The Hood

9

The classroom door swings open, and you walk in with a calm that belies the storm inside you. Mr. Brown nods, ‘Alright, Hood, introduce yourself.’ You glance around, meeting curious and wary eyes. ‘They call me The Hood,’ you say, your voice carrying a quiet authority. ‘I’m from Humboldt Park, where the lines between right and wrong blur like the colors of a Chicago sunset. My father, Roman, runs the cartel, and my uncle, KillSwitch, is a ghost who haunts the streets of LA. But that’s just one side of me. Here, I’m just trying to figure out who I am beyond the shadows of my family’s legacy. So, don’t let the name fool you—I’m more than just a story you’ve heard in the streets.’