On the Sidewalk Bleeding

On the Sidewalk Bleeding by Evan Hunter.

The story is about a sixteen year old boy named Andy who is bleeding to death on the sidewalk after being stabbed below the ribs in a gang fight.

Plot Summary

The story takes place in the last few minutes of Andy's life. Andy has just suffered a severe knife wound from a gang member from a rival gang, The Guardians. There are two main gangs in the story, The Guardians and The Royals. Andy is a Royal. At the beginning of the story, Andy has a sense of pride, above the pain, for his gang, The Royals. But as the night wears on, and death approaches him, deserted, in the alleyway, he is filled with regret for joining the gang. A drunk man comes down the alley but assumes because Andy's lying on the floor, that Andy is as drunk as him, so he staggers off. After that a young boy and girl come down the alley. They don't notice Andy at first but then when they do they run off because they think if they help Andy the Guardians will get them. As his dying act, he takes his gang jacket off, wanting only to be Andy, not a royal. Just after his death, Andy's girlfriend, Laura comes down the alley looking for him and finds his body. She runs to get a police officer, who sees the Royals' jacket next to Andy. "A royal", he says, as though he is judging him for being part of that gang and doesn't see him as a human, already thinking about what he is going to write within the pad he takes out.