Strike One

Something just won’t right about that boy. I couldn’t quite put my hands on it – but that boy just won’t right. I try not to judge the people in my building, but I think the boy is a little slow, maybe somewhere along the spectrum – if you know what I mean. But that family always paid their rent on time, never had any troubles until last week. I hardly ever saw the kid until last week. The only time I ever saw him, was when he was with his mom or maybe with his dad. All of them always hustling out the door – “Bradley! Pull your pants up son or stop talking with food in your mouth.” His father would blurt out. Harmless and somewhat innocent, this family. Never had an issues – nope. But last week was a different story. I generally keep every hall under surveillance in my building. I like to keep a close eye on all my tenets. I may double up on my security. After I heard what happened to the building across the way – I’m lucky my street didn’t get hit. Anyway, that’s for another time. The point is, I like to keep a real close eye on everything and everybody in my building. So when I noticed this boy wasn’t where he belonged I had some questions. It was that first week of the month. Things get a little hectic around here. Nothing I'm not used to though, but it gets ridiculously busy. Tenets trying to catch up on past due payments, countless phone calls and text messages, the same folks begging for extensions, you know the usual. I’ve learned to be flexible with a few my tenets. Maybe you could say – I’ve got a few favorites in my building but that’s my business. You see, last week I’d come back from the bank when I noticed that Bradley boy in my hallway. “two hundred twenty eight… two hundred twenty -nine,” -- “Aye, kid! Where are you supposed to be?” I hollered. “Ahhh maannn! Lady now I gotta start over. I gotta start over! I gotta start over!” he repeated. He slapped his forehead and blurted “You suck Lady!” He stuck his tongue out at me then ran towards the other end of the hallway. He crouched down and began counting again. One by one, counting each of the lemon stained tile squares in the front hallway.

“One…two...three...” Completely shocked by the defiant behavior of this little boy, I snapped. “I said just where in the hell you suppose to be boy?” I demanded. But the boy didn’t look up not once, just kept on counting.I’m telling you, something just won’t right about him. “fourty-seven… fourty-eight… fourty-nine..” I stood there practically in rage at this boy’s waywardness. I proceeded towards him unsure what exactly I might do to this problem child. When I reached his little brown overalls, I started to see red. I reached to snatch this pest when I heard a voice call “Bradley!!  …Oh my goodness! Bradley!” I turned to see the boy’s mother running in from the front door. She quickly grabbed him and started consoling him like he was in some kind of pain. “Oh my goodness! Thank you so much Ms. Lady! Thank you. We’ve been looking everywhere for him!” she looked to me with eyes of relief. The boy’s father soon came in briskly through the front doors. “My God!” He pulled me in and gave me a hug. Extremely uncomfortable by his embrace, I cleared my throat. The boy’s Dad immediately snapped out of whatever trance he was in and released me. “Look, keep that damn kid out my halls damnit” – “Oh yes, of course! Of course. So sorry. Ms. Lady.” the boy’s mom pleaded. “Thank you so much for finding him. We cannot thank you enough”.“Just keep my halls clear.” I snarked. “Oh yes, of course. Yes -- He must have gotten away when we left the park. He usually isn’t–” “I said .. just keep him out my halls.” I hissed and walked away. Haven’t seen the boy since, but for some strange reason I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him. Just who in the hell did he think he was anyway? What in the hell was his problem talking to me like that!?