What's the Difference

Later, Eazy and Frances walked the dusty roadside toward the matatu stage.

Eazy lit a cigarette. “Heard you were looking for me.”

She laughed grabbing the cigarette from him and smoke it.

“Yeah. Sorry you had to find out from him.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Eazy said taking the cigarette back.

This is what they call a “CHAIN”. Chain is when you pass each other a smoke until its done or you have had enough. It’s a great way for crew bonding and saving money.

They walked for a while in silence, then Frances smirked. “So, you gonna ask me or what?”

“Ask you what?” Eazy said puffing out a smoke. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I didn’t tell anyone about the heist,” she said, her expression serious. “You believe me right?”

Eazy smiled faintly. “Of course. I know you wouldn’t.”

He paused. “By the way... congrats. The new Kingpin of Northside—or is it Queenpin now?”

She laughed harder, nudging his shoulder.
“Please…..I don’t even feel like a Kingpin. It’s just... weird. Ngugi was someone I admired…. learned a lot from you know.”

“Yeah, I get it.”

“But forget about me—what about you?” Frances puffing a smoke. “What are you gonna do about all this? There are rumours going round but….I wanted to ask you in person…you know as the new Queenpin and all that.”

Eazy stopped walking. Frances matched his step.

“He offered me a job…as his second.”

Frances scoffed. “Who? Zengo. That’s unfortunate. Knowing him, he already got you a little custom badge or something. What did you say?”

“Come on Frances, you and I know I don’t really have a choice.”

"You always have a choice Eazy. You just never want to. " Frances gave him a sharp look. “Well... I’m a territory leader now. I’ve got some pull.  And that brings me to my question....Does Zengo want to take over 254? If its true, I can get the other leaders to turn on him."

Eazy flinched.

She was right. There was an unspoken rule in 254—every territory was its own sovereign. No crew could operate in another territory without that leader’s permission. Violating that meant war and war came with consequences.

“No,” Eazy finally answered. “It’s fine. I’ll handle it.”

“Okay, if you’re sure. Just keep me in the loop,” Frances said. “Oh…and I’m sorry about Juma, he was a good kid. But if you want my advice, I told you this before but don't do it. Don't join Zengo, it will only end badly.”

Eazy looked back at her smiling face. He wanted to tell her that Zengo did it. Killed Juma but that would only lead to more problems than solutions. Not to mention the rampage, Juma’s brother would cause.

They reached the matatu stage.

“Beba! Beba! Chwani Kibera! Kariobangi!” the conductor shouted.

Frances stepped onto the matatu, but turned to Eazy one last time.
“You know you can always call me. Anytime.”

Eazy smiled waving her goodbye. “I know.”

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Night time.

A time best for those working the night shift. Some call them robbers, stealers, killers and they would be right.

But tonight, none of the usual shenanigans.

Back at the safehouse, it was quiet. Most of the teens hadn’t returned. Only JC, Musa, Shiko, Ali, Kendi, Amani, Sifa, Brayo and Zuri. But this was by design.

Eazy stepped in.

“You’re all here.”

“Not all of us,” Ali said. "Where are the others?"

“I told them not to come,” Eazy nodded pulling out a cigarrette then stared Amani. “Including you.”

Zuri stood and took the cigarette from him. “I asked her to come. I didn’t feel right leaving her alone as the only girl with those animals.”

“Alright but she doesn’t to participate in this.....”

Eazy took the cigarette back and lit it up then closed the lighter. “....This next part is not for the faint of hearts.”

He puffed a smoke then passed it to Zuri who rolled her eyes then took a puff and passed it to Musa. The chain contined with JC puffing three times.

“It’s to honor Juma, give me a break!” he said.

The last one was little Amani and Zuri made sure to let her know she didn’t have to but she didn’t want to be left out. It’s not like she was that young. At just 12 years old, the same years Zuri was when she started living on the streets. A year earlier she had taken her first puff. Amani did the same now but she coughed hard and everyone laughed.

They passed stories late into the night.

“Remember the time Juma sold fake weed to the Somali crew, and then somehow talked them into thinking they scammed him?”

“Or when he convinced the bishop’s daughter to sneak into that rooftop party and she ended up DJing?”

“Yo! Or when he almost drowned but refused to admit he couldn’t swim?”

Laughter filled the air.

Eazy sat back quietly, watching them all. For one night, no one grieved. For one night, the hurt paused.

He had something important to tell them—but it could wait.

Tonight was for Juma.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

In the early times of morning right as the orange glow of the sunset bathe the sky in its warmth. A fire made of twigs was illuminating the faces of the groups. The blade glowed in the fire. Eazy lifted it, holding it steady by the handle, despite the heat.

“JC,” he said.

JC chuckled nervously. “Damn, we really doing this, huh?”

Eazy pressed the blade to his skin. The hiss of burning flesh filled the morning cold air. JC bit his lip as Eazy crafted the branding.

“Shit—ha—that was…. almost painful. Still better than Musa’s girly screams.”

Musa snickered.

Zuri went next. She didn’t make a sound, her eyes locked on Musa, smiling.

Eazy nodded, proud. “Now you’re Firstbloods.”

Musa stared at his arm then at Eazy’s. “Not bad but yours looks cleaner. Who did it?”

Eazy stared at his own Z with an I across it branding. Something all First Bloods do before joining. A way to prove your fealty to their leader….

“Zengo.”

JC flexed his arm, wincing. “Yo, Eazy. If Zengo’s such a monster, why’d you ever ride with him in the first place?”

Eazy stared into the fire for a long moment, shadows flickering across his scarred chest.

“Back then,” he said slowly, “things were different. Territories weren’t as rigid yet, it was free and flowing. Back then I was still Ezekiel Mwazi….”

AUTHOR'S NOTE

The next part of the chapter is the Tale of Eazy. I know I have been inconsistent with the chapter releases but will improve on that. Thanks