If They Pull A Knife...

I did my National Service in the Police Force.

They taught me that the when dealing with a potentially hostile subject, the Law demands that I be prepared to respond with Necessary Force.

If he tries to punch you, you are trained to respond with Unarmed Tactics.
If he pulls a knife on you, you are trained to respond with your night-stick or T-baton.
If he pulls a gun, shoot the bastard.
it's what you're supposed to do.

The Law. The Book. The Man.

Call them what you like, they all mean the same thing: "The Ones Who Make The Rules."

They tell you that if you live a good life, fight the good fight, care for your neighbours, stay honest, kind and considerate, you'll be alright cos you've got your ass covered going by 'The Book' and you haven't done anything wrong. Keep it up. We'll start singing songs together about 'Mr Bluebird' and pink flamingos in tutus will dance around you with silk streamers trailing from their beaks.

There's another set of rules.

The Old School. Ghetto. The Code. The Brotherhood. Street Rules.

After I graduated from Police Training, I got thrown into the street.
Fuck It. I didn't learn these rules from my fellow police officers. It's just a metaphor. I've known and lived by these rules all my life. My eyes are filling up with tears as I type this. This is MY MORAL CODE. My belief in this is stronger than any religion can ever imbue into my soul. I've always lived by it without knowing I was. I don't need a set of rules to tell me what's right and wrong.

When you face a potentially hostile subject you PROTECT YOUR BROTHER. You do this by taking the subject out quickly because he might hurt your brother.

NOBODY HURTS MY FAMILY.

Even a man baring only his fists. Take him down fast. HE MIGHT HURT MY BROTHER NEXT TO ME. NOBODY HURTS MY BROTHERS. NOBODY GOES NEAR MY FAMILY.

Someone had a gun pointed at my back.
But I see his reflection.
I ducked into the shadows. I can still see him.
He sees my shadow.
He can't aim at me properly.

He's moved his gun.



He's pointed it at my family.
Please God. Grant me the self-control to pull back in time.