Spring 1989, Chapter 23 Summary

Rickey has formed a gang called the Four Corner Hustlers. They are more like a band of friends as they don't deal in drugs and are all only thirteen or fourteen years old. Rickey and his friends have declared the building as their turf and have taken over an abandoned apartment that they use as a clubhouse, complete with a couch, television, and VCR. To LaJoe's displeasure, Lafeyette spends a lot of time with Rickey. She considers him to be a bad influence on her son but Lafeyette refuses to stop seeing him. Rickey is becoming more troubled. He and his friends have started drinking red wine and smoking marijuana. They also play with guns. One day, one of the boys is shot in the arm while they are playing when high on marijuana. The boy refuses to tell the police...