Zel agreed. “That’s why you got five kids and I’ain got one.”
Laughing, I replied, “Exactly.” I got inside the car, joining Quilo in the back seat. He looked out of the window and remained quiet as Zel left the parking lot.
“You’ve played football before,” I said to break the silence.
Without turning from the window, he responded, “A long time ago.”
“Why’d you stop playin’?”
“‘Cause my mama died, and I’ain care about that shit no more.”
I could understand that. A man’s mother was vital in his life. Mothers were the ones to constantly put aside whatever life they had to care for their children. As much as I loved my father, I knew damn well I wouldn’t be shit without my mama.
“Have you ever grieved losin’ her?”
Slowly, Quilo turned from the window to look at me. Regardless of the mug on his face, his eyes said that he hadn’t grieved his mama.
“Why?” he questioned.
“Grief will have you angry at the world and even the people you love. Even if you don’t mean to be, anger is destined to be the way you react to everything. You’re gon’ be a man one day. My job is to make sure you understand the weight that comes with being one. You can’t allow every single thing to piss you off. And even if it does, you know how to control ya anger and not let it get the best of you.”
“And how do I do that?”
Covering my surprise for him actually opening the door, I stated, “Talk to me—anytime. Process ya emotions. Over time, you’ll see how effective communication can heal shit you thought was deep-rooted and terminal.”
His head turned back towards the window.
“Before she died, my mama told me to take care of Coco. These last five years have been hell. Coco did her best to keep us afloat while she was in college. That’s when I started getting into trouble. While she was in school or working, I was in the streets. Then ,she got her nurses license. Since then, she’s been doingher thing. I just feel like I let her down by fuckin’ everything up and causing us to have to uproot the way we did.”
“Well… I can’t say that I’m upset that y’all are in my life. Sometimes, we question things that really shouldn’t be a second thought. Especially if the outcome outweighs the cause. I have a beautiful wife whom I adore and another son that I intend to see live the best life that he can.”
His countenance was that of a young man who was tired of carrying the world on his shoulders.
“Peace told me you adopted them five years ago. What made you step up like that?”
“I had a professor named Tilda who I made a promise to. I’m fulfilling it.”
Again, he glanced off. A few minutes later, he asked, “You think it’s too late for me to keep my promise?”
“Pretty has already seen how far you’ll go for her, and I can guarantee you she’s never doubted that you have her back. Now, I need you to prove to ya’self how far you’re willing to go foryou. I’m here to support you however you need me to.”
“Aight,” he finally said.
“You have tryouts two more times this week. I want you to go out there andtakethat shit.”
He chuckled as Zel drove through the gate of Bell Estates. Seconds later, we were in the driveway. Pretty came strolling down the street with a foil pan in her hands and Russ on her trail. The car barely stopped before Quilo hopped out.
“Is that peach cobbler?” he asked Pretty. Her big smile and emphatic head nod had him going to her and snatching the pan out of her hands. Stepping out of the car, I grinned at the indignant look on her face.
“Don’t eat all my cobbler, Quilo! And wash yo’ hands first,” she told him.
I dapped Russ and swooped my wife off her feet. She giggled as I walked towards the house and placed kisses all over her face, neck, and chest.
“Auntie Maddie got you hooked, huh?”
“Real bad, baby. Just like you. Are you in for the evening?”
With everything that happened with Hakeem, I was caught up doing so much damage control that I was slacking on my baby.
