We all judge at the first glance. But what if our inner image is completely off? Did we make it worse for that person we judged unfairly? Maybe this short glimpse will make you see differently:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
No, you can’t ‘ave my picture. Do I look stupid? You gonna give it to a copper, aren’t ya?
Yeah, people look at me like they all scared. Guess it’s workin’, right? In this god-forsak’n place, you got to put it on to survive. You know, attitude and stuff. Dog eat dog’s easy. This is way worse ’cause we hurt and kill each other for stupid things. We all a bunch o’ mean dogs. That’s what you got to be when you got nothing. Fight for the last bit o’ meat or last word. ‘Cause who gets that last bit is as tough as who got the first. When you don’t get any, then you gots to get it somewhere else.
We all got a right to somethin’ in this world. Even if its crappy, it’s mine, you know. And I don’t give up what’s mine. I got no choice but to fight.
I was once like the rest of ya. But then Da’ lost his job ’cause they didn’t like him talking lip. My lil sis was real sick and he wanted to go home to her. Mums already gone so she’s the only girl left. They said no ’cause he’s supposed to stay ’til they say he can go. He finished his stuff but others didn’t so he had to stay. When he got the call that she died, they let him go. What the hell good is tha ’cause she’s dead now?! After he lost his job, he sat home drinkin’ and swearin’. It’s good when he’s drunk ’cause he don’t hit us then. He hit me lots ’cause I ‘ad to protect the younger ones. Calling us all good for nothin’. What was I supposed to become? My own da’ thinks I’m good for nothin’.
So I got out to go to the streets ’cause some social worker took everyone away but me. I was too old, they say. No one wants trouble, they say. OK, if I’m trouble, then I might as well do it, right? Everyone else is doin’ it so I’m nothin’ special. I guess they do ’cause my friends say so, you know. Not like I got things to do anyhow. No one does ’cause it all got closed. They say we all good for nothin’. Just like Da’ used to say. Whatever, gotta go. Got nothin’ but this now…
(turning in anger he spouts one last thing)
You judge me but you don’t know me or where I been. Don’t talk ’til you been through what I been through. At least my brothers are safe now. I heard Da’ kicked it finally. Too much alcohol they said. Yeah, who did that to him? All ’cause he couldn’t go home to see my lil sis just once more.
Them other kids do it for fun. Not me. I gotta survive ’til tomorrow. Day by day, you know?
(this is fiction – I want to do his character right, but it’s hard when I don’t have these experiences personally.)
