Page 36 of Halo: Tales Of A Hitman

“Dad, when I come back, I’ll have something for you next. I’ve been good, as good as I can be but even if I wanted to come here and lie to you I can’t.

For one, mama, you would have known I was lying. Dad, one look from you and I would tell you the truth. For two, I know y’all know anyways because of your point of view.” I blew out of my mouth hard then sat back against the wall.

“I feel myself getting worse and I’m drowning. What I’m about to say will make me sound like shit. But when you both died, the first thing on my young mind at the time was you finding out my secrets. I still never said it all out loud…I just can’t.” I dropped my head and tears fell.

“It feels like every set of eyes on me sees me for filth. My brothers get fed up, we argue over them being fed up because I do not act the way they do in certain areas.” I lifted my head up and looked at my parents’ stones. Their pictures were on them, and it made me feel warm.

“I have set in seven different therapists offices. Women, men, older, younger, mothers, and fathers. I tried all kinds of therapist from different religions as well. All I do is sit and waste time.

It’s like I do not know where to begin to admit certain things. I’m exhausted from carrying this. Sometimes I close my eyes, and I do not want them to open anymore. But my brothers, I can’t put them through that.”

I wiped my face and a small smile came across my face. “I met this chick, Story, and she’s cool. When she looks at me, I swear she sees me and I am perfect in her eyes. It’s my vanity talking but I swear she looks at me like I make her proud. And we don’t even know each other.” I started laughing as I continued.

“We like the same movies y’all, it’s crazy. And the way I slept next to her, shit. Sleep hasn’t hit me that good since I was nine. My brothers, auntie Imani and Thaddeus, look at me like they can’t figure me out.

Story doesn’t and I like that, I wanna hold on to that. I just gotta keep my ‘fucked upside’ hidden. It almost came out on our first night. Help me with that mama and dad. Please. I love y’all and I’ll be back next week.” I stood up, kissed my hand, and touched both of their stones. Even though I got more emotional than I wanted, I felt a little better when I left.

The sun was blazing and I regretted wearing all black. I had on jeans with a black fitted shirt sleeve t-shirt and black Jordan’s. Some of my braids were up high and the rest was down. My black bandana was tired around my forehead like I like.

I only wore my silver thin white-gold link chain with diamond studs in my ear. When I got inside my Mustang after I started, I cranked the air conditioner up. As I drove, I played music while on the freeway for ten miles.

“Hey Halo! Sorry I missed you the last time you were here.” Regan spoke to me when I walked inside Braid Masters.

“Sup. It’s all good, your sister took care of me.”

“I heard and I’m glad she did.”

As she talked, I looked behind her and saw everyone but who I was looking for.

“She’s off today. Is there a problem with your hair?”

“Naw, my hair good. I was just looking for her. You think you could give me her number?”

“I could but why…. Ohhhh.” She smiled then took her phone out.

When she went to her contacts, I took my phone out too and put her number in.

“Good lookin’ Regan. Catch you later.” I left the shop.

“Stone! What up!”

“What up doe Stone!”

So many people knew us even if we didn’t know them. Me and my brothers had a reputation, some were based on truths, and some were based off urban legends. We never bothered to clear anything up. If no one was disrespecting our name, then we did not care.

Based on how people looked when we came around, we knew who feared us and who felt that if they did not bother us then we wouldn’t bother them.

I chugged the deuces up to the dudes who spoke to me from across the street at the barber shop. There were a few of them outside shooting dice and Richie were the grill selling barbeque. Before I got into my ride I jogged across the street and went to him.

“How can I help you, Stone?”

I looked at what he was grilling then I saw his sides too. It smelled off the chain and Richie was clean and organized when he cooked.

“Let me get two lunch orders. Barbeque leg quarters with that bomb barbecue sauce on it. Marconi and cheese, four mini seasoned corn on the cob and those green beans with the meat in them.”

“Coming right on up!” He started making my orders and he was extra generous with the portions.

“Mind if I add on two free slices of my carrot cake. I know many hear carrot cakes and don’t like them. I swear you’ll love mine with a butter cream icing.”