Letter 4 - Dante Adams

This is the fourth story of the book.

Inspired by the Showtime TV series Shameless



My name is Dante Adams. I am a fifteen-year-old African American boy from Chicago, Illinois. I was raised there in a three-floor apartment complex in West Town with my mother Briana Adams, four younger brothers and younger sister. My father Shane Nicks abandoned the family when I was only six years old. I took the abandonment of my dad as an opportunity to help my mother take care of my younger siblings. Even though the days looking after us were tough for Mom, we made the best of it. She always had to find a babysitter to look after us when she had to do overtime at work as a chaperone at a roller-skating rink in Pulaski Park. As a teenage boy, I vowed that things were going to change for us someday.
             Shortly after beginning my freshman year at Easton high school in Wicker Park, I become friends with a boy named Aaron Anderson. I would spend every free period hanging out with Aaron. Every day I would open to Aaron about how my life was living at home with my family. “I love my family but sometimes they can be very annoying.” I spoke. “Well at least they're safe and have a home to live in.” Aaron said. “Yeah, that's true. We might not have a lot of money, but we are able to survive each month. My mother works so hard to provide for us. I feel bad that my mom must work so hard and give up so much energy for us. I promise that when I become an adult, things for this family will change.” I spoke. “I hope that you keep your promise.” Aaron said. “I will keep it. For my family and for myself.” I spoke. While Aaron and I were having our conversation, the bell rang ending free period. So, we said goodbye to each other and headed off to our afternoon classes.
            As time passed by for me, Aaron and I would secretly go to Bronzeville in the South Side area to fight people and get paid for it. After completing every fight, Aaron would take me back over to his house and get any injuries treated that were incurred by our opponents. I felt grateful that my best friend would be nice to the point where he covered up all that I was truly doing. Whenever I came home late, I would usually tell mom that I helped my boss for the local convenience store do some extra work. My lie was also able to cover up how I got the money.
           Another day during a free period, I had an epiphany and thought about what I been doing for the past few months. “Aaron aren't you getting tired of all these fights. I want to make something of myself not just win fights.” I spoke. “Well, what do you really want to do?” Aaron said. “I don't know what that is right now. Aaron, don't you know of anything else we can do?” I spoke. “I do know of something else we can do. But before I tell you what it is are you sure you will go along with it.” Aaron said. “Yes, I am sure of it. I told you. I promised that I will make life better for my family and I intend to keep it.” I spoke. “Okay well there is this gang that my brother is a part of. He told me that the gang is always looking for new members.” Aaron said. “Sure, I will join it.” I spoke. “Okay then after school we're going over to their spot. Don't make me regret this.” Aaron said. “I won't.” I spoke. We shook hands in agreement.
             Later that day after school, Aaron took me over to the outskirts of West Town. As I was walking alongside Aaron, I noticed that he was walking through the neighborhood where people were selling drugs, prostituting themselves, and breaking into stores. “Aaron, are we close to the place?” I spoke. “Yes, we are getting very close.” Aaron said. Fifteen minutes later, we managed to arrive at the gangs’ hideout which appeared to be an abandoned church. Aaron knocked on the door in a rhythm like a code. I covered my ears as I heard music being blasted throughout the entire condemned building. In a matter of seconds someone opened the door and said, “Who goes there?” “It's Aaron.” Aaron said. The guy looked at us and immediately let us in. Within the hideout, there were various kinds of furniture including a refrigerator, a generator by the wall on the right, pool tables, a flat screen television set in front of a couch equipped with the latest video game systems and shelves of various weaponry. As I walked through the hideout, I looked around and saw a diverse group of people playing billiards, drinking beer, loading guns, dancing to the music, and using drugs. Even though the exterior of the old church looked like a building that had been condemned for many years the interior of it looked nice. The walls around the room were light blue, most of the windows remained intact, and right above the door was a large circular window with glass that shined through the sunlight. I kept my eyes on that window for a split second. To break the distraction, Aaron walked me over to the person sitting on a big red chair by the wall. That person was a very tall African American man with a crew-cut hair style and muscular arms holding a grey handgun sitting cross-legged. That man wore a dark black jacket and wore light blue jeans. “What's up boss?” Aaron said. The man looked up, put his gun down on the table and said, “Oh it's you Aaron. How may I help you today?” “Well boss. I brought us a recruit. He is serious about joining our gang.” Aaron said. “Oh, is he?” said the man as he looked at me. “Yes sir. I want to join your group.” I spoke. “Okay well here at the hideout of the gang we must perform an initiation meaning. We must see if you even have what it takes to join our group.” said the man. “I understand sir.” I spoke. “What is your name?” said the man. “Dante. Dante Adams.” I spoke. “Good name for a gangster. My name is Marshall Gourdmen. I am the leader of this gang. Now be prepared to be in a world of hurt to enter a new life.” Marshall said. “Okay. Everyone we got a recruit that wants to join us!!” Marshall said as he stood up. Marshall's voice echoed throughout the entire room so loud, every person heard what he said and turned the music off. Everyone in the hideout walked right over to Marshall and said, “Who is the recruit?” Marshall pointed his finger right at me. The crowd immediately beat me down to a pulp. After an hour of punching, kicking, slapping, and spitting me in the face they stopped. I panted heavily as I managed to catch my breath trying to maintain my balance to remain standing on my feet. “I won't give up. I will take whatever you throw at me.” I spoke. “Wow you are very persistent. I like that in a guy. You showed me that you have what it takes to be a member of this gang. You are now one of us.” Marshall said. “Thank you, sir.” I said as I fell to my knees staring at the floor covered in stains of my blood. The crowd then left me alone and went back to what they were doing. Aaron took me over to a couch and sat me down. Marshall then called one of his girls over to treat my injuries. I took all the treatment Marshall gave me as being brought into a family.
           For the next five months I fulfilled the orders that Marshall gave me to do. The orders I was given mostly involved assisting in the robberies of department stores and battles against other gangs throughout the area. Marshall noticed my success and decided to have me work as one of his trusted men. At home, mom never suspected a matter of what I was really doing because I continued to do well in school despite the terrible crimes I was committing. Despite being part of a gang, I continued to bring money home to help mom pay for the living expenses.
           One day while eating at the hideout, Marshall called me over to him. “Yes boss.” I spoke. “I would like to give you your next order. It's going to be your first order to kill. So here it is.” Marshall said as he handed me a photo. I looked right at the photo, and I noticed that it was a picture of a lone woman smiling. I quietly gasped as I noticed that the woman in the picture was my mother. “Sir, may I ask for the name of the person in this picture?” I spoke. “Her name is Brianna.” Marshall said. “I like to ask another question. Why is it that you want this woman killed?” I spoke. “Well back in the day, Brianna and I used to be close. She and I were on the verge of dating, but she began seeing that messed up man named Shane. I was so angry I wanted to knock them both out. I never took my chance because Shane was way too much of a fighter for me to even try. So, I want Brianna taken out of the picture completely. I will give you some time to complete the order. Send me a picture of it when you are done.” Marshall said. “Okay sir.” I said as I left the hideout feeling very ashamed knowing that I was given an order to kill my own mother. When I reached a nearby bus stop, Aaron saw me and walked right over to me. “Hey Dante!!” Aaron said. “Oh, hi Aaron.” I spoke. “Why the long face? What happened man?” Aaron said. “Well Marshall just gave me an order to kill my own mother. I can’t do that.” I spoke. “Are you serious? What are you going to do?” Aaron said. “First, I am not going to do it. I love my mother too much to do something like that.” I spoke. “Okay then let me help you. I will help you initiate a plan to fake the death.” Aaron said. “Thanks Aaron.” I said as I walked back home with the picture still in my pocket.
            For the next few weeks, I made as much little eye contact with mom as I can be knowing that I was given such a foul order to fulfill. During that time, I worked with Aaron to set up a plan to fake my mother's death. “So, what's the plan going to be Aaron?” I spoke. “Okay so here's how it goes. So, to make our plan work at nighttime when your mother is sleeping, you are going to squirt fake blood all over your mother's body and put very wide holes onto the blanket she is laying under to make it seem like you shot or stabbed her. Be sure to take a bright picture too and inject her with a sedative so she doesn't wake up.” Aaron said as he handed me a syringe filled with a drug. “Are you sure this plan will work?” I spoke. “Of course, it will work.” Aaron said. So, during a Saturday night while mom was sleeping on her bed, I unleashed my plan. I made sure I had everything I needed to make it work. I walked into mom’s bedroom, injected the drug into her neck, began to spread the fake blood all over her body and then pulled out a knife to cut very wide holes to make it look like I shot her. I made sure the entire scene looked real too. I took a picture of her with my phone and sent it to Aaron before sending it to Marshall. I hoped that his plan worked very well. Aaron immediately replied to the photo message and told me it looked good. I sent the picture to Marshall and then went right over to sleep. The next day, mom screamed as she noticed the fake blood on her and the holes on her blanket. I was the first person to run over to mom’s room hearing her and said, “What's wrong mom?” “Who did this?!!” mom said. “Oh, right that was me mom. I just wanted to pull an early Halloween joke on you.” I spoke. “Oh really? Well, you pulled it off good.” Mom said in an angry mood as she got out of bed. I left her room and sent a text message to Aaron feeling glad that I managed to pull the plan off good.
            A week later, while I was walking back home from school, I got a photo message from Marshall. I opened the message and noticed that it was a picture of Aaron beaten to a pulp lying on the floor. Feeling angry, I decided to call Marshall directly. “Boss what is all this about?!! Why did you do that?!!” I spoke. Marshall laughed in a maniacal way and said, “You are nothing but a lying coward. Did you really think I would fall for something like that?!! You shouldn't have involved your friend and now he had to pay for it. Don't worry, I didn't kill him. He's still alive but for you we have different plans. We're going to find you and make you pay for defying my orders.” “No, you won't. Look, Brianna is my mother. I won’t kill her. I won't do it.” I spoke. “I see now. I should have noticed a resemblance to Brianna in you. You do look like her a little. So, you are her son. Now instead of killing Brianna I want to concentrate on you. I am going to put an end to you. You traitor!!” said Marshall as he hung up the phone with all the rage in his voice. Me, feeling very scared for my life, I ran away to a nearby bus station to take a bus to my aunt's house in Indiana.
             After managing to get my ticket to go board the bus, I went to the bathroom before boarding. As I left my stall to wash my hands I was grabbed by some unknown man. I did all that I could to fight the man to get away but to no good the man who ended up being a member of Marshall's gang, stuck a needle in my neck knocking me out unconscious. “No, it can't be...” I said as I closed my eyes. Later, that day in the middle of night, I woke up to the feeling of water splashing all over my face and the hearing of laughter. “So, the traitor finally awakes. I told you we were going to find you.” Marshall said. “No Marshall. Please don't kill me. I just couldn't find it in me to kill my own mother.” I spoke. “We're not killing you yet. We are going to take our time with that. You are going to be an example.” Marshall said. I screamed for my life as the gang did many forms of torture on me. They dropped me into a tub of water while tied up, they whipped me with belts, they even took the time of beating me with their bare fists and kicking me for hours upon hours. I did all that I could to endure the seemingly endless torture. Marshall laughed his head off as he watched his minions do what they did to me. “No, I won't give up. I can't die yet. I just can't die yet.” I spoke. “Okay I'm bored. Now I am going to put an end to you.” Marshall said as he picked up the grey handgun he had on the table. I had my eyes barely opened to see what Marshall was about to do. Marshall quickly pointed the gun at me and shot me right in the head. He emptied the clip to made sure that he truly did kill me.
           At an instant, I screamed and woke up right on my bed. I got up, ran to turn on a light and I realized that I was still alive and in my bedroom. “It was all a dream.” I said as I fell to my knees crying my eyes out. I panted heavily knowing that all the experiences being a part of Marshall's gang were a nightmare. Since it was still nighttime, mom woke up hearing me and walked over to my room. “Hey what's wrong Dante?” Mom said. “Mom!!!” I said as I ran fast and tightly hugged my mother with tears still in my eyes. “Dante...” Mom said. “Mom, I had the worst nightmare. I joined a gang because I thought it wouldn't make us poor anymore. I was shot and killed because I chose not to fulfill an order to kill you.” I spoke. “Dante, you don't have to worry about any of that stuff. All you must do is go to school and play with your friends. That's it.” Mom said. “Okay mom.” I said as I continued to hug my mother. I sniffled, ceased crying, and learned a valuable lesson that I can't face the bitterness of the world all by myself. I needed the support of my family to do so.