Author Information
Crack Shot Jerome
12 years old
Fingers long enough to hold a gun
Jerome is so bad a real man
Sirense wailing up the avenue
Stuffs the cash into his pockets
Stares again at the sucker's body
Straddling the shadow behind the tenement
"Let's go! Let's go, brother!" he hears
Funny, heard that before the gunshot
"Let's go, nigger! Let's go, mutha!"
Jerome is so bad a real man
Sirens screaming accusing
Blood pounds in his head
Oh, that crack
The sucka's not moving
Red lights blue lights
Drops the .22
"freeze, kid! Stop shaking..."
"Where's your mother?"
"You on that crack-rock, boy?!"
"Hey, Charlie, better call the medics..."
"There's his gun... Looks D.O.A."
Jerome is so bad a real man
Sirens fading scene silent vacant
Chalkline drops of blood
He sizzles in the back seat
12 years old
