HUMBLE.

XI. Chistmas Break

Gerald

"I won't be there next Sunday for service. Let the congregation know that Pastor Lewis will be replacing me for the week," I spoke into the phone as I made my way through the terminal of the DC airport.

"Alright, Pastor. What will the lesson be over?" My secretary, Adail asked.

"Get with him. He has all my planning notes, so he has what the lesson will be. Just go along with it and give the little ones the same lesson. It should revolve around Isaiah 9:6 and the second chapter of Luke. It's about the birth of Jesus on this holy day." I saw one of my nephews, Bradley, standing around on his phone and I picked up my suitcase.

"Alright, Pastor, enjoy your trip," Adail laughed.

I nodded, "I will definitely try. "Don't let Pearl in my church either. I told you what happened last time."

"All's well, Pastor, goodbye."

"Bye, Adail," I hung up the phone.

"Unc! What's goin' on man?" We slapped hands.

"Nothing much, young brother. Where's Gina?" I looked around.

"She's helpin' Jade and Emerald set up the house for the holidays. They wanted everthang done by the time you got hea'," he shrugged.

I nodded and we made our way through the airport to get to his car. I wasn't expecting him to bring me to the brand new all black jeep in the parking lot. "How'd you get this, Brad?"

He eyed me before answering, "Me and Tuck still got the club. I promise we not on that drug stuff no more."

"Alright," I nodded putting my things in the trunk and we drove off to my only living sister's house.

The drive was nearly silent other than the low rap music he was playing on the radio, but I didn't mind it. At least he had the decency to not have it blasting in my ears. When we pulled up to the house, it was decorated top to bottom in holiday decorations causing me to smile. I truly loved this time of year.

He opened up the front door, "Ma, guess who I found wandering the streets?!"

"Stop yellin' in my damn house, Buck, damn!" I heard my sister yell back. She rounded the corner and stopped dead in her tracks once she saw me. "Big G!" she ran up to me and engulfed me in a hug.

"Hey Baby G," I hugged back calling her the nickname I always called her.

She looked at me in adoration, "I missed you so much! It seems like I haven't been able to see you in forever."

I haven't been able to come up North and have some time with my own family, other than occasional family reunions, in about seven years. My nearly ex-wife tended to try to keep me away from them. It could have been for the fact that when I did come home I tended to act out. You know, fall back into my old ways.

I would be the first to admit that I wasn't always the perfect Christian. That's part of my testimony. The same things my brother-in-law, Terrance, did back in the day is what I did. He passed it down to his boys before he got locked away with seventy counts in total of possession with the intent to sale. In other words, he was a kingpin. I was his shooter. Hell, that money is what got me through Howard all the way through getting my Master's. It's what also got Gina her teaching degree.

"Where's my girls?" I looked around waiting to see my daughters. I know I just saw them for Thanksgiving, but I have a sense of urgency as of late to see them all of the time. I take more time out of the day to make sure I call and even had Emerald teach me how to use FaceTime so I could physically see Jade and know that she's being treated ok.