When Olivia's given an ultimatum by her parents, she chooses to stay with her grandfather in South Crenshaw. And what was originally supposed to be temporary, turns into a permanent memory that will last a lifetime.
I sit quietly in a closet near the kitchen after seeing my dad's face on the other side of the front door.
"My Pop didn't want me to come ask. But that man is stubborn as hell!"
"Ask me what?" Spencer questions and I can hear the fear in his voice.
"I'm drenching in sweat because I had to cut his grass. And I saw you and a few fellas out front the other day. So I thought y'all might be interested in a little side hustle."
My heart stops pounding when I realize he's here to ask him to cut my grandpa's lawn.
"I'll make sure you get paid weekly," he adds and Spencer clears his throat. "Are you okay?"
"Ugh—- I'm just not feeling too well right now. I can come by and talk to Old Man Willy— I mean Mr. Willy some other time." Spencer suggest and I think my dad is about to walk away but a picture on the wall stops him.
"Is that Cam Watkins?" I hear him asks.
"Shit," I whisper as I push the closet shut.
"Oh, man! You're Spencer James," he says and I take a deep breath. "That's Darnell."
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"You all must've grown up tight playing here in Crenshaw," my dad says as he walks closer to the picture.
"Yeah, we did," Spencer tells him as he looks around for any traces of me.
I can see the trophies along the bookshelf and I know my dad won't leave without checking them out.
"You, Cam and Darnell crushed Group three teams two years straight," he says as I stand as still as possible. "All of these years and I never knew my dad had three All Americans across the street from him."
"Respectfully sir, I've never really seen you around," Spencer tells him and I really wish he'd be quiet so my dad can leave.
"That's a long story, son. But I'm glad I know now. You, Cam and Darnell have been in California football headlines for years now. I follow Darnell's stats at UCLA. He's killing it. Matter of fact, is he here? I'd love to get him to come speak to my boys at Beverly."
He snaps his head around the corner and I feel like he pauses at the slightly opened closet door before he casually walks towards the kitchen.
"He's not home," Spencer says in a panic as he strategically moves my book bag off of the countertop.
I shorten my breaths as I try to stay quiet.
"Maybe I'll stop back by later in the week—- I really want to talk to him and Cam. My guys are trying to make a playoff push and their words can help," my dad tells him and I peep at Spencer's tapping foot as he answers hesitantly.
"Ugh—— yeah!" He says as he shuts the closet door. "Have a great day, sir!"
"Call me Billy," he tells him before handing him a business card and I can only assume Spencer accepts it before the door shuts.
