1 City 2 Sides 3 People

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Okay so here is the actual final written piece… the first piece (That was the first time) is an introduction..  and has no connection to the main story…After that the actual story starts.. it’s about 20 pages… so grab a cup of tea and some biscuits…lol

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME…..

“That was the first time I heard about it…… and I wasn’t even shocked….. let me speak about it…….

It’s like I’m in the same place but my headspace different

Same place different time, different time different space……

Case studies have proven that territoriality is important in the lives of many young people, it is said to manifest itself in various forms, ranging from young people who socialise on the streets,

through groups with a stronger territorial affiliation, some of whom identified themselves as a gang,

to more highly organised, criminally oriented territorial gangs.

The mind has a funny way of producing that juice or drink called ‘insensitivity’

Where all sensibility becomes protected

Where the shock factor gets rejected

Morality… gathering dust.. left in the back neglected

These young ones have evolved causing the loss of the ‘Gag’ reflex

Me.. I’ve tasted the bitter pill of violence that much it’s become easy to digest

Excuse me if I digress

As I say a prayer and mourn for those that ain’t even died yet

Knowing full well we’re in the middle of a postcode tsunami and we can’t stop the tied yet…….

I hear their voices speak everyday…..

About ‘around da way’ and its slow decay…….

Expressing the fact there’s no places to play

Questions of hope…… are met by a small delay… (Delay, delay, delay)

It’s like I’m in the same place but my headspace different

Same place different time, but this time how did I get back to the same space……

Mostly, conflict occurs on boundaries between residential areas, typically defined by roads, railways, vacant land or other physical features, Territoriality has often associated with very tight boundaries, and frequently identified as long-standing and often ‘generational’.

It was suggested that territoriality was learned behaviour and, importantly, that the stories told by older generations, combined with their own limited horizons, were significant in the intergenerational transmission of territorial culture.

My place is full of boundaries

Boundaries are bars that I call the prison of life

Unsaid, unseen rules, every place has.. Like,

Don’t sit there.. That’s Dad’s chair

You can touch the face but DON’T touch the hair!!!

You can speak to Tania… but don’t talk to Claire

She’s Tommo little sister… and yo!! You don’t ‘wanna go dere’

Young men aged between 13 and 17 are the most active in territoriality and are certainly the most visible and the most likely to carry weapons. Girls are seldom involved in conflict and are less affected, feeling safer to travel outside their home neighbourhoods. However, girls could be a source of conflict between different groups of young men, often linked to relationships.

Many of us feel trapped in these inner cities.. The young ones call them slums

Trying not to go under but it’s hard not to succumb..

Because harsh and cold environments, force you to become numb

While others that are warm act Deaf, Blind, ‘n’

I to was an angry teen, got up to mischief acted like a plum

Ended up mishandling situations like I was born with no thumbs

How come they don’t see it? That’s the question asked by some

When the truths there hanging-banging like your ear drum

There is irony in the fact that the areas that

generate such fierce loyalties are often ones

that have little that conventionally invokes pride.

I’m from a place where, it’s gritty truss believe me,

Born and bred in B.C. but now reside in D.E,

When I was young I thought life would be easy,

Like Sunday morning, warning I’m clearly,

Clued up now, but the fact is I nearly,

Got caught up, so now I move through neatly,

I walk a fine line all the time please believe me,

At anytime I can get that call please believe me,

Rhymes release me, soothes my pain, it’s my therapy,

But I must, and will spray the truth before they bury me,

I changed when they buried T, remains in my memory,

Many more never made it, never saw the new century,

Eventually, we all succumb to the struggle,

Where I’m from some are straight lost, no soul puzzled,

Not cryptic, we live this but we still a bubble,

And I can’t migraine skank I still do the hustle.

WELCOME TO MY PLACE!!!

1 CITY 2 SIDES 3 PEOPLE

TOMMO

(Tommo in room smoking listening to music on stereo, really into it)

You jus don’t know, you jus don’t

You jus, you jus don’t

You jus don’t know. You jus don’t

You jus, you jus don’t

You jus don’t know, you jus don’t

You jus don’t know……. NO!!

You jus don’t know, some jus wouldn’t know

How could they know, how would the conversation really go..

Like “Tommo ain’t repping they sayin his flaking out”,

Got to watch were I’m stepping, no playing there staking out

Honestly I’m watched constantly

They say there’ve got my back, when someone attacks,

That’s what they promise me……

But promises comfort fools , I’m no fool,

And even though no school…  I have no apologies,

They still acknowledge me, respect or fear,

This is my ends, my family been here for years,

This is ‘mi cassa’ they move on my ‘sayso’

‘Hombre dela cassa’ so I gotta to make peso’s…THEY KNOW!!

They know, they know,…. But!!

(Back to the music)

You jus don’t know, you jus don’t

You jus, you jus don’t

You jus don’t know. You jus don’t

You jus, you jus don’t

You jus don’t know, you jus don’t

You jus don’t know……. NO!!

You just don’t know how hard it is to keep this up,

This façade.. this peace in my yard…. This….

This feeling of giving it all up

Low all this madness I couldn’t  give  two _________

I have the feeling that we are now all stuck…

In life’s quicksand ironically labelled a ‘hoodie’ I’m in over my head,

From young misled, misfed, HIM!! (kmt) He couldn’t careless if he was dead

Enough said!! Words spoken in anger can be misconstrued and mis –read

Pissed yeah!! Cause you don’t know the things we do to pop champers

The life I unfortunately saw before I was out of pampers

I feel anchored, angered, anxious, aiming high.. but why?

I KNOW I GOT A TALENT FOR THIS MUSIC TING

Like Kano, Tinchy, Dizzy… I wanna be that GUY!!

Will I ever reach that target!!! Will I?

You jus don’t know, you jus don’t

You jus, you jus don’t

You jus don’t know. You jus don’t

You jus, you jus don’t

You jus don’t know, you jus don’t

You jus don’t know……. NO!!

JOSHUA

Walks into new room with box of personal items (pictures, trophies, etc)

I’m in a new ends, I’m in a new area

Territory unfamiliar but strangely similar,

I’m in a new ends, I’m in a new area

Territory unfamiliar but strangely similar,

Let’s be clear, I don’t wanna be here, (shouting to someone outside room)

I told her I don’t wanna be here!!!

But I didn’t wanna interfere,

Everything changed when daddy disappeared

Like as a kid on those sunny summer days,

When you wanna play and bask in those summer rays

But grey clouds approached,

You knew what to do now, but you still got ready.. hoped!!!

A few minutes….. later….. that’s right….Soaked

I didn’t even bring a coat

This, my room… ‘poxy’ an absolute joke

(breath in) That’s the smell of sadness

And thoughts that weren’t spoke

Etched upon the wall like a ‘sentimental quote’

“Home is where the heart is”…………

But I’ve been looking along time,

And I don’t know where my heart is,

I guess that’s when the new chapter started

I’m in a new ends, I’m in a new area

Territory unfamiliar but strangely similar,

I’m in a new ends, I’m in a new area

Territory unfamiliar but strangely similar,

As music reverberates around the street,

It suddenly hits me I’m in deep,

Strange glances, missed beats

My hearts adaptable trying hard to catch the beat,

A different pulse, a different pace,

I’m more use to the egg and spoon

But this seems like the start of a 100m Race….

Bang!!! Thoughts muffled stifled

Underneath the backfire of an exhaust pipe….

Deflated, tired……. Hot wired,

‘Souped up’ ‘revving’, ‘raring’ to go….  “wats up bro?”

Yo I’m cool man!!…….. This is cool damm!!!I think I’ll be alright!!

I’m in a new ends, I’m in a new area

Territory unfamiliar but strangely similar,

CLARE

(Jungle music from next door)

Oi (banging wall)

(Clare turns on/up her music)

Tell me
How ‘r you gonna get something
All you gave up was nothing
Everday day day day day baby.

Everyday we gotta do this,

This game of audio tennis,

Volleys, of music,

Back and forth creating a racquet,

I like my bassline but that track in particular

I would like to overhead smash it,

Sack it, it would make no difference

They never listen me, I suppose that comes with being the youngest of three

It’s me again, He is at it again, so once again I reach for the pen,

please, Please! God if you have any mercy,

could you put a scratch on his Drum and Bass CD Volume 2,

track 3 in particular………..

Have I not suffered enough? he is my brother,

But Why so early? Why this loud? Why the singing along at the top of his voice?

Why am I asking questions that I won’t get any answers to…

What are them questions called?

Re-toc kirul…. Well something like that !!

Everyday, everyday, I seem to question my life,

Once again finding solace in the random thoughts I write,

Once again awoken earlier than my alarm

Once again awoken and thrust into reality,

In my dreams everything is so calm

What is it with bass lines? Why do they make things vibrate?

These four extremely thin Plasterboards, walls, bars, slabs of concrete..

Is my home!… Within my home, my zones…but….

(MOBILE RINGS)

Is that my phone?

“Hello…erm… why you phoning me this early?

Of course….. I’m excited to…. But it’s only college…

I will be there!… I’ll meet you at the bus stop…No!

I ain’t wearing that, we ain’t going clubbing you know,

were there to learn…not catch man!!…. you do what you wanna…

bye… BYE!! I got to go I need to get ready.”

Today the new college term begins,

With it comes; new hopes, new dreams,

new excited teens, new fiends for attention,

new gossip, hook-ups, break ups,

deep hour long conversations into MAC make up,

and what exactly did ‘so and so’ mean by their facebook status,

…….. I need to WAKE UP!

Tell me
How ‘r you gonna get something
All you gave up was nothing
Everday day day day day baby
You twisted my heart
Tell me why?
are you gotta be buggin
Now that i got everything……

TOMMO: MY CREW

My crew, my dogs, set rules, set laws……

In every ends there’s a crew,

Now I know this isn’t surprising or a revelation that’s new,

Gangs are not new, ‘I’m a thug blood’

But I found out the word thug isn’t new….

It’s funny how I am defined by a word

That dates back to India 1200 AD,

Some ancient OG’s… Oh please!!!

I wonder if they were selling keys….. huh!

I’m making P’s, a green giant, defiant..

But still reliant, on the frequency of my clients..

I ain’t no Einstein, but I would say I know a bit about science ….

You see my crew, my dogs, set rules, set laws…….

Disenfranchised, alienated,

But if you talk to us you’ll see where all opinionated,

They call us, “Good for nothing”, lazy, unintelligent,

But look what we have created,

An alternative society,

Misguided at times, due to on-going and ever-growing anxiety

I suffer quietly…

Like an abused child,

Like Lord Greystoke left In the wild,

We ain’t gangsters were Tarzans

Feral children trapped in concrete jungles

I find myself searching for that little bit of hope though.. that rainbow,

But seem to be confronted by Zippy, George, and Bungle.

Dats when the truth hits me and the dream crumbles…

You see my crew, my dogs, set rules, set laws…….

But I can’t show fear, I’m the main ‘geezer’ here,

I am the alpha male, the numero uno, head honcho,

The father figure, I guess you see the picture…

I wish I was more like my sister…..

Strong minded, not blinded

But I never had no part in writing this scripture…

I’m just the continuation, the actualisation of what in my end’s is a permanent fixture

You see my crew, my dogs, set rules, set laws…….

JOSHUA: CHANGE

(walks into room scuffed and bruised up!! )

It’s funny how things change very quickly…..

In an instance, Immediately in fact,

And now my new hope, new sense of place,

Is replaced by the taste … of my own blood,

I saw spots of light, stars, but it weren’t night,

It’s was like….that early morning vision,

When the eyelids resist, so through pierced slits,

A blurry vision….. all caused by,

four fingers, a thumb and……. superb precision,

My dad always promised me, he would show me how to box

He never did!!! I gave as good as I got,

But he came at me with a punch,

That not even a jaw built like a concrete wall could stop,

When will it stop?

Uhh I don’t care… I was beginning to like the place

Now everything is up in the air… it’s unfair

I was unaware, unprepared,

but I wasn’t gonna back down,

Even though deep down.. I was scared.

They say problem becomes halved, when a problem is shared

I’m tryin to fit in….. look in college everybody rides in pairs!

my pride won’t let me hide or confide in anyone….. That I have feelings of despair

I said ‘dis year’ I would keep my head down, new town

But word got around, “dere’s a new lad in town…..”

and like a new tune at first I liked that sound… that feeling,

Sky high! then suddenly life’s gravitational pull,

Begins, bringing you down….

How can I be taken serious in circus full of clown’s.

“Only one person stuck up for me… you know ONE!! she was the only one”.

I need to phone her, text her…….. Thank her…..

CLARE: CRAZY COLLEGE PART 1

(Coming in putting bag down on the phone)

She ain’t gonna last till December, ummm she’s already had an informal warning, Yeah.. real talks it’s after she started linking dat nob!! I warned her… but you know her already….’don’t watch me’ ….’What you talking about?’ Look!! stop trying to change the subject, listen you know me already, I ain’t letting no one take the piss out of anybody…my brothers taught me that..  What! people can’t be nice nowadays without there being an ulterior motive… (laugh) alright tomorrow.

(takes out diary)

It’s me again, today college was crazy,

Is it me or has college become a day care service for the mentally insane?

A lot of the students are the same, but something ain’t right the atmosphere has changed,

Even  few of my old friends that used to speak to me last year, are stand ‘offish’ and acting strange. I had to stop a fight today!!! ME!! Nuff youts acting bad just for fame or a name….. (interrupted by loud music) Arrghh!!

He we go again!! This house, this room, I hate it!!

But it is my refuge I swear!!

They say a house is made of bricks and motar… but a home..

a HOME is made by the people who live there….

(Opens door and speaks to someone outside)

Come on bro be fair, the volume of the music,

I SAID THE VOLUME OF THE MUSIC!!

This boy is gonna make me lose it…. Arrrgh!!!

(BREAK FOR TOMMO: BONKERS)

TOMMO: BONKERS Part 1

(Comes in turns on music, pulls out wad of money, starts counting interrupted by someone shouting outside room, covers money and hides something under bed)

You what?…. the volume….. shut up man!

When you get your own yard you can tell me what to do…… go back in your room!!!

(Closes door and starts singing)

I wake up everyday it’s a daydream

Everything in my life ain’t what it seems

I wake up just to go back to sleep

I act real shallow but I’m in too deep

And all I care about is sex and violence

A heavy bassline is my kind of silence

Everbody says I got to get a grip

But I let sanity give me the slip

Look! Don’t start, I know….. I’m a bit harsh, I call it conditioning,

Casue out there… OUT THERE! They don’t care…nobody’s listening,

My dad, my older brother…. They earned their respect,

So me I ain’t concerned with a 9-5 or chasing a cheque,

She gets upset, always going o about how we don’t care,

And how we neglect,

But what she neglects to see, is what I do for us, we

Just to keep us three safe and protect………

Where apart of this game, and because of our last name,

Were always in the firing line, cross hairs, for years,

Many have taken aim….. SO am I to blame?

Cause my aim was never to cause pain,

And my pain was never the sort that could be easily explained

Some people think I’m bonkers,

But I just think I’m free

Man I’m just living my life

There’s nothing crazy about me

(BACK TO CLARE: CRAZY COLLEGE PART 2)

CLARE: CRAZY COLLEGE PART 2

(Slams door back to diary)

It’s like I’m not here, I wonder if they would care if I disappeared?

They don’t care about me, none of them has asked how I’m doing at college, I don’t even think they know what I’m actually studying. He just smokes and plays music everyday, listen he’s not stupid he just not motivated and them people around him aren’t helping either.   Mums pissed again, so that means’ feed your self night’ tonight, actually everyday is becoming “feed yourself night”…..ummmm

At night my mind drifts to better times……

Memories of distant times,

Things my mind now have trouble picturing,

Like my father face, that gap tooth grin

And the smile my mum had on hers, whenever he walked into the place,

Like my brother face, and the excitement within his eyes

as he described a police chase.

Things fully drawn with what at the time seemed like a permanent marker

Are now lightly sketched…. Lightly etched its likely life HB

Will be erased like an ‘etch a sketch…’ shake me!!

If this is a bad dream then awake me

18 years and who cares? that I’m waiting, wasting

Precious time…………

(Back to writing in diary, txt goes off she reads txt)

Hello soz, I gt ur number frm a friend, jus wanted 2 txt u 2 say thks 4 2day, If u hadn’t stepped in. I don’t know wat wud hav happened, so thanks. For a girl you can handle yourself…lol you are officially my bodyguard. Give me a call sometime.

(Picks up phone pause’s in thought then dials……)

TOMMO: BONKERS Part 2

I always say it……. “This is the last time”

And THIS IS the last time,

I’m gonna meet this geezer about nine,

It should be okay……

Cause I spoke to Ray today,

He said, “He’s cool”, so that’s the co-sign……

But for some reason I got this niggling feeling in my mind,

You know that inner voice trying to translate something, but you can’t quite define,

I’ll be fine!!!!! I’ll be fine……..

I can’t remember a time when I’ve never had to resort to crime,

So my thoughts in my mind are a concoction were good and bad meet up and intertwine,

My brother was a leader well respected and feared….

HE WAS THE ONE WHO TAUGHT ME HOW TO RHYME…..

and when he got locked… I knew I was next in line,

And I was not shocked, cause the struggle never stops… but lately it’s gone to pot,

And now…. NOW!!! I feel I’m at the point where I wanna resign,

This job has no prospects, no ladder of success for me to climb……

(Looks at watch)

DAMMMMMM!!! It’s ten to nine

Some people pay for frills

But I get mine for free

Man I’m just living my life

There’s nothing crazy about me

CLARE: THE PHONECALL

I know your angry but listen…. What will that solve?….. look your new around here but it’s deeper than the fact that YOU and HIM have had this argument… all the hype youts have jumped on it… reputation is a big thing around here… and HIS is quite big and the added fact your from the other side…… I know… I know… but you ride and associate with them…if my brother knew I helped someone linked to your ends….pssstt!!!!  so you really need to be careful…. Okay….. yep I’ll see you in college…… Listen!!! Please don’t let your pride ….. hello… hello!!

(Cuts to Joshua: THE BEGINNING OF THE END)

JOSHUA: THE BEGINNING OF THE END

(ON THE PHONE)

Hello, hello….. The reception is rubbish in here!!!!!

Seriously though I’ve had enough of these punks

Taking me for a chump… I’ve had it up to here!

I’ve got to show them that I have no fear

Damm must be the battery…

(Cuts back to CLARE: THE PHONECALL)

CLARE: THE PHONECALL

(Returns to diary)

Wow!! She is not going to believe this…. I’m talking to Joshua, or what do they call him… Jigga J, she’s always thought I had a crush on him…. I never admitted it…

BUT….. you know cards close to the chest and that……

on the real I wonder if it could work…….. (door slams) thank ? for that….

That knob’s gone out…….Silence at last  …. Jheez!!! Got to get this assignment done….

Hope he is cool though!!  Will try and give him another call later……

(Cuts to Tommo: THE END OF THE BEGINNING)

TOMMO: THE END OF THE BEGINNING

(ON THE PHONE)

Make sure it’s In and out…. No ‘faffin’ about yeh!

I ain’t on a longting

Do the drop… get my doe.. den I’m off king…. Bless

Psssst… look at the time, some joke ting,

I ain’t trying to stand out here too long in this rain… I’m already soaking

Look at me, look at me living life wid no purpose

I see how some of them round here look at me..

Like a piece of dirt…… worthless (looks over at someone staring) WHAT!!

Out of all the places he could have chosen…to link

Here!!!!… This is making me nervous….

I’ve heard “when you’re safe at home, you wish you were having an adventure,

And when you’re having an adventure you wish you were safe at home…” (laughs)

Well this is my last venture into an unknown adventure

I’VE COME TO REALISE I HAVE A CHOICE!!!

(Cuts to JOSHUA: THE BEGINNING OF THE END)

JOSHUA: THE BEGINNING OF THE END

(Pacing up and down bedroom)

(In his head: “What you gonna take that?”, “What you gonna make him take you for chip’s?”, “Naw, liberties”, “Listen you gonna put him in his place?”, “You gonna Deal with it?….We got your back “, “listen you rep our sides right?, you can’t let the side down… down…. down…. down”………)

Arrrrrrrgggghhhh!!!!

I’ve read “The ache for home lives in all of us,

the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned”.

I can’t stay in forever though…. (sigh)

This could go on forever bro

Then I’m trapped in a self perpetuating circle of violence

Where cries for help and met with a Deafening silence

BUT I DON’T THINK I REALLY HAVE A CHOICE!!!

(Grabs knife from under the bed and storms out of room)

(Cuts to TOMMO: THE END OF THE BEGINNING)

TOMMO: THE END OF THE BEGINNING

This doesn’t feel right!!

It’s like the same feeling a felt when my big bro got gripped that night

An awkward feeling of unease, please!!! my minds telling me to hold tight

But my soul….. , my soul never got the memo, and is ever so uptight

This is what I don’t like!!!!!

The waiting…. I don’t even know what he looks like ……..

(Cuts to JOSHUA: GOT TO DO WRONG B4 PART 1)

JOSHUA: GOT TO DO WRONG B4 Part 1

(Puts headphones on, bally wrapped around neck, walking, angry, amped)

I’m new on the ends, but got friends, cause I rep dis,

Black bally, we all pally, I’m accepted,

I got no love for the other-side, they get rejected,

T.R.U violate and get ejected,

The other side that’s Vermin, infected,

I’m learning very fast that it’s hectic

Meet my new mates, got papes, and well protected,

Now!! I got ‘backative’, we stay connected!!!

This is my ‘famo’, family respect it,

And hold weight, WAIT!! We heavily respected,

No cape but my man’s are kinda super,

We sick, ill, with no need for Bupa,

Like Kruga I can be your worst nightmare

You think your big.. I give a frig!..You think that I care…

(Stops as if he spots the person he was looking for, puts hood up, bally up, hands in pocket)

Okay I’ll show this fool what I’m dealing with…….

(Cuts to TOMMO: THE END OF THE BEGINNING)

TOMMO: THE END OF THE BEGINNING

About friggin time… this must be him,

Well I’ve never seen him round here before anyways,

Plus the dude looks on top…

(Walks forwards)

Oi!!! What’s going on?….. What the F……..

(Cuts to JOSHUA: GOT TO DO WRONG B4 PART 2)

JOSHUA: GOT TO DO WRONG B4 Part 2

What…? You think I’m scared of ya?

(pulls out  weapon, rushes forward PAUSE)

On the real I never wanted it to be like that,

I never wanted to get caught up in all this crap,

I mean until a month ago I had never seen a strap,

I’ve come to realise It ain’t where your from its where your at

The fact is I was looking for acceptance,

Acceptance and safety,

From those other and older guys,

To look into my eyes,

Raise their fists and touch mine

And say…… SAFE G!!

Cause honestly I was new to the place and I never felt safe…

and it’s safe to say the places that are meant to be safe,

Are the places were most conflict takes place,

Schools, shops, colleges, youth clubs become battlegrounds,

AND NOW WE ARE ALL VICTIMS IN THIS THREATENING SPACE!!!

(UN PAUSE)

(BLACK OUT, FOLLOWED BY SOUNDS OF SCUFFLES AND SCREAMS, AMBULANCE SIRENS)

NEWS READER VOICE OVER:

“An unidentified male was found killed last night, thought to have died from a single stab wound, Police are asking for witnesses to come forward. Police are holding one person in custody……….”

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