Past Love

Chapter 8: Same Ish, Different Day

Monday June 13th, 2005

8:15am

Jahmelle

I got up and turned the radio onto 102.5 TSLS and listened to some music as I took care of my daily hygiene and all. Since me and Tyrone went out over two weeks ago me and him have talked off and on almost every day. I still haven't seen or heard from Damon over the past two weeks so I guess he's still doing his thing, SAME SHIT, DIFFERENT DAY!! I really tried to help him too, he got to make his own choice and go down his own path though. He was barely able to graduate and move on to the 12th grade but from the looks of it he might be dropping out of school so basically he's free to do whatever. I'm not worried about it because he's already setting his goals. Trying to make his life better is definitely not one of them, you know how the old saying goes: you can lead a camel to water but you can't make it drink. I wanted so much for him in life but he just doesn't want it for himself. I shook my head while thinking about him. Around 8:50am I went and began to workout, do a little bit of stretching, situps and jog in place for a while. Good thing I live right behind a park, I could go there and clear my mind, take in the air and just be myself. Anyway I started running on the trail and went over to the lake that was in the middle of the park. I sat on the bench nearby and then a few minutes later I saw Kash there. He saw me and came and sat beside me.

"What's up?" I asked. "What's going on?"

"Not much man, just chilling out here. I have some of my other employees running the store while I take some time off to spend time with my wife and kids." He said. "I wanted to let you know that while I was driving around the neighborhood, on my way to the mall with the family yesterday, I saw Damon. He didn't look too good either, he looked like he got into a fight or something." He told me.

"Where did you see him?" I asked.

"Over at the mall on Ferguson Avenue right across from the train tracks man." He said.

"Well you didn't think to call me?"

"Well remember what you said man, you can lead a camel to water but you can't make it drink." He said. I rolled my eyes because I do say that alot. "Exactly man, so when it's time man he'll come to you. He's out there being young and dumb, he'll see it's nothing out there for him. You gotta remember we was young and dumb too. Hell it's some of us out there that still are dumb, haven't matured at all." He said.

"Yeah you're right about that, but the streets out here, they teach you to grow up quick, but i'm trying to teach Damon that there is more to life than just the streets."

"I know but when that's all you grow up around man it's hard to get out of that mindset, for real."

"Yeah I know, but it's no harm in trying." I said.

"True but didn't you hook him up with a job?"

"Yeah I did."

"But what happened with that?"

"He still has that job, I don't know. It's been about a month or so." I told him. " I haven't heard from his bosses or anything, I told them to call me if they had any problems so I mean something has to be going on. I mean if you said you saw him and he wasn't looking good." I said. "Well you know what I'm probably going to have to call them instead."

I pulled out my phone and I called Damon's workplace. After a few rings they answered and it was his boss. And let him know who I was. And why I was calling. And he told me that Damon was doing pretty okay but he's been late for work a few times and that he doesn't look good. He said I might want to check on him. I asked his boss where he was and he told me that he was there working if I wanted to come by. I said I'd be there in a bit. I got in the car and headed to Damon's job on Ferguson Avenue, the same Mall that Kash saw him working at. I got there around 9:15am and went into the Mall. I seen Damon working near the door, checking customers bags and receipts as well as greeting customers, he didn't look too good.