The unfortunate thing about being young, black and living in a big city is that all cops thought you looked the same. So a small group of teens walking home from the library looked automatically suspicious. There had been a robbery in the area, and they had been described as a mixed group of young, black male and females. That’s how they ended up being chased by the police, ditching their backpacks and running as quickly as their feet could take them.
“This is why I don’t study!” Nakya said while hopping over the barrier, they could hear the cops behind them and was grateful they hadn’t started to shoot yet.
“You don’t study because you think you know every damn thing!” Teddy yelled and ducked into the alley along with the rest of his group.
“She didn’t know this shit coming, I bet.” Rodney said and everyone glared at his back, he was the fastest and feel them staring daggers into his back. “What! No time for a joke!”
“No! We don’t!” Cayla said and could see a warehouse nearby. It looked old, graffiti-ridden and had busted windows. “Come on, in here they won’t find us in here!”
“And neither will anyone else! Look at that shit, looks like it’s straight out of a horror movie!” Damien said and attempted to huff but it was overshadowed by his heavy breathing from running so fast. Their options were bleak, none of them had homes that were close enough to run to so Cayla’s idea was the only one they had to go off of. “Fine! Let’s go!”
The door behind the gates building was cracked slightly, they climbed through the cut out section of the gate and rushed inside. The door clicked shut behind them and they looked through the window to see the cops running directly past the building and cutting down a side street.
“Finally, Cayla suggested something that was actually good.” Damien said and caught his breath, he was hunched over with his hands on his knees. “Uh.. guys...”
“What is it?” Nakya asked.
“This place don’t look too abandoned.” Damien said while looking around. There was fresh paint and wood, it was free of any glass. It didn’t look like any homeless people had been here or any drug addicts or sellers had been here either. The floor was too clean and there was a light from a door on the second floor.
“What? Are you going to try to loot it?” Teddy asked.
“Nah, it’s just... what if whoever is here does call the police.” Damien said and the stood up fully erect, “Then we’ll really be in trouble...”
“You scared or something?” Rodney asked, “Don’t worry we’ll handle them if--”
“You won’t handle shit and you know it, Rodney.” Nakya said and headed towards the steps, “Hopefully this place has a bathroom.”
“Nakya we aren’t even supposed to be here...” Teddy said as a warning and it didn’t stop her from heading towards the rusted metal steps. That meant they all had to follow, they were a group and looked out for each other. It was important to stick together. It came as no surprise that they found an office. It smelled fresh, there was newly laid carpet and too many cubicles. Who the hell was working out of this dump?
“Sorry guys, I’m in a business meeting with a prospective client. I’ll be with you in a few seconds. You’re welcome to wait in the lobby.” The man was too pale, with silver hair and dressed in a white button up with khakis. He pointed towards the area on the far side of the cubicles.
“Do you have a bathroom here?”
“Of course, it’s right next to the lobby.” He said and then headed back inside a rather large office and closed the door. They followed Nakya over towards the lobby and waited for her as she disappeared into the restroom with Cayla.
“Do girls always do that?” Damien asked, “Do they always have to piss in pairs?”
“Do you want to ask them?” Teddy asked and was satisfied as Damien buttoned his lip. Damien always asked these type of questions when the girls weren’t here to answer but Teddy knew he’d never have the balls to say it to their faces and he grew tired of hearing about it. They sat down on the comfortable couches and were surprised to see the man heading over to them.
“What can I do for you guys?” He asked, “I’m Aiden Mitowitz. Head of Mitowitz Marketing.”
“We were just uh... “ Teddy looked back to see Nakya and Cayla exit the restroom, “We were just looking for a restroom.”
“Is that all?”
“We were running from the cops, they profiled us.” Nakya said and folded her arms across her chest.
“Did you do anything wrong?” Aiden asked.
“No.” They said in unison, “We were coming from the library.”
“Can’t argue with that then, I guess I can offer you guys a water and invite you in while I wait on my partner.” They looked to each other and then shrugged before following Aiden down the hall. “You kids interested in marketing?”
“Not really.” Cayla said.
“Marketing is a lot like magic. The right colors, words, phrases and even people and you can make people buy a blade of grass for a million dollars. I’ve seen it done, kids.” He offered them seats at the table. “For the most part people are dumb and like to do what they’re told. It’s why you go to school, sit at a desk, regurgitate information, go to college and then wake up one morning and hate your life that you never had a choice in.”
“Wow, that is really fucked up. It’s deep... but fucked up.” Rodney said while stroking his chin.
“You kids may not be interested in marketing but marketing is interested in you.” Aiden said and they all exchanged confused glances. “The world around you is constantly changing, advancing and marketing is going to seize some of that power.”
“And you expect us to suddenly become interested in Marketing?” Nakya asked.
“How you speak, what you wear, what top you pick to match what pair of shoes, it’s all us. I can give you the cheat codes to life--”
“But let me guess, we have to place a one time down payment or something like that?” Teddy asked.
“No,” Aiden said and flashed his cheesiest smile, “My clients are scattered across the globe, some are rich and others are just wealthy. But with hip, young kids like yourself we could run the market.”
“Please tell me you didn’t call in that phony police call just to get us here.” Damien said and pinched his brows. “I guess all white people are crazy.”
“And what stops you from profiting off of us? How much of a cut do we get?” Teddy asked and Aiden scribbled a number down on a sheet of paper. “Well I’m in.”
“Me too.” they said in unison.
“I’ll never see money like that by working at my dad’s auto shop.” Rodney said and shifted anxiously in his chair. “When do we start?”
“Tomorrow after school.” Aiden said.
“And what exactly are we going to be doing?” Nakya asked.
“Creating, so we can sell sell sell.”
That’s how they all remembered it. It was the beginning of something great and also tragic. tricking consumers had been the fun part, it was realizing that people you loved also got trapped in the ploy that was difficult. For a few years it worked, they collected checks, went to Prom in style and didn’t want for anything. One day it wasn’t enough, it was a spring day when they all got together and decided to change everything.
