Off The GridIron

Chapter 40: Home Again

Monday March 23rd, 1992

1:15pm

Willie

"Are you sure you're gonna be alright man?" Leon asked as he helped me out of the car.

"Yeah dude I'm gonna be cool. It's gonna take me a minute to readjust and all but I'll be cool. Rodney's next door if I need him and even Evan said he'd stop by to check in on me." I said.

"Well you also know you got me, Junior, Danyelle & others here to help you."

"True but i mean nearby, you're nearly a half hour away, and you know with LA traffic at times that can easily turn into 45 minutes to an hour, but i appreciate your help and all you've done, i mean that." I told him, giving him a bro hug.

"You know it's no problem, so how did Kelvin take the news when you told him you was coming back home?"

"He wasn't happy but he understood that I needed to be home, plus I needed to get back to work and school and all."

"True but you can't just rush back into things, you gotta take it one day at a time and just get yourself together first & foremost." He said as he got my things and took them into the house. "Alright that's the last of your bags, look you take care of yourself and like i said before if you need anything you call me." He told me.

I went into my house for the 1st time in Over a month. Can't believe that my life has pretty much changed, I'll never forget February 17th, 1992 as long as I live. I took 3 bullets, and I lived to tell the story. It's crazy how life just works against you at times but then things happen that really puts things in retrospect and everything. As I walked around and inspected the house nothing seemed out of order, turned the lights on and off in the rooms, the light bill was paid, made sure the water was running and it was, cable was on as well. I turned everything back off and just relaxed for a while, I'd unpack everything when I got a chance. I went over to the radio and turned it on 88.5 The Heat.

(Knocking) "Hey Willie it's me." Rodney said. "I'm coming in." He walked into the house. "How you feeling?"

"LIKE SHIT!!" I exclaimed. "But I'm managing, taking things one day at a time."

"Well I'm just letting you know if it's anything you want me to do just feel free to let me know." He said.

"Trust me I will but at the moment I just want to unwind." I told him. "Can you come back later?"

"Oh alright...." He looked at me then turned and walked out the door.

I went back into the living room and sat down and just thought about all the hell that i've been through over the past month and i just broke down and started crying, i thought about how my life could have been over in an instant and all how all the people i care about would have been affected, and especially Kelvin and knowing him he would have gotten revenge and he could have been killed as well. It's like when you try to change your life for the better or something good comes into your life something or someone has to try and ruin it.

5:45pm

I looked over at the clock and saw it was 5:45pm, I must have cried so much I fell asleep. I couldn't believe that. I wiped the dried up tears and eye crust from my eyes, I got up and went to the bathroom and took care of my hygiene, took a piss, brushed my teeth, and washed and wiped my face off again with a washcloth. It was still a lot on my mind. I went over to the phone and checked to see if I had any messages, I had some from Danyelle, Evan & Kelvin. I called Danyelle.

"Hey Willie!!" I could tell she was smiling over the phone. "What are you up to?"

"I'm just waking up, I've been sleep for awhile. What you up to?"

"Not much, just helping my pops out at the cleaners, it's been a pretty slow day but he was asking about you as well."

"Well let him know i'm doing okay."

"Alright i will. Hey do you want to catch a movie tonight, we could hang out, like old times."

"That sounds cool, but i mean the doctor said I should take it easy, even though it's been a month or so it's still gonna be a long road to recovery."

"Yeah you're right. Well i could rent a few movies and we could pop them in the VCR."

"Yeah you're right....that'll be cool. What time you getting off of work?"

"I should be done around 7:30 or 8:00pm, after that i'll go to Blockbuster." She said.

"Alright, well i'll see you then. I'll talk to you later on." After we said our goodbyes I hung up.

After that i called Evan.

"Hey Willie How are you feeling?"

"Well i'll tell you like i told Rodney, i feel like shit. I'm taking things one day at a time, how do you think i'd feel after 3 bullet wounds?"

"I know and i shouldn't have asked, i'm sorry but i didn't know what else to ask."

"I know you didn't, and it's not your fault man, you're just showing you care. A lot of people are, i need to stop acting like i have a chip on my shoulder and just try to understand where everyone else is coming from. Y'all wouldn't be asking if y'all didn't care." I said.

"Yeah. But hey if you want me to stop by in a bit i will. It's after 6:00pm and i'm just closing up the shop for the evening."

"Well i mean i have plans with Danyelle tonight, she's coming over and we're gonna watch a few movies together, she's gonna rent some from Blockbuster."

"Well that's cool, she's being a good friend, she wants to make sure you're doing okay just like everyone else. I'm still coming by but I won't stay long."

6:45pm

(Knocking) "Hey Willie it's Evan."

"Hey Evan, come in." I said, opening the door, moving slowly.

"Yeah man, I see what you were saying." He said, seeing the wounds, I had one in my shoulder, lower abdomen, and chest. "Damn!" He said, looking pissed and upset at the same time. "I can see why you're as upset as you are."

"Yeah but hey don't worry, i'll be okay. So how's things been at work?"

"Kind of slow, but still going good, when you were there it was different, but let me tell you, we'll stay afloat. What you need to do is focus on recovering." Evan said. "Look i know you want to go back to work, i can see it in your eyes but now is not the right time, give yourself a few months to recover." He told me.

Over the next hour or so we talked and caught up, he told me more about work ,some funny things that happened at work as well as the car sales they've made. We talked about the latest in music and sports, then around 8:00pm Danyelle showed up.

"Hey Willie, i got some movies, I also got some Popcorn." She said. "Oh hey Evan, how are you?"

"I'm good, can't complain." He said. "How have you been?"

"I've been good. Oh my dad said he wanted to talk to you sometime this week about a new car." She said.

"Well tell him he can dome down and when he's ready to put pen to paper we'll do that."

"Alright that sounds good." She said before she put the movies on the table. "I got Thelma & Louise, Mo' Better Blues, & The Long Walk Home." She said.

Over the next few hours me and her watched Mo' Better Blues, & The long walk home and we talked and caught up on things in our lives. Not once did she ask me how i was because deep down she knew so she didn't have to say a thing, even though things didn't work out with us as far as a relationship goes i'm glad that at least we can be good friends.

End Of Chapter 40