Chapter 5 Summary

Jamal tells Mack that Randy said to come see him. Mack claims to have heard from Randy's lawyer that it will cost two thousand dollars for his appeal. Jamal remembers Mama saying five hundred dollars. Randy told Mack that maybe the Scorpions can get the money, but the Scorpions cannot operate with Randy now that he is in jail. Randy told Mack that he wants Jamal to take his place in the Scorpions as their leader. If Jamal takes over the Scorpions, he can get the money for Randy's appeal. Jamal is skeptical, but Mack reassures him that as long as he is behind Jamal, the Scorpions will go along. Again, Jamal questions Mack. Jamal is only 12. Mack says he will back Jamal, though, and he has a gun.

On the way home, Jamal thinks that getting a job carrying packages for the...