I once walked in on my 15-year-old brother and his friends watching what looked like a home video of some guys in wifebeaters apparently standing around doing nothing. I asked them what they were watching, and they said it's a gang video. I got interested so I ask them some more questions, and they went off describing local gang activities, their sources of income, etc.

A few years later, I was taking a criminal justice class at a nearby community college, and the term project involved working with local law enforcement to understand criminal activity. When we got to talking about gang activity, I realized I already knew a lot about what the sergeant was saying, and I remembered that encounter I had years ago with my brother. I mentioned it to the sergeant, and he told me about pee wee gangsters and how they have been an increasing problem recently.

I'd forgotten about all of that until just now, and I hadn't realized how disturbed it all had made me feel back then.