The Shylock's Apprentice

The Shylock’s Apprentice

There once was a boy called Mickey. He had a drunkard father whose name was Benny and a harlot mother, everyone called Cherry. They lived in a dark, dingy, rundown rowhome in what used to be, Olde Kensington. Lining the rest of their street were makeshift tents, housing the homeless fiends. Recycled syringes and garbage littered the pavement of what was commonly referred to as “tent city”.

On this day, young Mickey awoke to an all too familiar sound…the cries of his weeping mother. He crept down the steps, quiet as a mouse to see what was going on. He tiptoed through the den and hid by the couch. “Benny please! Please stop! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” pleaded Cherry through tears and hiccups.

“Ya don’t fuckin’ listen do ya! Where the fuck is it?” shouted Benny.

Mickey inched closer to get a better view, peeking his head around the wall that separated the den from the bathroom. Benny was smacking Cherry in her head and face as she sat on the toilet sobbing. He yanked on her pants that were pulled down around her ankles, attempting to get to the pockets. “Ya got some balls stealin’ from me! Where is it, ya fuckin whore?” screamed Benny.

Mickey watched as Benny pulled Cherry from the toilet by her hair, blood was running down her legs as she fell to her knees. “I didn’t take it Benny, I swear! I swear!” Cherry moaned as Benny kicked her in the stomach. Benny turned around, breathing heavily and spotted Mickey.

“Get the fuck ova here.” said Benny as he grabbed Mickey’s collar and pulled him into the hallway. Benny forced Mickey to his knees by the back of his neck, so he was eye to eye with Cherry on all fours. “Ya got two fuckin seconds to tell me where it is.” said Benny.

Benny wound up his leg and kicked Mickey in the ribs. “Where the fuck is it Cherry?” said Benny as he kicked the young boy again. “WHERE THE FUCK IS MY SHIT?” hollered Benny.

“LEAVE HIM ALONE!” shrieked Cherry from her knees. She tried to get up and lunge at Benny but tripped over the tangled denim jeans tethering her ankles. “Leave him alone. You piece of shit… please leave him alone.” she begged.

Benny took a knee and grabbed a handful of Mickey’s hair, at the crown of his head. He glared into Cherry’s eyes then began slamming the boy’s face into the carpet repeatedly. Benny finally blinked after his son’s nose erupted with blood. Cherry screamed as Mickey’s legs and arms went stiff.

“Please just stop, Benny…for god’s sake. It’s in the speaker. IT’S IN THE FUCKING SPEAKER! Please, leave him alone.” whimpered Cherry, as she pulled the boy’s limp body into her arms.

Benny walked into the den and over to the sound system. He bent down and pried off the mesh speaker grille with his dirty fingernails. He reached his arm into the speaker up to his elbow. After shuffling around inside, he pulled out his arm, discouraged. Without hesitation, he ripped out the speaker and spiked it on the floor. Standing over the wreckage, Benny spotted his prize. His grin promptly turned into a smile, spanning ear to ear. He pulled his long greasy black hair from his face and tied it in a bun on the top of his head. He reached over and scooped up a dime bag of coke, wrapped in a twenty-dollar bill.

Cherry pulls Mickey’s shirt from over his head and crawls over to the toilet. She flushes it and soaks the shirt in clean water. She crawls back over to her son and wipes the blood from his face. Mickey stares up at his mother blankly, dry eyed, as she wept and cleaned his face.

“I need you to do me a favor, kiddo.” Cherry said to Mickey with tears in her eyes as he sat up. She started bawling again uncontrollably and couldn’t catch her breath. “Go get mommy a pen and some paper.” she choked out.

After rummaging through drawers and fighting off roaches, Mickey returned to his mother with a sharpie and a piece of a pizza box. He stalled for a second, to give his mom privacy. Cherry was cleaning the period blood from her legs. She wrung out mickeys t-shirt one last time into the toilet before throwing it up into the sink.

“You’re fast kiddo, that was record time.” said Cherry. Mickey couldn’t help but to smile. She took the sharpie and wrote a note small note on the pizza box before folding it up and handing it back to Mickey.

“Run down to the corner store and give Mama Maria this note. Tie your shoes and don’t stop for nobody.” said Cherry sternly.

Mickey tied his shoes tight and bolted through the door. He ran down the block as fast as he could with tunnel vision. He turned the corner without looking and collided head on with