Booker T: From Prison to Promise: Life Before the Squared Circle Read Online Free PDF

soon as we got there, I made a beeline to the children’s section. I found my new outfit right away: a brown suit with pinstripes. Man, that getup reminded me of gangster movies. I went to a mirror and held it up, imagining how cool it would look on me.
    “Did you find what you were looking for? Come on.” She looked at the ceiling and all around before grabbing my hand. “Let’s go try it on.”
    I went into one of the stalls, took off all my clothes, and put on the suit. Perfect fit. I stepped out to show Carolyn.
    She smiled. “Okay, Junior, now put your clothes on over the suit.”
    What?
I didn’t get it, but within seconds we were both tugging on my jeans, shirt, and jacket until the suit was totally concealed. My clothes puffed out so much I looked like a World War II—era deep-sea diver. On top of that, I was itching like crazy.
    All I could think was,
Whoa, my sister’s a booster.
Even though I was a little nervous, the idea of stealing the suit was somewhat exhilarating. Being so haphazardly thrown into Carolyn’s world made me feel grown-up and cool. Sure, it was wrong. Sure, my mother would have slapped me upside the head if she was there, but that was exactly what made it so great.
    “Just keep cool and don’t act like anything’s wrong,” Carolyn said. “The last thing we want is to look suspicious and give ourselves away. Follow me to the front doors and walk straight to the car.”
    Scared out of my mind, I made the long trek from the dressing area to the exit, my eyes glued to Carolyn’s back. I completely expected a security guard to grab my shoulder, and my heart practically pounded out of my chest. When we hit the doors and my feet touched the asphalt, I let out a sigh.
    Carolyn didn’t say a word. During the ride home, though, as I slunk out of my street clothes to reveal my free suit, I saw a little smirk on her face.
    Back at the house, Mom fawned over her little man and posed me for a picture.
    I looked in the mirror and marveled.
Not bad. Booker T. Huffman, eleven-year-old master criminal.
    Carolyn stood there grinning, and I could barely keep from bursting out laughing. My career had only begun.
    After our little heist, apparently Carolyn knew I was cool and could keep a secret, so she let her guard down around me. Sometimes she helped Mom by taking my sister Bonita and me to her house. Anything could happen at her place anytime—and it usually did.
    There was no denying the strength of Carolyn’s influence on me. The idea of taking what I wanted when I wanted it really appealed to me. It wasn’t long before I struck again, solo this time—or at least I tried to.
    One weekend when Bonita and I visited her house, Carolyn needed to run some errands. She took us to the Laundromat and loaded the machine. After clinking in a couple of quarters, she suggested we go out for a bit. “My friend lives right across the street. You’ll have fun playing over there.”
    Bonita and I just shrugged and followed, as always.
    Almost immediately after we stepped into her friend’s house, Carolyn disappeared into some other room. Bonita and I ran around and made the best of things, like all kids do, losing track of time and having not a care in the world.
    Eventually Carolyn came out with a strange expression and bloodshot eyes. She seemed a little disoriented.
    I guess she’s just tired,
I thought.
    “Let’s get our clothes and get back home,” she said, leading us out the front door and across the street.
    Bonita and I played while Carolyn finished her load. It was getting dark out when she emerged with her basket of clothes. As we followed her to the car, she stumbled and spoke gibberish. I dismissed it and jumped into the backseat.
    None of us wore seat belts as we cruised through the neighborhood. Lost in thought, I stared at the passing houses.
    Out of nowhere I heard a crunch and nose-dived into the back of the passenger seat. I didn’t know what had happened, but my instincts kicked