode" inspired by the original Knight Rider series. Simply put, we'd start at the beginning of a long street that was intersected by several smaller streets that lead to and from other main roads. The driver would floor the accelerator in a car that was anything but a corvette and then slam the car into 2nd gear for an added "kick".

Our boldness, or luck, would be based on how far we'd go and how many stop signs we'd run before we ran out of road. It was usually at 1 or 2 in the morning so we thought that it would be okay. Besides, we were young, drunk and high - and therefore invincible!
So we thought.

This "game" was usually preceded by several daily events. Usually it was during the summer and we usually spent most of the day on my front porch hanging out and talking. Someone would excuse them self, leave for about 30 minutes and then return. Someone else would suggest a beer-run to see if we could trick the liquor store attendee into selling us 40 oz. bottles of malt liquor.

We'd bring our purchases to a local park deserted by children and the city years earlier. We'd pass the 40's - as we'd call them - around until the bottles were empty. Usually someone would pull out a small bag of "weed", roll up a joint and we'd hit it until it was gone.

We'd usually fall asleep on the park bench. There were always 6 to 8 of us so we felt safe. We'd wake up hungry, go to my house and eat every snack - stale or not - until our hunger was satisfied.

Now, this was "danger-time" where we'd democratically decide on what we were going to do next. The group dynamic always included the thinker, the doer, the encourager, the discourager, the planner and occasionally the "wild card" that would do anything. Last but not least would be the "crimester" who would think of doing something that would get us all in jail.

After the deed was done it was usually late and only a few of my friends remained. We were part of the "super pursuit mode" group that always lived to tell the others what we were doing at 2 am before another day of daily events.

That cycle perpetuated itself in spite of jobs, responsibility and even family. During the cycle one afternoon we went to the park and started to drink. Someone pulled out their purchase of marijuana and started to roll it up.

It was like a delicate surgical procedure and our team of specialists had varying degrees of proficiency in the art of cigarette making. Some were so sloppy that the wet cigarette could only be smoked after their saliva evaporated. Others rolled it so big that they used a hollowed out cigar to have enough room for the amount of product they purchased - or were supposed to sell to others. Some rolled it, presented it and then everyone watched it unroll before their eyes.

However, if we had a team or surgeons, there was always the "over-achiever" who was usually in possession of drugs that we'd avoid. That afternoon the "over-achiever" added cocaine to the cigarette for a better effect.

I was at a crossroad at that time. I could either blow past the stop signs and continue forward or pull off onto a side road and stop the game. Sometimes the thrill of the unknown and cheating death can be exhilarating. Did I want action and adventure or did I want life?

It was like I was a marionette carried by strings into a series of places and events that I should not have gone. I relinquished my self-control too many times and made some bad decisions.

I reasoned that; I was a straight "A" student, a member of the National Honor Society and fairly intelligent. I knew that I had a lot to live for and too much to lose.

But, I figured; I've done this a few times and I'm still here!
I know how to stop...

I heard a voice that said; "Then stop!"

I'm in control...

The voices answered; “Then prove it. Walk away."

The strings were cut and I fell. But, after I fell I stood up and walked away. I walked away! I WALKED AWAY!

I spent the rest of that day with my family. My friends continued on without me. I think that I was the "wild-card" up until that moment.

Later that night, actually at 1:48 the following morning...I heard a loud crash. I ran out my front door and I could see smoke rising in the distance a few blocks away at the elementary school. I ran down the street and arrived just as the fire engines, police and ambulance reported to the scene.

I was able to get there before the police could contain the scene. I lost 4 friends that night. If only they could have stopped before it was too late. If only I could have taken a few of them with me when I walked away.

Today, I am a born-again Christian and my mission is to save souls...I'm not leaving empty-handed - your family is waiting for you - at home. Life is a gift from God and we have no right to squander it. When you come to that crossroad between life and death - choose life!

Publication Date: 09-07-2009

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