Touched by an Angel

Chapter 6

Evil pursueth sinner: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

-Proverbs 13:21

Jeremiah slowly opened his bedroom door and poked his head out in the hallway. He smiled to himself when he saw that there was no sign of Tracy or his mom. His body was still buzzing from last night. His heart was racing at high speed. He grabbed his backpack and left the apartment. As he walked down the street he began to feel weak. His buzz started to wind down and his heart beat slowed down to its normal speed. As Jeremiah approached the school he felt as if he desperately needed sleep. He put his books away in his locker and went to class. By third period Jeremiah was beat. As he walked to fourth period he was pulled out of the schools back door.

“Hey, let go of me.” Jeremiah shouted, kicking and punching, flinging his books everywhere.

“Miah, dog you need to chill out.” A familiar voice cried. Jeremiah held still and saw Calvin, Theo and the rest of the gang. Calvin was tall, dark and dangerous. He looked like a thug, talked like a thug, walked like a thug, dressed like a thug, heck he was a thug. No one messed with him. Lucky for Jeremiah, they ran in the same pack. They were cool.

“Ay C.” Jeremiah said as they tapped knuckles. “What’s the deal? I have to get to class.”

“Man, class is for suckers. I got somethin’ way hot, you with it!?” Calvin said. He then dug in his jacket pocket and pulled out a plastic bag filled with white powder and cigarettes. “Besides I thought you could use another hit.” He said waving the plastic bag in Jeremiah’s face. Jeremiah didn’t think twice. He grabbed the bag and stuffed it in his pants pocket.

“So where we going?” he asked.

“It’s not where we’re going it’s what we’re doing.” Calvin said slyly.

“Huh?” Jeremiah asked again.

“Man, just come on.” Theo said.

Chapter 7

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

-Proverbs 17:17

Tracy sat in her Trigonometry class, intently looking at the clock. Her teacher Mr. Sullivan was uninteresting. He had to be at least eighty-years old; he had gray hair and wrinkled skin. He looked like Eurkle only a lot older. Brrring! The bell sounded. Tracy grabbed her stuff and like her peers, bolted out of the classroom. She went to her locker to put her books away. She grabbed her paper brown lunch bag and walked down the hall to the cafeteria. She found an empty table over in the corner of the room, so she sat down and began to eat her lunch.

“Hi Tracy,” a voice said. Tracy looked up from her turkey sandwich and saw her old friends, Karri, Amber and Evie.

“Hi.” Tracy replied, turning her attention back to her sandwich. Karri, Amber and Evie took a seat at the table. Karri had cream colored skin and shoulder length jet black hair. Amber had mocha colored skin and wore her long dark brown hair up in a swept back ponytail. Evie had a chocolate skin color and wore her dark brown hair in micro braids with honey blond streaks.

“How you been?” Evie asked. Tracy shrugged her shoulders.

“Good I guess.” Tracy said solemnly.

“We haven’t seen you around much.” Amber said, “It’s like you don’t want to be our friend anymore.” Tracy sat silently and fiddled with her juice box.

“Look Tracy we want to see if you’re coming to the movies with us next Friday for my birthday. I’ll be seventeen on Monday.” Karri said, “You didn’t forget, did you?”

“No, Karri I didn’t forget.” Tracy said as she felt tears swell up in her throat. “But I’m going to have to pass.” Tracy got up from the table.

“Tracy,” Evie said in a questioning tone, as Tracy packed up her lunch. Tracy looked at her.

“Why don’t you like hanging out with us anymore?” Evie asked. “Since you’re dad died you’ve completely shut us out.” Evie put her hand on Tracy shoulder. “If you need to talk-”

“I’m sorry, I have to go.” Tracy said, cutting Evie off in mid-sentence. She brushed away Evie’s hand and left the cafeteria.

Chapter 8

Thou shall not steal.

-Exodus 20:15

“Stop thief,” the store owner shouted. “Help! I’m being robbed.” Jeremiah poked his head out from behind the alley wall. He saw Calvin, Theo and the rest of the gang running down the street from Mr. Al-Kuaji’s General store. Mr. Al-Kuaji was short and plump. He was from Kuwait and had cigar tan skin color. He’d owned the general store for over twenty years. He sold everything and anything you’d ever need. His store was so packed with stuff it almost impossible to make a complete circle without bumping in to something.

“Rotten kids!” he shouted as he threw tomatoes, lettuce and even rocks at them.

“Run Miah,” Theo shouted as he and the others ran past Jeremiah. Jeremiah took off behind them, with Mr. Al-Kuaji right on their tail, waving around a broom.

“Get back here.” He screamed. Jeremiah and the others boys ran even faster.

“Split up.” Calvin cried. Jeremiah cut left through the park, jumped the fence behind the basketball court and ran, home free.