The Book of Kay

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**Picture of Ja'Neal**

It was early the next morning and Ja'Neal, my bestest friend in the entire world, texted me asking if I wanted to go for a jog, so I did. It was a lot going on right now and just being around my friend would make it a little better.

It was a hot day so I dressed light. In a grey Nike tank top with matching leggings and some highlighter green roshes to run in. Ja'Neal only lived up the street so it took no time getting to my house and we went along on our normal jogging path. We jogged about a mile before taking a break, passing up so many fast food places and the big high school here that we'd kind of we designated to go to when high school came around even though, lord knows I didn't want to go there.

We stopped at this little diner that served only healthy food. We came in there, tired and dripping sweat from the heat mostly. My friend Keke laughed as we came in, she had to bottles of water already prepared for us when we came in.

Keke was my dog. She met me because I came in here one two many times when things got rough at home and she was always there to comfort me because she could understand more than anyone else. She was my shoulder and at times, I was hers. Even though I was eight years younger than her she could tell me anything and I'd understand. People always told me I was to old for my age. Keke being 20 and trying to put herself through college, trying to go to a big university in Miami soon, working two jobs, she was going through it but she didn't let anything stand in her way. And, I strived to be like her when I got older, she was my role model, Duval loved the fact I looked up to someone like her and not my mom.

Me and Ja'Neal sat at our usually table and Keke put in our order, she already knew what we liked. She came and sat with us so we could all catch up on the latest gossip of what everyone was going through.

"So Kay, I heard your dad is back," Keke started, "how you feel about that?"

"Duval told you?" I asked Keke.

"Your dad!" Ja'Neal said in a very stern voice, like she was upset.

"Yeah, my dad. I actually don't know how to feel about it, I mean everybody has their own opinion on him and I don't know how to feel about him. There has been so much said, I can't form my own opinion and Duval doesn't even want me in the same room as the guy or he's basically going to kill him."

"Damn Kay--" Keke started but was interrupted by her manager calling her back to work, "we'll talk later. Swing by my apartment later today."

"K," I said as Keke walked away.

"Why doesn't Duval like your dad?" Ja'Neal asked me.

I didn't know if I was ready to tell people about my dad the murderer and molester, I didn't know how to answer. Our food came and Ja'Neal got her usual grilled chicken salad with Italian dressing on the side, and I got a fruit salad with light whipped cream on the side of course and we both got another water, and attempted to start our conversation back up, and I lied to Ja'Neal. "Well, I guess it's because he left when we were younger. I think he went to jail, I don't know what for though, that could've been a lie, but Duval just really hates him."

She shook her head and we continued to eat and have small talk and then we continued our run, paying the money for our food and grabbing another bottle of water on our way out.

We always race up to our school once we get to this point, so we both got ready track style. I loved being on the track team and me and Ja'Neal were top two at our school. Since we're only in middle school we don't know where we rank city, state, country, wise but we'd be there soon. We got on our marks and we had Keke count down right before heading back in.

"Ready.... set.... go!" She yelled and we took off fast but then started to pace our selves. Bad thing about racing we had to cross two streets before actually getting to where we needed to be which caused us to stopped but we always kept moving.

We were a block away from the school and we passed the basketball court where around this time all the boys would be playing and on our way back we might just go and shoot around ourselves. I was so busy looking at the court and watching my friend Trey trying to dunk on somebody I didn't realize the big brick wall I ran into. Duval saw me fall and cane running. I looked up and it was my dad, he just starred at me as I was rubbing the back of my head attempting to get up.

"You okay?" Duval and Trey said running up to me. I shook my head and I could see Duval getting mad. My dad reached his hand out to help me up and Duval cane and swatted his head.

"Back the hell up!" He shouted, "get away from my sista. Get away from my family actually, why the hell you here anyways."

"Son?" He said in a sly voice.

"Don't son me, I ain't yo child so miss me with that bullshit. Go hop in yo car or whatever and get the hell away from us."

"Duval, I'm not the same per---"

"Shut up! I don't wanna hear it." He stepped close enough to Duval so he was right in front of Duval, he ducked a bit, being taller than Duval so he could whisper in his ear.

"Duval, you don't know me, so I advice you to stop talking to me like you crazy or something. You know I helped bring you in this world and could take you out with one simple call. You know I got connections all around this city and if you really want to be away from me, I guess you'll get to moving."

Everybody was looking at them to now because even though he was whispering, we all could hear my dad. Duval stepped back from him, grimming him up and down, he threw his hands up and walked away, then the rest of the squad started to follow behind Duval. Ja'Neal hadn't realized that I fell so she continued running and finally made her way back and was just lost.

My dad just looked at me, "let me walk you home."

"I'm okay," I said as my voice cracked a little.

"No, let me walk you."

"I'm practicing for track season, me and Ja'Neal run together. I'm just going to jog back with her."

I brushed past him trying to get to Ja'Neal when he tightly grabbed the back of my arm and started to squeeze really tightly. I cringed but didn't want to yell because I didn't know what he'd do to Duval if Duval came and hit him because I knew that's what he'd do.

"Ja'Neal, we can finish our run tomorrow."

"Okay," she said, scared because my dad was starring her dead in her eyes, "I'm just going to go shoot around with my brother."

"Okay."