Donte Halstead

Running Wild

??: Stop! Hey, kid, I said STOP!
I heard the cop shouting behind me, but there was no way I was stopping. I couldn't get into trouble not now. Everything's just a mess. I kicked harder, making the skateboard fly faster down the street. My legs felt like they were burning, but that didn't matter. I just needed to get away. Away from the yelling, away from the sirens, away from everything. Away from my head
??: Kid, I'm serious! Stop or you're gonna get hurt
I glanced back for just a second and saw the cop running after me, his face all red and sweaty. There's no chance he's gonna catch me. I'm too quick
Donte: there's no way you're catching me old man!
I swerved to avoid a trash can.
I skated to the back alley and zoomed down the narrow path. My heart was pounding in my chest, but the adrenaline felt good. I felt free. My mind was finally quiet. My mind was calm. I kept going faster and faster. I couldn't get caught. I couldn't get into trouble. I carried on until I was stopped by a fence.
Donte: ah for fuck sake

The skateboard clattering to the ground as I stared at the fence in front of me. It was way taller than I'd expected, and there was no way I could climb it in time. My stomach dropped. I was trapped. I was in trouble. The cop was getting closer and closer.
Cop: alright kid it's over. You've got nowhere to go.
I freaked out and I backed up, my hands gripping the skateboard like it was a shield holding it infront of me.
Donte: I wasn't doing anything wrong! I was just skating!
Cop: You were skating through traffic
Donte: should I give you a break to catch your breath?
Cop: You could've gotten hurt. You can't just tear the streets like that
Donte: I wasn't trying to hurt anyone! I didn't do anything
Cop: you're not listening kid. What you were doing was dangerous
Why is he just chatting? Before I knew I lost my temper and snapped at him
Donte: I just... I needed to go. I wasn't thinking!
Cop: That's the problem, kid. You weren't thinking. You've gotta be more careful. People could've gotten hurt, including you.
Donte: im fine!

My thoughts were racing, and I felt like my whole body was still buzzing from the run. Donte: I didn't mean for this to happen. I just needed to get away, alright!? Now can I go!
His face changed and he looked sorry for me
Cop: Get away from what?
Donte: you wouldn't understand
Cop: what did you need to get away from?
Donte: Everything okay! School, people always telling me what to do, my brain never shutting up! I just needed to move, okay? I wasn't trying to be a problem.
Cop: You got ADHD, don't you?
He seemed calmer which was weird. What's it to him if I've got ADHD?
Donte: Yeah... so what? What do you care?
Cop: My nephew's got it. He's just like you always moving, always doing something. I get it, kid, I do. But you can't handle it like this. You can't just run through the middle of traffic and think everything will be fine."
Donte: I didn't mean to
I looked down at the floor
Donte: It's just... everything gets too loud, and skating helps. It makes my head quiet
Cop: I hear you. But that doesn't mean you get to steal a skateboard and fly through the streets like a maniac.
Donte: I didn't steal it! I was just borrowing it! I was gonna give it back!
Cop: Borrowing without asking is still stealing, kid. Whose board is that?
Donte: Mr. Peterson's.He lives down the street. I was just gonna take it for a while. I was gonna give it back, I swear.
Cop: Alright, here's the deal. We're gonna return the board to Mr. Peterson. After that, we're gonna head over to your place and have a chat with your parents. Understand?
Urgh. Dad's gonna kill me. Why couldn't it have been someone from the district
Donte: My dad's gonna freak out. She's already mad at me for getting in trouble at school.
Cop: I'm sure he'll be more upset if you keep running from the police. Come on, let's go. You don't want to make this worse.
Donte: I wasn't trying to run from you. I was just running. It felt good. The adrenaline rush makes me feel good. It makes me feel calm
Cop: Yeah, I get that but you've gotta learn when to stop. Running like that? It's gonna get you into more trouble than you can handle.
I kicked at the ground frustrated with myself and the situation.
Donte: It's not like I want to get in trouble. I just I can't help it sometimes. My brain moves faster than I can keep up with.
Cop: Yeah, I know. It's hard. But you've gotta find a better way to deal with it. Skating's fine, but you've gotta stay safe.
Donte: I know, I know. Can we just get this over with? I'm bored
Cop: Come on, then. We'll talk to Mr. Peterson first, then head to your house

I picked up the skateboard and walked next to him, my legs still twitching. The silence between us felt weird, so I finally broke it.
Donte: You ever get in trouble when you were a kid?
Cop: More times than I can count. I wasn't exactly a model citizen growing up.
Donte: Really? What'd you do?
Cop: Oh, I did all kinds of dumb stuff. I got caught sneaking into places I wasn't supposed to, rode my bike into traffic more than once, set off fireworks where I shouldn't have. Trust me, I've been where you are.
Donte: Your parents must've been mad."
Cop: They were furious but I learned my lessons the hard way. Hopefully, you don't have to.
Donte: I don't mean to get in trouble. It just happens. My brain's always going, and I can't make it stop.
Cop: That's the thing you've gotta work on. No one's saying you've gotta be perfect, but you've gotta find a way to control it before it controls you.
Donte: I work on it with my teachers at school
Cop: what is it like at school?
Donte: it's okay. The teachers help me a lot. They put different things in place to help me learn and keep out of trouble.

We walked in silence for a bit longer, my mind already jumping ahead to how I'd explain all this to dad. He wasn't going to be happy, but at least I wasn't getting arrested. That's a plus I guess
Donte: You think I can still skate? Like, after this?
Cop: Yeah, kid. You can still skate. Just make sure you're doing it somewhere safe, alright?
Donte: Yeah. I can do that.

As we walked toward Mr. Peterson's house, I realized maybe getting caught wasn't the worst thing that could've happened. At least now I had a chance to slow down and figure things out well, for a little while, anyway.