Antolin German Jr 

Elias Stuhr 

English 170 

12 April 2023 

                                                                Six Feet Above 

Jason grew up in Harlem. During one of the worst periods. The 80s. Although his mom didn’t have much, she ensured Jason felt loved and cared for. Regardless of Jason’s circumstances and status he had a heart of gold. First thing he’d do every morning is thank God for giving him the ability to draw breath from his lungs once again. Then he proceeded to wake up his younger brother, Tony. Although Tony was only a year younger than Jason. Tony would never wake up on time unless his brother woke him up.   

Hey, wake up! Jason shouted as he shook his brother.   

Fuck off me. Tony shouted back as he sucked his teeth.   

It’s time for school come on! You always do this, bro.   

Jason knew that Tony took at least 5-10 minutes stretching and fully waking up every morning. Which was perfect for him because it gave him enough time to take a five-minute shower before the hot water was turned off. As they walked out the door, the putrid scent of urine ambushed their nostrils.   

The elevator always smells like fucking piss, man. I swear if I find the fucking idiot who pisses in it, I’ll fuck them up! Shouted Tony as he balled his fists up and grinned.   

Jason just looked at his younger brother with a silent yet loud stare.  

As they walked down the 12 flights of stairs. They finally arrived to the bottom of the stairs.   

“Yo do you even really want to go to school? That shits looking like a dub man.”  

You’re going to school bro. You have 2 years left man. Don’t jeopardize the outcome. Do you really want to live in Harlem your whole life man? There’s nothing here man. How many of your friends can you count that are dead? Exactly! There’s nothing here in Harlem besides poverty and death! So, if you want to go and skip school you can do that.  

“Relax yo. I’ll go damn.”  

Alright. I have work after school and mom’s working until 2 in the morning. Try and stay out of fucking trouble alright?   

Yeah whatever. Tony responded with a small grin.   

School ended and Jason went to work.   

What’s up Santito, how’s it going?   

“Hey Jason I actually have bad news. We’ve been doing pretty bad financially for a few months now. I’ve been trying to see how things go but it’s clear that I can’t really afford to pay you anymore papito.”   

Are you firing me? Please, this is all I got. This is the only way I can help my mom pay for the bills and groceries. No me haga eto porfavor. You’re like the closest thing I have to a father Santo.  

“I’m sorry mi hijo but I have bills to pay too. You know I love you and that’s why I’ve been waiting for so long. I had hope the business would pick up again but it hasn’t yet. I’m sorry papito but I’m going to have to let you go. Que dios estes con tigo para ahora y para siempre. If you ever need anything you know I’m only one call away.   

For the first time in Jason’s life. He felt like he had no control over his emotions. As he sobbed and screamed. Sadness turned to rage.  

“Your home early as fuck you good Jay? Jay? Hello?”  

I just lost my fucking job Tony. What the fuck I’m supposed to tell moms? How am I supposed to help now? Adonde estas Dios cuando te de verdad lo necesita. I need some air man.  

Jason then proceeds to walk down the 12 flights of stairs. The smell of urine didn’t even bother him. As soon as he got outside, he took a left and saw a few benches open. As he walked he noticed all the kids he went to school with smoking with the older guys. They all had nice sneakers fresh white t shirts and a decent amount of jewelry.   

How the fuck they’re able to afford all that shit he thought to himself.   

“Yeoo wasup Jay how you doin my boy” Shouted Nino. As he walked up to Jason and dapped him up.  

I’m good just chillin you know.   

“Na word word. How’s the job goin tho?”  

Jason’s face immediately changed as if he ate something sour.   

“What happened? You good?  

Na just got fired, bro. I don’t know what to do right now. I gotta help moms out with the bills. Feel me.   

“Na word word. Not going to lie to you. Tap in with me, bro. I got a way for you to make sure all the bills are paid and for you to have some extra change in your pockets, feel me.”  

Na, I’m good I appreciate it, though.  

Later that night, Jason waited for his mother to come home, but she never did. In the morning he turned on the news. His mother’s face was all over the screen. She was hit by a drunk driver and was pronounced dead on the spot. Without any warning, Jason screamed at the top of his lungs while punching everything within sight. As he sobbed, he dropped to the floor. As soon as Tony saw the TV tears fell from his eyes. He ran out. He ran passed the group of homeless people on the corner. Passed the teenagers smoking. Passed the group of young men getting arrested. He kept on running until he was back home.   

The following day Jason saw Nino again.   

“I’m sorry for your lost que la amor de dios estes con ustedes.”   

I appreciate it.   

“If you ever need anything, let me know bro.”   

As Nino starts to walk towards his car. Jason shouts, “Yo, where’d you get that ride from, bro? Holy shit, it’s fire”  

“You know the answer to your question, man. I told you. You could make enough money to get one of these.”  

In 5 years? Asked Jason.  

“Na, man. Try 5 months. This shit feeding the streets right now. We get it for so cheap that we’re able to sell it for cheap no one in the market can compare with our prices. And so everybody can eat we wholesale to the other dealers too. I’m tellin you, man try it out. If you don’t fuck with it you can just get out the game.”  

Not gonna lie im in a pinch right now. I’ll try it out for a bit.  

“Come over my spot for a bit, and we can start you off with 10 tubes.”  

2 months later.  

“Yo Jason, you’re not going to school?”   

Na I’m good, bro.   

“You haven’t been to school this week?”   

What’s the point of school if I’m making more money than my teachers?   

“You changed”  

Tell that to this. Jason proceeds to throwing a stack of hundreds held together by a rubber band.   

Do I have to remind you? I’m the reason why we eat? Moms is gone and I got fired what you expect me to do? Schools not important right now. Either way, this is only temporary I’m only doing this till we have enough money to move out and start fresh.   

Couple of days later.   

“Yo Jay, you’ve been doing your thing man. You look fresh. You look good. I’ve been hearing great things bout you, man.”  

Appreciate it.  

“I really feel like this is my callin in life. I love the hustle. As long as people want it, I could sell it. Na, but I want you to meet the connects. They’ve been hearing great things about you.”   

2 hours later…  

Tony, ima go to talk to the connect. Lifes going to change for us, hermanito. I could make 100 bands in 2 weeks after they load me up with the keys.  Then we’ll move out of here and start a new life.   

“Stay safe, Brodie I love you.”  

Those were the last words Jason heard before getting fatally shot by Nino. Turns out Nino was plotting to rob and kill Jason ever since the connects told him they wanted to speak with him directly. Jason wasn’t only expanding, but he was moving the product faster than any other dealer in the East side of Harlem. Nino knew once the connects heard about how quickly Jason was able to move product, they would want to give him the keys directly, and soon he’d be the top dealer. Nino knew once he killed Jason, he’d be back on top. Nino’s greed caused him to murder one of his closest friends.   

The story of Jason is truly a tragic one. A young man with a heart of gold who found himself trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty and despair. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to escape the pressure of his community and turned to selling drugs. This decision cost him his life. They say community is everything and I say would Jason have died given different circumstances? What If Jason grew up in the suburbs instead of Harlem? Will Tony learn from his brothers’ mistakes?