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open other tenant’s doors and steal food out of their refrigerators. One time I stole some meat off someone's grill. After about a week and a half my mama finally showed up, and we packed up and left in the middle of the night without paying the rent. The next stop was Atlanta, Georgia. We were living in some apartments with friends of my mama and James. Things rapidly went down hill from there. My mother would take me and Trice to the mall, go in a store, fill up the bag and make us walk out with them. I would cry so badly, because somehow I knew this was wrong. My mama and James would fight everyday and when they weren’t fighting they were shooting dope and nodding. If my Trice or I got in the way we would get slapped or knocked down. I finally got a chance to slip off and call my grandma and let her know what was going on. She then informed my mama that if she didn't send us back on the next thing smoking that she'd call the police. Pee and Trice were really sad. I felt like if I never see them again, I wouldn't be mad at all. From that point on anytime my mama came to town, I wouldn't go anywhere with her.
Toni Shealey