Lanterna Rally

Author: Roddell Smalls

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2014-02-09

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13: 9781495982637

PROLOGUE Inside the beautiful opulent house, the two men stood up from the sofa and walked out onto the patio. The summer weather was calm and tranquil. The older man took out a rolled blunt and lit it up. It was the best marijuana that money could buy. As he puffed on his fat, rolled up blunt, his young friend stood there staring out at the lovely scenery. Moments later, a beautiful dark brown woman walked out onto the patio and passed both men cold bottles of Heineken. She quickly disappeared back into the house. The man didn't pass his young friend the weed because he knew he didn't smoke. Loud sounds of Reggae were coming from inside the house. “I want you to remember, my friend, that in this cruel world, there are two types of people.” The younger one listened intently as his older friend spoke. Every time he would drive over to his beautiful large home, his friend would bring him out onto the empty patio and drop nothing but jewels on him. Today was no different. “What're the two types of people in this world?” the young man asked. Taking another long puff on his blunt, the older one blew thick smoke from his nose and looked into his young friend's curious brown eyes. “They are the people who sit around and watch things happen, and the people who stand up and make things happen.” “When I look into your eyes, I see a young man on a serious mission. Kind of reminds me of my own younger days. Street smart, cautious and focused,” the man said, taking another puff on his blunt. As the young man sipped on his Heineken, he continued to listen to every word. This was his mentor. Everything he said were words of wisdom. “I want you to always remember what I taught you. The streets have no friends. We are all their enemies. Every single hustler, drug dealer, pimp, gangster, crackhead or baller will one day fall victim to the streets. Only the sharpest and wisest can beat the streets.” The man put his arms around his young friend's shoulders and smiled. “It will take a lot more than just your mind, my young friend. A whole lot more,” he laughed. After he had smoked his blunt and both bottles were empty, the man walked his young friend to the front door. They gave each other a pound and a hug, then the young man walked out the door and got into his car. After his friend had left, the older man walked over and sat down on the sofa. Two large Rottweilers walked into the living room and sat down on the floor by his feet. Then the beautiful young woman walked from downstairs and joined him on the sofa. “So what do you think?” she asked him. After a long sigh, the man looked into his beautiful woman's eyes and said, “He's one of the people that's gonna make things happen! The eyes never lie.” Compelling Pittsburgh street drama adapted based on a true story written by Roddell Smalls and featuring contributing writer, Jimmy DaSaint.