Promise Kept (Perry Skky Jr.)

by Stephanie Perry Moore

  “Well, he’s getting arrested once he comes out of the house. We just had to catch him in the act of making the sell. He has got so much on him, the problem is that he is not the big fish we’re after. Just like we could see that you had a little hesitancy to come clean and let us know what all was going on, we know he will too.”

  “So, can I go now?”

  “No, son, it’s not that easy. We need you to go back into the car and wait till he comes out and sees you. He’s going to head towards you and then we’ll swarm him.”

  “Lead my friend to the cops? Come on, man.”

  “If it went down the way you said it did, he ain’t no friend of yours, right?”

  “He’s just a little messed up, that’s all.”

  Fifteen minutes later I was back in my ride with a walkie talkie that the police had given me. They were talking to me through it. “Okay, sit still as if nothing’s happening. Don’t panic.”

  I felt like I was selling my friend out, but it was best. Why did having to do the right thing suck sometimes.

  “Okay, the door’s opening,” one of the cops said.

  Mario peered out of the door like someone else might jump him and then he tipped his hat to me and came out with the same bag. As he walked toward me, smiling and mouthing the words I’m sorry, I wondered when in the world they were going to step in and get him, but he opened up the car door without interference and said, “Man, I’m sorry it took so long.”

  “Dang, dog.” I looked around.

  “What you looking around for? I’m here now. Did anybody mess with you?”

  Then I realized what the cops were doing. They were really trying to make sure that I wasn’t in on this crap. They were able to hear everything that we were saying. It wasn’t enough to clear my name, I actually had to incriminate my boy.

  “Man, you said you had to pick up something. Why did you take the bag out?”

  “Aw man, it’s late. I needed to…you know, you know…I’m a go to the house. Don’t worry, I’ma have you back at your place in no time. It took all that time to put my stuff together but you know umm…the house is…it’s right around the corner.”

  “So, all you wanted me to do was take you somewhere to get you clean?”

  “Yeah, man, why are you asking me so many questions, you already know that.”

  “So you ain’t bringing me into nothing shady?”

  “Man, please. I wouldn’t drag your goody-two-shoes behind into nothing, you’d mess it up. What’s with the twenty questions, can we just go?”

  Before I could move the car into drive, cops swarmed us.

  “What, what dog? You set me up! You set me up?” he yelled.

  The larger cop who had talked to me earlier said, “No, you messed this up yourself. Your friend is saving you.”

  “How’s he saving me? You ain’t right Perry, you ain’t no good man!”

  “How you gon’ lie to me Mario? You telling me one thing, got me helping you deliver drugs—are you crazy, man? If you don’t care about your future, I care about mine.”

  “You just gon’ sell me down the river like that?”

  The cops tugged him away; the cop in charge came over and said, “Thanks, I know that must have been hard. We’re sorry we left you in it for a while but we just needed to make sure everything was good.”

  “Yeah, I sort of figured.” Not happy at all.

  “We’re going to let you go, young man, but by no means are you clear of this whole thing. You were using your car to transport drugs.”

  “Yeah, but you caught it on tape that I didn’t know anything about that.”

  “That is true, but I am saying that you are still a person of interest in a larger investigation. If we have to call you in, for instance, we expect you to comply. You’ve got too much to lose; you said it yourself. You’re doing the right thing.” When he placed his hand on my shoulder, I wanted to jerk away. As hard as it was for me I did the right thing, even as I saw Mario getting pulled off in the cop car. This was hard, though I knew God was with me, following the soul.

  Checking Things Out

  As soon as I stepped into my apartment, Deuce hemmed me in against the wall and patted me down.

  Lance came over and hit me in the head and said, “Well, you ain’t hurt.”

  “I know, right?” Deuce added. “Where’s your cell phone?”

  “It’s in the car.”

  I was exhausted; obviously they had been worried about me. With everything I had gone through with the police and the sting and all I hadn’t really had time to give them much thought.

  “I’m alright,” I said to the both of them as I headed toward the kitchen.

  “It’s five in the morning, Perry,” Deuce said to me. “Don’t get an attitude with me because we were concerned about where you had been. We’ve been blowing up your phone and the least you could have done was call us back. You left out of here with Mario and he was high. We didn’t know where to go to find you or if you were lying up dead somewhere. It just is irresponsible for you to not touch base with us.”

  “Irresponsible? Come on, man,” I said.

  Lance cut in, “Wait, hold up, Perry, you are always the one saying we are our brother’s keeper and stuff and here you are blowing it off like it’s no big deal. He’s right; you got an attitude because we cared. What’s up with that?”

  “What’s up with that is that—shoot, Lance. It’s just that my cell’s battery was dead and I was tied up.”

  “Tied up with what? Give us an explanation.”

  I knew if I told the two of them what really happened they would never let me live it down. They told me to leave Mario alone and I just had to try and help him out.

  “I’m tired y’all I’m tired. Can we talk about this tomorrow?”

  “Mmm-mmm.” Deuce stood in front of me, blocking me from being able to go into my space.

  It was what it was; I might as well come clean and let them know what happened. I wasn’t irresponsible. It’s just that with everything I had gotten myself into, the last thing I needed was tension in the house.

  “Alright, let’s sit down and talk,” I said to the both of them, pointing toward the couches. It took them no time to oblige me. Lance put his hands underneath his chin and sat on the edge of his seat waiting for me to say something. Deuce crossed his arms, like whatever I was going to say wasn’t going to justify why I had not contacted them.

  “Alright, you want to know. Here it is. Mario said he needed a ride because he didn’t have his car anymore. He asked me to take him someplace where he could get clean.”

  Lance said, “Yeah, we wondered that too.”

  “Habit, I guess. But it got me into a lot of trouble.”

  “What do you mean?” Deuce said, unfolding his arms like he was concerned. “Man, what did that boy go and get you into?”

  “I thought I was taking him to a halfway house to get clean and he’s got me going to deliver drugs.”

  “And you did it?” Deuce said.

  “NO, I didn’t even know what he was doing.”

  “And then what happened?”

  “Police raided the car. I was waiting on him to come back out. He said that he went in to go get some clothes or some junk, and I got manhandled. They had been checking him out for a while so they sort of believed my story when I told them. I had to be a front for them to catch him.”

  “Dang, boy. So where’s Mario now?” Lance said.

  “He’s in jail.”

  “That’s just unbelievable.” He stood up and went to the window. “He had everything going for him. He was a senior at Tech and was betting on games. I mean he was one of the tightest quarterbacks around, he certainly could have played in the NFL and like now, it’s all gone. Perry you can’t be fooling with him no more,” Lance said, “because you been done joined him.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “So did they file any charges?”

  “Not against me, but I am still consi
dered a person of interest in the case so I need to keep my nose clean, so I’m sorry I didn’t call any of you guys. I was worn out. I feel bad for having to rat him out.”

  “Man, please,” Deuce said. “You know Mario used to be my boy, but mmm-mmm. When it comes to choosing between you and him, and he’s pulling you down the wrong road, dude, you got to cut that rope loose, let him fall where he falls. I just don’t know why we can’t be responsible for our own actions.”

  I actually couldn’t believe I was hearing Deuce sound so positive. Any mom would be proud to hear her son talk that way. He was talking about his goals and dreams and not messing that up. Had Lance and I gotten to Deuce?

  March was right around the corner. Two more months before our freshman year was over and maybe we would be okay after all. Still feeling compassionate for Mario, I said to them, “Hey, maybe we can pray for him.”

  “Yeah, cause I can’t even imagine what jail is like,” Lance admitted.

  “Well, I was in handcuffs tonight and it wasn’t no picnic.”

  “Next time you are ever in a jam like that think about us, call us or something. We’ve got to never leave out of here without our phones fully charged,” Deuce said. “There’s so much that we can get into and we have to look out for one another. We already lost one roommate. I just don’t want to lose either one of you guys.”

  I nodded. Lance went over and slapped his hand.

  I prayed, “Father, we come to You right now, lifting up Mario and everything going on with him. He’s really at a place where he needs You, Lord. He’s been selling and using and his mind is messed up. He’s hanging with the wrong crowd and his life is really in danger. The cops want to squeeze on him and go after bigger fish. I don’t even know, now I’m tied up into all of this mess. I just put it all up to You and ask You to work it out. Give us discernment to show the way in which we should go. We know You can fix what is broken, and right now Mario needs You and I need You too. Thank You for my roommates who care. Thank You for allowing me to get out of my troubles tonight Lord. I just love, praise You and I thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

  Lance said, “Amen.”

  Deuce said, “Amen.”

  Two or more were gathered and we certainly needed God to hear our prayer. As I headed off to bed I had faith that God would keep His word and be there for our fallen friend.

  I couldn’t believe spring was here. Winter had been such a harsh one, with the snow and the bitter cold. To see the flowers bloom was a breath of fresh air. All of my stuff in the closet were my winter clothes. My parents had hooked me up with a little allowance on a credit card, and since I couldn’t fit into any of my clothes from last spring, even though I dreaded it, I had to head over to Atlantic Station to shop at Old Navy. I needed this to be easy and painless. Go in, grab a couple pair of jeans, shorts, some short-sleeve shirts, socks; maybe a new outfit to throw on at night and be done in twenty minutes—but they had all these new cuts. Low waist, boot cut; my mom used to shop for my stuff, throw it on the bed and be done; though I used to rag her about some of my outfits she had me pretty peppy. But now I had to be the big boy, go in the store and check things out. And it took me a while; I had a girl I had to represent. So I headed to an empty changing room to try on some of the latest threads. I used to be a 36, now I was a 38 in the waist—so I figured I would dash out and get the jeans in the right size and nobody would notice and I would be right back. Then I heard a female voice say, “Perry, is that you?”

  And it wasn’t Savoy. I was half-naked and I knew the luring tone she was using was letting me know that she was checking out my abs. I turned, dropping my hands to pull up my pants. It was Anna, the girl I had saved last summer after the rape—the one the cops mistakenly thought I molested. The one who finally came to and cleared me. She had been so beat up and bruised before that I didn’t remember her being so beautiful. Her blond hair was wavy and down her back, bouncing and inviting like waves in a pool. She wore a miniskirt and she had the best curves I had ever seen. When she smiled at me it was so pure and innocent like all the pain and hurt she had gone through had been washed away. It wasn’t like she was an angel, but she had a certain presence and peace about her that made me take notice.

  “I’m working here. Can I help you with something?” she said, getting me back to reality.

  “Umm, yeah, yeah. I need a bigger size in this.”

  When she stepped behind me to look at the tag I pulled away and said, “Oh, I need a thirty-eight.”

  “Oh, okay, I didn’t think you knew what size you needed. You know I don’t mind looking, but you still have that girlfriend, right?”

  I couldn’t remember at that moment if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but I did own up to the fact that I was already tied. She came back and brought me a couple of different things. Like my sister hooking me up or something. We just laughed and as I tried on a couple of things she was sharing that she wished that she had someone that loved God and was in school—smart, maybe athletic.

  “Somebody just like you, Perry,” she said, “but not you, of course, because you already have a girlfriend and I definitely wouldn’t want a man with a girlfriend and that would just be horrible to get in and mess up your relationship and start on a bad foot and…”

  “Okay, okay. I got it,” I said to her. Why girls always rambled on and on was something I couldn’t exactly figure out. “Well you said you wanted someone that loved God, and relationships are a lot of work, and let me tell you just keep praying about it. It’ll work out.”

  “Alright. Well, not like you’re going to need it to go out or anything, but here’s my number the next time you have to go shopping you know; you can let me know and I’ll hook you up.”

  “Yeah, it’s no problem for me to take your number. I mean we’re cool together, you alright from all of that?”

  “Yeah, I’m good. Still have a few nightmares here and there but that guy is serving time for what he did to me.”

  “Oh snap really, they had the trial and everything?”

  “Nope! That’s why they didn’t have to call you. He pleaded and it’s over. He gets a shorter sentence but at last he’s thinking about he took advantage.”

  “Cool.”

  The next day I was at home making some tuna fish to get me some energy to work out, and Lance came in and grabbed my sandwich out of my hand after I had already taken a bite and said, “See, if I had a girlfriend I would have someone who would make this for me. You’ve got to hook me up with somebody. I am tired of being lonely. I’ve put the nasty magazines down. I’m not into porn. I just want a girl to rub on, hold her hand, something. You won’t let me have Savoy, so, shucks. I guess you gon’ have to be my girl.” He puckered up as he tried to kiss me.

  “Boy, get back!” I said, retreating to the other side of the kitchen. But then I started thinking, Hmm-mmm, Anna and Lance.

  The things she said she wanted he basically had; I knew he was a jerk, but what guy isn’t? And though I hated to admit it I loved the boy to pieces now.

  “Maybe I could hook you up.”

  “What, for real, Savoy got a track girlfriend?”

  “Why all the black girls got to run track and what makes you think that I don’t know any white girls? Heck, I go to Georgia Tech, they’re all over here.”

  “Yeah, but you ain’t talking to nobody new. Savoy would have your head.”

  “Well, let’s just say regardless of what she looks like you would think she’s hot. Would you go out with her?”

  “You setting me up?”

  “Mmmm, yeah, I guess I can check it out.” I knew he wouldn’t be disappointed. I just had to somehow get Anna excited about him. Maybe God was using me to make a connection. It was no harm in trying. If it didn’t work out, they could at least be friends. From being a student, then a believer and a football player, now I was a matchmaker. I was a hard working brother.

  It was seven AM on Saturday when my phone rang; I jumped up in a hurry
, hoping nothing was wrong,

  “HELLO, hello?”

  “Hey, little brother,” my sister said, sounding upset.

  “Hey, girl. What’s going on with you? Payton, what’s going on girl? You don’t sound alright.”

  “Cheerleading tryouts are today and I’m just stressed.”

  “Whatever, you know all them tricks and those flips—I mean you’re the bomb. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “We have a new cheerleading sponsor and he is raising the bar. We are going to start doing competitions and he’s out to beat Kentucky. A former Kentucky cheerleader. I don’t know, truth be told I just guess I miss Grandma.”

  “I know, you know she’s looking down on you. She’s up there able to do a higher flip than you.”

  “Boy, you so silly,” she finally said, laughing. “Yeah, I’ll be alright and if I don’t make it God has got something else for me right?”

  I didn’t know if that was a trick question, like if I said Yeah, right she would come back with, See, I told you I wouldn’t make it, but if I said You’re going to make it then she would say, Well what if I don’t make it? Would He have anything else for me? My sister was so dramatic. I just blurted out, “I don’t have anything to do today, how about I come up there?”

  “What, you would do that?”

  “Yeah, you supported me when we had a game and y’all had time off, I’ll come up there if you want me to.”

  “What’s Laurel’s brother up there into?”

  “Lance? Let me see if he can ride. Laurel’s trying out again too.”

  “That’s a good idea. Tryouts are at ten though, so you need to get up and get going.”

  “Bye girl.”

  An hour later Lance and I were on the road. He fussed, “I can’t believe you dragged me out of bed so I could watch her try out for cheerleading. This is a joke right? Is this where the girl lives that you are introducing me to? I’m not coming all the way up here to see my sister; she’s already a cheerleader, of course she’s going to make the squad.”