The Price You Pay.

It was right in front of Lucas, the answer to his prayers. His ticket out. Yet, he hesitated to pick it up from the desk.

“What’s the matter kid? You’ve never seen a gun before?” Tony asked behind puffs of a cigar.

“I, I, I. I’ve seen a gun before!” Lucas spoke through faltering courage.

“Then what’s the problem? Just go scare those union guys off the docks! I have a shipment coming in tonight, that needs no interruptions!” Tony’s voice elevated with ferocity.

“Aren’t you tired of being a nobody? When’s the last time you had nice things?” Tony was trying a different method of persuasion.

Lucas gulped. Took a step forward and wrapped his fingers around the cold steel of the revolver. It felt heavy. Whether it was the actual weight, or the guilt of letting his mom down he couldn’t define.

“Tony! I don’t want to hurt anyone!” Lucas explained.

“I don’t want you to either. I just have to know how loyal you can be. Jimmy will go with you.” Tony gestured to the large man looming over his shoulder.

Jimmy’s face was grim, hardly an expression passed upon his brow.

“What are we waiting for? They should be just starting to picket.” Jimmy’s voice was stern but monotone.

“But my dad could be there!” Lucas interrupted.

“Your old man works at the docks? So? So what? I haven’t seen my real father in years. Prick used to get drunk and beat me sideways. We are your family now.” Tony answered.

Lucas thought about everything that brought him to this point, from the fleas in his bed, the holes in the roof, the rags for clothes he wore. All the while the thought of him being the oldest of seven kids to mother who tried her hardest, and his working stiff father. Through the penniless summers and school yard taunts his family was the best thing Lucas had. Poverty beats people into a world that is quick to ignore them.

“Ok.” Lucas said as he pocketed the pistol.

Jimmy and Lucas got into the long black sedan. It was a short drive from Antonio Demanco’s Import Office to the docks. With each passing street light Lucas took quick peeks towards Lucas. Those moments of twilight revealed numerous scars and cuts across Jimmy’s face.

“You ready?” Jimmy asked.

Before Lucas could reply the car door slammed and Jimmy was pulling out a baseball bat from the trunk of the car. Jimmy was already walking towards the assembling crowd of blue collar folks.

“Oh fuck.” Lucas said as he followed.

Jimmy was a monster of a man. He stood taller than anybody near him. “Show’s over folks. Go home now.” He said in the most nonchalant way.

Instantly the crowd irrupted from years of being neglected, now it was their turn to speak.

“The hard way then.” Jimmy took three steps and started swinging.

Teeth splattered across the asphalt. Blood burst into the air with each KAWACK of the Louisville slugger. The crowd split into three. One group ran the hell away. Others coward where they were. The last group rushed toward their assailant. Jimmy was big and strong, but numbers weren’t on his side.

Poles that held up protest signs were brandished as clubs. They broke across Jimmy’s back like twigs.

“This is why you are here Lucas!” Jimmy yelled as he fell to the ground.

Timidly Luke reached into his pocket and fired the gun into the air. Everyone in the crowd fell still.

The words that broke the tension were “What the hell are you doing Luke!”

Instantly Lucas recognized who said them. Shame and guilt coursed through his veins.

“You are supposed to be at home with Ma!” Lucas stammered back.

“I am tired of working to death for shit pay! While Mr. Demanco lives the high life!” Lucas father yelled back.

“Enough of the family reunion. Lucas get these people to move.” Jimmy said as he began dusting himself off.

The gun fell upon the cold wet street. Lucas collapsed and hid in his hands.

“I don’t want to repeat myself. Everyone leave now.” Jimmy said before he looked over his shoulder and added. “I’ll get to you next.”

No one moved. Until Jimmy got in swinging distance again. More bone cracking pops broke the evening’s commotion. Now the message was heard, more people began to disperse. Jimmy hovered over a man crawling away. He whimpered as Jimmy stepped on him, and kicked him over. It was Lucas’s father.

Jimmy smiled as he lifted the bat above his head for a fatal swing. The hickory club clanked when it hit the floor. Jimmy grabbed his midsection and found five holes.

Lucas threw the pistol into the water. “I am a dead man now.”