When we were last with young Gerald, he was hustling in the neighborhoods of New Orleans with his best friend, Gregory. Greg’s father was trying to keep the boys out of trouble, but they had other plans.
Greg’s dad was trying to stop us from hanging out. Even though he was supposed to be telling us to stop the thing he knew we was doing, me and Greg had been running together as best friends. We was hearing his father, but at the same time we wouldn’t want to hear that crap. We just think about us.
And then, most times, we’d just sit out and think about how he was beating us. So, if you want us to do something, you do something for us.
One time me and Greg went in the Garden District. Like y’all in D.C. call Georgetown, we call it the Garden District. That’s where people like big movie stars come. Peyton Manning, Angela Hill, Redd Foxx, any one of them big shots that come through there. It rich folks, rich folks, real real rich folks.
A big fancy restaurant called Commander’s Palace. I used to always be curious about that restaurant. One day I would like to go in there and eat.
My brother used to work at that restaurant, dishwashing. I used to try to get in there, but never did.
Anytime you know a man is from there, you know he gotta be rich. At a certain time, you can go across that way. But you gotta make sure you know somebody on that side of town.
So, sometime me and Gregory might go out and steal a car with some sound in it. Pop the ignition. Steal it.
You know, if you look at Delta 88, Deuce 25, Regal, Cutlass — most have tilt steering. That’s what you looking for. You can pop ‘em. I learned that from being with some more of the rat pack that we run with.
One time we’s driving this car. It was a Cutlass.
I told Gregory, I said, “Let me get over. Get over there, let me drive.”
I ain’t gonna lie to you, I ain’t never did drove a car! But I used to always watch the people put the car in.
So I got behind the wheel and the car start moving.
He say, “Go ahead, drive! Drive, baby Gerald, drive!”
I say, “Yeah, I got it. I got it.”
So, you know, I got to the red light. I hit the brake, the car shook.
But I turned. And when I turned, I didn’t use the blinker.
Next thing you know, a police car pop up going, “Wheeeooo!”
So he say, “Run ‘em, run ‘em!”
So I try to run ‘em. Vrmmmm!
To be continued.
