The Second Try

Abdul Kareem had that huge smile on the face while he said goodbye to a client. As he left West Avenue Street, he chuckled. His first text message of the day came through with a thousand dollars pile, and all he could do at the moment was kissing the hundred-dollar bill on the top of the stack. “What can you offer me, Ben?” He whispered as he kept staring at the bill. Humming Money Maker of Ludacris, he inserted his money inside his right pocket then took the alley leading him home. Some female's underwear flew above him with a black leather duffel bag coming from the third floor of the building. Wow. Is it already Christmas? Why is it snowing white and red G strings on me? Abdul Kareem opened the building’s entrance and the landlord's voice was resonating in the first one-third of the apartment’s complex. A woman’s forgiveness turned into snivels while the owner’s shouts were only about money. Remembering his block had never changed its routine, Abdul Kareem shrugged then knocked on the first door he'd faced on his left.

"Who's that?" Said a muffled female voice.

"The same person who left home ten minutes ago."

"Goddamn Kareem." He laughed for Kayla had said the same words for two weeks. She annoyed him to the point he mimicked her funny voice. Palms on the bull's eyes, he kept smiling as he waited for his sister to open the door. "Why don't you take your keys when you leave the house?" Kayla unbolted the front door.

"Because Goddamn Kareem knew you were home, and he wouldn't spend a lot of time out there." Abdul Kareem walked in and the sizzles coming from the kitchen awoke his smell. Butter, bacon, eggs, and potatoes perfumed the living and dining room, and he thought he had just entered heaven. "Seems like I came at the right time. What did you make? Scrambled eggs?" The microwave beeped, and Kayla took out some pancakes. This is heaven.

"Yes, but they're only mine." Kareem pursed his lips.

"Seriously? I thought I was your favorite little brother. You're not going to eat all this by yourself. Are you?" Kayla smirked.

"Yes, you still are the best brother around here. That's why I want you to learn how to cook your food. You're going to law school soon. Talking about school, did you get your LSAT score?"

"Nope. I check every ten seconds my Outlook and I still haven't gotten anything." Abdul Kareem lied for he knew Kayla would have asked him tons of questions concerning his future. He grabbed an orange from the fruit basket set in the middle of the dining table and split it into four parts. A little bit sour, the taste reminded him he had other transactions to make. Abdul Kareem seemed thoughtful, for he didn't remember where he'd left his phone. He looked next to his plate, moved the glass of water, but he didn't see his phone. A glance at the clock and Abdul Kareem shifted everything he could touch.

"Why are you suddenly rushing?"

"I forgot I had something important to do. Now it's late, and I don't know where I left my phone." He searched everywhere in his clothes his phone then sighed as he realized it was right under his nose. His fingers shook as he thought about what to write to his next customers.

"Relax Kareem. What's wrong?"

"It's a long story. I'll explain you later." Abdul Kareem switched from his message to the keypad and dialed a phone number. "What's up, Eduardo my man? I'm sorry for answering your phone call an hour after. I'll get back at you in twenty minutes." Abdul Kareem uttered.

"Don't fool me twice or you're dead Kareem. And I'm not joking. I need those supplies ASAP. See you at the barbershop in twenty minutes"

"I got you, man. No worries."

Though he assured his important customer, Abdul Kareem worried about a thing. Would it be possible to leave the street life to become who he always wanted to be? He enjoyed so much making fast profits he couldn't decide what life to choose.

 Abdul Kareem pocketed his phone, went to his bedroom, carried a backpack full of weed, and his keys on his bedside. He also picked up his dirty clothes and tossed them in his laundry basket. When he cleaned his desk, he found the headphones he hadn't seen for weeks. Abdul Kareem smiled then unraveled his headsets as he crossed the living room.

"I know you may take a while before coming back home. But I need you to go to Walmart and buy some salmons for me please."

"Are you out of your mind? We barely have money to survive in this rat hole and all you think about is eating some salmons. And, I don't have time for that." Abdul Kareem grabbed the doorknob.

"Okay. I'll take care of it." Sheila dropped her spoon. "Please don't forget to check your—"

Abdul Kareem slammed the door. He knew she would say his LSATs scores. Who needed that type of results when he could make more than a thousand dollars a day? He asked himself that question though being a lawyer was a dream he always wanted to achieve. Kareem plugged his headphones into his MP3 device and played Best Friends of 50 Cent. After three minutes of walk, his early smiles turned into a frown on the face. Some strangers, dressed in skanky blue jeans and old torn coats, were selling weed to any random driver stopping at the red light. Without hesitation, Abdul Kareem rolled up on the closest drug dealer and punched him in the eye.

"Go to another place to sell your crap." Abdul Kareem spitted, stared at the man on the floor having hard times standing on his feet, and kicked him in the hip until the drug dealer gave up struggling. While he searched the back of his enemy, Abdul Kareem found a weapon. He snagged the gun and pulled up the drug dealer by his collar. He faced him and gazed at the traffic. The drug dealer attempted to stab him, yet Abdul Kareem was fast enough to block and twist the stranger's arm. Kayla's brother found a white and green bandana on the stranger's wrist. Could it be a hoodlum hired by his client? He hardly doubted until he realized he would face death if he couldn't meet his customer on time. He twiddled the man’s arm until police sirens blew off far away. Abdul Kareem stared for the last time at the bandanna and the drug dealer then ran away.

He headed north, straight to the closest barbershop, while hearing the police sirens and choppers going in the same direction he took. I'm dead. Kareem faced a fence twice taller than him He hit it as he hoped to find a way leading him to the other side of the street. A gunshot occurred and Abdul Kareem gasped. Somebody opened the door next to him. A dead male body thudded on the floor and Eduardo showed up.

"What a coincidence. It's always a pleasure to meet you in advance, Kareem. You have my supplies?" Abdul Kareem nodded. "Good. Drop it on the floor. "He executed without saying a word, yet he unfastened his weapon. "What do you think you are doing? Let's be gentle and drop these little toys." Eduardo shook his gun.

"What about my fair share? I don't work for free." From left to right, Abdul Kareem waddled by the tip of his toes.

"I knew you'd say that. Unfortunately, I forgot the money at home." Eduardo chuckled.

"This isn't funny, Eduardo. Give my money, or I'll pick up my backpack." Abdul loaded his gun.

"I said drop your weapon now." Eduardo had shot Abdul Kareem's left shoulder prior he picked up the backpack.

The young African man fell on the floor while some police cars skidded at the end of the street alley. When the law enforcement officers interrogated the last man standing, an ambulance showed up at the crime scene. Nurses rushed to the crime scene with a stretcher and a first kit aid to heal Abdul Kareem. The twenty-one years old man couldn't believe he had just lost five thousand dollars on that same day. Nurses gave him an anesthesia shot to calm him down as he kept screaming like a five years old kid.

Arrived at the hospital, Abdul Kareem woke up as his phone vibrated. However, he didn't see any notifications. He opened his emails, looked at the Junk folder, and read the e-mail with the LSAT score as a subject. He threw his phone off the floor.

 "LSAT score: 115. To retake the test, please click on the following link and choose a day. Why am I so unlucky? I can't wait for another two years to take it again" Kareem shouted inside the emergency room.

"At least, you still have a lot of years in front of you to be the man you want to be. Look at the bright side" Said the patient on his left.

"There's no bright side. I've lost five grand today, now I have to wait for two years to become a lawyer. I can't keep up."

"I overheard you're here for a bullet, and the doctors will save your life so that you could try again. Me, I'm not. They told me I have five hours left before I go on the other side of the world since I have no one to help me financially. I haven't found my gift neither have I ever worked in my whole life to have at least a thousand dollars. Keep studying."

Abdul Kareem remained silent while processing every word he just heard. Maybe another try would be worthy, but thinking of those two times he didn't make looked like wasted money. He looked at the ceiling then jumped out as his sister opened the curtains.

"I believe it belongs to you." Abdul Kareem rolled his eyes. "Next time, please don't act like you're Bill Buckner. You suck at throwing things away." He sighed. "What's going on?" Kayla sat next to her brother. "You didn't pass the LSAT?"

"115." Abdul Kareem whispered. "Hundred f-ing fifteen." He shouted.

"Hey, hey. This isn't the end of the world. I'll sign you up for the next session."

"No. I can't do it anymore. I suck at this."

"Don't beat yourself up, sweetie even though you're a big sucker." Abdul Kareem sulked." I'm kidding. Believe me and believe in yourself." He nodded.

In the next two months, Abdul Kareem went taking the LSAT and passed the test with 178. He, therefore, applied at Chicago Kent College of Law then got accepted. After his first year, he interned in a law firm not too far from downtown where he helped his senior partner win more than a hundred cases in a year.