Ol’ School was the stubborn grandfather I never knew I was missing. He came into my life some years back, right around the time I bought the building for my club. Turns out he’d been living there, and my purchase left him with nowhere to go. That didn’t sit right with me. So, after I finally got him to stop talking shit and accusing me of ripping the roof from over his head, I offered to put him up in a nice apartment by the water. He shut that shit down quick and told me he wasn’t living in no bougie ass high rise by the water.
He frustrated the hell out of me for days. For two damn weeks, I tried to convince him, and for two weeks he told me to go fuck myself. Instead, he made himself comfortable under a tree that was just around the corner. So, every day, during construction, I would see him. Some days it was raining, and other days, it was cold as shit. But he didn’t budge.
Finally, I asked around about him. Turns out he was a veteran, and he’d been raised in the same neighborhood that was near my club. According to a few people, he used to own a home a few blocks away, but he’d lost it due to foreclosure.
“So, how you feeling? Get your walk in?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
He was dressed in his usual. An old sweatshirt, relaxed pants, and those worn white shoes he refused to let me replace.
“I did.” He nodded. “Just got back, actually.”
He rocked back and forth as I took a seat on the couch next to him.
“Good. And you stayed onthisside of the street, right?”
He stopped rocking and cleared his throat, pointing the remote toward the TV.
“Ol’ School, what I tell you about walking on the other side of the street? Them damn dogs?—”
“I know what you said.” He waved me off. “But those dogs only act like that because they’re hungry and aren’t being taken care of properly.”
“I’m well aware of that. But that’s not your problem. You can’t save every damn thing.”
“Why not? You damn sure didn’t have a problem trying to save me.”
I fell back against the couch. “That’s not the same.”
“What’s not the same about it? When I was on the street and hungry, you brought me food.”
“That’s because your stubborn ass refused to let me put you in a nice place with a kitchen so you could cook your own shit.”
“I didn’t need no fancy kitchen in no fancy neighborhood. I needed to stay where they knew me.”
And he definitely did.
It wasn’t until I agreed to buy this house that he agreed to get off the street.
Thankfully, he made it a home and has been living here ever since.
“Whatever. I’m just trying to look out for you. Those damn dogs aren’t just hungry, they’re vicious because the people that own them made them that way. You need to steer clear. No amount of food is going to get them to be sweet little dogs.”
“They’re sweet when they’re eating, and when they see me, they know I’m coming with food.”
I slid my hand down my face.
“How about this? I’ll toss a bag of fresh food on the porch twice a week to make sure their owners feed them. Will you leave them alone then?”
“If that’s what you want to do, fine by me.”
“Good. It’s settled. I’ll make sure they get fed. You, my friend, stay out of it and keep your ass onthisside of the street.”
“Noted.”
“I’m not playing, Ol’ School.”
He lifted his hand. “You have my word.”
“Good.” I stood up. “I’ve got to get to the club. Call me if you need anything.”
