The Paper Boy
THE PAPERBOY
(based on a true story)
by
Clem Mason
(age-6-10)
(wc-750)
Tony Constantine has been delivering the evening newspaper in the project for a long time now. It isn’t a much sought after job and the company has gone through many carriers before fifteen year old Tony came along. But for some strange reason, nobody bothers him even though he is a tall, skinny white kid. His hair is jet black, curly and quite greasy looking. He has dark skin and he always looks in need of a bath. His clothes are ragged, worn and dirty. Many say he looks like a Gipsy because he has deep set, dark eyes and a narrow, pointed face. He almost never talks to anyone.
How the stories got started, nobody knows, but the young ‘bros’ leave him be because they think he has the dark power to cause bad things to happen to anyone who crosses him. The little ones think he can summon certain undesirable creatures to visit their bedrooms in the dark of night.
However, when a bicycle or skateboard disappears, most think Tony took a liking to it and carted it away. However, not one confronts him about it and the toys continue to vanish. But that doesn’t stop the grumbling amongst the youth and the resentment for him is strong.
Most watch him with suspicion as he makes his way between the buildings delivering his newspapers.
One evening, Malcolm Smith was gazing out the front window, watching a large group of children at play. They were all between six and ten years old. They gathered around an older boy who throwing something down on the sidewalk and then everybody would jump back and holler when it hit. They seemed to be having a good time. Just then, Tony walked up, took one look and walked over and held out his hand. He must have told the boy to give up what they were playing with and he took it and put it in his pocket. The children grumbled in protest as Tony walked away.
Malcolm was furious. He jumped out of his chair and ran out the door. He couldn’t close the distance between them fast enough. He grabbed Tony when he caught up to him and spun him around, spilling his papers all over the ground.
Malcolm stood gasping from the short sprint. He was pointing his finger at Tony’s face. “You miserable little, snot nosed, pimply faced piece of slime,” he hissed.
Ray stood motionless, not sure if he should run or face up to this rather large, enraged Negro.
Malcolm’s face twisted in obvious hatred. He was so angry he spat several times before he could speak again. He tilted his head back. looking down his nose at the scared paperboy.
“You took something from those kids, didn’t you, you miserable little punk?”
Tony shifted nervously and nodded.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’d better hand it over right now before I lose my temper and beat the living hell outa you.” He nodded. Right now,” he yelled.
Tony reached into his pocket and handed over a somewhat battered .44 magnum cartridge and stepped back.
Malcolm stood and looked at it a long time. “This is it? This is what you took from those kids?” he asked
Tony nodded his head. “They was trying to make it go off, so I took it.”
Humiliation began to overwhelm the big black man. This boy: this unassuming, quiet paperboy had probably just saved the life one of the projects poor little black children and he asks for no reward. Malcolm had just called him everything but a white man and now he stands there and takes like the real man that he is. If that shell had gone off… And the sad thing about it is, not one would grieve outside the project; nor care or even bat an eye. Just one less nigger they would say. But Tony cared and the child wasn’t even one of his own.
From that moment on, Malcolm did not judge a person by how they looked; or by what they wore; or by the color of their skin. He made it known throughout the project that if anybody had a problem with Tony, they was going to have to answer to Malcolm Smith.
THE END.
If you liked this story and you feel the poor, old author deserves compensation in his retirement for this creation, please feel free to send $1.00 to Clem Mason, c/o Backwater Publishing.
66021-0213.
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Questions and comments are welcome. Thank you for your fairness and honesty.
Thank you very much and may God bless you.