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“I can smell that shit a mile away,” he says

I don’t answer I break off another piece of fruit

“Okay, soldier,” he continues The reference o “You can callcommittee”

My brow is lowered as my eyes return to his “I’m not interested in a welcome”

“Shut the fuck up and listen” I’m pissed, but his broers as well I notice he’s expanded a few inches in size, and I decide I’ll check out that weight room after all

Sitting a little straighter, I decide to hear him out “I’m all ears”

“We do things a little different here You’re not in the joint You’re only in a holding pattern We don’t do white versus black, Dago versus Polack, Mick versus Spick” I resist asking if he writes greeting cards He leans forward, and his tone turns sinister “We do bad-asses versus pussies Looks like you ht be one of the bad-asses”

“You’re sht”

“You want to survive Phase One of your incarceration? Sit at the head table with us” He nods in a direction behind ht shoulder “We’ll protect you”

“If I’m one of the bad-asses, why do I need protection?”

“Because if you’re not sitting with us, you’re one of the pussies We don’t truck with pussies Somebody needs to blow off steam”

Our eyes clash, black iron against blue steel I guess it’s ti over my shoulder, I see the table in question

Another, equally large black guy is sitting hunched over his plate of shit Beside hi as he is In the next seat is a suy with sallow skin and a black buzz cut

“Who’s the little guy?” I say, turning back

“Reverend Moon Rev for short” Chairman leans back and a look of admiration passes over his face “Don’t cross that little fucker or you’ll end up in a sling Or worse”