Intro
Bell above the door still cracked, still rings off-key
Otis behind the counter, counting out a debt to me
Never called it charity, called it a loan on trust
Corner store on Ridley Ave, powder in the dust
Verse 1
Twelve years old, sleeve stuffed with a candy bar
Otis caught my wrist before I hit the door too far
Didn't grab the phone, just grabbed a paper pad
Wrote my name in cursive, said this the least you'll have
Sweep this floor a week, that's how you clear the debt
Told me debt ignored just grows to more than sweat
Swept that floor for seven days, dust caught in my throat
Watched him total numbers, watched him mark his notes
Every kid on Ridley owed him something come sixteen
Broken window, borrowed bread, a bottle in between
Never sent a soul to jail, sent 'em to the mop
Said the system got enough of us to lock and stop
Asked him once why not just let the water go
He said water finds the crack, debt does too, you'll know
Closed the ledger, slid it back inside the drawer
Told me come back Friday, there's always something more
Hook
Ledger by the register, my name still in the ink
Every kindness got a debt bigger than you think
