I got so tired of coming to school and seeing kids have nice clothes and shoes. With me being poor, I couldn’t afford any of those things. I just wished I could have money to afford them. 

I started crying and fell to my knees in my room with my head bowed down, praying aloud to whoever could hear me, hoping someone could answer my prayers. 

Jimmy Prays.

“Whoever is listening right now, I, I give myself up. Please help me. Please.” I continued to shed tears, thinking to myself that no one is going to hear me. 

When I took out the trash, I could see a man walking down the street toward me. It was very dark outside, and there was only one street light on at the moment, which was very odd because all the street lights were usually on at that hour. 

The man stopped in front of me. I got a cold sensation with goosebumps all over me as he spoke and said “Little boy, I’m sensing something is wrong with you. What might that be, little boy?” 

“Sir, I’m very poor. I can’t afford anything, and I’m just tired of living this way,” I said.

“Hmm. I see, little boy, that’s what is troubling you. How about this, little boy? I’ll make a deal with you. You have to say a couple of words, and the deal is yours,” the man offered.

“Sure. Anything, sir,” I replied. 

“Say these words, little boy, ‘I give you my mind, body, and shadow,’” the man said.

“Sure, sir. I give you my mind, body, and shadow,” I recited. 

“Well done, little boy. When you said that, you gave up your body ,” the man said, starting to grin. 

“What now, sir?” I asked. I could see his face was distorted in a smirk of evil. The man turned and walked off. What appeared to be a tail trailed behind him. But since he was dressed in all black and it was so dark outside, it could have been anything. 

The man looked back at me with that evil smirk and said, “ Bye, Jimmy boy.” 

I stood there and wondered, what the fuck happened all of a sudden, all of the street lights came on.