I saw my first drive by shooting when I was just six.

This kid had a grade above me, Timmy Markel.

He used to walk me and my brothers home from school.

Mama couldn't afford to drive us to the elementary.

Well, the bus didn't go anywhere near our place.

So Tommy would take us every day.

We had to pass through some rough neighborhoods and Mama always told us to listen to everything

that Tommy said to stay safe.

Today it happened.

My middle brother, Byron, was running ahead.

They're going down an alleyway that we normally avoid.

Tommy was right at his heels, shouting and then it went down.

Sounded like the crack of lightning split through the air, collided with Tommy, sent him

flying backwards.

I remember seeing blood spattering out of his left eye, hearing the sound of his skull.

He said, hit the pavement and then watching as the car drove off.

Not because you wore the wrong colors to school that day.

Mama promised us that she would find someone else to get us to school.

But like so many other things, it became empty words.

I don't blame her, not even now.

Raising three kids in the Bronx was hard.

Rent the loan ate most of her check for her first job.

...