(Remember when I said..."what it truly means to blog.."? I will preface this work of blogocity with a simple statement:

"The fun and games are over, the wars, the jabs and the insults are done. I am here to BLOG people!")

     I knew I was in "their" part of town, "their turf" if you will? I had no other choice though, I promised a friend a favor. I knew the chance I was taking, the possibility of an encounter and the possible horrific aftermath of that possible...no...probable, even likely encounter.

     I had not eaten for over 24 hours. Stress can ruin your appetite apparently. I was getting weak and confused due to lack of food. I knew I had to eat 'something' and immediately. The Taco Bell sign loomed down the block. One block deeper into "their territory'. I'm a sucker for the soft tacos with extra sour cream.

     I was also very "high". I know what you're thinking..."dealers never use!" If you lived my life though, you would understand. The day to day life of a "dealer" can age you fast man! I'm only 25 and the gray hair has already hit me. I was telling you a story wasn't I? Back to it then...

     Being in a place where one shouldn't keeps your head on a permanent swivel. While the cute latino girl behind the counter tried to figure out my change I was looking behind me at the foot traffic out in front of the store. I noticed 2 of "them" coming up the block to my right. The sidewalks, full of normal everyday people, cleared before them. This was "their" ground and everyone knew it, especially me. I hoped they would keep walking down the block but, of course, it didn't happen that way. There would be no story if they had.

     The girl behind the counter was filling my order when I finally spun my head back around into "her" world, grabbed my soft tacos with extra sour cream from her small, tanned, sexy hand. Wishing I had time to flirt with her surprised the hell out of me, my life could end any second and my thoughts are drifting in her direction? I'm a typical guy I suppose. :)

     As "they" came through the front street entrance, I was making my way out the side(parking lot)entrance. Wondering if I had been seen I did a quick check....22cal pistol on my right ankle was loaded with the safety off, 9mm pistol tucked into my belt was chambered with the safety off, switchblade was in my right rear pocket...just in case it got up close and personal

     I do not think there are accurate words to describe the intense, raw fear I experienced. My heart raced, at least tripling it's normal bpm. Time slowed...like a good sci-fi movie special effect, sounds became crisper. What some call hyper-attentiveness.

     There were 2 more of "them" waiting for me, leaning against my driver door. I drew first...2 rounds to the chest of the guy on the left, 1 round to the belly of the guy on the right. A shot rang out behind me...the 2 that came through the front door saw me and gave chase. I spun clockwise to fire and had the wind knocked out of me before I completed 180 degree turn. It felt like a 747 slammed into me as I went down on my back, my head bouncing off the blacktop. I sat up about halfway and unloaded my clip in the general direction of the side entrance, firing blindly. Time had already slowed...now it stopped!

     Nothing happened, no sounds, no movement...nothing. I stood to find the 2 in front of me on the ground bleeding profusely, not moving. I made it to my car, kicking a body out of the way to open the door. Sound returned...warning me that the police were on their way.

     I made it home in record time, realizing that what knocked me on my ass was a round from a .45cal fucking hand cannon! As I lay in my bed drinking and pouring whisky into the hole in my side I began to laugh. It struck me as funny to know that I wouldn't live long enough to flirt with the counter girl or bitch that they forgot my extra sour cream...fuckers!

Taco fan Deunan (with extra sour cream)