THE AUTHOR GREW UP SURROUNDED BY CRIME. HIS NEIGHBORS, HIS FRIENDS, AND MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY WERE CRIMINALS. BY THE TIME HE WAS 8, HE WAS IN A JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER; BY AGE 12 HE HAD SHOT AND INJURED A FRIEND AND FELLOW GANG MEMBER; AT 17 HE WAS A MUGGER AND HAD ONCE AGAIN SHOT A MAN; AND BY AGE 24 HE WAS SERVING A SENTENCE FOR ARMED ROBBERY. HE HAD ALSO BEEN A PIMP AND A DRUG PUSHER. HE DESCRIBES HOW COMMON SHOOTINGS WERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF HIS YOUTH, HOW FEW CHILDREN HAD FATHERS AT HOME, AND HOW CHILDREN AND ADULTS WOULD 'RUN WILD.' HE TALKS ABOUT STEALING PRIZES OUT OF CEREAL BOXES AT GROCERY STORES AND BREAKING INTO A RESTAURANT, ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES AT INSTITUTIONS FOR JUVENILES, AND ABOUT THE SITUATIONS THAT LED TO THE SHOOTINGS. HE DESCRIBES THE ARMED ROBBERY (WHICH NETTED $106) AND HIS SUBSEQUENT EXPERIENCES IN JAIL AND PRISON. HE EXPLAINS THAT, IN PRISON, HE HAS THE REPUTATION OF BEING TOUGH, BUT THAT HE CRIES AT NIGHT IN HIS CELL ABOUT HIS PAST AND HIS FUTURE. HE SAYS HE BEGAN WRITING ABOUT HIS LIFE SO THAT OTHER 'TOUGH GUYS' WOULD KNOW THAT SOMEBODY UNDERSTOOD HOW THEY FELT. IT IS NOTED THAT, WHEN THE AUTHOR GOT OUT OF PRISON FOR THE ARMED ROBBERY SENTENCE, HE WENT ON TO MORE SHOOTINGS AND ROBBERIES UNTIL, AT AGE 28, A POLICEMAN'S BULLET TO THE SPINAL CORD CONFINED HIM TO A WHEELCHAIR AS A PARAPLEGIC. (LKM)