Summary

Tommy is compelled to confront a misunderstanding with his middle school crush's friend, Donica Adams, while also dealing with an unexpected encounter with his father's friend, JT, who appears to be armed and potentially dangerous.

Abstract

In "Blood Money Part 3: Across 111th street," the protagonist, Tommy, is trying to enjoy his own company when he is interrupted by his cousin Brian, who relays gossip about something Tommy allegedly said about Donica Adams, the second finest girl in the 6th grade. The conversation is particularly pertinent to Tommy because Donica's best friend, Jasmine Reese, is the girl he is interested in. As Tommy contemplates the situation, he is serenaded by Ralph's singing, which prompts him to take action and confront Donica. As the day turns to evening and Tommy and Brian cross 111th street, Tommy feels a palpable tension in the air. Brian's incessant chatter about what Tommy plans to do upon reaching Donica's house is interrupted when Tommy spots his father's friend, JT, who is unusually dressed and standing unnaturally still. Brian notices that JT is concealing a gun, prompting him to warn Tommy to run. The story ends on a cliffhanger, leaving Tommy's next move uncertain.

Opinions

Tommy values his own company and is selective about the conversations he engages in, particularly when it comes to gossip.
Brian is perceived as somewhat slow by Tommy, which suggests Tommy's impatience with his cousin's chatter.
Tommy's interest in Jasmine Reese is significant enough to motivate him to address the rumors spread by Donica.
The atmosphere of the setting is described as charged with electricity, indicating a sense of anticipation or foreboding.
JT's appearance and behavior are considered odd and concerning by Tommy, which is validated by the discovery of a concealed weapon.
Brian's reaction to JT having a gun shows his concern for Tommy's safety and an understanding of the potential danger.

Blood Money Part 3

Across 111th street

Pop Pop was right: I do need to learn to enjoy my own company. I’m just sitting in the front room tryna do something, anything other than listening to my cousin Brian tell me about some stuff some girl said I said. This just wasn’t any girl though, this was Donica Adams, the second finest girl in the 6th grade. If it wasn’t for the fact that her best friend Jasmine Reese, the coldest girl in all of middle school and my girlfriend to be, was the topic of conversation, I woulda tuned him out a long time ago.

“You hear what I said, man?”

Brian’s voice knocked me out of my trance; I had zoned out to New Edition’s “Cool it Now” blasting out the radio in my grandma’s kitchen.

“Yeah, I heard you man,” I said, sitting up from the couch. “Look, I ain’t trying to hear none of that, man. I don’t know what she tell y’all that lie for, but I ain’t say none of that.”

Brian’s hands shot up to his face like he was surrendering to the cops or something.

“Hey I’m just telling you what I heard. Makes me no never mind but I think you better go straighten that out. Especially if you still tryna talk to Jasmine.”

Almost on cue, I hear Ralph, with his high pitch self talkin bout some “all I can think about was her, in my arms….” I sat and thought about it a second, then I got up and started walking to the door.

“Where you going?”

My cousin kinda slow, so I just turned and looked at him real hard till he say “oh, oh, ok. a’ight, let’s go!”

By the time we had crossed 111th street, the sun had already begun to set. I don’t know what it was but I could feel it. It was like some electricity or something, all up in the air. Brian hadn’t shut up since we left the house.

“So for real, man. What you gon’ do when we get to this girl house, man?”

I stopped walking. I turned and looked at him. I stepped up.

“Dude, all I need you to do is be cool. I ain’t finna do nothing stupid.”

Just then, I heard a familiar voice call out.

“Little Tommy! Let me holler at ya’ mane!”

It was JT, one of my father’s friends. I hadn’t seen him in a while and he looked a bit overdressed, but I guess that was his style, always tryna look like Shaft or something. But whatever. I turned to Brian.

“Hey, I’ll be right back man.”

Brian looked uneasy.

“You sure, man. Nah, I’ma just come with you.”

“Nah, man. Think this got to do with my pop. I need to handle this.”

He gave me a five and I stepped off toward JT.

I was making my way to him, real easy, but not so slow that I would piss him off. I had to check dude out. I ain’t like the way he was cheesing, standing there all still like a statue or something. I noticed something peaking out underneath his Clint Eastwood vest and just as I walked up his hand came up from under his cowboy poncho and I hear Brian’s voice.

“He’s gotta gun. Run!!”

To be continued

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