The Authority.

2016

Atlanta, GA

June 6th, Saturday

4:30 P.M.

The commotion of the dealers who stood right in front of Mr Brown's small market died down when the matte black Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG turned into the street and pulled over right where they'd piled up to sell everything on them by the end of the day. Ashton stepped out and a sound was dared to be made as they watched him maneuver his way to the front of his car to lean on it. "Why y'all quite for all of a sudden?" He asked but no one had the heart to respond and as a result the silence held it's power while Ashton grew exceedingly irritated and impatient for an answer. "So no one hear me talkin' now huh?" He asked yet another question but still no response. Luckily in a rather good mood from the events that took place the night before. Ashton played it off with a light chuckle before he retorted to a frightening tone and facial expression, "If this party ain't over yet then I advise the rest of y'all to get to y'all blocks-" without a single hesitation, they all scattered for their corners. Walking into the store and roaming through each aisle until the last like an inspector. He swiftly motioned toward his way back to the exit area where he completely disregarded the cashier who just occasionally looked at him before her eyes roamed all other areas of the store. Holding a bottle of water he placed a $100 bill on the counter before walking out of the store and to his car. Rushing around the counter to catch up with him she stopped at the front step to shout, "Sir your change". Turning his head toward her for a split second he opened the door to his car and got in, "keep it" he said nonchalantly. Alycia was a bit startled but overjoyed to say the least. The bottle only cost $1.50 which meant the rest was hers to keep and she'd been saving up to buy herself a complete collection

of her favorite book series, which she'd been wanting since she began working in the 10th grade and only 2 years later she could finally afford it, especially since the library didn't have the full collection. Alycia knew her mom could afford it but would never purchase it for her, even if she begged. Her excuse being that, "there are better things to do with money". By instruction every cent of the small salarie she made went to her mother. Shrugging her shoulders, she returned to the register and placed the amount due in the register before stuffing the change into her pocket. She thought about him and the blessing he was to her exhausting day while if he'd been asked how she looked he wouldn't even remember seeing her. Not necessarily that he would've forgotten, but he generally didn't pay any attention to her physical being. With just 1 hour left of her shift, she watched the news program playing on the tiny old TV screen, hanging on the corner of the wall. Trying to embrace every second of it as she wasn't allowed to watch TV at home. Her mother wouldn't allow her. Why? Only she knew.

A very slow 15 minutes passed and Alycia was near to drowning in the urge to sleep, the school day was beyond lengthy, along with the homework she finished at the library before heading to work. Mr Brown rushed into the shop abruptly and paced to the back of the shop "You best not sleep lil girl" he said while making a series of thuds, thumps and rumbles "I'm not sir" she replied in a startled awakening as she lifted her arms off the counter. "What I tell you bout that 'sir' nonsense girl, I'm a negro, soon yo ass gone be calling me master" he asserted in annoyance as he made his way out into the front where she stood watching over the store. "Sorry" she apologised steering in Mr Brown gradually shaking his head at how fearful she was of him. knowing it was all due to the fear her mother imposed on her character resulting in an overall fear of people and interactions. He'd once witnessed a younger Alycia get beaten mercilessly by her mother the previous year and a few times prior. "Look, I gotta go so imma need you to lock up today, in fact you can go home right now cause I know yo mama waitin' " and with that said she grabbed her jacket and backpack from her cubical compartment in the back. "Bye Mr. Brown, I'll see you on Monday" she greeted as she rushed out of the store, not allowing him a chance to reply she scurried for the bus stop to make it home a bit early that way she'd put her mother's mood at ease regarding her curfew.