The Ex-Con

Chapter 4: Warming Up

Monday December 10th, 2007

7:45am

Tahime

I was in the living room warming up, getting a bit of a work out in before i headed to the school. I try to keep my body in shape after getting out of prison.

(Knocking) "Tahime you in there?"

"Yeah i'm in here." I said opening the door. "Just getting a bit of a work out in before i head down to the school." I told Reggie. "Just trying to stay in shape you know."

"Yeah i know how that is. I got some breakfast from the McDonald's on West 69th street."

"Thanks Reggie, I appreciate it."

"Oh it's no problem, i'm going out in a bit myself anyway's, going to the high school, we have a community outreach thing today, i hope to put a smile on a few of their faces. This community could really use some more positive people. I mean i'm part of the community watch program and all so that's helping some." He told me.

"That's a good thing you'll be helping a lot of people. Well i'm going to go and get myself situated. I'll talk to you later on at the school." I told him.

I finished working out and i ate the food he gave me. I left the house at 8:30am. I walked to the school which was like a 10 minute walk or so. So i got there around 8:40am and i already seen some of them bad ass kids standing around the entrance to the school. Then i seen two of the boys that i seen that day at Ray's BBQ shack, They was talking to each other.

"Hey DaQuan." I said, he just looked at me.

"I know you old man?"

"Yo that's the janitor." The other guy said, laughing.

"Yeah i'm the janitor. But i know who you two are, the same guys that was there at Ray's BBQ Shack with Roderick. I think his name was?"

"Oh so you're the guy that wouldn't mind his business?" DaQuan said.

"Yeah, i've always had a hard time keeping my nose outta trouble young'n, i use to be out in these streets, i use to hang with you and Roderick's boy Maurice, Maurice that's this name isn't it?"

"What do you want yo?"

"I don't want you and your friend here going down the same path. By the way, what's your friend's name?"

"I'm Savon." He said.

"Yeah, well i'm Tahime, if y'all need anything, just to talk or whatever feel free to talk..."

"Trust me we won't need you and we don't need you." DaQuan said.

{Bell Ringing}

"Well that's the bell. Y'all better get to class." I told them.

"Whatever, this fool's straight trippin'." DaQuan said as both of them went into the school.

I went into the school and went into the maintenance room which was pretty big, given the size of the school and all, it was the size of 2 small rooms put together. Small crappy TV picked up local channels and things so that was good. Had a radio also. I knew what my job was so i relaxed for a few hours then around lunch time which was 12:15pm i made my way into the cafeteria.

"Yes she had her head in between my legs, it was so good." I heard one of the students say as they came into the cafeteria.

Man being in this school sure brought back memories. Not much has changed in the past 20 years, the cafeteria looks the same as it did the day i left, although with maybe a slight alteration or two. They upgraded the computer room. Lunch with these little runts was something, some knew how to even clean up after themselves but some of them just threw papers on the floor, it was even a mini food fight. Me and another janitor Lorenzo had to clean up after them after lunch.