How did I get in this mess? If only I had stayed at the shelter one more day... The shelter he was thinking about was the Shelter for Indigent Teens. That's just a nice way of saying 'Street Kids'. He had been staying there for two years and he hated it, from the uniforms to the Sisters that ran it.

Greg Moore woke up that morning in his bed in the shelter as Sister Paula came storming into the room. "Alright! Everybody get up now! It's time to get to work!"

Groans sounded around the room as boys of all ages emurged from tangled bedsheets and started to put on the uniforms. Greg did the same, but today was going to be different. Today he was going to escape.

When Sister Ellis was handling out jobs, Greg made his move. He had planning this escape for months, but he had never had enough money to support himself. Now he had and he was finally free.

First, Greg tried to get a job. He wasn’t very successful, but it took most of all the day. After he walked into a nearby pub and sat down at the bar. Avery beautiful walked up to him.

"What will it be?" she asked as she cleaned a glass.

"A large water with charge, please." he said looking into his wallet.

"What charge?" she asked as she brought his a large glass filled to the rim.

"Low charge. I can't afford any higher." he lied. He could afford a higher charge but if he did, it would be like underaged drinking in the 1990's. He wasn’t old enough. The girl brought two metal circles and placed them beside the glass and left. (The 'metal circles' were electro-pads which spen up the feeling of drunkness without any alcolhol; it was healthier too.)

Greg placed the circles on his temples and took a large mouthful of water. It tasted good, he started to feel a slight buzz already. I haven't had a buzz in so long and the electo-pads are working faster than before. he thought to himself.

An hour later he left the bar, feeling tired but happy. This was going to be a great life because he was finally out of the shelter. He even had a friend who had an apartment who said he'd share until Greg found a job and got enough money to get one of his own.

As Greg turned the courner, he saw a gang of teens chasing a lone figure into a dark alley. Greg ran towards the alley, hoping to help somehow. As he peered into the alley, he saw one of the members take out a 45 caliber gun, point it at a single silhouette and fire.

Greg's ears rang with the noise. A murder! I have just witnessed a murder! He couldn't believe his eyes or ears. He had to go tell the police.

Just as he wsa going to run off, the gang walked out of the alley. All of their leather jackets said 'Power Force'. That was a very powreful gang. He would have to be careful.

Mike! I can tell my friend Mike and we both can go to the police. He ran off the apartment building to tell him friend.

"Wow, that’s some story..." Mike exclaimed after Greg had finished telling it.

"Something has to be done." he said quietly, as if not to let Greg hear.

"But what?" Greg said just as quietly.

"Well something," Mike said as he pulled a gun out of his pocket.

"We can’t have you walking around knowing about the murder."

"Mike?!" Greg was shocked, "When did you join the gang?"

"I had joined before I met you." he replied.

"And what are you going to do to me?" Greg said, looking worried.

"Well," Mike said, thinking. "I don’t want to kill you 'cause we’ve been friends for so long and the gang's not going to let you go off scott free, so..."

"Here's you new home. Enjoy." the guard said sarcastically.

Greg looked at his new room. It was small, with a bed, a sink and a toilet. He put his bag on the floor and sat on the bed.

"Well, I better get used to it. I'm not going to be here a while." he said to himself.

The gang had Greg take the blame instead of them, inexchange for letting him live. It wasn’t a bad trade, but it meant that he would be in the juvenile hall for five years. It was just like the Shelter for Indigent Teens; only worse.

How did I get in this mess? If only I had stayed at the shelter one more day...