"Hey!" My dad said sounding really chipper as I met him in the park. We had agreed to go for a walk to talk about some things, so here we both are. "Hey Pops." I said back as we both began to stretch for a minute. Not much had changed with him throughout the years. He was actually still in good shape for his age. Unlike the rest of them, my parents were actually older, so it was good to see him taking care of himself. "So...I'm sure you didn't want to go for this walk, just to walk. So what's going on Charlie?" "Pops...like when you told me that you were off into some of the things like I am, what did you mean?" I asked him wanting to know the real. "Well I started off selling a little ganja. You know...enough to keep the parties going and it was cool money. Got a little older and realized that candy was probably a better hustle. I never saw so many people who would openly snort lines than what I saw in college. But I was also in the Royal Marines and saw a wide variety of things in there. But with all of that, then came conflict. So I had to start carrying guns...then to not allow others to try me, I had to use those guns." "So did you ever kill anyone?" I asked as I stopped in my tracks and looked in his eyes and he stared into mine. In that moment, I realized that I was a chip of the old block. "So why didn't you just tell me that? I mean I could've handled it versus what I was left to deal with." "I never wanted you to know that side of me, because that was never the type of man that I wanted you to be. Charles, I'm actually ashamed of all the things that I've done. I repent almost on the daily basis and even then...I don't know if it is enough." He said as we continued walking. "I guess my conscience comes from you too. I also pray and repent often. But see this is why this studio and my artists are so important to me. This will not be my end-game." I said. My dad reached out and touched my shoulder and squeezed slightly. "I know. This is why I showed up to things. I saw you and I seen that look in your eyes of pure satisfaction with your artists. I knew in that moment, that that is where your heart is at. You opted for a way out early on. See you're far smarter than I was at your age. I could tell that from when you were a little rugrat. You were always amazed at seeing how things worked. You always did well in school...jack of all trades. As I said before, I wish I could take credit for the man that you are today, but I wasn't there for the moments that really defined you. For that I'm forever shamed. But I love you more than life itself and I'm sorry I didn't tell you that every day." he said. I really needed to hear that because I think I spent so much time thinking only Iris loved me that I acted that way. It was in this moment I realized that I was lost. Before the most puzzling thing happened. I looked up and saw my mom sitting on the bench in the middle of the park. "I know this is probably not what you expected and I'll apologize if I got it wrong. But I think you two need to talk to each other." he said as he took a step back. I looked at him and then back at her and then him again. "I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing it because you always have a choice, you don't have to do this right now." he said and I took a deep breath and decided to face the hard truth. I did in fact need to speak to her. "You're right. This is necessary." I said and he walked over and hugged me before he walked off in the other direction. I went and took a seat on the opposite end of the bench. "Chuckie." she said softly as she glanced over in my direction. "Mama." I said back to her as I turned in her direction fully. "So you can't even look at me?" I asked and she pursed her lips and turned and looked at me. "Of course I can look at you. But Charles how do you look at yourself with the things that you've done? How?" She asked me. I knew this is where we'd be. "Pardon me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the good book say 'Let he without sin cast the first stone'? I am correct, aren't I?" I said and she smirked. "Even Satan can quote bible scriptures Dear." she shot back. "But even Satan was an angel once Mama." I said to her. "I'm aware. You were such a sweet boy. A bright child, with a very promising future." she said. "And I still am. I mean aren't you supposed to love the person and hate the sin?" I asked and for the first time, she really looked into my eyes and I couldn't read her. "I do love you Chuckie. With every fiber of my being. I want you to love you more. Because if you truly love yourself, you'd leave all that sheet garbage alone." "You know it isn't that easy to get out as you think. But clearly I'm making strides to do so. I know Papa had to have told you about my studio and my artists." "Papa didn't have to tell me, I have all your artists' music. I follow everything about you sonny. I just want you to do and be better as a person." she said with a single tear cascading down her cheek. I can understand where she was coming from, but I truly don't understand how she felt that just abandoning me was the right way to go. This just always left feeling uneasy.
YOU ARE READING
The Unusual Suspects Book 2
General FictionThe story of 6 inner city young adults, all from different walks of life, from different areas, and conquering different hardships. Watch how school, family, drugs, lies, the streets, and love bring them together and rip them apart
