Brother's Keeper✔️

11. One Wrong Move

Manny POV

Pledging was no joke.

He was not dumb, he did not go into it thinking it would be babies, kumbaya, and rainbows, but the constant yelling and getting in his face was a lot to handle. It was like his father talking to him about something he did not want to hear.

They finished their second set with the Big Brothers and were back in their dorm room, relaxing and letting the stress out. Jordan was on his bed, in his pledge clothes of black dickies pants, and a white t-shirt, with his shoes still on.

Why was he so tired?

He was not the only one they made do jumping jacks while reciting the Greek Alphabet forwards and backward ten times because Jordan kept saying "Uh." Brian was not in his face every time he asked a question. Taj went easy on Jordan, barely even yelling at him.

Tonight, their assignment was to read the first chapter in their Intake Study Guide. It had detailed breakdowns of the founding and how everything went down. Back in 1979 at the University of Illinois, the "Black Power" era was growing strong and so was the Black Panther movement. None of the other Greek organizations wanted to touch upon what the Panthers stood for.

Epsilon Upsilon did. They were started as an ode to the Panthers, and their hand sign was the raised "Black Power" fist. Being as they were all pre-law, they challenge every law that hindered Black students on campus, and because of them, there were many changes to race relations on that campus.

Of course, they wanted to spread it around but it was tough getting young Black college guys to listen. Founder Jessie Wentworth went on to graduate school at SIUE and helped to charter the second chapter there. From there, each future chapter was chartered by one of the Founders. Seventeen chapters at seventeen colleges, mostly in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri.

He was so into his reading while Jordan slept, that he read the next chapter. The chartering of the first Alumnae Chapter and their first National Convention. This was his first time hearing of some of the real work that was done. Writing their new constitution, oath, and mission statement. Drafting and perfecting their rituals over the years. And developing their brotherhood songs.

He got into that because he loved music and writing songs. He was just starting chapter three when there was a knock on the door.

He knew it was the girls without asking. He opened the door for them.

"Hey girls."

"Hey, Manny!" Laila gave him a big hug.

He smiled, still unsure of where their relationship was headed, but liked her attention.

"Awww, look at my baby." Markeeta walked over to Jodan's bed and sat beside him, rubbing his back. "Did those guys hurt you tonight? They better not laid a hand on my boo."

They told the girls they were pledging, it made no sense to keep it from them when they saw them every day.

"He's fine."

"Are you?" Laila asked, looking him over.

"It's cool."

"I don't understand why you want to pledge Manny, it doesn't seem, like you."

"Why? I don't even know what that means."

"Frat guys are so....what is the word...jerks!"

"You can't say that about all fraternity guys because you do not know all fraternity guys." He went to sit at his desk, with Laila sitting on his bed."

"All they do is party and drink and get all the girls they want."

He side-eyed her. "Is that what you think I'll be like?"