Chapter one

"Do you have this?" Ben asked and gave the

store attendant a piece of paper as he entered 

the pharmacy to get his sick mothers medication.

The drugs were given to him and he paid for it 

"The money is incomplete." The attendant said as he was about leaving.

"How do you mean", Ben asked, perplexed.

"You are short, five pounds"

"I thought the price was fifteen pounds?"

"That was last week."the attendant said with 

a frown appearing on his face.

"Mate! I don't have five pounds to make it up."

"Then you have to return the medication."

"Please my mum is sick and she needs it very fast," Ben pleaded.

"I am sorry. Its either you complete the money

or return the medication."The attendant said.

He was confused and had no idea what to do.

He thought about making a run for it but threw that idea quickly out of his mind into the trash before it became reality.

"Please my mum had an asthma attack this morning and her inhaler and drugs are exhausted. Please help me out." He said while on his knees.

The attendant did not budge. "Please, pay up the money or you don't get the medication." He said with an air of finality. 

"You are heartless," Ben said and left the the store in anger.

"How am I going to get her meds. I can't go home without it."he thought to himself.

While he stood outside the store, the attendant 

kept watching him suspiciously. Ben felt uneasy

when the attendant picked up the phone.

He left the place and was pondering how he

was going to get the remaining money to get

the meds.

He was walking aimlessly around with his thought pondering on what to do. It was a given he couldn't go home empty handed after what his mother went through earlier on that morning.

As he walked, he suddenly he came across some boys his age playing dice and staking money on who would throw the highest number.

When he get close to them, they looked at him

suspiciously."What do you want?" One of the boys asked. 

The boy looked scrawny but he had a fierceness

about him. Ben was scared but he was ready to 

do anything to get the money for his mom's meds.

"I want to play", Ben told the scrawny lad.

"You have money?" He asked Ben.

Ben became apprehensive; he was scared.

"What if I lose the money that wasn't enough in the first place to pay for the meds, then what happens to mum?" He thought.

They all focused on him, in anticipation of his answer. "Ye-ye-yes, I  have money," he stuttered.

They all smiled.

"Common bloke, you are welcome." The scrawny looking boy said after giving him a pat on his back. Ben joined in the game.

After 30 minutes Ben had won about forty pounds. He couldn't believe his luck. They were all surprised at how much he had won.

As the game went on Ben noticed some of the boys who were just watching some few metres away from them started to whisper to each other.

Ben became suspicious and decided to leave.

"Guys thanks for letting me play. I have to be on

my way home now."

"Why do you want to leave now?" one of the players asked Ben.

"I left my sister at home, alone." he lied.

There was a pause and Ben was ready to beat

it if he noticed any sudden movement towards

him.

One of the boys who was just watching just 

nodded at the scrawny boy and he understood

what he meant.

"You can go. You are welcome to come play with us again." The scrawny boy said with a stern look.

"I sure will be here to play again."Ben replied.

Ben ran straight to the store to buy the drug.

He couldn't believe his luck. In addition to the

Fifteen pounds, he now had forty pounds

In total he had fifty-five pounds. He was elated and laughing as he entered the store. Ben noticed the surprised look on the face of the attendant, when Ben walked in.

Ben bought his mum's medication.

"Here is your money." He said with confidence.

When the attendant collected the money,

He started to scrutinize it as though the money

was fake. "Is there a problem?" Ben asked him.

He just gave him his change and said nothing.

As he was about to leave he saw the scrawny boy pass by, the pharmacy. Alarm bells started to ring in his head. He started to look around the store.

The store attendant watched him suspiciously.

Ben stalled a bit; sighed and went out the 

exit, preparing for the worst.

He was actually scared because he did not

have the heart for a fight. Regardless he was ready to give them one.

Outside of the pharmacy he scanned his environment to notice any strange movement.Satisfied, that nothing appeared odd, he moved on home. 

As Ben walked off the street where the store was unto another street, he saw Scrawny, four blocks away, standing by the pavement, hands in his pocket.

Ben paused, and his heart began to race faster. Scrawny waved at Ben and began to move towards him. Then all of a sudden, Ben noticed two other boys behind him.

Ben was petrified; he was confused. He had encountered tough boys in school who were bullies but not street kids who were into all sorts.

As he moved towards Scrawny he decided he

was going to talk to Scrawny and explain the

situation of things at home to him.

Scrawny stopped as he saw Ben advancing

towards him. There was a wry smile playing 

on the face of Scrawny.

"What's up." Ben said in familiar and friendly 

tone. The Scrawny boy was twisting a toothpick,

that was placed in his mouth.

Ben began to wonder, "how come, Scrawny, who was literally scrawny, had this sinister aura about him that gives me the creeps?"

"Big Bo, is not happy that you went away with

 our money. Infact he is pissed." Scrawny said.

"B-b-but I won fair and square."

"Yes you did but we have not seen you here before. You are not part of the kids from this neighborhood."  He said and threw 

a spit, that almost landed on Ben's ragged shoe.

"Oh! Sorry about that." He offered an offhanded apology that Ben did not acknowledge

or pay any mind.

"So, you know, in spite of the fact that

you won, we can't allow you go with the

money." He said and brought out a knife.

The boys behind were not too far away.

"O-O-Okay, please calm down. No need for violence." Ben said, sweat dripping all over.

"The thing is, at home my mum is si-si-sick."

he stuttered. "What is happening over here?" a

man from across the street yelled out.

As scrawny looked at the man, Ben took

advantage of the distraction. He shoved

scrawny to the ground and took to his heels.

The boys who were behind Ben have chase.

Scrawny picked himself up and gave the man

the middle finger and joined in the chase.

Ben ran as fast as he could. Going through alleys and jumping fences that were four feet high but his pursuer's were relentless.

He was about coming out of the alley when

something hit him at the back of his head.

He touched his head and noticed blood.

"God! These guy's are dead serious about getting their money back." He thought and winced when he touched his injured head again.

But he did not bother about the pain. It was all

about getting away from his pursuer's, although

he was getting weary now but he pushed on.

As Ben ran off the road into another street, two of his pursuers took a short-cut so as to intercept him In front. Ben did not notice this.

As he was coming around the corner of a

tall building, two of his chasers jumped 

over a fence unto the street, that Ben was.

"Hey you! I will call the police."  A woman 

yelled when he saw the boys jump over her fence.

"Oh God!" He exclaimed as he saw them in front, running towards him. He now ran into an alley which now became a mistake; it was a dead end.

Fours blocks away, a boy was watching with 

keen interest to see how the drama was going to end