tag Jack - our fun after school

Sophie heard Jack and had a smile on her face when she turned round. So after one last look to see there was no teacher after her today she decided she was free for the day. Therefore could show Jack a thing or two; but where to go? The mall was kind of the hangout of the children from the gated community, the pier was neutral ground but the slums where her playground where she could do things she couldn't have done in Los Angeles.

"So now we are free what do you want to do?" she posed to him. She was open to anything but she'd need to leave her bags of first.

Jack P. J.

If anybody in this school could get Jack through the east side of the slums without too much damage it was probally her. She was agile, was afraid of very little and didn't take shit of anybody. It also helped that she did have a fire based surprise for people who underestimated her. She also lived in the west side and the east side was only slightly more difficult for her to deal with.

"You don't think small. We can go together but I'll need to leave my bags of at my aunts apartment first; that's in the west slum and its easier using the roof and fire escape approach. She'd also be annoyed if I went out there in my school clothes" she cheerfully replied. Her aunt Lucy treated her school day clothes as her best ones but it would be easy to have a quick change into a red t-shirt and black denim shorts once she got home. Lucy had been in her life from the very beginning and been the mother figure. So she won't ruin her better clothes having fun in gang territory.

So as what they needed to do went round in her head and she made plans that gave them a chance she looked focused. "You can leave your bag with mine. Then you won't lose it later" she added having figured all this out in a few seconds. Having two smart parents helped with that.

Then they were on their way.

Jack P. J.

The walk from their school to the west side of slum town wouldn't take long. You could cycle it faster if you could keep your bike from being stolen but on the whole she was happy with life here. It wasn't too different from the heat of LA and it was just as much of a mixing pot. Like Jack she also had a lot of freedom but given the lessons her father had taught her she knew not to push her luck too much. So as Jack followed her home and approaching the end of the town suburbs and the start of the slum she replied "Today you'll get your chance. And see more if you head home with me on other occasions. The west side isn't too bad. The market has most things you'd need and you still have to be careful. It's fun and exciting too. Sometimes I even see night workers as the place comes alive after dark.

My aunt had been there for as long as I remember. I can barely remember my mother so she was mother and still is. My dad passed on just before my power showed and auntie Lucy made the move here so I could learn how to use it properly". She missed her dad badly but was getting used to him not being there. He knew the danger in his job and her birth mother did the same. Right now Sophie had to find her own way and future.

Then before you'd even know it there was her apartment block; it certainly wasn't fancy but it did get the job done even with being ugly concrete and sharp cornered. She lived in the middle of this so that meant five flights of stairs and you needed to check the corners on occasion.

Jack P. J.

Sophie smiled and led the way up the flights of stairs checking briefly as they entered a stairwell. Even at this time of day people were around and out in corridors but there was no danger as they finally reached her apartment. She used her key to let them in and listened for her aunt. Who didn't seem to be around right now; Sophie found the answer on the fridge door as the notes explained she was working an earlier shift and to sort her own dinner out once she did her homework.

So leaving their bags in the hallway she said "I'll be right back. Make yourself comfortable" before she slipped into her bedroom. There was pictures of her and her aunt, along with them with her dad but none of her birth mother on the walls. She emerged a few minutes later in a different outfit that was more suitable for exploring; this being a red t-shirt, denim shorts and trainers. She's also a little backpack on that could hold snacks, a knife and rocks; things she'd found useful already living here.

"I'm ready" she cheerfully explained. The adventure could soon begin.

Jack P. J.

Sophie had made sure of her extra equipment while she'd gotten changed and added a flash light for good measure. As they left the mismatched apartment behind the route down the stairs was repeated. When they got outside again she was able to start by pointing something out.

"You can use that taller building like a compass point. That shows you where north is if you get lost" she advised. It was a taller blocky building that might have been a hotel or office block at some point but had better days just like the rest of the slums. Then she started to hand out supplies; starting with a flash light that she gave to Jack to look after. As well as a throwing rock that would rest comfortable in his palm.

So shouldering the backpack she pointed out the street they'd need to travel down to go east. You had a few shops here that had taken over existing retail premises but no danger yet. Just people trying to get by. Then she advised with a little smile "we'll be using the fire escapes soon. You'll get plenty of practice with stairs today". Just being here was the warm up. The real adventure was going to begin once they had to roof hop.

Jack P. J.

"Fire escapes are good ways of getting around here; especially as a lot of the buildings are only an alley width away from each other. You can either jump from roof to roof or climb to the next fire escape" Sophie cheerfully said as the alley she was leading them to would have been one you'd avoid once it got dark. It had the usual dumped rubbish, a large rat or two trying to hide and if you'd came here in the dark you'd never have seen that it was a blind alley along with a lurking gang member or a few of them.

At this point in time it was just them and nervous vermin that she was ignoring. So as she led the way to the fire escape she needed to go into tip toes to pull down she added "it dosen't take much to change for the slums to be dangerous but the torch might help later on. So will the rock as you can throw it at somebody or use it to make noise at one location while you're at another". Good advice all round as she climbed up the starting ladder with ease. Once up this they'd be able to get to the roof rather quickly and get a birds eye view of the area.

"You'll be able to figure out where you want to go from here shortly. You can see all the area from here" she mused as she moved quietly but not slowed down by having to be stealthy.

Jack P. J.