For Your Eyes Only | j.cole

Flashback(3)

After I racked up on cup noodles, toiletries, and other things I needed I grabbed a few newspapers and headed back to my apartment.

I searched the newspaper for job openings, everything seemed out of my reach, until I ran across an job opening at the skating rink. First thing tomorrow i'd go check it out. I looked around for a phone, the man said they provided house phones, maybe it was in the main room. I looked and looked until I found it, it was kind of dusty so I blew it off and called my mom.

"Hello?"

"Ma."

"Jermaine, thank God your okay."

"Yeah, im cool."

"How is it baby?"

"Not the best, but it's temporary."

She got quiet and finally spoke. "Now Jermaine, if nothing doesn't work out, your welcome to come bac-"

"Ma, ma, no, im telling you everything is going to work out, I feel it."

"Okay, well, I have to go start dinner, i'll call tomorrow, hey, remember your cousin Lucky lives in NY maybe you can call him."

"Aw man Lucky, I forgot."

"I'll give you his number, got a pen?"

"Yeah, let me- uh-" I looked around for something to write with but nothing. "I got it." I lied, I was just going to have to remember it by memory. She started saying the numbers and I repeated it over and over, I hung up and called and a girl answered.

"Hello?"

"Uh, hey can I speak to Lucky."

"Luckkkky!" I heard her yell from the phone and then I heard Lucky ask who it was.

"Yo?"

"Luck, this me Jermaine."

-

"My little cousin Jermaine, what you doing in New York man!"

I was at Lucky's house, his apartment was much bigger then mine and fancier, I took the train over after I called, he gave me his address to stop by. What did this nigga do for a living I thought to myself.

"Trying to get noticed."

"What you mean get noticed?"

"I want to rap."

Lucky laughed and so did his girlfriend. "You hear that baby, look J. I hear you, but I don't think this the right place you come to."

"Why you say that."

"Man, have you seen these streets? This ain't North Carolina, this New York, niggas here ain't the same."

I nodded. "I see."

"So where you work? You got a job yet?"

"Nah, I just got here like 6 hours ago, but I picked up a paper and saw the rink was looking for some help."

"Yeah yeah, the rink. That might be good for you, your young, all the young kids hang out there. But listen, Im a salesman I sale cars, if you ever looking for a real job, just give me a call, you know where I be."

"I will, thanks."