TheDumpTruck sets out to make another delivery of junk and what not and suddenly found herself asking how is she doing dealing with life on life's terms. Immediately upon her self imposed question she lets out roar of laughter. A roar of laughter that could be heard globally. Nothing egotistic about what was running through her mind. 

How am I doing is not just a self inflicted question. I am smart enough too know I have the silent ones wondering how am I doing and I totally get it. If any answer in my lifetime is a easy one to answer this is one. I will go as far to say and cover my lineage on this here, and I can say I am as transparent as thy come. I am being me. I will always be me. 

Earlier today there was a hit placed on me. It was the second one for the exact same amount of 500K. And of course they hid their identity. 

I know it is not anyone of the regime running this world. They would just kill me. So it has to be some cheap, begruntled and useless sad soul who has no life and pissed I am being me. 

How am I doing?

I honestly and whole heartedly want the punk to duel me. You want to hitlist me? Grow balls and come here and accept my challenge. 

"Why is this truck laughing, and more importantly, if someone is teaching it grammar and syntax, did they not bother to explain to & too?" Catherine asked the crowd gathered. The truck started talking and laughing again, and she decided that no, drugs were not her forte, so she'd kindly skedaddle out of here. 

The crowd is not yours. Sorry maybe next time Catherine

I don't want the crowd to be mine. That sounds exhausting. Have you met the crowd? They're all very dumb. If I wanted dumb creatures following me around I'd have children. 

That is between you and your Gawd. Nevertheless you felt the need to make a futile attempt to insult me. I am laughing again.

66 

"No but seriously, why is the truck full of garbage laughing?" Catherine asked the people of the streets walking by. Perhaps they didnt' hear it, perhaps it was only her slowly decending into madness. "Trucks go Vroom and beep beep, certainly they don't actually talk or laugh..." Catherine said, gripping a man who had only stopped because the light at the crosswalk showed a red man. He was captive in her hell, just as much as she was. 

Very simple Catherine. Get with the program. Every world needs dump trucks! Aye? Think about it for a second. Are you questoning a female driving the truck or what?

Larry turns toward Catherine.

Ma'am. Can you please let go of my arm?

Dynamite walks in after hearing TheDumpTruck's speech, embarrassed and with a red face. He takes off his hat and looks at TheDumpTruck.

"I'm sorry to have called you 'Daddy' at the dice tables in casino and 'man' when I would say 'thanks, man'," Dynamite said. "All these cigars I smoke seem to be getting to my head and I failed to realize your identification as female."

Dynamite nods and puts his hat back on.

While sitting at the dicing table I am alerted I have a message from Daddy Dynamite. 

Dynamite, I appreciate the apology but not necessary. Next time you're at the tables come join me and bring an extra cigar. I can tell you all about my family lineage for over two decades and the many great men from all over the world who indirectly and directly helped the female kin grow thick skin. I have the diary of my first ancestor Nina in the beautiful country of Italy. 

I think I should bring cigars too. 

Katerina listens to TheDumpTruck's latest speech, a sly grin on her face. She leans back in her seat at the table at the Pink Pony Club, the far-off thrum of the city at night a comforting murmur. A $500K record by some nameless punk? Right where it belongs in this town.

"Alright, TheDumpTruck. Saw your previous one. And of course, you're probably right. A half-million hitlist with no autograph? That's the sign of some tacky, worthless bum with more complaints than brains."

"Believe me, I've seen too many of their types. They don't have the real juice to make things happen on their own, so they try to rock the boat from the shadows. Perhaps some thug you looked at sideways, or somebody who's just upset that you're out here living."

"Because here's the thing, TheDumpTruck: to my knowledge, you're a man of your word. Open-handed, even. Mannered, for a guy in our line of work, which is a rarity these days. You don't strike me as the type to bring out that kind of angry anonymous ire from anyone worth their salt."

"So yeah, you challenge them to a duel. That's your style. And really, it's probably the last thing they were expecting. They want to hide, you want them to come out and make an appearance. It makes sense."

"Just get this: in a snake-and-shadows universe, it's always a comfort to know who's who. And if that punk ever gets dumb enough to leave the shadows, or things get nasty due to this dumbness, Katerina's got your back. Seriously, though. You're good people, and we don't stand by and let good people get bullied by some nobody."

Hello Katerina. I do appreciate your kind words. I can indeed solemnly swear I am good people. Much respect to you for coming out here saying as much. No words can fully express my appreciation. While this has indeed been the backbone of my lineages history, my lineages have also learned many lessons. Many had a mouth piece with a megaphone in hand. Many of my kin have defended those done wrong. So many of my kin has reminded those who were done wrong who suddenly forget. So many of my kin who were a true asset to any CL/city have opted to retire.

Politics has never been my lineages thing here as Flying Pig clearly stated on the diary I hold dearly to my heart. To hear from that legend of a man my lineage rocked every aspect but politics was music to anyone's ears.

The problem or should I say dilemma where my lineage surfaced from is an eye for an eye was the law. And that does not exist in this country. However one lineage in particular as a Cl made it clear there will be an eye for eye if anything happened to anyone of their crew members. To me that was keeping it real. And message was well received with respect. That was not being a bully. That was keeping it real.

Keeping it real runs in my blood. And I respect my Cl and my GF. 

Katerina listens to TheDumpTruck speak once more, a genuine sense of resonance. She is loving the straight talk, the clear values ringing true for her.

"TheDumpTruck, you don't need to thank me. I only speak truth as I see it. And what I see is someone who is standing on their own two feet and not afraid to be precisely what she is, no matter how much ado there is about it. That is a rare quality, one to be respected in this world more than any measure of muscle or money."

"You hit it, talking about lineage and 'being real.' It's not a slogan; it's a foundation. That's why your message is cutting through the usual din out here. It's the difference between someone just talking tough and someone who is tough, inside and out."

"And that 'eye for an eye' on your crew? That isn't bullying, that is leadership. That is making a line in the sand, plain as day, for anyone with half a brain to realize. It informs your people that they're safe under your flag, and everybody else to not try it. That is precisely how it is done."

"It's a mad world, TheDumpTruck, full of shadows and double-crosses. But to know there are still people like you, with that kind of loyalty and that kind of code of honor. that makes it a hell of a lot easier to get through it. It makes you think in the belief that there is still something that some things stand for."

"So, just continue what you're doing. Be yourself. And remember that if somebody within this city, or any other city, forgets who you are, or tries to disrespect that code of yours... well, they'll have more than a duel going on. You've got friends who respect the real deal."

A half-million hitlist with no autograph? That's the sign of some tacky, worthless bum with more complaints than brains.

Damn, Scousepole it appears Katerina doesn’t approve of your tactics. Do you think a few hundred million dollar hits make you less brainless, worthless and tacky, or more so?

Either way, I guess grovelling and capitulating to oppressive overlords, dictating to you who is allowed to live under your banner, makes you a strong and stable leader, huh?