The Kingdom

It is hard not to think about money and riches when you are apart of the poorest families in the world. Daily we go ravaging through garbage cans and begging for food. We beg so much that the dogs in our city trying to give us their portions. Most days I look out the windows of these broken-down buildings we live in trying to believe that one-day things will change for my family.

Waking up this morning I was surrounded by squeaking and biting, the rats have gotten worst in this building. All I want is a warm piece of bread and some crispy bacon to go with it. Why does my life have to be so hard? Holes in the walls, cold every night because we can't afford heat. Where can I go beyond this place? The ghetto still remains undefeated and Chicago never seems to change. Most nights bullets are flying over my head but I cannot hear it over the sounds of the rats fighting over the trash we continue to eat every day.

I remember the other day when I was walking down the street, a man attempted to give me money. I recalled what my father told me! He would say, "Never take handouts!" Afraid of the man I ran off as fast as I could. For some odd reason, the guy ran after me and kept trying to catch me. He didn't look like a police officer or anything! What did he want from me? Oh well, I lost him and that punk won't ever see me again. Oh crap! There he is right there. The guy screamed out and said, "Here is my card with my name and address on it. When you get hungry enough come by so my wife and I can feed you. He walked away and I noticed he left a little black book on the ground, so I grabbed the book and ran as fast as I could home.

As I sat in the middle of my room I saw the book hanging out of my coat pocket. I began to read inside the book. It had a lot of pictures and numbers but I did not know what it was. I was intrigued so I thought to myself tomorrow I will go to the address he left for me. The next day when I woke up I rushed out of the house and ran full speed to address on the card. It was a huge building with an "H" on the front of it. At first, I was going to run away but something was different about me today. I guess I could say I wanted to risk it all. I went into the building and went to the guy sitting at the front desk. He asked me "What are you doing here kid?" I gave him the card out of the little black book. He smiled and told me to take the elevator to the top floor. I went into the elevator and pushed the button for the top floor. When I got to the top floor I saw an old black man sitting in the lobby. I asked him did he get a little black book too? He said, "I am the reason for that little black book you have in your possession. I gave him back the little black book and apologized for having his stuff. The man laughed and told me, "I wanted you to come here!" I asked him, "Why?" The old black man said, "Do you believe that there are more important things in life than money?" Scratching my head I told him, "Heck no!" "Do you see what I am wearing?" He then said, "Let me show you something different!"

I went home that night still hungry and confused. I thought he said when I come there, I would get a meal from him and his wife. This dude is full of crap! However, for some odd reason, I wanted to go back to meet him again. I want to know what is more important than money. Bright and early I was at the building. Today I was able to go straight up to the top floor. When I got there he was waiting for me and began to show me what the meaning of life was. He asked me, "What is more important the paper we make money out of or the tree?" I answered him quickly, "The money because I can use it to buy more trees!" He looked at me and began to laugh hysterically. He said, "Trees produce fruits and vegetation for us to eat. It also provides assistance with releasing oxygen for us to breathe. Do you like money more than you like to breathe?" I answered, "If I don't breathe, I will die. I want to be able to live so I can spend the money."

At the time where I spoke the truth, I saw a beautiful ray of sunshine shoot up from the little black book left for me. An angelic being appeared in front of me lifting me up in the air. The old black man was laughing loudly and began to say, "You will now know what great riches look like." When I saw myself in the mirror I looked different. I was transformed somehow into someone else. My hair looked different and my clothes were clean. The old black man handed me the little black book and told me, "All the numbers you could not understand were account numbers and routing numbers. I own the building you and your family have been living in. I have made you the sole heir to my fortune. Hold onto that "Little Black Book" and remember money can only give you so much but what we are made of is more inspiring than anything you could ever imagine."

That evening when I went home I told my father we no longer had to live with the rats anymore or eat from the trash cans. He became very upset with me telling me to take the money back to the old black man. I told him the money was mine and we owned the building where we lived and it was going to be renovated very soon. My dad took the little black book and tried to rip it up expressing, "You are disobedient!" Immediately, the angelic being appeared to him and stopped him from ripping the book. I was crying and crouched in a corner afraid that my dad would be hurt by the angel. My eyes were closed and my ears were covered. I felt a touch on my shoulder so I opened my eyes. When I opened my eyes it was hundreds of rats bowing to this angelic being. In an instance, the rats vanished and a beautiful feast was presented to me and my family.

My family and I began to dance around and praise God for the blessing that came to us. As we began to eat, the old black man stepped in through the hole in the wall laughing. He said, "Well I don't think you will need this hole in the wall anymore after today." Then a beautiful lady stepped through the hole after him. She smiled and said, "Well hello young one, it is finally nice to meet you." It was the old black man's wife. She was beautiful! We all sat down together and ate a meal together as the guy promised before. At the table, I looked through the hole and saw the guy who chased me standing at the door of the old black man's car. He smiled and tipped his hat at me. Riches may fix this building or even my family's circumstances but it takes much more than riches to build people.