Your Stories - KC's Story continues...

(please read part 1 first, it is in the previous post ; )

It was the thirteenth of December in 2012, the first time she could see her dad again. She was visiting him in jail. She was so happy to see him, but she couldn’t give him a hug because there was a thick pane of glass between them. In this glass window were tiny holes. But the little black box fit perfectly in them. KC’s dad told her to give him the box. She was talking to him for 35 minutes and most of that time he was telling her where and how to pick up the box she should bring next. He explained that all of this was just a big secret between the two of them and she couldn’t tell anybody. “Not even momma?” she asked. Her dad answered, “No, princess, not even momma.” He smiled and added, “I love you, precious. You going to be a big basketball star one day. Be there for your brother. See you soon, princess!” “Bye, daddy! Love you too.” A little tear started rolling down her cheek and then she left.

The following year she visited her dad on a regular basis to sneak in the tiny boxes just like he demanded. Always scared, always working her way around the guards. Always crying when she left because she missed her dad so much. She never asked what was in the boxes or what they were for. This was probably her biggest mistake.

On the fourth of August in 2013, KC’s mom got a call from the police. KC was so excited because she thought her dad would finally be released, that he could finally leave the prison. She wasn’t completely wrong. Her dad was free, in a way. But he had broken out of the prison.

KC felt sad, angry, happy and scared at the same time. She didn’t know if she should smile and show her happiness or if she should cry to show how scared and sad she was. It seemed like her mother felt the same. She just hung up the phone and then she slowly grabbed a chair and sat down on it. She seemed kind of confused. Then KC’s little brother Sam came, and he had absolutely no idea what was going on. He was only 8 at that time and although they had never really had time to hang out together, he missed his dad terribly. Sam asked what was wrong. He wasn’t stupid, he knew something had happened just by looking at his mom’s and sister’s eyes. No-one spoke. So, he asked again. He repeated his questions. To no avail. KC just looked her mom in the eye. They were both frozen. That was when Sam lost it.

Abruptly he started shouting and screaming. “Is this about daddy? What did he do?” He asked them to tell the truth, he wanted to know it all! “He is also my dad; this is also my business!” He couldn’t stop shouting or crying, he felt so helpless and…  worthless. Just because he was the “runt of the litter” didn’t mean he was stupid. He cared! And his mom and sister should care about him! But all his screaming and shouting didn’t change a bit because…

Then some extremely messed up shit happened. Without warning his mom just tipped over. It had all been too much for her. She passed out. KC told Sam to stop and they called an ambulance. Then they were waiting the whole night for their mom to return, talking about the jailbreak and what it might mean for them. Somewhere along the line KC suddenly realized what part she had played in the scheme. Suddenly it all clicked into place. She was to blame! She had sneaked in all the devices her dad had needed for his escape. You guys remember the little black boxes, don’t you? She was about to cry but couldn’t. Sam was next to her, she had to be brave.

When their mom finally returned, it was clear something terrible had happened. She smelled horrible and was covered in cuts and bruises. Day by day that would be the state she would return home from work from then on. She had quit her job and started selling her body. She wasn’t the same anymore.

One day also Sam came home bleeding. He had just turned ten and had tried to help his mom as she was being abused by a “customer”. He had a deep cut in the palm of his hand. Then their mom also started doing drugs. She went crazy and started turning on KC and Sam. That was when KC decided to leave.

She decided to run away from home to find a safe place for her and Sam to live. She knew if they stayed, they would end up in the hospital or, worse, in a Child Care Centre. So, they both packed a bag and ran.

2 YEARS LATER…

KC is nineteen now and Sam is about to turn a tough twelve. Without ever planning to do so, KC has joined the “family business” and Sam is her second-in-command. She hadn’t been able to find any other way to earn a living for them. So…

She is one of the most skilled and feared pushers in New York City, now. She is a dealer, a hustler, a criminal like her dad. But there is one big difference to her dad…

She never gets caught!