Xavier quickly sized up the matter. Dexter had already been through a terrifying ordeal. Bigstick would have a very promising collegiate career and would no doubt go high in the NFL draft. Linus was a knucklehead and probably wouldn’t be graduating, but he didn’t deserve for any harm to come to him. There was no way Xavier would alert them to the great white shark that was lurking just forty feet offshore. Now that Xavier knew that the GMC boys weren’t in cahoots with Tall and Husky, this hitter had to be compliments of Slick Eddie. While the three of Xavier’s boys were still discussing Kato turning out to be a narc, Xavier was staring down yet another nightmare.
And much like the killer had done when Xavier saw him some months ago in the hallway, he made a gun out of the fingers on his right hand and pointed it at Xavier. Then he offered Xavier a diabolical smile before whipping the van around and driving out of the parking lot.
At that moment Xavier was hit by an overwhelming sadness and frustration. But he wasn’t going to cry about it. He’d brought everything on himself. The only thing he could do was stay positive and hope for the best.
29
MONDAY, MARCH 2
6:00 P.M.
It had taken a few hours before Xavier could build up the nerve to knock on his father’s door. He stood on Noah’s porch with his back to the door, observing the cars driving slowly down the street. Didn’t know if he had been followed. Xavier hated to bring heat to his dad’s house. But he had nowhere else to go. Billy really needed him gone so that his baby mama would stop trippin’ on him every chance she got.
Xavier knocked on the door, still watching his back. He had his house key. Could’ve let himself in, but he felt that he’d lost those “open door” privileges when he’d left. The car was in the driveway. The old dude had to be in there somewhere—him and Alfonso. Xavier was getting ready to go around back when he heard the sound of locks tumbling and the door opened.
Noah was standing behind the screen door, smiling. “The prodigal son has returned.”
Xavier couldn’t do anything but shake his head. “Here you go with the Bible. I can’t—”
Noah opened the screen door wide. “Please, son, come in. We seriously need to talk.”
Noah took a seat in an armchair in the living room, and Xavier sat on the couch across from him.
Noah said, “You know I don’t condone violence, but thank you for what you did for your little brother.”
“Where’s Alfonso at, anyway?” Xavier wanted to know.
His father smiled. “Since that bully has been off his back, he’s been staying after school in the library to complete his homework assignments. The boy has done a complete one-eighty. He loves school now. Happy—grades up. He has his chest poked out now, boasting ‘I’m getting mad respect from my fellow students, Dad. Everybody knows that my brother is the man.’ ”
Xavier knew that he wasn’t tripping. But for some odd reason he could sense a change in his father, one for the better.
“That’s what’s up,” said Xavier. “I always knew the boy had brains. Just got caught up with a bully.”
Noah exhaled deeply. “Listen, son. Since you’ve been gone I’ve had a lot of time to think. And the Lord put it up on my heart to ask your forgiveness. You guys already had it tough with your mother. I guess I got caught up in trying too hard to be a good parent by trying to instill my beliefs in you and your brother.”
“They’re not just your beliefs. I believe in Jesus too. And even though I was living in your house, you had no right to force it down my throat. As much as I wanted to learn the Bible, your forceful ways were turning me off.”
“I know, son. But you have to understand where I just came from. In prison, you either do right or continue to do wrong. I chose the right way. Dedicated myself to the Lord. And I was so happy with my dedication that it was blinding me to how much I was pushing my children away.”
Xavier smiled. “You have no idea of the huge weight you just lifted off my shoulders. I don’t mind learning the Bible and going to church. I even thought that cleaning out the sister’s basement was pretty fun with you and Alfonso.”
Noah had learned a long time ago that listening was a process to healing.
Xavier pulled his April report card out of his pocket and handed it to his father.
“This is terrific, son. Despite the adversity you’ve gone through, you still managed straight As.”
“Billy told me to tell you hi.” Xavier sat back on the couch. “I’m not a bad teenager. Just need a little room to be me. And I can’t do it with you ramming the Bible down my throat.”
Noah moved over and sat beside his son on the couch.
Noah said, “From now on I’m gonna back off. You can come to the Lord when you feel the spirit move you.”
“And I can still wear my designer clothes? No more referring to them as the apparel of Satan?”
Noah laughed. “I don’t believe those were my exact words, but you have a deal, son. Just come back home.
“I’m sorry. You’ve gone through a lot and I should’ve been there. I talked to Doug and Billy. Between the two of them, let’s just say that I was well-informed—about everything.”
“About everything?”
“Everything. And I want you to know that whenever you have a problem, come to talk to me.”
Xavier laughed and then hugged his father. “You got yourself a deal”—he looked at Noah—“Dad.”
Noah broke into tears. For it was the first time he’d ever heard his oldest refer to him as Dad.
“Make sure you get your butt up there to see your mother.”
“All right, Pops.”
30
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
Xavier was sitting in his bedroom with a big smile on his face. He wasn’t on probation and the grades on his end-of-the-school-year report card had been stellar. Straight As. The smile on his face increased as he remembered what Ms. Scott had told him a week after he’d handed in his research paper. At first he’d been disturbed by her passing back everybody else’s paper except his. Xavier was more disturbed when she called him to the front of the room. He felt that he’d done a good job in researching the deadliest snakes in the world. But being put on blast in front of the class had taken away that confidence.
“Mr. Hunter,” Ms. Scott had said to him. “Do you know why you’re standing in front of the class?”
He had a dumb look on his face. He didn’t have the slightest idea.
She’d continued, “Don’t look so frightened, Mr. Hunter.” She’d looked out at the students and held up—in full view—Xavier’s research paper. “This paper, by far, is the best paper I’ve ever had the privilege of grading.” She turned to Xavier. “I will give you a copy of your paper, but I want to keep the original as a standard of excellence that all my future classes should follow.”
Xavier was off of his butt with pure joy. A framed copy of his research paper was displayed on the wall in front of his bed. He’d passed to the twelfth grade with flying colors.
One more year, he thought to himself.
His cell phone rang. To his surprise, it was Samantha. He hadn’t heard from her in a while. As far as he knew she was still confused and thinking.
He answered nonchalantly, “Yup.”
“The tough-guy routine, huh?” she asked.
“What do you want from me? Didn’t you tell me that you were confused and needed time?”
“Yes. I did. Do you understand how hard it is for me? Trying to obey my father and dealing with my love for you?”
“Why are you calling me with this?”
She huffed. “My folks are taking me to Disney World to celebrate me entering the twelfth grade.”
“What does that have to do with me, Sam?”
“They think it’s a good idea that Sean tag along.”
“I can see they’re already starting to play matchmaker. Why not hook their daughter up with a potential major league superstar?”
“You�
�re not mad?”
“Should I be?”
“But you know I’ll be thinking about you the whole time there, right?”
“Samantha, why are you calling me? Seems like your parents have already selected your mate. Oh, congrats on the trip and I hope you have a nice time—you and Sean ‘Hotshot’ Desmond.”
“You know you really can be hurtful. Xavier, I love you.”
“Like you said to me—you have a funny way of showing it.”
“I want us to get back together, but—”
Xavier’s other line was ringing. The caller showed up anonymous, but he didn’t care. He just wanted off the phone with Samantha.
“Aye, I have to answer this,” he said, trying not to let her hear the frustration in his voice and betray his true feelings.
Xavier switched over to the other line. “Hello,” he answered.
The other end remained silent, but he could tell somebody was there.
“Well, whoever this is, I don’t have time for playing games—”
“My time is valuable too, Xavier,” said the caller.
The voice was dark, heavy, and chilling. Chilled Xavier right to the bone.
“Who is this?”
“The man who is gonna be responsible for sending you on that one-way trip to see your Maker.”
“You’re the tall, husky brother with the Rocawear hoodie, the one who tried to send me away during a football game, right?”
“The one and only. Congrats on you passing to the twelfth grade, but too bad you’re not going to graduate. I’ve been given orders to stand down for now. Enjoy the summer, kid, because it’s going to be yo’ last. We’ll send a message that we’re not to be jacked with. And having your blood spilled all over the hallways of Coleman will bring the media to our cause. I’ll see you next school year, boy.”
Xavier sat on his bed, still holding on to the phone.
He thought about Samantha. Xavier loved that girl with all of his heart and it hurt like hell to hear about Sean joining them on their vacation to Disney World. How had their relationship fallen off the cliff? Xavier knew she loved him too, but Sean was standing in the way. Xavier had to do something. He wouldn’t be able to make it through his senior year without her.
But right now he couldn’t afford to worry about his relationship. Given the last phone call, who was to say that he would even make it through his senior year?
He’d been extremely lucky so far, but in his last year of school, would his luck finally run out?
A READING GROUP GUIDE
HOLD ME DOWN
Calvin Slater
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The following questions are intended to
enhance your group’s reading of
HOLD ME DOWN.
Discussion Questions
1. Could you relate to Xavier’s reasons for being frustrated with his father?
2. Teenage pregnancy is a serious issue in high schools. What steps could be taken to better educate students on the subject?
3. What was Xavier’s reasoning for leaving home? Do you think it was the right decision for him to make?
4. What do you think of the relationship Xavier had with Heather? Do you think it was a healthy relationship?
5. Xavier’s English teacher, Ms. Scott, and his mentor, Billy Hawkins, are his role models. Who is your role model?
6. At the end of the story, Xavier and Samantha are just friends. Do you think there’s a chance for Xavier and Samantha to ever get back together?
Don’t miss the first book in the Coleman High series,
Lovers & Haters
On sale now at your local bookstore!
PLEASE DON’T KILL MY VIBE
The second week of October found sixteen-year-old Xavier Hunter up to his old tricks. It was Monday and he was late to class, but as he nonchalantly strolled into Advanced English with his leather backpack slung over his right shoulder, no one at Coleman High could tell. A huge brown paper bag, neatly folded down at the opening, was tucked underneath his left arm. He was wearing a plain, black, flimsy-looking hooded sweatshirt, faded blue Levi’s jeans, and crunchy white, over-mileage Air Force 1 sneakers.
Xavier wedged his big body behind a desk at the back of the room. If tardiness wasn’t enough, while the teacher’s back was turned to the class as she wrote on the blackboard, Xavier had the nerve to start chopping it up with one of his classmates about the Detroit Pistons’ poorly played preseason. If preseason play was any indication of how the regular season would be, Xavier felt that the entire roster—including the coaching staff and front office execs—should be taken out back of the Palace of Auburn Hills, and smacked around repeatedly by the owner until they started playing championship-style basketball again.
For a teacher, Ms. Gorman was bangin’, Xavier thought. In her mid-thirties, Ms. Gorman had a honey complexion and always looked fly.
“Mr. Hunter,” Ms. Gorman said, “I thoroughly explained that you had one more time to enter my classroom door tardy and you would be sent on a one-way trip to the principal’s office.”
The assignment on the blackboard was complete and the teacher was dusting chalk residue from her small hands. The class looked on in muted silence. Xavier had been pushing his luck for almost two weeks now, and his fellow students were anxious to see what lie the boy would conjure up this time.
And as usual, Xavier’s creative talent for bending the truth didn’t fall short. “Ms. Gorman, my favorite, favorite, favorite teacher. If I had to blame anybody for my tardiness, it would be you.”
“Oh, I have to hear this one”—she folded her arms and arched her left eyebrow—“and if it doesn’t make any sense, Xavier, you are out of here.”
All eyes were on Xavier, the class clown. It had become obvious to his classmates that he loved the spotlight. He wiped the sweat from his brow and placed the paper bag on top of the desk. Then he turned around to a handsome sixteen-year-old Hispanic cat with smooth brown skin and keen features. The boy’s name was Robbie “Cheese” Gonzales. He was a sophomore and everybody loved Cheese, especially the ladies. Cheese spoke his mind and the females adored him for that.
“Kick a drum roll, Cheese,” Xavier asked with a smile on his face.
“Mr. Gonzales,” Ms. Gorman stepped in, “that won’t be necessary. Xavier, you have exactly one point one seconds to explain to me why you were tardy.”
With no further hesitation, Xavier’s hand went into the bag and came out holding a fresh, lovely bouquet of flowers.
“Those are for me?” Ms. Gorman asked.
“These are exactly for you, Ms. Gorman. You work so hard and sometimes it seems like we don’t appreciate you, but we do. And this is a token of our appreciation.” Before he put the bag away, there was one last sumthin’ sumthin’ left. “While you are sniffing the flowers from your favorite students, please let me finish. You always tell us that an apple a day will help keep the doctor away. So for the rest of the school year I hope the doctor never has to see you, because we don’t want any substitutes. Here is a nice, juicy, green apple. Eat it in good health, and remember that your whole classroom ponied up the pennies. And that, Ms. Gorman, is why I was tardy.” Xavier’s wide smile was charming.
The surprise on the faces of his classmates mirrored Ms. Gorman’s. Xavier had pulled off some whoppers before, but this one was so outrageous even Burger King couldn’t top it.
Ms. Gorman smiled and suspiciously took the flowers. She knew that the smartest student in her classroom was full of it, but before she could address the con job, one of Xavier’s biggest haters, Sally Peoples, butted in with her two cents.
“Now, Ms. Gorman, I know you’re not going to fall for that nonsense,” Sally barked, dramatically rolling her eyes and popping her neck. She was a light-skinned chick with braces and a ridiculous hair weave that took the shape of a bird’s nest. “Somewhere in some alley, a flower vendor is waking up with a powerful headache, a lump on his head, and his pockets turned insi
de out. And I will bet you a year’s worth of nasty cafeteria lunches that this LL Cool J wannabe”—she pointed a finger at Xavier—“is giving you stolen merchandise. And who knows where Mister Steroids got that apple from. Probably snatched it from some kid who was walking by himself to school this morning.”
The students were busting a gut laughing—that was until Xavier shot off a response.
Sitting behind the desk, he struggled to arch his back so as to leave no doubt about the point he was trying to make. Xavier thrust his pelvis forward, grabbed the crotch of his jeans, and said, “Get these ba-zalls, girl!”
“Xavier, you know there will be none of that foolishness in my classroom,” Ms. Gorman said sternly.
“I know you didn’t just grab your thing at me, boo-boo,” Sally said. “What are you, five? Anyway, you probably need to go and wash those rusty things. If them crusty sneakers you got on look anything like your ba-zalls, you need to take yourself and run every inch of your bald-headed body through a car wash.”
“That goes for you, too, Ms. Peoples,” Ms. Gorman said to Sally. “Quit it.”
“You’re right, Ms. Gorman. I’m sorry for my behavior,” Xavier apologized. He looked over at Sally. “You got me, Sally. You want the truth, you deserve the truth.” He dramatically jumped from his desk and shoved it aside, making it screech like nails dragging down a chalkboard. “Those flowers were five-fingered, but not the way you say. You think I’m a low-life thug, so I only did what a petty hoodlum would do: I merely waited till your homeless mama was having dinner in her big cardboard box underneath the freeway overpass and kicked over her crib, and there she was with a nice flower arrangement sitting on top of a milk crate about to eat dinner—a barbecue rat sandwich or some crap—when I grabbed the flowers and ran.”
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