Anatomy of a Mugging

DISCLAIMER: This is a TRUE story. The names have not been changed.

 

Gotta get down the details before I forget….

 

Was there three?

 

No four.

 

Hoodies.

 

They were wearing hoodies.

 

One with red print.

 

I remember the red print.

 

Their faces.

 

What did their faces look like?

 

Kids.

 

Wait, they were kids.

 

No, older then Josiah.

 

You were dropping off your cousin Cristyn.

 

They’ll want to known that.

 

Stop, what happened first?

 

You gotta get it together.

 

What happened first?

 

My lip hurts.

 

Bleeding.

 

Why is it bleeding?

 

They hit me.

 

Twice.

 

The first one.

 

Then the second.

 

The first didn’t hurt as much.

 

The second sent me to the ground.

 

Third and fourth disappeared with my phone.

 

Think.

 

Go back to the beginning.

 

Why did I roll down my window?

 

They were just kids.

 

Just kids wanting to know the time.

 

Shouldn’t have rolled down the window.

 

Shouldn’t have talked to them.

 

Shouldn’t have…

 

Shouldn’t have…

 

Just start at the beginning…

 

–

 

“I’ll see you in February,” I said.

 

“Alright, Dwayne. I love you ‘little brother’ (her nickname for me thou I’m older and biologically her cousin).” Cristyn said as she closed the door.

 

I slowly pull out of the small parking lot and watch as she walks to toward the door. As she disappears into the house I notice four teenagers in black hoodies, one with red dragon print, motion toward my car. Without thinking, I crack the window.

 

“What’s up?” I said.

 

“Hey man, do you know what time it is?” said the shorter one with the dragon sweater. He does most of the talking.

 

“Yeah, it’s 1:34.”

 

“Can we use your phone so my boy can call his mother?” He motions to the slightly taller rougher looking compadre next to him.

 

“No, my phone is about die,” I said stuttering slightly. Dragon sweater smiles wickedly sensing the fear behind my eyes.

 

“Your phone is dead?” He said laughing.

 

“Yeah, It’s dying the battery light is flashing and I’ve got to go.”

 

“Let me see, you’re lying.” The others are laughing now.

 

“I bet you he can make the phone call before it dies.” Another one said immediately following.

 

He come closer to the car I flinch, forgetting my window is still cracked. He reaches his tiny hand into the car and grabs the phone out of my hand.

 

“Come one dude, give me my phone back.”

 

The others, seeming to take care in my plight join in.

 

“Come on man give him is phone back,” the new talker flashes me a smile that lingers against his darker skin. Dragon sweater is already on the other side of the apartment complex. Being followed by the guy originally in need of the phone.

 

“We’ll get your phone back for you. Come on around I’ll show you were he lives.”

 

I turn left into an alley way and follow the two who are left. All the while believing they’re just teenagers having a little fun with the soft-spoken suburbanite, because they’ve had a little too much to drink, or are possibly just high.

 

They stop near a row of apartments. “He’s in apartment ‘I’”

 

“1745 I?” I replied.

 

“Yeah,” he said. “Are you gay?”

 

“What!? Why? Is that a problem?”

 

“No, you just sound gay.”

 

“Whatever, I just want my phone.”

 

The dragon sweater returned

 

“Give this man back his phone so he can leave and be one his way.”

 

“Where’s my phone?” I say a little more forcefully.

 

“My brother’s got it. He’s charging it.”

 

“Yeah man his mother’s house it right over there go ahead and knock on the door and she’ll make him give it to.”

 

“I’m not getting out of my car.”

 

“Why’d y’all tell him where I lived!?”

 

“If I don’t get my phone back now I’m going to my cousin’s house and calling the police.”

 

They started laughing so I drive off. As I was leaving I heard one of them say. “See man, now you’re making me mad. Just go inside and talk to his mother.”

 

I drove around the corner and parked back at Cristyns’ mom’s house. Two of the guys were waiting by an old black truck next to my car. One threw a snowball at my car. The other opened the car door to the truck and threw something else. They paused. I cracked a different window.

 

“Are you ready to give me back my phone?” I asked annoyed.

 

“Yeah, man we’ll give you your phone.”

 

I got out of the car and noticed a piece of a ladder on top of my car.

 

“Where’s my phone?”

 

“My dude’s still got it.”

 

“I’m calling the police.”

 

I headed towards Cristyn’s. They began to follow me. One’s on either side. I noticed the one on my left had a large pair of pliers in his hand. It’s then I realize these weren’t “just kids.” I panicked and ended up passing Cristyn’s door.

 

“Do you know where you are?” The one on my left said menacingly

 

“Yeah, I’m at my cousins house,” I said without knowing what he meant.

 

“You’re in Linkin’ Park bitch.”

 

He punched me. A bit in shock, I realized it didn’t really hurt. Maybe these are just kids, I thought.  I changed directions and made a beeline for Cristyn’s door. The other one catches up and punches me 10 times harder in the jaw. I buckle and fall to my knees.

 

TO BE CONTINUED…

 

(Sorry guys I’m falling asleep, lol. Also, sorry about the many grammar errors. Wanted to get most of this up before I forget the details.)

 

~D.A. Steward