Off The GridIron

Chapter 13 - The 1st Weekend

Saturday June 1st, 1991
7:45am

Leon

The 1st weekend with Chris wasn't bad we talked a bit and got to know each other. He had a rough childhood his mom left when he was a young age due to a drug addiction and his dad was no better, his dad began beating and abusing him a few years back, before that life was awkward for him. I mean growing up he never had friends and he already told me about what happened with him and that basketball player. He just had alot of rejection and also the situation he was in could really damage someone. In a situation like this you just don't know what to do or how help someone. I was sitting at the table eating breakfast when he walked in.

"Good morning."

"Mornin'."

"So did you sleep good last night Chris?"

"Yeah...yeah i slept ok."

"It was just ok?"

"Yeah i mean it was good, i appreciate you asking...it's just i ain't never really have anyone ask me that before you know."

"Oh word?"

"Yeah man i appreciate all of this."

"Yeah man i told you i got you, so lemme ask you something homie, how do you feel about a job?"

"You mean like me getting one?"

"Haha yeah dude, shit what did you think i mean?" I asked laughing.

"My bad my bad i just never had one before i don't think I'd be good at It but i can't say that if i don't give it a try you know."

Right right, how about i hook you up with a job down at the resturant i work at?"

"Hell yeah!" He said with excitement. "I'd like that."

"Yeah man oh by the way if you want to get something to eat feel free to."

"Alright i appreciate that."

He got his food and came back to the table and we ate it was somewhat quiet but i broke the ice with him and made him laugh which was cool. As we was talking the phone rang.

"Yo who's this?"

"What's up Leon it's Willie."

"Hey Willie what's up man?"

"I'm good homie just chilling, yo i heard about what you did yesterday, me and Kelvin did. You did a good job homie."

"Shit homie it was the right thing to do, it's something that just had to be done man, for real alot of people be going through something, if i have a opportunity to help someone I'm going to help them." I told him.

"Right i feel you...that's what Sean taught us."

"Yeah so how's things going with you and Kelvin?"

"Things going good between us i mean we're cool, talking, he said he wanted to stay the summer but he had to work. He said he would stay the night though and leave tomorrow night."

"Yeah i mean i was wondering about that, he's sprung already. Anyway for now just enjoy the time y'all are spending together."

"True, so i guess Danyelle told you what happen with me and her?"

"I mean of course all of us cool so eventually i was going to find out. But hey y'all do you, no hate over here."

"Right but hey I'm going to go, me and Kelvin going to chill and catch a movie." He hung up and i went back and sat down.

"So Chris what do you want to do today man?"

"Well i just want to rest, this black eye is going away which is good. Monday I'll probably do something."

"Alright...hey man it'll be alright." I told him. "Don't ever let someone bring you down because of their failures as a parent or otherwise, some people live to see others miserable because of their own miserable existence, that's what your father did and for that I'm truly sorry you had to have a deadbeat father like that."

"Well i should be thanking you Leon for even caring enough to help me, i mean my neighbors have tried but my dad was just powerful, he would put fear into my neighbors. He use to be in a gang when i was younger then he went "legit" but still had ties to his old gang."

"Damn that's some powerful shit man, well you won't have to worry about that no more, i mean i hate you had to see your pops get capped by the police but that dude had some issues. You shouldn't have had to go through that."

"Yeah but let's not talk about that let's talk about something else. What do you do in your spare time?"

"Well when i get a day off of work i like to catch a movie, get a bite to eat or just chill at the house, listen to The Heat, that's the hip hop station or i just like to kick back and watch TV." I told him.

"Yeah yeah not much to do i know." Chris told me. "Now sometimes after school if i had a good day I'd like to take a nice long walk, just clear my mind of all the negative shit...other than that i wouldn't do much but clean and cook."

"Well since you clean maybe you wouldn't mind cleaning these dishes." I said smirking. "I'm just kidding buddy, you relax and in awhile we'll go somewhere." I told him.

Hanging with Chris over the past few weeks, hell the past few months have really put things into perspective for me. I feel like the brother he never had, yeah I'm over protective and yes i care about him. I've seen people go through some shit but when you see something like that it's just crazy, now the Leon from last year, hell even two years ago wouldn't give two fucks about other people but things can always change at the drop of a dime.

11am
A few hours passed by and we went to grab a bite to eat at the restaurant i worked at, i pulled my boss to the side talked to him and told him about what was going on and he talked with Chris for awhile. He gave him my old job, so i could strictly work at the Danyelle dad's place, which really took a load off of me. Then after that we hopped back in the car and listened to Kid Frost - La Raza.

"Oh this is my favorite part." Chris said. "It's in my blood to be an Aztec Warrior Go to any extreme and hold no barriers Chicano and I'm Brown and I'm proud Guantes, chingazos, simon tu sabes, get down Right now, in the dirt What's the matter? You afraid you're gonna get hurt?"

"Oh i didn't know you could spit bars like that."

"Yeah, the way the hook is in that verse, i love that part of the song."

"Yeah it's nice. So where do you wanna go next?"

"Back to your place, i just want to rest a bit."

"Alright cool cool. Well lets go."

End of Chapter 13