Promise Kept (Perry Skky Jr.)

by Stephanie Perry Moore

  I went over and hugged my father. “God knew I needed you a while longer.”

  “No, son. You got the key to this world. He’s giving me some more days here so I can be proud of what you have become. You’re going to do good things, big things and I’m proud of you.”

  The two of us welled up with tears. We’d found our purpose and that was to have no purpose other than what God had laid out for us.

  It was the weekend of the big ACC track championship. Savoy was on course to set records and be able to compete in some national track and field summer Olympic Games. My girl was bad when it came to the hurdles and 100-meter dash. And though she was the second fastest, a couple months ago she just started smoking everybody. I couldn’t believe that my cousin Pillar and Saxon were still hanging in there as a couple. I didn’t know how long they would last and I wasn’t trying to be in their business, but I hoped that they would stiff it out for a while. They were both in the stands to support my girl.

  There was actually a large crowd there. Mr. and Mrs. Lee were there. My folks were there, since they would be helping me move back home for a few weeks until summer classes started. Deuce and Lance were there as well. They were all talking to me at different times and my head was moving from one conversation to the other when I happened to notice Savoy sitting down. Not with the rest of her team, but like she was frustrated. I remembered when I had been at a meet earlier that year and mentally she had messed it up for herself. I needed to give her confidence. I knew what it was like as an athlete to second-guess yourself. But she was a conqueror and she was fierce. She needed to know she was not in this race alone.

  When the second event was up and everyone was paying attention to the discus side of the field I jogged down from the stands and said, “Hey! Come here, girl.”

  “Not right now, Perry. I need to concentrate.”

  “Come here.” Finally she came down the bleachers to where I was.

  “I don’t think I can do it,” she said, looking at me. “This is where it all counts and I’m too nervous to set foot out there.”

  “You know what? You’re speaking negatively, girl.” I took my index finger and pointed it to my heart. “I believe in you. God believes in you, too, right in there. Nobody loves this sport like you do. And nobody knows that you haven’t even reached the fastest speed you are capable of. So what, you might be hearing negative things. So what, the pressure might be on to do it. Block all that out and go for it. Enjoy this.”

  “But you don’t understand. It’s hard.”

  “Of course I understand. I got sixty- and seventy thousand fans yelling at me during the fall.”

  “How do you get through it?”

  “I block it out. It’s just me and God playing. Yeah, I gotta hear what the coaches are saying but whatever. It’s like playing the game of life. It’s like being in this relationship with you. If it’s something you want really bad to work out, you gotta stay focused on this and don’t give up. And that’s in everything. Your parents are here—they want the best for their daughter. You brother is here and he wants the best for his sister.”

  “Come on, Perry. Saxon? Can you give me a better example?”

  “No, really. He’s your biggest fan.” I pulled her close and kissed her lips.

  “You really think I can do this?”

  “Savoy Lee. Woman, as beautiful as you are you can do anything you set your mind to do. You helped me to know that even in my shortcomings I could rise above and do big things. If I can come through you better believe your own words and do the same.”

  “I just don’t want to let everyone down.”

  “If you fall flat on your face and try your best you won’t let any of us down.”

  “So now you’re saying I’m going to fall on my face?” she said in a panicked tone.

  “Savoy, calm down! Girl, you know what I mean. Get out there and show off.”

  “Can you give me another kiss for luck?”

  “I’ll give you another kiss for love.” I kissed her and she jogged back onto the field just in time for her race to begin. She ran the 100-meter dash and before I could blink she was crossing the finish line. The girl might’ve smoked me, she was just that fast. When she did the hurdles she was phenomenal. A chance to compete for the Olympics track spot would certainly be hers.

  Rod, one of the brothers announcing the meet, called out, “Perry Skky Jr. I hear you’re in the house. This is the end of the athletic season for Tech. We can’t wait for football season. Are you in the house?”

  “Man, he ain’t here,” his brother, D, said.

  “He’s right here. He’s right here.”

  Of course I had to go down to their table. “What’s up, guys?” I slapped their hands.

  “Looks like Tech got their ACC championship sewn up. Not only hosting it but they’re winning it too. This gives us something to look forward to for football. You got any words for us? You guys gon’ be okay? Y’all took it to the National Championship; can you actually win that game this year? Tell us what’s up.”

  “Our team has come a long way this year, you guys. We certainly appreciate the support of all the fans out there. And we believe we’re gonna win the National Championship game next year.”

  “Oh, you got big talk,” Rod said. “Why you feel so strongly you can win it?”

  “It’s not about me. We’re a group of collected brothers ready to take on any team we got to face.”

  “So you guys got a secret weapon?”

  “You can say that. A secret weapon to life.”

  “Share that with us.”

  “Anyone’s life is not about them, personally speaking. When I treat my brother as I would myself I know that there is Someone there looking down on me holding me accountable. When I live with integrity, honesty, joy, and peace in my heart then I can have the right attitude to succeed at anything. So yeah, I think we can be national champs and in so many ways we already are.”

  Lance came up behind me and started echoing my sentiments. God really was doing something great with us. We were young men, we were football players, but we were His boys. And as long as we kept remembering that, we would be okay. Not doing it alone but step by step, following God in Heaven was the only solution to staying successful and never going astray. Daily following Him and daily finding our way.

  A Reading Group Guide

  Perry Skky Jr., Book 5:

  PROMISE KEPT

  Stephanie Perry Moore

  ABOUT THIS GUIDE

  The following questions are intended to

  enhance your group’s reading of

  PERRY SKKY JR.: PROMISE KEPT

  by Stephanie Perry Moore

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  Perry Skky Jr. is trying to please everybody. Is it realistic for him to make promises he can’t keep? How do you stand up to the folks you care about and tell them, No?

  Because of Perry’s choice to go to the club with the upperclassmen, he ends up being in the middle of a bar brawl and loses playing time in the biggest game of his life. Do you think he realized he’d let down the team again? If you fall victim to peer pressure and get into trouble, how can you be certain you don’t duplicate your lapse in judgment?

  Because Perry tries to stay out of trouble, another one of his teammates, Saxon, gets ganged up on and ends up fighting for his life. Do you think the way Perry handled the altercation was correct? When things are out of your control and blow up around you, how can you make sure you don’t beat yourself up over the outcome?

  When Perry’s grandma dies, after a period of severe grieving he realizes she’s in a better place. Do you think Perry can keep his word and try to tell his crew about God? What are some ways you can witness to your friends in a way that they will hear you and not feel like you’re being too pushy?

  When Mario comes and asks Perry for help to get him off drugs, Perry is there. Do you think Perry should have known his old teammate was full of it? How far should you go to be
there for a friend on drugs?

  Perry gets surrounded by the police as he waits for Mario. When the cops pressure him to help them catch Mario selling drugs, do you think Perry is right to save his own skin and comply? Would you hesitate to rat on a friend that had pulled you into illegal activity?

  Perry goes on a Spring break trip to unwind with Deuce and Saxon and runs into his sister’s friend, who comes on to him. How does Perry try and keep his commitment to God and his girlfriend, Savoy? What are ways you can keep from giving in to temptation?

  Unfortunately, Perry learns his dad has colon cancer. Do you think Perry is justified in feeling angry with God that his dad has this disease? What price has Jesus paid and does He owe us anything else?

  Perry and his roommates are shocked when Collin’s atheist father wants his son to move out of the apartment with the three Christian guys. Do you think the guys handle the awkward moment correctly? What do you think praying for the unsaved person will do?

  Perry and Savoy have had one issue after another. Do you think they found a way to be in a healthy relationship and be happy young adults at the end of this series? What things have you learned from reading this series to help you become successful?

  Start Your Own Book Club

  Courtesy of the PERRY SKKY JR. series

  ABOUT THIS GUIDE

  The following is intended to help you get

  the Book Club you’ve always wanted

  up and running!

  Enjoy!

  Start Your Own Book Club

  A Book Club is not only a great way to make friends, but it is also a fun and safe environment for you to express your views and opinions on everything from fashion to teen pregnancy. A Teen Book Club can also become a forum or venue to air grievances and plan remedies for problems.

  The People

  To start, all you need is yourself and at least one other person. There’s no criteria for who this person or persons should be other than a desire to read and a commitment to read and discuss during a certain time frame.

  The Rules

  People tend to disagree with each other, cut each other off when speaking, and take criticism personally. So, there should be some ground rules:

  Do not attack people for their ideas or opinions.

  When you disagree with a book club member, disagree respectfully. This means that you do not denigrate another person for their ideas. There shouldn’t be any name calling or saying, “That’s stupid!” Instead, say, “I can respect your position, however, I feel differently.”

  Back up your opinions with concrete evidence, either from the book in question or life in general.

  Allow everyone a turn to comment.

  Do not cut a member off when the person is speaking.

  Respectfully wait your turn.

  Critique only the idea (and do so responsibly; again, simply saying, “That’s stupid!” is not appropriate). Do not criticize the person.

  Every member must agree to, and abide by, the ground rules.

  Feel free to add any other ground rules you think might be necessary.

  The Meeting Place

  Once you’ve decided on members and agreed to the ground rules, you should decide on a place to meet. This could be the local library, the school library, your favorite restaurant, a bookstore, or a member’s home. Remember, though, if you decide to hold your sessions at a member’s home, the location should rotate to another member’s home for the next session. It’s also polite for guests to bring treats when attending a Book Club meeting at a member’s home. If you choose to hold your meetings in a public place, always remember to ask the permission of the librarian or store manager. If you decide to hold your meetings in a local bookstore, ask the manager to post a flyer in the window announcing the Book Club to attract more members if you so desire.

  Timing is Everything

  Teenagers of today are all much busier than teenagers of the past. You’re probably thinking, “Between chorus rehearsals, the Drama Club, and oh yeah, my job, when will I ever have time to read another book that doesn’t feature Romeo and Juliet!” Well, there’s always time, if it’s well-planned and planned ahead. You and your Book Club can decide to meet as often or as little as is appropriate for your bustling schedules. Once a month is a favorite option. Sleepover Book Club meetings—if you’re open to excluding one gender—is also a favorite option. And in this day of high-tech, savvy teens, Internet Discussion Groups are also an appealing option. Just choose what’s right for you!

  Well, you’ve got the people, the ground rules, the place, and the time. All you need now is a book!

  The Book

  Choosing a book is the most fun. PROMISE KEPT is of course an excellent choice, and since it’s part of a series, you won’t soon run out of books to read and discuss. Your Book Club can also have comparative discussions as you compare the first book, PRIME CHOICE, to the second, PRESSING HARD, and so on.

  But depending upon your reading appetite, you may want to veer outside of the Perry Skky Jr. series. That’s okay. There are plenty of options, many of which you will be able to find under the Dafina Books for Young Readers Program in the coming months.

  But don’t be afraid to mix it up. Nonfiction is just as good as fiction, and a fun way to learn about from where we came without just using a history textbook. Science fiction and fantasy can be fun, too!

  And always research the author. You might find the author has a website where you can post your Book Club’s questions or comments. You can correspond with Stephanie Perry Moore by visiting her website, www.stephanieperrymoore.com. She can sit in on your meetings, either in person or on the phone, and this can be a fun way to discuss the book as well!

  The Discussion

  Every good Book Club discussion starts with questions. PROMISE KEPT, as will every book in the Perry Skky Jr. series, comes along with a Reading Group Guide for your convenience, though of course, it’s fine to make up your own. Here are some sample questions to get started:

  What’s this book all about anyway?

  Who are the characters? Do we like them? Do they remind us of real people?

  Was the story interesting? Were real issues of concern to you examined?

  Were there details that didn’t quite work for you or ring true?

  Did the author create a believable environment—one that you could visualize?

  Was the ending satisfying?

  Would you read another book from this author?

  Record Keeper

  It’s generally a good idea to have someone keep track of the books you read. Often libraries and schools will hold reading drives where you’re rewarded for having read a certain number of books in a certain time period. Perhaps a pizza party awaits!

  Get Your Teachers and Parents Involved

  Teachers and parents love it when kids get together and read. So involve your teachers and parents. Your Book Club may read a particular book where it would help to have an adult’s perspective as part of the discussion. Teachers may also be able to include what you’re doing as a Book Club in the classroom curriculum. That way books you love to read such as PROMISE KEPT can find a place in your classroom.

  Resources

  To find some new favorite writers, check out the following resources. Happy reading!

  Young Adult Library Services Association

  http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/yalsa.htm

  Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

  Hip-Hop!

  Teen Rap Titles

  http://www.carnegielibrary.org/teens/read/booklists/teenrap.html

  TeensPoint.org

  What Teens Are Reading

  http://www.teenspoint.org/reading_matters/book_list.asp?sort=5&list=274

  Teenreads.com

  http://www.teenreads.com

  Sacramento Public Library

  Fantasy Reading for Kids

  http://www.saclibrary.org/teens/fantasy.html

  Book Divas

  http://www.bookdivas.
com

  Meg Cabot Book Club

  http://www.megcabotbookclub.com

  Stay tuned for the new series by

  Stephanie Perry Moore, “Beta Gamma Pi,”

  available Spring 2009 wherever books are sold.

  College pledging has never been so juicy,

  so don’t miss the first novel in the new series.

  Catch up with Perry Skky Jr. from the beginning

  with PRIME CHOICE, Book 1 in the Perry Skky Jr. series

  available now wherever books are sold!

  Needing a Yes

  “Come on, Tori, you know this feels good. Just say yes,” I said as I kissed my girlfriend of two years on the ear.

  When she pulled away, it ticked me off worse than I could describe. Why’d she lead me on? I had committed to dating only her for the past two years and now that we were into the third, it was time for her to put up or, dag, I’d have to move on.

  “You’re mad,” she said as she bit her pretty fingernails.

  The stare I gave her was cold. There was no need to answer her question. I had just gone from really wanting to be with her to wanting our relationship to be over. I mean, I didn’t have time to play games. This is my senior year. I was a highly recruited wide receiver. The schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the South Eastern Conference wanted me badly. Every time I stepped into a party, girls were lining up to get with me. And here I was, trying to do the right thing. Wanting to be faithful to one girl. All for nothing.