Love On His Sleeves

Parental's

Mr. Brooks POV

To say I'm happy that Jonathan chose my alma mater to continue his education would be an understatement... He made my entire year because I really thought he was going to choose Howard. But UNC-Chapel Hill is a superb education, and I have friends who work throughout the university so I can pop-up to check on him without him thinking I'm putting him on a leash.

Needless to say, he will have multiple shoes to fill because his mother also attended and studied pre-law. Her career plans shifted a little once I got drafted to the NBA and asked her to marry me. But she eventually went back to school when we separated for a short period of time.

When I met her she wasn't like those girls who sat around and waited to be taken care of, she practically took care of me when we were in school. She got tired of following me around when I was a rookie and we decided to take a break. She told me that if we are meant to be together then we will find our way back to each other. Honestly, I was lost throughout the time we weren't together, don't get me wrong we saw each other when we could, but three years of not being able to see her whenever I wanted was misery. Although looking back I don't regret it because it made us stronger and built the foundation of our family. She went off to law school to study entertainment law at Columbia University in New York and is now one of the top Entertainment lawyers in the South Atlantic.

What brought us back together after three years was when I got into a bit of trouble dealing with this white girl in Miami. I didn't know who to trust so I called her and she told me flat out she couldn't help me. Made sense because she was fresh out of school and was an entertainment lawyer. I was being charged with sexual assault. But what she did do for me get me in contact with her at the time fiance, who worked for one of the top law firms in New York. Needless to say, I wasn't down for letting some dude who had my girl help me with something I shouldn't even be in. But she convinced me and that was that. A couple of months later I got her back...

"What are you laughing at boy?..." the most beautiful women I've ever set eyes on asked while walking over to me, then sitting in my lap. Meeting her in the eyes I smile and kiss her. I was just thinking about how we got here. She rolled her eyes and smiled. And what exactly are you thinking about? she asked.

I smiled again and while pulling her closer to me I said, "How I got you back from that punk as light skin dude." For the second time in this conversation, she rolled her eyes, and I swear this was a habit I hated about her, Janelle and Jonathan.

You're going to get enough of rolling your eyes at me baby girl. Or what she said challenging me... I stood up with her in my arms and she started laughing while I carried her out of the library. Until we walked into Jonathan.

"Hey," she said while letting out a sigh.

"Hey parental's .." he said with a closed mouth smile...

Actually Jonathan we wanted to talk to you, my wife said as I put her down. She patted herself off and motioned her hand toward her office down the hall. We both followed and she went to a shelf and pulled out a photobook. I smiled and he sighed.

"Really mom?" As much as I would like to go down memory lane with you and dad I cant right now. I have somewhere I need to be and I was only going to the kitchen to make me something to eat before I left. She gave him a look and he knew better to question her. So he sat down on the couch in between the both of us.

I patted his knee and smiled and he just shook his head, ya'll are annoying. We both laughed and I told him how proud I was that he made this decision to follow not only follow in our foot steps but continue his education.

His mother opened the book and started telling stories about her and her sorority sisters and how they organized so many events on campus to make it more inclusive for the black community on campus. And then she started pestering him about joining a frat, but not just any frat... The same frat as her father... That's when I decided to roll my eyes because I found that shit annoying, because she loved it, but her father treated it like it was a religion and lived by it. He didn't want her to marry me at first because I wasn't an Alpha...

Mom... I haven't thought that far along, to be honest. And if it's anything like Paw Paw then I probably won't do it. She sighed and closed the book. Honey your granddad is from a different generation of man in Greek. Things are different then they were when he was in college. They faced a lot more adversity then you will have to deal with. However, given that you're going to a predominately white institution, being apart of something that instill community, and so much more that you will learn about if you do decide to join will help you throughout your college experience.

Okay mom... I will consider it, but I'm not promising your or paw paw anything. She smiled and then looked at me. And I just shrugged, I'm just glad that he isn't obsessed about it.

That's all I ask, and once we go to you orientation I want you to meet my sorority sisters son. He can show you around. He nodded his head and she smiled.

Alright son, the other thing we wanted to talk to you about is what your going to school for.

Ohh... he said while smiling. Well I've always wanted to be a journalist so that it.

Journalism I said... his mom smiled and I rolled my eyes. Jonathan why... she cut me off and said that's great honey but what kind of journalism she said smiling at me. I hated when she did that... taking control of the situation and telling me to shut the fuck up without actually telling me. I just smacked my teeth and listened.

Well... I've always been interested in how Oprah was able to grab people by their emotions and tell compelling stories. Dad, he said looking at me... you always talk about being the smartest and strongest person in the room. Well given all that happened to you and what we go through occasionally I realized that I wanted to take up something that is both beautiful and ugly and change the world with my voice and perspective. And besides I don't see many black men on the news so I figured it would be a great challenge to take over the industry to he said.

I just sat there and nodded because he convinced me... But my wife had more questions.

She crossed her legs and smiled, again. I see... she said. So... where do you see yourself in 10 years honey?

Laughing he shakes his head, I don't know mom. I just said I want to change the world. So maybe this prestigious education y'all keep telling me about will help me do just that. From there I laughed and had to applaud him for his response. She however didn't think it was funny.

We support you Jonathan, just make sure whatever it is you do, you remember the person we raised you to be. He nodded and I waved him off.

My wife looked at me and I saw the worry in her eyes.... I know what your thinking baby, but you have to let the boy be able to make is own decisions. And if he succeeds or falls, we will be there to catch him.

She rolls her eyes and smiles... oh so your using my words against me, huh? I smiled and pull her closer to me... yeah did it work? Because to be honest whenever you tell me that about Janelle it doesn't stop me from worrying.

Well, that makes two of us.. but I guess your right we just have to hope we raised the both of them right. And why didn't you back me up about that fraternity thing punk? She asked hitting me in the chest with the back of her hand.

Hey..... you know that wasn't my thing, and I still got you didn't I? Laughing, she leans into my cheats. Yeah but it wasn't always easy with my dad she said looking at our family portrait hanging behind her desk.

Yeah but it was worth it, I said kissing her forehead.