Alvin stepped aside, beside the security office, and watched as someone finally worked up the courage to walk through the school gate.
The guards had searched him and found a pile of contraband, which made things a little awkward. But the genuine laughter soon brought the atmosphere back to what Hell's Kitchen was used to.
Domingo searched a Bald Man and found a dagger and a pair of brass knuckles. Then he grabbed the big man by the ear and snarled at him, warning him not to cause trouble...
After telling the guards to follow his search procedures, Alvin grinned. "How are you feeling now? Still worried about those rich folks and their kids?"
Domingo fell silent for a moment. "Boss, those rich folks are all soft. They aren't sending their kids here just to learn.
"We have our own traditions. Those kids will lose them, and bring shame on our school."
Alvin patted him on the arm and laughed. "We can't expect every kid to grow up by your standards.
"How terrifying would that be?"
Domingo said awkwardly, "That still doesn't mean we should let them turn into softies. Several of those boys didn't even dare come through the school gates just now. In the past hour, there've been more tears here than in the whole school year."
Domingo's tough-guy philosophy had plenty of fans in Hell's Kitchen. As soon as he finished speaking, several people chimed in. A few guards grinned wickedly. "I bet we won't even need a month before some of those boys scare themselves to death.
"Frank's terrifying when he hasn't had enough sleep. We should sell diapers here. We'd make a fortune!"
Alvin laughed and bumped fists with the guards. "Don't underestimate any kid. They're sensitive to what's going on around them. They can