The Late Night Mugging 

The night was dark and cool, and the streets were almost empty.“How about we take this dark alley to the store? It will be faster,” my grandma asked me with a laugh. She thought it was funny that I was scared.

I looked into the alley covered with spray paint graffiti and smells of rotting garbage. The erie sounds of the rats fighting and scurrying, and the steam being released from the pipes.

“Do we have to?” I asked.

“It looks scary?” my voice was weak, and my hands were sweaty.

I knew there was something not right about that alley. Between the large shadows and the water that was dripping on me.

“Nothing is going to hurt you, Timmy, now come along!” said Grandma. Grandma got out of the car and took me with her. “Well, I guess so,” I said with a slight crack in my voice, as I inched out of the car.

“Okay, what do we need at the store again?” asked Grandma. “I think we need some bread and milk, mom gave me the list if you want to check.” We then heard a small thud while I was giving the list to Grandma.

“What was that?” I asked “That was only a cat Timmy,” explained Grandma. I looked over her shoulder to see a cat leaving the alley dumpster. I clearly could see the scrawny orange cat digging through the garbage, I was just panicking.

“Well I’m scared Grandma,” I admitted.“Just come on, we’ll get in the store and then get out,” implied my Grandma.“Okay but lets make this fast,” I said. At that moment, my grandma was the meanest person I knew. I was worried that someone would see me wearing my Batman jammies. I would be thrown in a trash can for sure.

Just then I was grabbed by an unknown hand, I tried to get released but the hand wouldn’t budge. “Timmy!” Grandma shouted.“Grandma help me!” I shouted. “Stop worrying nothing is hurting you,” she said unaware that I was really in trouble. I turned around and there was a large man and I could barely see his face. “Hey lil man,” said the large man.

“What do you want,’’ I said skittishly. My arms started flailing and smacking him in the face. “Don’t hurt him,’’ Grandma said aggressively. She was beating him with her purse.

“Stop hitting me or I will hurt him!” said the man deviously. “What do you want?’’ said Grandma nervously.  “Just all the valuables you have with you,’’ admitted the man with a devilish smile on his face. My grandma’s purse swung back to her side, and she had a look of disbelief on her face.

“Whatever you want, just please don’t hurt my boy,” my grandmother said with almost a tear in her eye.

“Good, I didn’t wanna have to hurt no one,” the man said with his deep voice. “There is no reason to hurt anybody just give me my boy and you will get your money,’’ grandma said with a small grin. “Ok but if I don’t get my stuff your boy gonna get hurt,’’ the man replied.

My grandmother inched ever so close to me and the man, slowly. When she was moderately close she opened her purse.“Please don’t make my grandma pay you,” I said.“You shut up kid, I get what I want!” the man said with much anger in his voice. My grandma heard what he said and she stopped pulling the money out of her bag. She then slowly walked closer.

“Step back!” shouted the man. “You wanna get cut?” The man pulled a large knife out of its old black leather sheath. “There is no need to hurt anybody,” grandma uttered.The man sheathed the knife. My grandma stepped back a little bit. She then continued to count the money.

Grandma had counted all her money and took off all the valuable jewelry she had on.“Here, this is all the valuables I have with me,” she said miserably.He snatched the money from her hands with great strength.“Thank you,” snickered the man.

“Come here Timmy,’’ grandma said with great pleasure.“Wait, now I think I might keep him for a while” the man threatened.“What!” shouted my grandma, “You said you would give him back too me?” cried grandma.“Well I guess I lied,” laughed the man.Grandma reached for her phone to call the cops but the man pulled his knife again.

“You call the cops and there will be no kid left to take,” screamed the man.My grandma stepped back a bit. She had the most unforgettable face on, the face of disappointment and fear.“Please let me go!” I yelled. The man’s grip tightened around my body.“

“I have plans for you kid, you won’t ever see your grandma again.” the man said. I almost started to cry, I didn’t know what to do. My heart was pounding and I was starting to sweat. I didn’t want to be taken. I wanted to see my grandma again. Without thinking I kicked the man in the knee. He moaned and fell to the ground. He released me with the sudden urge of pain.“

“Get back here kid!” he yelled as I was running away from his grasp. He began to get up from the ground. I didn’t look back, but then I heard a huge thud. I stopped and looked back.

“Ah!” the man screamed. There were more thuds. “Take that you rotten man!” yelled my grandma. She was beating him with her purse. Which so conveniently had a bunch of change in it. It must have been over five pounds, it knocked the man out in less then three hits.

“What do we do know grandma?” I asked, shocked at what she had done.“Take back my money and jewelry and lets get out of here!” yelled my grandma.I took all of the items that the man had stolen from my grandma and gave it back to her.We got in the car and peeled out of there.

“Well at least we have learned a valuable lesson tonight.” said my grandma. “Yeah, don’t use dark alleys as short cuts!” I wheezed.“You know I told you we shouldn’t take the scary ally,” I proudly said.“Yes I know that and next time I will listen to you,” said grandma “So what do we do now? Do we just leave him out there?” I asked. “Just act like nothing happened, and do not! I repeat do not, tell your mother.” my grandma said. “Okay, well I will try.” I said unconfidently. “Good, this will be our little secret.”

My grandma and I never talked about that night again. We got our groceries and left. Neither of us talked to each other about it. I didn’t tell my mom, dad, or anyone. I wanted to forget that night but it was the only night I couldn’t forget.