Memories

As Vinny walked home he thought about the mugging, and he remembered how seeing things of that nature used to be a daily thing for him. When Vinny was twelve years old he was living on the streets. He had been through three foster homes and after a fallout in the third he decided it was time to fend for himself. That first week was the the hardest time of his life.
During this time Vinny became a thief and then a gangster. He wasn't getting by and he was seeking a family, so when a tough looking youth passed by him lying in the alley and stopped with an offer of salvation, Vinny jumped at the opportunity. The youth's name was Payne Owen and he was the CA13s organizer and leader. When Payne saw Vinny he asked him if he would like to help rob the convenience store across the street. Vinny was so hungry that he figured that is what his life would result to anyways so he might as well have company. As soon as they walked in, Payne pulled a gun and began waving it around like it was a prized possession and everyone should see it. As soon as Payne had the money from the cash register he sprinted out of the door saying nothing to Vinny who was busy eating anything and everything. By the time Vinny realized he was alone, the police were running through the door and putting him in cuffs. Vinny spent a week in the juvenile detention center cursing Payne Owen the whole time. However, when Vinny was released, he was greeted by two more youth about the same age as Payne had been waiting for him, and they took him to the basement of Isabellas and he was officially initiated into the CA380s. The CA380s became his family and taught him to be hard. Vinny started as just a thief for the gang but later became an enforcer because of his skill as a boxer. Vinny could not count all of the times that he had put people down for various offenses towards the Fam, but unfortunately he never would forget them. Vinny was tired of hurting people and he wanted out. It all went down Payne had Vinny go to meet someone that owed the gang some money. Vinny went to find him but when he did he knew he couldn't hurt him. It was a young kid, he was maybe fourteen years old. Vinny looked at the boy and was reminded of himself not so long ago and he let him go. When Payne heard this he was furious and he confronted Vinny. Vinny explained why he let the boy go and then once again out of character, he asked Vinny to leave. Rarely are gang members simply allowed to leave but Payne had compassion that day and Vinny left the CA380s forever.

Vinny knew that he would have to search all night yet again, because every passing day only added on to his ever growing feeling that he would loose Laney forever. Vinny played with the kids up until it was time for them to go to sleep and then after saying goodnight and sleep well to each and every one, he left to begin the search yet again.
Vinny decided to begin looking around the Northwest section of the Castle Apartments starting near Isabella’s cafe because he knew all of the sleaze balls nearby flock to to the place after 10. “Its a shame they put this place so close to the orphanage” thought Vinny, if I were in charge of this town I would have it shut down. But nothing stood out to Vinny around Isabellas so he continued up the street turning on to Anastasia street (I dont know the name of the street).
Then suddenly as Vinny approached the alley way between the Roller Rink and Walter’s lane, he heard a great commotion. Vinny rushed around the corner to see a short stocky man hunched over a long wiry thin man, beating him with a trashcan lid. “Stop!” yelled Vinny. Immediately the stocky man took off and rather than chasing him, Vinny ran to the man that was just assaulted. “Are you o.k.?” Vinny asked. The wiry man hesitaded, clearly still dazed, but then answered, “Ill live, but he took everything.” Vinny helped the man to his feet and asked him if he needed help getting home or to wherever he was going. The man said he would be alright and wandered off. Vinny continued to search.