Prompt: Most Valued Possession
Zero looked down at his hand and at the coin in the center of his palm. He blanketed it with his fingers and squeezed tightly. "No."Â
"Oh, come on! It's a whole dollar! You could buy anything with it."Â
"That's innit even true." The young boy rolled his eyes and moved his hand close to his chest when the other kid started to approach him. It was clear that his intent was to grab it away, "Don't touch it."
"I'm so hungry. I'm starving, here. Please!"
A snicker left Zero's throat, "You're a liar! From the looks of your gut you've been eating good." He knew that his friend, though he hesitated to use that word, was nearly as poor as him but his mother was always in the kitchen. Zero thought she might be trying to plump him up for Christmas. The thought made him laugh, "Get outta here. If you're so hungry, go home."
"Gah, ever since you been hangin' out with that gang you ain't the same anymore." The boy backed away and kicked the ground playfully, "Everybody says it. Pa says you're just gonna get yourself killed over nothin'. Dead like them other boys. I'd be careful if I was you, Zero. I'm worried..."Â
"What does he know? Your dad's a drunk and everyone knows it." Zero stepped forward with his fist locked around his coin, "You ain't me, so, back off." He gave the boy a nudge, digging his fist into his chest.
"Maybe so, but, I think he's right. He doesn't think- Hey! Don't push me!"
He rolled his eyes again, "Or, what? Are you going to cry home to your mama. I told you to get outta here. Leave me alone. Get your own money and spend it how you like. Don't be taking mine. I earned this."
The kid's lip was quivering and he was holding back tears, "Fine. I'll see ya' around. I just hope it ain't at your funeral."Â
Zero watched as the pudgy boy walked away. Within moments of his departure, Zero turned his attention back onto the money in his hand. He stared down at the silver coin, freshly polished just that morning. It had been given to him personally by Iain Donovan. He had received it the day he tried to take his pocket watch and it had been in his possession ever since then. He once thought about saving up for something special but he had grown attached to the small piece of silver ever since Iain's gruesome slaying.
He had been in the gang now for two years but it had become clear to him that his friends, many of whom were also in the gang, weren't as impacted by Iain's death as he was. In his mind he had no other choice but to weasel his way up the gang ladder. He needed to be where the grown men were. With Cillian now in charge, though, Zero wondered how long before the money in his hand was the only thing left from Dead Rabbit's once well respected leader.












