Chapter 5

Scotty, on the other hand was fair with grey-blue eyes and blonde hair, and since he stayed outside more than inside his paler skin had a golden cast. Although the two brothers physically had very little in common they still bore an unmistakable resemblance to their mother, which marked them as siblings.

Despite the fact that Scotty had better things to do than to run around with Tino—he was at the end of a book that he wanted to finish tonight, he followed his brother out into the night. The older boy lit a cigarette and passed it to Scotty who accepted it but didn't return it. They walked toward Winton road even though King's Run had several Quick Marts, however Tino and Scotty had long ago been banned from entering those stores after being busted shoplifting one time too many.

"I need food," Scotty muttered, thinking about his burger, which was probably still scattered over the kitchen floor. His stomach grumbled and Tino put his arm around his neck.

"Pussy."

Scotty pushed his brother away. He knew that Tino could go from playful to insane in a flash so he knew to keep hold of his annoyance. Tino had beaten him up more times than he could remember—sometimes just for opening the door to the bedroom when his brother wanted privacy.

The bigger boy released him, losing interest in harassing him as he spotted some of his friends. "Come on!" Tino headed for the street where a group of teens were smoking and laughing. Scotty reluctantly followed. He just wanted something to eat and then to chill with his book, but it was going to be another long night. The group of teens and young men slapped hands, greeting each other loudly.

"What we into tonight?" Tino asked.

A tall black man named Antonio slapped Tino's shoulder. His gold front tooth gleamed in the night. It had a streak of lightening, which Antonio seemed to always smile wide enough so that it couldn't be missed. "Just looking for a party, my man."

Tino shrugged. "Lets get some booze and hit the river." They could make their own party there with the car running, headlights burning and music spilling from the speakers. The sight of the Ohio River hitting the Serpentine Wall and the sound of the cars driving along the overpass created an atmosphere that allowed the young men freedom to be themselves.

They filled two cars and as they drove down Vine Street they passed a group of streetwalkers and Tino rolled down his window and shouted.

"Go home and take care of your fucking kids!"

The guys in the car laughed and the whores screamed back at them and gave the car full of young men rude gestures. Tino wasn't laughing and neither was Scotty. One of those whores was their mother and if she recognized the voice of her oldest son it didn't register as she gave them the double bird and screamed curses after them. Scotty sat silently feeling hot and cold, sad and mad, too wise and too old.

They drove across the river to Kentucky and pulled up to a gas station. Three guys exited wearing ski masks; one of them was Tino. When they returned at a run moments later each young man carried a case of beer. The car skid away while Tino laughed. He tossed his brother a pack of chocolate covered donuts.

"Eat."

II

When Scotty awoke the next day the sun was high. He cursed and sat up where he had been sleeping on the couch. Last night he'd fallen asleep in the car at about 3 am and Tino had dragged him home at the crack of dawn.

Scotty noted that the apartment was quiet, which was nice. Everyone must have been in school. Scotty stood and stretched and then entered the kitchen. Two foil wrapped burgers remained on the table and he picked up one of them and sniffed. A moment later he chomped into it, stepped over the trash on the floor, ignored the dirty dishes covering every surface and headed for the refrigerator. He grinned when he saw an unopened case of beer.

He grabbed a beer and sat at the kitchen table where he enjoyed his breakfast. Afterwards he went upstairs where he peed and then checked for the whereabouts of his mother. She was asleep in her room, his little brother wide-awake and smelling like dirty diaper. He didn't try to be quiet as he picked up the eight month old. He didn't have to be. TyTy was loudly engaged in baby talk while sitting on their Mother's bed drooling and playing with the things he had dragged out of her purse. He gave Scotty a happy squeal when the boy scooped him up.

"You stink."

He sat the baby on the bathroom counter and ran warm water in the sink. He gave him a quick washing and then slipped a clean disposable diaper on him. He propped the otherwise naked baby on his hip and quietly opened the door to the second of three bedrooms. Phonso was on one of the floor mattresses asleep. He was twelve and despite having a white mother he was dark and looked totally black just as his father apparently was.

Scotty cursed and then nudged him roughly awake with his shoe. "Phonso. You're skipping too many days of school. Get up!" The younger boy pushed at his brother's foot.

"Stop," he muttered sleepily.

"Get up!"

Alphonso rubbed his eyes and looked up at his brother with a sleepy scowl. "You ain't in school either!"

Scotty rummaged through a basket of clean clothes. There was no use in folding them and putting them away. Once clothes were washed they stayed in the basket until it was empty and time to do more laundry.

"I've only skipped three days." He looked over his shoulder at his brother. "How many days have you missed?"

Alphonso got up muttering curses and staring daggers at his older brother. He knew the rules. If someone called 2-4-1-Kids on them because of truancy then everyone was going into foster care—which wasn't half as bad as the fact that Scotty and Tino would then beat the living hell out of him. It had happened before.