Detroit Writers

« Flash Change » is the second story of Contel Bradford’s trilogy. The story is a suspenseful thriller that introduces you into the harsh world of drug dealers. Some dealer alliances are deadly connects and any mistake you make can be fatal to you in no time. Selling some cocaine is a rapid way to become wealthy, but it can lead you to the cemetery earlier than expected as well.

Flash, the main character of the story, lives in Flint, Michigan. He seems to be born to be a hustler. He is used to street life and perfectly knows how to handle it. Because his mom died from a cocaine overdose and he never met his father, Flash was raised at his grandparents’ home who did their best. Because he was fed up with his family’s financial struggles, Flash urged to make some « easy money »: he rapidly got involved in cocaine deals and managed to be comfortable- financially speaking.
The girlfriend of a Cuban drug lord (Antonio Valdez), Candy, is a manipulative character.She is the kind dangerous beauty who manipulates men with their lust and manages to get a hold on them. Candy has a huge impact on Flash. She is the one who helped him to seize his financial freedom. She got Flash involved into a traffic with Antonio Valdez.
Flash used to appreciate Antonio and to trust him, but he suddenly became anxious about about his real intentions and began considering him as a serious rival. He even feared him.
Flash and his cousins James and Chaz are involved in the same dirty business. The Michigander trio is on the road to Nevada, a state that is familiar to Antonio Valdez.

Besides the great suspense Contel manages to create in his story, his description of Flash’s cocaine trips is amazing. He manages to make the reader feels the hero’s alteration of reality and his state of mind. Contel makes you enter into a world that is familiar to people who perfectly know the Slim Shady Lp and the Marshall Mathers Lp: drugs, alcohol, addiction…Violence is, of course, part of the game. Flash has killed many enemies, because the world of dealers offered no other alternative: either you killed your opponent rapidly or he would delete you from earth in no time.

During the whole story, you can watch Flash anxiety grow.
Flash’s encounter with Antonio Valdez in Vegas (where the transaction happens) is fulfilled with fear and growing anxiety.
It seems like Valdez has become suspicious about Flash.
Valdez’ strategy to isolate Flash with his fellow thugs Ricardo and Juan increases his feeling of insecurity.
After buying 10 kilos of cocaine to Ricardo and Juan, an incident happens. After hearing a great detonation, Juan puts his revolver at Flash’s head.
Flash is waiting for Chaz and James ‘ comeback and nearly can’t contain his anxiety.
After a little pause in LA where Flash introduces his cousin Earl to the Cuban Valdez, Flash returns to Flint. Candy is determined to date Flash and both agree on a date. Although Flash guesses there is obviously something too shady in Candy’s attitude, he can’t resist the sexy girl.

The next scene takes place in a crack house. A crack house is an abandoned building where drug traffics happen. This scene is typical of the Detroit context, as the movie 8 Mile also reveals it. Chapter 7 is interesting, because it will introduce you into the violent world of drug deals: you will see Flash give a physical punishment to Bob, who obviously owes him some money.
Bob’s character is interesting, it will give you an idea of how drugs can transform a healthy person into a wreck. Contel describes his physical and mental degradation with ability.
Chapter 10 is like an oasis in the middle of the tough world of drug dealers. It is a sexually explicit break in Flash’s life.
Chapter 12 introduces you to « Big Money »’s character. He is one of those rich men who managed to build an empire in the world of drug deals. As he eventually wants to settle down and buy a laundry mat in order to run an honest business and marry the mom of his children, « Big Money » got coldly murdered, leaving his brother and reliable girlfriend inconsolable.
Chapter 13 is a well written part about a mushrooms trip. A magical and colorful world opens its doors for the readers.
Back to Vegas, Chaz and James will make a fatal mistake by trying to retaliate about B Money’s bloody murder. They will make the huge mistake to murder Juan and Ricardo, which will lead to an infernal deadly spiral.
Earl will be Valdez’ first victim, followed by Flash’s other family members.
At the end of the story, Flash’s anxiety is unbearable. Under the influence of drugs and alcohol, the obsession of his beloved lost ones and scary visions torment his brain.
Candy appears to be a big trator: while hugging Flash for the last time, she shoots him right in the head. Candy fears Valdez and she thinks he will let her live as he walks in. But Tony shows no mercy to his girlfriend: a few seconds later, she will meet the reaper too.
Antonio Valdez walks free, ready to start a new life in Puerto Rico.

Contel Bradford will make you penetrate into a world that might not be familiar to everybody. When you will start reading his story, you will be hungry for more. Check out his suspenseful story, you won’t regret it.

This is an exerpt of Contel Bradford’s well written story. For those who are interested in reading the whole story and buying his book, you can email Contel here:
count7411@aol.com

THE BREAKDOWN

CHAPTER 1: STRANDED

As the sparkling white snow began to trickle down onto the cracked
windshield, Dave gave another desperate attempt at starting the engine. But even
he knew the possibilities were next to none. It was quite apparent when the
vehicle suddenly shut down and commenced to drift to the right side of the
crowded expressway. Dave recognized the terrible noise from years ago when he
endured a similar misfortune. The perturbed motorist was surely stranded.

“Dammit!” Dave gave the accelerator a steady foot as he turned the key but
there was still nothing. It seemed as if the life span of the ten year old Sunbird
had finally come to a halt. Fuming, Dave pounded the horn and prepared to suffer
the fierce cold wind.

This had to be the worst fate since his untimely incarceration about a year ago.
Just when it appeared that the young man was restructuring his life, accomplishing
positive goals, something of this magnitude had to occur. He was actually starting
to enjoy his job at the home furniture warehouse. Several attractive women
occupied the facility as well as a few down to earth, pot smoking fellows. The
work wasn*t too difficult; lift a few sofas and entertainment centers, float the hi-lo
around to transport the heavier freight; it wasn*t bad at all for $10.50 an hour. But
due to Dave*s misuse of his sick time he couldn*t afford to suffer another absence;
not without being terminated.

“Fuckin* piece of shit!” Dave gaped down at the car*s organs while holding up
the dysfunctional hood with one arm. To the naked eye everything appeared to be
in order; exactly the way it looked before the vehicle stalled.

“Fuck!” Dave slammed down the hood and retreated back inside the car. The
temperature was just above thirty degrees and the snow was falling more
rapidly.

“Can*t believe this shit,” he pouted as he removed the frosty winter cap. This
had to be the worst time for such a crisis. Believing that he would be able to
borrower Fred*s adapter once arriving on the job, Dave left his charger sitting on
the kitchen table, leaving him with a powerless, worthless cell phone.

Dave simply smiled as he pressed the phone*s power button with great force.
He figured it was worth a shot. Though the situation was very exasperating Dave
tried his best to maintain his composure. An irrational mentality would only
complicate matters. He just needed to ponder on the disaster with a clear, cool
head. He reached into the pocket of his warm red coat to find a soggy, torn,
unsmokable cigarette.

“Kiss my ass!” Dave tossed the damaged cancer stick in the passenger seat
along with a pile of other useless trash. “What else could go wrong?” Before
another terrible thought could be presented Dave peered into the rearview mirror
to find a pair of flashing blue and red lights.

“Ah shit.” Swiftly, he collected the two marijuana bags and transferred them
from his jean pockets into the thermo socks covered by the steel toed boots.
Hopefully the two officers approaching didn*t notice his movement; they certainly
wouldn*t object to searching a man*s boots and socks, leaving him standing
barefoot on the snow covered concrete. Dave took a deep breath and prayed for
the best as the officers neared the vehicle.

The state trooper tapped on the window with his baton, signaling for Dave to
roll it down.

“Its broke,” Dave replied, still tampering with the faulty power lock.. “Roll
down the window,” the officer demanded, becoming irate.

“Its broke dude!” Dave shook his head, amazed at the man*s ignorance.
“Dumb ass,” he thought, grabbing the handle and opening the door.

“Freeze!” Before he could get his left foot from the vehicle, Dave found himself as a
likely target of police fatality. The officers cornered both sides of the Sunbird,
aiming their fully loaded pistols at Dave*s head. Overwhelmed with panic, the
unarmed man threw his hands to the sky.

“Get out of the car!” The officer pulled Dave from his seat with a forceful grip
as his partner strolled from the passenger side. The aggressive policeman then
spun him around, slammed his head on top of the vehicle and instructed him to
place his hands behind his back. “Got any weapons on you? Guns, knives, hand
grenades?”
Dave couldn*t elude the negative beliefs. Rodney King and Malice Green were
just two men viciously mauled by the unruly arm of the law. Unfortunately for
him the chances of someone recording the brutal crime on camera were rather
slim in this grueling weather. Dave sighed and tried his best to cooperate.

“I ain*t got nothin* on me man. Just sittin* here tryin* to get my ride started.”
He became even more annoyed as the other officer commenced to search his body
for illegal objects. The antagonistic antics of the troopers bothered him so much
that he wasn*t even concerned about the small dosage of reefer in his socks. Dave
was more worried about his physical being at the moment.

“Okay, what seems to be the problem?” The officer ceased his search. App-
arently he didn*t locate the incriminating evidence he was looking for.

“That*s suppose to be my line,” Dave snickered. He then turned around to face
the two white males. “My car stopped on me. I think the engine gone. Can*t get
her to start.”
“It*s a string of cars pulled over on this freeway,” said the shorter, thinner
officer. “This weather*s a killer.”

“Bet ya*ll ain*t pull the heat out on they ass,” thought Dave. But he would
keep his opinions secretive. There was no need in provoking these vigorous
lawmen. “I was just about to head up the ramp to use a pay phone.”

The officers then stared at each other, both feeling some what guilty for over
reacting. “Its colder than hell out here,” spoke the taller man sporting thin framed
glasses. They say we*re suppose to get four to six inches for this shit*s done with.
Nobody needs to be walking in this crap.” ”

Yeah,” his partner joined in. “We can at least give you a ride to a bus stop or
somethin*.”

Contel Bradford: « The Breakdown »

Contel Bradford’s story

Who is Contel Bradford? Ask me and I will tell you: he’s a skilled Detroit writer, a scenarist and also a novelist.
As I started reading his novel entitled « The Breakdown », I was positively surprised by the great quality of his text. “The Breakdown” is one of three stories. The trilogy can be considered as a novel or an anthology.

Contel is a great narrator who allows you to penetrate into his world, the Detroit ghetto.
D12 fans may be familiar with the background described in « The Breakdown ».
There are references to many Detroit areas and streets. There is also a reference to Livonia which is a neighborhood that is well known for its racism towards black people.
« If you are black–you dont drive thru Livonia at night–you will be arrested for one thing or another. » (Backstab the Kingpin)
But most of the references are taken out of East Detroit (8 Mile Road, Wayne county) where crime rates are very high.
Contel introduces you into a world of gang wars, sex, alcohol and drugs.

Dave Johnson, the hero of the novel loses nearly everything within one single day: his car breaks down, he catches his girlfriend cheating on him, young thugs start attacking him in the hood because of the color of his bandana, his cousin Boo gets killed by rival gang members…
It seems like Dave has been caught into an unlucky trail: during Boo’s funeral, his untrustworthy girlfriend Tiffany gets murdered. This tragically event is just another example of gang vendettas, which belong to the every day ghetto life.
Followed by an amazing misfortune, Dave suddenly notices that he caught a venerian disease from his unprotected adventure with Brandy, a young girl pretending to be a virgin.
As Dave and Shawn climb into their car with a non hidden intention to get revenge from their family members’ bloody murders, they have no idea about what kind of trouble is waiting for them.
More problems on their road: the police arrests both men and finds out Shawn was driving with a revoked driving licence. Soon they will also know about Dave’s criminal past.
Things start to worsen when the cops discover that both young men are high after smoking their blunts and that they are carrying an illegal weapon.
The idea of spending around 5 years in jail was unbearable in Dave’s mind. Even his cousin Shawn couldn’t stop him while he made a desperate attempt to get free. Dave shoot two times in direction of the female officer. Himself got shot directly in the forehead. Picture of death and silence. Dave is leaving earth. He has lost everything, including his life.

« The Breakdown » is a dark drama who shows people about the fragility of our condition, which is certainly an invitation always to stay humble. You might win everything within one single day and lose it next day as well.
It is a well written story that will make you fully understand the context of the Detroit ghetto, a place where you have to struggle if you want to survive.

I particularly appreciate Contel Bradford for the realness of his story, his undeniable narrative skills. Check out this passionate writer‘s story, he belongs to the generation of Detroit’s new writing talents.