Off The GridIron

Chapter 14 - Closer

Monday June 3rd, 1991
9am

Kelvin was back at his house he left Willie's place last night and got home before 11pm. He had a good night's rest and now he was up this morning just relaxing when he decided to call his homeboy Jamal.

"Hey Jamal i just got back into town....could you come through so we could talk?"

"Yeah...yeah that'd be cool. I'll see you in a bit."

He sat there and waited and waited and around 10:30am he showed up.

"Hey Jamal...i didn't think you'd show up can we just sit and talk man?"

"Shit well I'm here so what does that tell you man?"

"Yeah right...right so 1st of all How's things been with you and your son and your baby mama?"

"Well me and her been talking the past few days, things between me and her ain't going to just be fixed like thst overnight man, you know it don't work like that."

"True true but if i know anything i know that people can talk shit through and work it out, like me and 88...i mean like me and Willie did."

"Right right." He said as he got up went to the fridge and got some ice.

"What you doing?"

"Umm negro I'm making me some water, it's hot as hell out there, it's June it's in the dead of spring i don't want to be sweating like a slave out here now." He said as he began to laugh.

"Haha yeah you right you right." He said. He wondered about Jamal though, he remembered what they've been through the past few months. "Hey Jamal can i ask you something?"

"Yeah man go ahead, what's up?"

"When i brought Willie up why did you get mad?

"What you talkin'..."

"Don't try it, don't try to lie your way out of this one man."

"Alright, honestly i just didn't want to lose you as a friend man, Yeah i have friend's but not friends like you i mean you real cool and laid back, you been through alot but you always had time to talk to me and hang with me, especially when i wen through a tough time." He told Kelvin. "I seen how much time you was spending with Willie, plus when you talked about him you was sprung, i felt like the more time you spent with him the more our friendship would be strained."

"True but if i remember correctly you approached me 1st man and yeah you cool, it's cool hanging around you too, and no matter what we'll always be friends man." Kelvin said. "Me and Willie just have history man, for real but i won't forget about you."

"Yeah i appreciate that, hey I'd like to meet Willie one day too."

"Yeah that'd be cool."

As the day went on Jamal and Kelvin talked and hung out, they picked up a game of touch football with a few people from school and around 3pm they got back to his place. As they pulled up Jamal's baby mama was sitting out on the porch steps.

"What in the hell is she doing here?" Jamal said getting out of the car.

"Mhmm I'm not surprise i found you here." She said walking up to Jamal.

"Alesha what are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you. Jamal jr. Needs some pampers and food."

"Yeah that's no problem...I'll get some don't worry."

"How?" She asked. "We both know you don't have a job, with your bummish ass."

"Whoa whoa...Jamal don't worry i got you I'll give you the money." Kelvin said.

"That's not your responsibility Kelvin, it should be the fathers!" Alesha said, moving her neck and looking Jamal up and down.

"Well I'm going to do it and if Jamal needs help looking for a job I'll help with that too, that's what you should be doing instead of tearing a brotha down, uplift him." Kelvin told Alesha.

She just stood there while Kelvin got his wallet out of his pocket and handed her thirty dollars. She looked at him, then looked at Jamal. Kelvin and Jamal looked at each other and then her and she walked off and got in her car and left.

"You know i wonder what you ever saw in Alesha."

"Yeah i do too."

"Well like Bell Biv Devoe said in their song Poison, Never trust a big butt and a smile!" Kelvin said as he busted out laughing.

"Hey thanks for that man i appreciate it."

"Jamal it was no problem man it's the least i could do for you, but for real Alesha is right about one thing....wow i never thought I'd agree with her about anything but she's right as far as you looking for a job, I'll help you out as far as that goes."

"Hey i appreciate that."

"No problem man i got your back man, i think of you as a brother. I'll help you as much as i can." He said as he gave Jamal a hug. "I got some things to take care of, i got to get ready for work...i just thought of something, why don't you tag along."

"Alright cool cool."

End Of Chapter 14