21 april 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2713: hook it!

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“So, when you make write songs or make content, you basically are catching fish but less messy. To catch the fish you gotta hook it! To catch people's attention, you gotta have a hook for them, too.”

Nine-year-old Vertran Stepforth was explaining the work that he did in concert with his 21-year-old cousin and master beat maker Melvin Trent to ten-year-old Glendella Ludlow.

“So, when Melvin and I work together on videos, a lot of times I use his beats as the hook to get people's attention,” Vertran said, “and then I tell them whatever I want to tell them.”

“Oh, I could get into this – fishing is a little rough for me because I would hate to be the fish, but this makes all kinds of sense to me!”

“And then there's Milton – hey, Milton – because sometimes we use Milton dancing on stuff as the hook, because Milton can dance, so, we're always looking for good ideas.”

“What's up – hey, Glendella!” Melvin's nine-year-old brother Milton Trent said and gave her a hug as he came in.

“I'm just learning about hooks without hurting fish today,” Glendella said.

“Right, because we don't want to hurt them, we just want to eat them,” Milton said, and Melvin covered a laugh.

“Naw, man – we're talking about making beats and videos and stuff,” Vertran said.

“Oh – well, yeah, we always have room for more good ideas, like, my mom does graphic design stuff and my dad and Stepforth grandma even rap sometimes,” Milton said. “And your big cousin Capt. Ludlow comes over and does stuff – hey, play her the 'Hashtag: Side Hustle' beats!”

“Wow,” Glendella said as the basso profundo voice of Capt. R.E. Ludlow filled the room on a high-energy beat. “I know folks are going to find jobs, like, right now!”

“Yeah, because check out the videos,” Milton said, and then showed Glendella on Melvin's phone. “See, Vanna manages the side hustle show for our grandfather and his partners, and everybody gets a cut including your big cousin on this. Our attitude is, everybody can eat!”

“Eat? Where?” five-year-old Lil' Robert Ludlow said as he came running in. “I thought I heard Papa in here, but, where's the food?”

Glendella opened her arms to her favorite five-year-old in the whole world.

“We're just talking about how the money is made so everybody can eat,” she said as he came running for that hug.

“And that is your grandfather on the 'Hashtag: Side Hustle' beats,” Melvin said. “Y'all know there's a whole dance for that Milton came up with on the second video.”

“Oh yeah!” Milton and Lil' Robert said.

“Hey – y'all need to get caught up – I'mma just take your phone and Rob and I are going to teach Glendella and Vertran real quick on the yard,” Milton said.

“OK,” Melvin said, and then sighed with relief when they were gone so he could concentrate – he had a big beat delivery to get prepared, but …

“The patience you have, my firstborn, will serve you well when you are a father,” Sgt. Vincent Trent said as he passed through to commend his son.

“Yeah,” Melvin said, “which is why I'm going to be real patient and stay a chaste bachelor for a long time because sheesh, Dad – I'm not even doing anything and the number of little kids around here keeps growing!”

“My firstborn is also very wise,” the sergeant said, and winked at his firstborn before leaving him to get his work done.