Say It

nineteen

rip Nipsey Hussle.
the marathon continues. 🏁💙

same day | crenshaw

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   I watched as Jace, Cris, Fonzo and Yella played cards. He wanted to rush and get me back to my element. And while I was grateful that he was being considerate, I wanted him to enjoy being at home.

I didn't want to take that away from him.

I knew there were more layers to Jace. I wanted to see them, flaws and all. I'd tried to change Shiloh, or rather control him.

I wasn't trying to do that with Jace. His background made him, him.

Plus, I'd learned alot about his friends in such little time. Despite their circumstances and the lifestyle they lived, they were good people.

It was a shame that poverty was a crime. They were victims of circumstance.

Yella was the second oldest, being 19. His Dad was part of the same neighborhood gang, however, he was currently serving a life sentence for murder.

He and Jace's Dad rolled together. Apparently, he killed the man who killed Jace's father. Yella's mom did the best she could to stir him away from the streets, but it wasn't enough.

  Yella was kind of short and received his nickname because of his skintone. He looked to have some sort of Asian background as well. But, you could tell he was Black too.

  He had chinky eyes, a low haircut and dark brown eyes.

Cris was supporting his entire family. He wasn't the type to be violent unless he felt threatened or had to prove a point. I found out quickly that he was a teacher.

He often talked to Fonzo and Yella as if they were his blood brothers. He tried to educate them the best way he could. You could tell he really loved them and Jace.

I also found out that it was Cris who was the star baseball player. But, he never played in high school because he was in the streets.

   Cris was tall and extremely lanky. He was dark brown with a low fade and dark brown eyes that were really soft. He had tattoo sleeves on his arms and a tattoo of a teardrop under his left eye.

He talked rough and hard. But it made you listen.

   Fonzo was also tall and skinny. He had a baby face and smooth milk chocolate skin. He just seemed so innocent.

"How's Samantha doin'?" Jace asked Cris.

   Cris looked at Jace. "She good. She pregnant with my baby."

"Aw damn foreal?" Cris nodded. "Congrats nigga."

   "Thanks." Cris blew one into the air. "But what I'ma do with a kid though?"

"Take care of it." Jace said. "Love it. Cherish it."

   Cris shook his head. "Will I live to see it grow?"

Jace puts down his cards. "You can't think like that man. You gon' be here to watch ya child grow." 

    "Yea, JC right." Yella agreed.

"I'd be livin' in some fantasy world if I didn't think about that shit."

    "Children change you." I spoke up causing them to look at me. "This is probably your sign to get things right so you can live to see your child grow."

Cris nodded. "I hope it's a boy."

   "What you gon' name him if it is?"

Cris kissed his teeth. "Come on cuz, you kno' he gon' be Jr."