I nodded then journeyed to holla at my pops first. He was posted on my sectional with his feet kicked up like we were at their crib instead of mine.
“I’m gon’ start chargin’ you and Ma rent or some shit.”
He glanced my way and smiled. “Wouldn’t make much considering you bought our house and take care of the utilities.”
“Least I can do.” I grinned, going over to dap him up. “How’s everything been?”
“Everything is everything, son. Your mother’s been stressing me out about getting with the schools in MP and starting some summer programs.”
“That would be dope.” I nodded.
My parents moved to Miller’s Pointe with a vision a while ago. Back then, my pops was just another concerned citizen with a background in education and a whole lot of heart. Now he’s the mayor. The kind that still shows up to youth basketball gamesand remembers the kid’s names, tosses footballs around with the neighborhood kids, buys out the ice cream trucks in the hood and shit like that.
He and his brother, my uncle Proof, had that shit in common. They were as close as brothers could be, but they were polar fucking opposites. Although when I was younger we lived in the hood just like Proof, my pops had always been on the straight and narrow while my uncle was Crescent Ridge through and through. He still lived in the hood, guiding the lil’ ones around the way just like he did me and my niggas when we were growing up.
“Yeah, we’ll get to it when we get back, but I came out this way to see Proof. We’re partnering with the school districts here and in Atlyn City. There’s an old auto shop by Ridge Pointe Middle School that we’re looking at turning into a skill center and we’ve secured a spot back home to do the same thing. We’re looking to have trades, digital media, conflict resolution programs—real life tools. You know, something to give these kids a fair chance.”
“I can dig it, Pop. Whatever y’all need, you know I got you.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that…” my mom said when she entered. “I told your father that maybe you, Prynceton and Jabari could mentor.”
My brows furrowed. “Mentor? Naw.” I shook my head. “That ain’t my speed. Jay? Maybe, he’s a whole athlete and pretty clean for the most part, but P and me? Naw. We been in and out of sh—trouble since we were little, Ma.”
I hated to speak for my nigga, but I felt like his sentiments would be the same. Jay had started an AAU team and shit, so he was already into that kind of thing, but P and I were knee deep in this street shit despite my growing career in music.
“Which is why I think you three would be perfect candidates for this, baby.” She gently placed her hand on my cheek whileshe held the plate I was sure was for me. “Just think about it, please.” She smiled. “Proof is doing it, so I know you three can and will.”
“Aight. I’ll think about it.” I took her hand and kissed the back of it. “But not because you threw Proof’s name out there.” I grinned. She knew my uncle was the OG and how close me and the guys were to him. “It’s because you know I can never deny that smile.”
“That’s how she gets you son.” My dad laughed.
“You hush.” She playfully hit his shoulder after she handed me my plate then went back to the kitchen.
I sat my plate down then went to the half bathroom in the hall to wash my hands and shit before I rejoined my parents in the den to eat. Typically, my mother would be talking shit about us not eating at the table, but I was glad her ass was chill today and just ate in the den without fussing.
We talked while we ate, mainly my mother filling me in on what her days were like in Atlyn City. Her and Nadia, Prynce’s mom, were good friends, but she’d made a few in Atlyn City as well. She was going on and on about their spa dates and a whole bunch of other shit that I didn’t care about, but she was my mother, so I’d listen to her ass talk all day if she wanted me to.
After we ate, she cleaned up and they bounced. I’d offered for them to stay but they were going to my uncle’s instead because they claimed to have an early morning planned. I knew the real reason was because my mama’s nosy ass wanted to go see what Proof had going on since she claimed all the Matthews men needed her to keep them straight.
I locked up after they were gone and got ready to kill the T.V., but the news of today’s handy work caught my attention.
“We begin tonight with breaking news out of Crescent Falls, where a mass shooting has left five people dead and three more hospitalized. The incident occurred just after 2 p.m. nearMorningside Park basketball courts—an area known for heavy foot traffic and community gatherings.”
The footage rolled and showed police tape surrounding the crime scene and flapping in the wind, sirens blaring and grieving families being held back by officers.
“Witnesses say a black motorcycle pulled up and opened fire into a crowd of people during a repast that was being held for Brayden Franks, the twenty-four-year-old victim of a shooting just a week and a half ago. Police do believe the shooting was gang related. This marks the third shooting in Crescent Falls in less than a month. City leaders are urging calm and calling for unity, but residents are demanding action.”
I smiled to myself before turning the T.V. off and retiring to my room. On the way my phone chimed with a message from India. She used to strip at Roulette, but she had been a social media influencer for the last year or so. I ran into her about two months ago during an appearance at Royale.
She was in a back-and-forth debate with security about getting in, so I went over to see what was going on. As soon as I noticed that cold ass body and pretty face, I told them to let her up. She was alone, so I let her kick it with us for the night, and the shit ended with her face down, ass up and her bugging the fuck out of me here and there.
India: Can I see you before you go?
Me: You gon’ be there, right?
India: Of course.
Me: Aight then, you’ll see me.
