Vector helped out Don a lot. He carried Don’s tools, moved furniture, set up ladders, laid out paint tarps, cleaned up glass, mopped up water, carried out old ac units and heaters. Don was skilled in about every type of work. Plumbing, windows, electric, roofing, fencing and even auto mechanics. Vector admired his hardworking, no nonsense attitude. “Well, when you can’t afford to buy anything, you learn to fix everything.” Don came from a similar place Vector did.
Vector eventually got to meet Nite. After work Don would drive Nite to the radio station. One night when Vector knew his mom had a date, he asked to join the two roommates.
Don stayed around to make sure Vector didn't cause any trouble for Nite. The night shift was the only shift that was available for Nite at the moment, but it suited him well. Nite gave Vector the rundown of the place. Vector obeyed the no-talking-when-this-light-is-on rule pretty well. So, Don took a nap on the old couch that was in the corner of the room.
In between sets Nite told Vector that they were saving up money to buy some land on top of a hill overlooking the city to build their own radio station.
Vector would go to the station every night after that. Nite let him into the radio station and taught him some things. Even let him play some music for the night listeners. In between they would talk about different music genres. Even though rap, hip hop, and punk rock were his favorite music genres he now found jazz, funk, blues, and classic rock were making their way through his headphones.
Most nights Vector would fall asleep on the old couch in the station. His mama never asked where he was, he kinda wished she cared enough to.
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Don and Nite didn’t steal things or threaten people or drink their lives away. They just worked. He saw them buy the land. He helped them build a house/radio station. He saw them become pillars of the community. Don with his handyman and construction expertise and Nite with being the favorite radio man of Seaside City.
While hanging out with Don and Nite, Vector slowly stopped hanging out with his former friends. He really didn’t need his old gang anymore. He was getting some good money, and had a place to stay if his mom got into one of her moods. He felt good to be working for the things he wanted and learning more about radio and music. Stealing and scrapping was a thing of his past.
His gang members noticed. They would invite him back. They would ask for his protection while they did shady things. Invite him to brawls, so they could bet on him like old times. Ask him to threaten some rival group.
He decided he was done with that kind of life. He didn’t want to always be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life. He told them he was done. They didn’t like that. Vector was an asset to them. A good guard dog. A good brawler. To get him back they threatened his mom.
He had to follow his mom everywhere she went. He would sit in the corner of the bars and watch her drink herself silly as he made stink eyes to anyone that even looked her way. Making sure she didn’t stumble into dark alley ways on her way home. He locked and checked all her windows and doors each night and didn’t sleep much as every sound woke him up thinking it was someone trying to break in. He was wearing thin.
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Don and Nite noticed Vector's absence. Nite made an announcement over the late night radio show. Don drove through the neighborhood looking for the teen. Vector hadn’t really told them where he lived. He kept his home life close to his chest. Both Don and Nite had picked up and connected some dots. But if the kid didn't want to share about his home life, they wouldn't force him.
Don eventually found him sitting on a stoop. “Vector!” The teen’s eyes snapped up to the rooster. He had jumped out of his truck and jogged to the teen. “We’ve been worried about ya, kid!”
Vector looked away from him ashamed.
The rooster looked closer and saw bags under the kids eyes. “You doin’ alright?”
Vector shook his head.
“Common kid! Did you take a vow of silence?”
Vector turned on his walkman and looked at the street.
Don swiped the headphones off the teen head.
“Hey!” The disgruntled croc snapped.
“It's not polite to ignore your elders, kid!” Don hoped the joke would lighten the somber mood.
Vector stood trying to look as menacing as possible. Don could see the end of his snout quiver and tears building in his eyes.
If he knew anything about teenagers it was they hated to cry in front of people. “Hey Vector...” He started softly. “Let's talk this out in the truck, Yah?”
Vector shook his head causing the tears to spill over. “I can’t leave her.” his voice cracked.
“Then we won’t drive anywhere.”
Vector nodded in agreement.
Don quickly ushered the teen into the work truck. The rooster learned that day that the term crocodile tears wasn’t just a saying.
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Don convinced him to go to the police. Before he would have never thought of turning his friends into the police. Snitches get stitches. Now he spilled everything. He couldn’t protect his mom by himself. It helped to have Don there with him.
Gang activity was pretty layered. To get the activity to stop, you had to get to the head. The head of the gang was usually very protected.
The plan was that Vector would go undercover for them. He would “agree” to go back to his friends, try to become the main boss’ personal bodyguard and turn him in. It was a long con. The police promised to protect his mom, and his new friends. Learning from Don, Vector asked to be paid for doing undercover work. They agreed.
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Lying wasn't the hard part, the hard part was deducing whether the gang members believed his lies. Vector had to learn others' body language quickly and correctly. If they even so much as hinted that they thought he wasn’t all in, he had to double down his acts of loyalty or accuse the accusers. Anything really to keep his cover. He got really good at being undercover.
Eventually Vector was responsible for cleaning up Seaside city of gangs. He liked that he could protect the people of his community.
He was offered a full time job as a front desk officer. It was a good paying job and all but it wasn’t as exciting as going undercover. It was basically a secretary job.
He felt disrespected at the police station. Maybe it was because he was young, maybe it was who his mom was, he didn't know. But every slight and jab made him angrier. After all he did for these guys he deserved respect!
He was done with the police and their superiority complex. He wanted to help people no matter who they were. He wanted to take cases that went out of the city's jurisdiction. He wanted to start his own detective agency!
He asked Don and Nite, they advised him to stay with the police station job and save up his money for the agency.
Vector saved up his money and took up a side gig as a DJ. He was still just a teen though and no one had taught him how to spend his money wisely. He had bought some fancy kicks. He showed them off to Don and Nite. Don rolled his eyes and Nite complimented him.
He then was eyeing some jewelry. All the cool rappers had gold chains. Even Don had a silver chain. Everyone cool had a chain! He bought a gold chain and some bracelets that had gold buckles.
“Didn't you tell me to invest my money, Don? Well, I invested in gold!” Vector flashed off his bling. Don looked annoyed and didn't reply. Nite told Vector later that Don was flattered; he just was too proud to show it.
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The dream is now in place. More Characters are coming.
Any spelling and grammar mistakes please let me know.
