The Slums and the Suburbs

Living in the slums is rough. The worst thing about it is that nobody who lives in the suburbs understands how hard it is. The people who live in the suburbs are nothing but rich and spoiled. They don’t know what it’s like to go to bed with an empty stomach. They don’t know what it’s like to wake up to a cold house. They don’t know what it’s like to wake up in the middle of the night to gunshots out in the streets. They don’t know what it’s like to have to try and get every available job. Every rare and precious job there is. Everyone in the suburbs thinks that we’re hoodlums just because most of us drop out of school. Well you know why we drop out of school? To support ourselves. To make money. To maybe have a better life than our parents did. But most of our parents are dead. And we’re alone. I’m one of the lucky ones. My Ma’s still alive. Her and my older brother Saxen is all I have left. I love Saxen, but he’s way too overprotective. He’s kind of filled the father figure spot in my life after Dad got murdered when I was two years old. Sax was only six. But after he graduated high school (something my ma made him do) he stayed home to help take care of us. I get why he did it but still. I wish he could leave this rotten place and go live his life in a good area. Maybe have a shot at a good life. That will never happen for me. Even though all I want to do is leave this place, I’ll never be able to. I don’t have any money and I’m not smart enough to ever make it out of Detroit and into the real world. Ha, the real world. I’ve always been curious of the world outside of these city limits. What’s out there? What could be waiting for me if I ever make it out of here? Of course, I’ll never know. Maybe I don’t want to know. Saxen always says that. Whenever I bring up leaving this place he always questions me. I don’t know why; I mean what’s holding him back? What’s holding us back? We could leave this place and make a much better life somewhere else. Somewhere better. But anywhere is better than here. I’ve asked Ma and Saxen why we can’t leave so many times, but about two years ago I stopped asking. I already knew what the answer was going to be. No. It’s always no. The answer is always no and I don’t know why. There’s nothing for us here and if I don’t get out now I never will. But Ma always switches the topic whenever I talk about it. When I was little I would fantasize about leaving. I couldn’t wait to pack my bags and get out of here. I remember my entire plan. I was going to pack up all my stuff the night before I turned 18, and that way, the next day I’d be able to leave. I turn 18 in two years, and I know that it’s never going to happen. But it doesn’t hurt to dream, right? 

I hear the front door open and it draws me away from my thoughts. I get up to go check out the window to see who’s here. I laugh when I start to see that familiar grin and open the door. “Mayer!” I shriek before crushing him in a hug. “I haven’t seen you in weeks, you idiot! Where have you been?” He laughs while letting me go. 

“I was sent out on a big assignment. Had to drive all the way to Wisconsin. But look what I brought back.” He pulls out a cheese hat and I burst out laughing. It looks so ridiculous on his big head and it clashes with his dreads. 

“You’re such a moron,” I say with a smile. “Why didn’t you text me that you were going to be gone for a few weeks? I was lonely here,” I say, kidding but kind of upset that he didn’t tell me where he was. It’s not good when your best friend goes MIA in the slums. 

“I didn’t have enough money to pay all my bills so the phone had to go.” I know that all too well. Our heat was shut off a few weeks ago. He must see the look on my face because he changes the topic.

“And besides, you had Saxen to keep you company. I was all alone in Wisconsin, supplying coke and other ridiculously expensive drinks while you were here chilling with your bro.” 

“You know Sax isn’t exactly chill. And you had your cheese hat to keep you company.” 

“I just brought that cheese hat back to get a laugh from you, and because I got it free from the gas station manager. And do you really think someone with a name that means swordsman is going to be chill?” Yes, Saxen’s name means swordsman. My dad named him that because he wanted to remind my brother that it’s not the sword that makes the man, it’s the man that makes the sword. 

“Whatever. He’s still way too overprotective.”

“Aw, come on Scar, he’ll do anything for you. And you know just as well as I do that he would die for you in a heartbeat.”

“Why are you taking his side?”

“I’m not! All I’m saying is that you’re lucky to have someone in your life like that.” Now I feel guilty. Mayer doesn’t have anyone. His ma abandoned him and his dad died in a fistfight. He never had any siblings.

“Look, I didn’t mean to make you feel guilty or anything.” He can read me better than anyone. 

“Well you’re greater than me anyway.” I roll my eyes at the ridiculousness of it. It’s been a joke between us for years. After he found out Saxen’s name meant swordsmen he wanted to find out what his name meant. He looked it up and it means greater. Ever since he’s found that out he’s been saying he’s greater than me. I don’t mind though. He’s my best friend. In my mind, he is greater. He is better. He deserves the world and I hate that I can’t give it to him. 

“Girl, your name is way cooler.” I roll my eyes again. He always talks about how cool my name is and what it means.I pretend to hate it but I secretly love it. My name is Scarlette but everyone has called me Scar since I was a baby and the name just kind of stuck. I don’t think anyone knows my real name except for Ma, Saxen, and Mayer. I even signed up for school under the name Scar. I love my real name. Don’t get me wrong, Scar is a cool name and all, but I really love the name Scarlette. It means red, but red symbolizes courage and anger and passion. I’m fine with being called Scar but I love my true name. Only Saxen ever calls me that and it’s only on occasion. Usually when I’m in trouble. 

“Girl, where is your head at? You’ve been stuck in the clouds since I got here.” Mayer’s voice draws me out of my thoughts.

“Mayer, you should know by now that nothing interesting ever happens in my life. I just start thinking about stuff and my mind wanders. Sue me.” 

“Not like you have any money anyway.” He meant it as a joke and I pretend to laugh, but it still hurts. That’s what sucks about having a guy best friend. He doesn’t really know how much stuff stings. 

“Hey, you want to stay over tonight? Ma’s making sloppy joe’s.” Whenever Mayer comes to visit I always offer for him to stay over for dinner and sometimes to even spend the night. He’s got an apartment but knowing him, he tried to use his paycheck to pay all his bills and he probably doesn’t have any food in his fridge. That’s one of the main reasons why I envy the suburbs and the people living in it. They don’t know what it’s like to have an empty stomach or an empty fridge. They have ginormous feasts every meal and they throw all the leftovers away. It’s disgusting that they have enough money to do that. 

“Of course!” Mayer responds to my earlier question. “You know I love your mama’s cooking.” 

“Oh, I know.” I reply with a smile. 

He laughs and makes his way into my room to check out my books. That boy loves to read. But I can’t get the thought of all that food being thrown away out of my head. I make a silent promise to myself that wherever life takes me, I will never, ever associate or forgive those people who take everything they have for granted. Ever.