Chapter 29
Revitalised Dwaine left the gym a few hours later.
The girl's were still plying their trade outside and Dwaine looked for a familiar face amongst those staring in his direction. There were none he knew, too young.
Sensing his interest one stepped forward,
"You looking for anything?
Smiling Dwaine shook his head and winked,
"Not what you've got in mind.
The girl shrugged before walking back over to the curb.
Ty's little gang were sat on a bench in Jackson Street.
One clutched a can of lager while another smoked a spliff.
"You lot still here?
Dwaine asked, a false look of incredulity on his face.
Ty smiled,
"You know how it is, we're bad bwoys surveying our turf.
"Bad bwoys! Dwaine sucked his teeth before adding, "You look more like an advert for Benneton.
Ty kissed his teeth shaking his head,
"Benneton! Get the fuck out of here, if you wasn't my brothers spar we'd deal with you right now.
Dwaine looked with eyebrows raised in mock surprise,
"Deal with me bwoy, what you gonna do bust a lentil in my ass with a pea shooter.
The younger lad laughed.
"Seriously, what you all doing here, why aint you at school, I told you nuff times, you'll end up like me and your brother.
"Shit, there aint nothing for me to learn at school, all I can do is learn here on the street, this is gonna be where I make my money in life.
"You shouldn't give up so quick, at least give it a shot.
Even as the words came out of his mouth Dwaine knew they lacked conviction. The look on the youth's faces told him the same.
Dwaine looked at the boy he'd seen in the gym,
"What about you?
Before he had a chance to answer Ty stepped forward with a proud smile,
"Trust me rude boy, my man Gazza here, he's gonna be the heavy weight champion of the world.
"Yeah I see him down the gym, Harry was bigging him up, you just gotta make sure you keep it up.
The youth nodded in response and went to say something.
Looking skyward Ty interrupted,
"Course he'll keep it up, he's there every night, dedication, like me to the street. Then there's my bredrin up there, gesturing towards another youth about sixteen, "my man there, he's gonna be a rap star, trust me, you should hear him spit some lyrics.
Dwaine nodded his head enthusiastically,
"That's good, that's good, turning his attention back to Ty he asked, " but what about you, can't you get into some shit like that.
"I can't rap.
"What about some other area, I dunno producer or sommit.
"Nah, not me, I wanna be a star, in the limelight, know what I mean, and if the street's the only place I can do it then so be it, I'll be the next Jarvey.
Dwaine let out a deep breath,
"You don't wanna be the next Jarvey, listen you know I gotta lotta love for Jarv but trust me you don't wanna be the next him, it's lonely where he is.
Ty looked incredulous,
"Shit, he's got everything, money, jewellery, pussy, flash motor the works, what young up and coming don't want all that.
Dwaine raised his eyebrows,
"What's your brother think?
"Ruby, shit Ruby would love to be Jarvey, that's who he plans to hook up with when he gets out, I know there's been shit between them but now Ruby's cleaned up and all that Jarvey should let him in on things innit?
Dwaine shook his head.
Ty didn't look convinced,
"C'mon, they go way back¦.
"It aint just that, Jarvey aint gonna be around.
Ty's eyes narrowed,
"Why, what's happened? Is this over that overdose shit?
Laughing Dwaine looked at his friend's brother,
"No, nothing like that, he's just moving on, you know, had enough.
Ty nodded wisely,
"Made his money yeah?
Raising a nostril, Dwaine nodded,
"Sommit like that. Before Ty could ask anything further he continued, "Anyway your brother's only wanting to work with him cause he don't think there's another way to make a living, you though you gotta chance.
The look Dwaine received suggested he was insane,
"Chance to what rude boy, work nine to five in Maca D's flipping burgers for pennies, nah my ways planned already, we're gonna run things.
The rest nodded their heads in agreement.
Dwaine knew there was no point in trying to convince them, instead he joked,
"Run things, you couldn't run a bath boy.
Ty laughed shaking his head.
Dwaine continued,
"How is Rube?
"Yeah he's cool, holding it down, you know how it is?
Dwaine nodded.
"Me and mum's going up to see him at the weekend, you wanna come, he'd love to see you.
"Nah, nah, I've had enough of them places to last a life-time, anyway visiting's bad luck, week later you end up sat on the wrong side of the table.
Ty nodded,
"True bro true.
"How's your mum?
"Yeah she's cool, bearing up and all that.
"Well don't you inflict no more misery on her you hear?
"I'll try.
"See you later Ty, be lucky yeah.
"And you Dwaine.
Dwaine offered his fist and Ty tapped his own against it, nodding at the rest of the group he headed home.
Turning onto Riverside Street he noticed an absence of junkies at the phone-boxes, someone must have got hold of something, he thought, never took long.
The police had moved on from outside his house though opposite sat an unmarked car.
Glancing over Dwaine noticed Rogers sat in the driver's seat waving, Dwaine ignored the gesture as he entered the house.
Inside a voice called down from the landing above,
"Excuse me.
Looking up Dwaine saw a clean-shaven man in his early twenties wearing an ill-fitting suit and mac. At first he thought it might be police then he saw the scuffed loafers.
Pushing past Dwaine looked straight forward,
"I dunno nothing mate.
"But¦. the reporter began, grabbing his arm, the look Dwaine gave was enough to stop him mid sentence, "nothing.
Pulling his arm back Dwaine continued up the stairs.
