Marcus Eugene Bates II

Professor Harken
Cornerstone
9/22/15
Black, blue and red all over
Have you ever been forced to make a split second decision that could cost you
everything? Do you choose to go with your intuition or do you choose to ignore it? This is the
story of a trial I was put through and the evasive actions and decisions that lead me out of it.
Only through the grace of God am I here today and able to tell this story.
August 21, 2011 was the day. It was a beautiful summer day to say the least. It was
around twelve noon that Ricky, Dwayne, Nathanael and I decided to go to the eight Oclock
movie in the park. We all agreed to contribute something to the snack buffet, so that we wouldnt
have to pay for refreshments at the park. Dwayne and I parted from Ricky and Nathanael, and
walked, a mile, to Seven-Eleven to get Brisk Iced Tea and chips of many varieties. The total
came out to be $21.23 excluding the donuts that Dwayne just had to buy for himself. It was a
normal summer day, but it was more special than that, I couldnt put my tongue on it, but I knew
that something was different. It would be the first time we had all hung out together all summer
so it was quite a special day indeed. We arrived back to my house around three in the afternoon. I
had a red cooler that was huge! We filled it with 3 bags of ice and put the Brisk Iced Tea in it.
Dwayne and I proceeded to do a second round check to make sure that nothing had been left
behind. It was about four in the afternoon when we left to go acquire Nathanael. We spent about
an hour there helping him clean so that he could come to the movie with us. By the time we
finished, his house was spotless and we were late to Rickys house. It was late afternoon when

we left to Rickys. We were even later than planned because we were detoured by a park. Ricky
was upset that we had taken so long to get him but we didnt care, we were just ecstatic to have
the team back together. We socialized, laughed and caught up at Rickys until 7:10 pm, and then
headed out for the movie.
We went down Clason St. to get to the park; thinking it was a short cut, we really
shouldve gone down Alyssa St. It took us forty minutes to arrive at the movie by foot. When we
arrived, the movie was packed so we decided to set up camp in the back of the park. Lakewood
Springs was showing E.T. Even though it was my fifth time seeing it, I still enjoyed the time
with my friends. After the movie ended my parents asked me if my friends and I needed a ride
back to our house. I replied No well walk because we have this big cooler. My parents then
drove off, and we started on our long journey back home.
We had been walking for no longer than 6 minutes when I heard a very angry
voice yell. I couldnt understand what he was saying so I told my friends to be quiet, but to keep
walking. As the noise died down I was able to make-out what the man was yelling. He said Hey
Nigga comeer! Nigga in the black and blue! At this point we had stopped and they had caught
up to us. I was debating whether to run or to try to reason with the ignorant man. My logic was if
we were to run wed for sure be shot in the back, so I told my friends I was going to talk to them.
As I began to walk I felt Ricky grab my shoulder, he wasnt going to let me do it alone and that
meant a lot to me. As good and evil met, we could see that we were outnumbered eight to two. It
was too late to look back now so we proceeded farther until we had finally came face to face
with my accuser. The group of delinquents consisted of three Blacks, three Mexicans and two
short white men. The black man took the pleasure of asserting his ignorance first. He angrily
yelled hey lil shorty you that nigga that was on Alyssa St. yelling Crip! I stuck my chest out

and replied no we went up Clason St. Ricky tried to step in and explain to them that I would be
the last one that would be gang affiliated. He wasnt buying what Ricky was selling and Rickys
testimony on angered the man more. He snapped and another black man began to walk behind
me. I looked at him quickly and saw him pulling out a shiny, metallic object. We looked at each
other a little longer and then he said Be careful outchea lil nigga! We shouldve gotcho ass
tonight boy, but well letchu go. Next time doe we stabbin yo lil ass nigga! Ricky and I began to
walk away. They had begun to walk back to the corner, so we assumed the coast was clear as day
and that we were safe. Dwayne and Nathanael picked up the cooler and we began walking back
home, a little shaken but we were okay. Everything was calm until we heard more talking. They
had arrived back at the corner when someone yelled Those werent the kids homes! another
yelled yes it was folk! Get they bitch ass! They began running so we took off in the foot race
that would either end in me dead or safe. We still had the big red cooler though. My friends
wanted to drop it, but I was too afraid that my parents would be upset. We were still far from my
house and they were just about to catch us, so we made an evasive decision to duck into
Nathanaels garage. We could hear them outside waiting for us, so Nathanaels mom drove us
home.
So all in all, this wasnt a story about some little kid that ran in to a bad situation or my
way to tell a scary story. It was about a kid being tested, and pushed into making the decisions he
believed to be right at the moments that he had to. I went with my intuition and made it back
home alive. Its a story that I hope teaches many that your greatest asset is yourself and the
people you surround yourself with.