The Code For Mistakes by Simi Thrasher (classic books to read .TXT) 📕

to me, repeat them in my head, again and again.

My mistakes, so many, are mine. Don't make them. Go to dad, he can teach you all you need to know to survive alone. Do what he says, but trust no one. Don't make mistakes, Karma. Mistakes are what get you killed when you’re like you and me. Promise me, no mistakes.

No more mistakes, I promise myself, for Mark. No more mistakes, I promised, and a mistake always keeps a promise to another mistake.
I lay down on top of a building, watching the stars. I fade into sleep slowly, wanting to continue to watch the stars.

I miss you Mark, but I can't do anything about that. I will keep my promise. I won't dishonor your last request or break my word to you. From this day on, I promise you, no more mistakes....


Four twenty p.m., New York. Bad idea, I think to myself. A horn blasts somewhere behind me, I groan. Sure, agree to show up at your dads at four in the evening, I complain to myself.
I cut across the street during a red light. The apartment complex is right in front of me. I rush through the door and up the stairs. I walk into apartment B38 without knocking, and choke on my cigarette.
I turn red then rush back out the door, quietly. I refuse to even think of what I had encountered. I shudder and take a deep drag of my cigarette. The door opens beside me and I go still.
A tall teenage boy, about nineteen, comes out the door. He’s dressed all in black, and has a cigarette in one hand. He closes the door behind him and looks at me. He’s grinning, such a boy!
“Gotta light?” He asks, leaning against the wall across from me.
“Depends, gotta brain?” I ask, not noticing until it was too late. The guy was cute, why was I insulting him!
But he laughs. I relax and pull my lighter out of my back pocket and toss it to him, he catches it perfectly.
“You new around here?” He asks, taking a deep drag on his cigarette and tossing my lighter back to me. I miss it and bend to pick it up.
“Kinda. I’m here visiting …family. I don’t like the city.” I say bluntly, straightening, surprised to see he had moved closer to me. He was leaning with his shoulder braced against the wall next to me.
"Oh? Me neither, I'm only here 'cause I don't have anywhere else I need to be, and 'cause my mom asked me to stay a while longer before I go off drifting."
I nod my head, not bothering to answer to his comment. So he was a mama's boy huh?
"You plan on bein' here long?" He asks after a few moments of comfortable silence.
"A while, not long though." I say, taking another deep drag on my cigarette. He frowns for a minute, then grins, takes a drag on his cigarette, then he says something that amazes me.
"So I'll pick you up tonight around eight?"
"Wait, your asking me out?" I ask, confused.
"Yeah," He says, then frowns. "you don't have a boyfriend or anything like that do you?"
"No! It's just that I never get dates...I mean, no one really asks me....ugh! The answer to picking me up is yes." I say, blushing like a star struck teen.
“Ok, where do I pick you up at? You said you’re visiting so I’m guessing you aren’t staying here?”
“No, I’m not. I’m actually staying nowhere, just wandering the city. Just meet me outside the building, ok?”
“Ok, I will. Tonight?”
“No, sorry. How about tomorr- ow night instead? I have some …business to conduct with my father.” I say, grimacing.
“Ok, I’ll see you at eight tomorrow night.” He says, and pauses before leaving. “By the way, we seem to have forgotten some- thing very important.”
“Oh, what?” I ask.
“What’s your name?” He asks, grinning again.
I blanch at my stupidity and say simply, “Karma.”
“I’m Shawn, Shawn Tritor.” He says, and then walks away.
I stare after him, curiously until the door on my other side opens and a red haired woman, in a man’s shirt and a skirt meant for accountants.
When she sees me I smile, Gregor is behind her and I get a very good idea.
“Hi, Daddy! Is this my new Mommy?” I ask, batting my lashes and trying not to laugh as the red head pales then stutters, then turns and walks abruptly away.
“That was uncalled for and unamusing.” Gregor sneers as I walk past him into the apartment.
“Really? You should have thought of it before you had the bimbo over. You asked me to comeback, not the other way around pal.” I say, lighting another cigarette after I snub out the other and toss it in the trash.
“There is no smoking in here, girl.” Gregor says, grabbing my cigarette a second before I can light it. He throws it in the trash and I just stand there for a minute.
Then I laugh. He actually thinks he can control me! I stop laughing and sneer at him.
“I’ll smoke if I want Old man. I was sent to you, I didn’t ask for this either, so get used to it.”
He freezes, narrows his eyes and glares at me. I stare, emotionless as usual, back. No matter who he was by blood, he can’t scold me like some misbehaving child. I’m eighteen, far out of parental reach.
Gregor grunts then nods his head. “Yeah, you got the stubborn Barlett blood in you alright.”
I sneer half heartedly, then look around. I still couldn’t believe I was here. In my…father’s, house.
I frown and put away my lighter. I don’t want nicotine right now, I want a clear head and steel determination…and answers.
And, I think as I take off my leather jacket, I will have them.
Imprint

Text: Don't steal any of this stuff, please!
Publication Date: 09-21-2010

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
Dedicated to all the teenagers brave, smart, and tough enough to make it on the streets.