The life of JoHo through the lens

  You find yourself facing--or know someone who is facing--a situation that offers no solution. Any solution would be painful or costly. Who are these people and how did they come to be such a mess? Make it up, think it through. Down here in the streets of Chicago it ain’t pretty, people are getting shot and killed daily. Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, you name it. People like me are born into this life. I didn’t choose this life, it chose me. Life isn’t all happy with rainbows and unicorns, it will kick you on to your knees and it is up to you in how you want to respond. The world is a dark dark place especially where I am from. It all started for me at the age of 8 when I walked around the alley corner on Roosevelt drive to see a gun being placed against my brothers head. Fortunately he hadn’t been shot. The gang let him live under one condition, me and him would work for them. From that day forward my life had already been laid out for me. It has been 10 years since that day...

 “The voice” A: “Hey why weren’t you at work today!!?” B: “I am so sorry Steven, I’m just going through some personal shit right now.”  A: “I don’t care anymore Philip.” A: “You can’t keep doing this to me, I had to bust my ass off and open with two people today.” B: “I know I know, I am truly sorry Steven those weren’t my intentions. I had to take care of my baby.” A: “You have one more chance, if you call off on me one more time within the next three months then you are fired!! Do you understand me?” B: “I just don’t get it man. You’re being so cold right now, my wife just had a baby and they’re my priority right now.” A: “You told me you needed one week off and I gave that to you. If you needed more days off you should have told me in advance not the night before. And most definitely just not show up, that is unacceptable.” B: “Whatever bro.” B: “By the way I showed my therapist our conversations and he is on my side, you need to chill out.” A: “OH REALLY?! Have you told yo...

Joseph Ho Thomas Maltman Fictional Writing  9/9/20 Two different lives  He stared him down with resentment and jealousy, there he was, Brad Brown. One of the most stereotypical jocks of high school, one of the meanest and popular kids of the school, weird how that works. Jake and Brad used to be best friends in middle school but all of the sudden they became arch rivals and to this day no one knows why. As Brad got out of his Black 2018 Range Rover the energy around the field shifted. Brad was very intimidating and demanding, almost all of the underclassmen were his pets they all sucked up to him. Jake was the opposite of Brad, he was a very hard worker and worked for everything he has. He works 50 hours a weeks at a nearby diner in their neighborhood, he is also one of the top players on the football team. Now that he is a junior he is going to be competing with Brad for the starting quarterback position this year.  Jake loved football. It had been his ambition and goal ...

  In Los Angeles life is crazy, it is the center point of parties, business, and fake relationships. Unfortunately Kevin does not know this yet. His family is moving to Los Angeles California because his father was offered an amazing job opportunity. Kevin is enjoying his time in California so far, one day he and his family were on a beach when he noticed his family talking and becoming very friendly with another family. Kevin couldn’t help but notice their daughter Natalie. She was beautiful, about 5 foot 4 with long luscious blonde hair and blue eyes. Kevin and Natalie hit it off, they got along super well and the vibe between the two was immaculate. Kevin was so happy he finally found someone in California fit just perfect for him. Two weeks later, Kevin and Natalie had been texting and staying in touch when all of the sudden Natalie stopped responding. Kevin began to freak out, he was filled with anxiety and was absolutely heartbroken. He then had a flashback of his ex girlfrie...