*14 years later*
Dezmond
Mr. Royal? Mr. Royal? Mr. Royal, this is a classroom, not your bedroom please sit up.
I pretended not to hear my English teacher, Mr. Tillman, because I really just wanted to sleep. Now I remembered why I skipped his class. For a man in his twenties, he was annoying as fuck. I continued to lay my head down and soon after, he stopped calling my name. I figured he was smart and just decided to let me sleep.
*BAM!*
I jumped up at the sound of a textbook being slammed on my desk. Mr. Tillman stood in front of me with a smirk on his face.
"Ah, now you're up!" He exclaimed
A few people laughed at his statement but I really didn't care. Just another reason why I won't be coming to this class for the rest of the week.
"Okay. So while you were sleeping, the rest of us were discussing the play Othello. Can you, Mr. Royal, tell me who is the author of this play.
I stared at Mr. Tillman, not answering his question.
"Mr. Royal, do you know the answer?" He asked.
"That's what happens when you sleep in class." A girl named Angel said, earning laughs and giggles.
"I can tell you who it was written by since Mr. Sleepyhead Dezmond cant. Othello was written by-"
"Shakespeare." I said cutting her off.
Everyone turned looking at me, shock written all over their faces.
"You wanna know what it was about? Othello was a very known and well trusted soilder. He was known as a Moor because he was black. He leaves Venice and goes to the island of Cyprus for war. His wifes name was Desdemona and-"
"Thank you Mr. Royal, that is enough." Mr. Tillman spoke.
"Oh my bad. Just showing yall I ain't stupid like yall seem to think."
"Well excuse us for stereotyping, I mean what do you expect us to do you wear expensive clothes and barely come to class." Angel spoke out.
"So I'm dumb cause I got money? Okay, that makes sense."
"You're totally missing the point, I wasn-"
"You don't have a point. So save it."
"You are so rude."
"And you are fucking annoying!"
"Alright you two, stop seriously." Mr. Tillman interjected
"You kiss your mother with that mouth?" Angel continued
"Not anymore."
"I wouldn't let you kiss me either"
"Bitch I wouldn't let you kiss me if my life depended on it."
Angel opened her mouth to speak again but I blocked her out by putting my headphones in. I was tired of listening to her speak. I didn't even cut any music on, I just wanted her to know I was done talking.
I snatched my headphones out of my ear and threw them in my backpack as the bell rung, signaling that class was over. I was the first one at the door, but turned around when I heard Mr. Tillman call my name.
"Yeah?" I asked
"Dezmond, you're a very smart student. Why don't you come to class that often?"
I shurgged running my hand down my face.
"Man, I be tired." I replied
"Don't you play basketball?" He questioned
"Why you asking questions you already know? Of course I play basketball I've been starting Varsity since freshman year."
"Exactly. Do you really think you will be starting, let alone playing, your junior year if you keep cutting class? This is your most important year man. The scouts are looking."
"They been looking. Thanks for the advice and all but you gonna make me miss my ride." I said, annoyed and very done with the conversation.
"Alright Dezmond. Please listen to what I said man.
"Gotcha Mr. Tillman." I said exiting his classroom.
I located my car in the junior parking lot of my school. All black 2014 Camero. It was a gift from my dad when we won the championship game last year.
I texted my Auntie Sherri, letting her know I wouldn't be home until later on today.
I made my way to one of my dad's trap houses, after receiving his text telling me to meet him.
I pulled up to the abandoned warehouse and got out of my car. I knocked twice, paused, knocked two more times and waited. The door creaked open and I was greeted by Juice Man, one of my dad's bodygaurds. I went through the pat down security procedure and gave Juice a head nod as I proceeded to my dad's office in the back of the warehouse. I walked in without knocking, and seen my dad getting topped off by one of the CrackPacking Girls.
My dad tapped the girl of her head causing her to look up at me wide eyed. She released my dad's piece from her mouth, stood up, and scurried out of the room.
"Nigga knock next time. If I wasn't getting my nut I probably would've shot you." My dad spoke as he lit his blunt.
"Hm?" He asked reaching the blunt out to me.
"Nah daddy you know ion do that stuff." I declined.
My dad chuckled leaning back in his seat.
"Wassup daddy, why you called me down here. You know this place give me the hives."
"I heard you been missing school, wassup with that? He spoke taking a hit from his blunt.
I smacked my teeth knowing it had to be Mr. Tillman snitching ass. My dad made sure to give his number to all of my teachers every year since I started school.
"I sleep in sometimes when I come home from the gym. I be tired man. I pass my test though. I make B's."
My dad ashed out his blunt and leaned foward shaking his head.
"The fuck is a B when you could make an A. You know what come after B? C then D then F. And F stands for Fuck nigga. Get your shit together man. Or I will clear my busy schedule and come up to your school and shadow you for the whole day. Then you know what happens I lose out on my money. Fifteen thousand dollars to be exact. All because your lame ass can't wake up at seven fifteen in the morning. You gone make that money for me?"
"Nah. No sir" I said
"Exactly! You know your mother would've beat the brown off of you by now right? I know Sherri crazy ass just the same."
I shook my head in agreement.
"You know it was my fault she died right?"
"Nah daddy don't start that ion wanna hear it man."
I've heard this story thousands of times and I don't want to head it again. Something bout how my mom asked him to take me but he wouldn't. She was speeding tryna get somewhere and end up crashing.
"No shut up you gone listen. Your mother was tryna make something of herself, and raise you. While I was out doing the same thing I'm doing now. Trapping. Only thing I know how. Your mother went to school. Tryna get an education. She wanted to be an anesthesiologist or some shit. But she had you so she couldn't go off like she wanted. Truth be told I was kinda happy. As much as I hated her for having you despite my wishes, I still loved her. And I love you Dezmond. You got something going in this basketball shit. So go to fucking school like your mother wanted. As long as I'm alive, you gonna always have money in ya pockets. You a growing man, act like it."
I was driving home replaying my dad's words into my head. We sat up talking for hours, I even ended up taking a nap and by time I left his office it was eleven at night. I still haven't ate or taken a shower. If I don't wake up for school tomorrow, it's his fault.
*Dezmond in MM*
