by JR Thompson
“Wow! That ain’t intimidating or nothin’.”
“That isn’t intimidating or anything,” Mr. Bones corrected.
“Yeah, yeah… So, when are you going to find time to study? I mean, you work all day, and we keep pretty busy in the evenings.”
“I’ll figure it out, Billy.”
“If it were me, I’d want to practice somewhere. You have someplace you wanna go after work tomorrow? I could stay at the house to give you some space.”
Mr. Bones shook his head. “Nice try, pal. I’m not buying it.”
“Buying what?”
“Whatever it is you’re trying to sell me.”
The drive home seemed to take forever — mostly because Billy did everything he could to make his probation officer more nervous than he already was. But that was okay — Mr. Bones had a plan. As soon as they walked in the door, he ordered Billy to get his clothes in the wash.
“What’s the rush? It’s only 8:30.”
“Hurry up. We have things to do, Billy.”
“Like what?”
“Just do as you’re told, and you’ll find out.”
“Better not be something stupid, Mr. B. I’m tired.”
“It’s Mr. Bones.”
“You don’t think I know that?”
“If you know it, say it. I’m getting tired of repeating myself.”
“Yes, sir.”
Mr. Bones sat down in the living room and flipped his Bible open. A few minutes later, Billy returned wearing his towel. “Have a seat,” Mr. Bones said.
“Am I in trouble?”
“No, sir. But I decided to take your advice.”
“What advice was that?”
“You said I should find a place to practice before I preach Sunday evening. Congratulations, man. You get to be my audience.”
Billy shook his head. “Nah, man. That’s okay. I meant you could practice by yourself somewhere.”
“Oh, no,” Mr. Bones replied. “When I preach in church, people are going to be sitting out there in front of me. I can’t very well practice without somebody listening.”
“Fine,” Billy said. “I’ll sit here. But do I really have to listen?”
“You most certainly do… Here’s a Bible. Turn to Isaiah 5:20. I’m not going to preach the full sermon. Just a small snippet of it — a part I believe you’ll be able to relate to.”
“Isaiah? Where’s that?” Billy asked while flipping pages.
“In the Old Testament, man.”
Billy shuffled through his Bible for another thirty seconds or so before saying, “I’ve got it… What chapter?”
“Chapter five, verse twenty.”
Billy turned a few more pages. “I’m here. Let’s get this over with.”
Mr. Bones stood up and held his Bible in front of him. “The Word of the Lord says ‘Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!’ Church, our nation has completely turned itself upside down. We have people out there, brothers and sisters in Christ even, who believe success is measured by a person’s wealth in spite of the fact the Bible declares the love of money to be the root of all evil!
“There are well-bodied souls right here in this community who brag about cheating our government by getting compensated for disabilities they don’t have. Brothers and sisters, this passage of scripture says those people better be careful. If something is dark, it’s from the devil himself and a Christian ought to stay as far away from it as he can. He shouldn’t be okay with sin. He ought to detest it. He ought to run from it. He ought never to be associated with it.”
Mr. Bones was raising his voice and having a grand time. Billy smiled. He didn’t know Mr. Bones had it in him. “Amen, preacher! You tell it!” he shouted.
Mr. Bones smiled and continued, “And church, let me tell you this; No man, woman, boy, or girl sitting under my voice tonight ought to pretend to be something they’re not — especially when that something doesn’t align itself with scripture. Why young people like to pretend they’re sexually active when they ought to be proud of their virginity is beyond me.”
Billy shook his head in disbelief.
Mr. Bones ignored him. “Why kids act like they’re not smart enough to get good grades just to impress the popular crowd is detestable. And should I even mention the young men out there who try to make people think they’re involved in gangs? What is this world coming to? Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil—”
Billy held a hand up, “Stop, Mr. Bones. I ain’t wantin’ to hear no more of this.”
The probation officer closed his Bible. “Of what, Billy?”
“Of you lecturin’ me about the whole gang thing. You still don’t believe me, do you?”
“Billy, you’re not a member of any gang.”
“Bet!”
“What?”
“How much you wanna bet? You can ask my momma. She’ll tell you I’m in a gang.”
If Mr. Bones had a quarter for every time he heard that line! When a person felt the need to bring up a witness to vouch for their story… it most always meant the same thing — their story was nothing more than a fable. “Your momma will tell me that, huh?”
Billy nodded.
“I could call her up on the phone right now, and she’d say you’re a member of The Black Disciples?”
“You better believe it.”
Mr. Bones whipped out his cell phone and dialed Tamara’s number. There was only one way to find out!
Billy shook his head and silently gave Mr. Bones a look that said, “You’re making a fool of yourself.”
Mr. Bones could only hope calling the boy’s bluff would work out in his favor. “Hi, Tamara, this is Philip Bones. I’m going to put you on speaker phone, is that okay?”
“Sure. No problem.”
“Thanks!... I’ve got your son sitting here with me, and he says you’ll vouch for him that he’s a gang member.”
Tamara laughed sarcastically, “What?... Billy, can you hear me right now?”
“Yeah, Momma. Will you tell this man I’m a Black Disciple?”
“Well, I could… but I’d be lying through my teeth.”
“Momma! You know it’s true!”
“Billy, why you always goin’ around playin’ make-believe like that? Ain’t nobody in their right mind believe you in a gang.”
“What you talkin’ about Momma? You know the truth. Tell it like it is.”
“Oh, I’ll tell it alright. Billy, you ain’t man enough to be in no gang. What would The Black Disciples want with you? How would you benefit them? They’d see you as a crybaby, boy. They wouldn’t trust you. You ain’t got nothin’ they want.”
“Momma!...” Billy was irate. “You know what, Mr. B? Just hang up the phone. We don’t need to sit here listenin’ to all these lies.”
“Boy, don’t make me come over there!” Tamara shouted.
“Tamara,” Mr. Bones said, “I’m sorry for upsetting you—”
“Oh, you’re not the one who upset me. It’s that low-life sitting there with you!”
“Tamara, why don’t we go ahead and end this call so I can deal with Billy?”
“I’ll let you deal with him under one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“That you promise to beat the fire out of him!”
Mr. Bones chuckled. He couldn’t deny feeling like the teen deserved a good thrashing but—
“This man ain’t gonna touch me, Momma!” Billy yelled.
It wasn’t his place. Mr. Bones didn’t have it in him. “He’s right, Tamara. I’m not going to beat him. I have other ways of getting my point across.”
“I sure hope so. Heaven help that child!”
“That’s his biggest hope, ma’am. Giving his life to Jesus.”
“I’ve heard Jesus can work miracles. I’d love to see one in Billy’s life. While we’re waiting for that to happen though, you have my permission
to do whatever it takes to get that boy of mine in line; I mean it.”
“I understand, Tamara. I’ll do my best with him. You have my word on that.”
8
Unlike the vast majority of his peers, Billy wasn’t upset by having to sit right in front of his Social Studies teacher — especially considering the fact that Ms. Galloway kept herself so engrossed in romance books that he could get away with anything.
Watching her facial expression for a moment, Billy could tell it was a safe time to make his move. The fourteen-year-old deviously eased his hand forward and snatched her black permanent marker. John, the kid sitting next to him, gave him a thumbs-up and a crooked smile.
Billy pushed the marker into his pocket and kept it there until break time. With the halls full of chaos, the teen leaned his back against a bulletin board and took out the marker. He glanced around; nobody was paying a lick of attention to him. Taking the cap off, he brought the tip up to his nose. It was strong, but boy did he ever love that smell! A few more long drawls like that, and he’d at least be able to get a little high.
In no time, Billy forgot all of life’s pressures and felt like he was on top of the world — until Patrick, the biggest tattler in the school, happened by. “What are you doing?”
Billy jumped toward him, and the boy flinched. “You say a word to anybody, and I’ll snap your neck.”
Nearly trembling, Patrick said, “I won’t say anything... I promise.”
“You better be a man of your word.”
“I am. You can trust me… Do I look like somebody who would double-cross you?”
Billy chuckled, “Nah, man. I reckon not.”
It wasn’t long before the bell rang. Billy slipped the marker back in his pocket and headed to fourth period. He didn’t make it ten feet before the principal caught up to him. “Empty your pockets, Mr. Andrews.”
“Empty my pockets? Why?”
“Now, please.”
Billy looked around him. None of the other students were being harassed. They were getting in and out of lockers, cutting up with their buddies, or heading into classrooms. Of course, he would be the one singled out. “Why? ‘Cause I’m black?”
Mrs. Hendricks put her hands on her hips, “That won’t work with me, mister! I’m just as black as you are.”
“Bein’ blessed with dark skin don’t mean you black. You just a giant snowflake that fell into in a black woman’s body!”
“Excuse me?” Mrs. Hendricks said, cocking her head. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Billy could tell he had the upper hand. She was going into defense mode. If she wanted to make a scene, he was going to be the star. Mocking her, he put his hands on his hips and made an ugly face. In a whiny voice, he repeated her question, “What is that supposed to mean?”
Mrs. Hendricks started to speak, but Billy cut her off, “The way you talk, how you be carryin’ yourself all up in here like you be somethin’ special… you call that black?”
“Boy, you wouldn’t know what black was if it smacked you upside the head. Black isn’t dressing like a thug, using poor grammar, having no education, or being locked up in a prison cell.”
“At least I’m real. It’s a lot more than anybody could say for you!”
“I am legit, Mr. Andrews. I am not putting on airs. Like me or hate me, I am who I am.”
“And so am I.”
“Billy, I see what you’re doing here — you’re stalling. Empty those pockets.”
Billy didn’t move. He just stared her down. That old woman could flap her gums all she wanted to, but she couldn’t make him do anything. She was short, weak, and scared. Oh, she was trying not to show it alright — but on the inside, she was shaking like a leaf.
Mrs. Hendricks took a step backward. “Would you prefer I call the school resource officer?”
“I ain’t afraid of no officer,” Billy said, “but seein’ as to how you ‘bout to make me late for Spanish, here!” Pulling the marker out of his pocket, he said, “I’m assuming this is what you want?”
“Exactly!... Let’s go,” she snapped, heading down the hall toward her office. “Where’d it come from?”
“Found it.”
“Why do I find that story hard to believe, Mr. Andrews?”
“I don’t know,” Billy said. “You got trust issues, maybe?”
“Hmm,” Mrs. Hendricks said as they entered her office, “I guess I’m going to call your mother.”
“My momma ain’t gonna care that I found a dollar store marker and put the thing in my pocket.”
“She won’t care that you were getting high off of it?”
“Getting high?... Is that what you do with your markers, Mrs. Hendricks? I ain’t like that.”
“Billy, I saw you!”
“You saw me doing what?”
“Holding that marker up to your nose. Your eyes are even red. Look in the mirror.”
“I ain’t gonna look in no mirror. You and your ugly face probably done broke the thing anyhow.”
“Billy, I’m calling your mom.”
“Because I was looking at a marker? Do you know how immature you sound right now?”
“Immature?... Billy, give me a break! Why do you want to kill your brain cells like that?”
“I wasn’t killing no brain cells. I was looking at a marker!”
“With your nose?”
“I was tryin’ to see if anybody had their name written on it so I could return it to them.”
“Good one,” Mrs. Hendricks laughed. “What’s your mom’s number?”
“I ain’t giving it to you.”
“Have it your way, Billy.” Mrs. Hendricks logged into her computer and pulled up the number within minutes. “Good afternoon, this is Lakeisha Hendricks at the high school… Ms. Andrews, I just caught Billy getting high off of a marker he stole… I don’t know yet… I will have to check with the school resource officer to see if he wants to press charges… He sure is. Would you like to speak with him for a moment?... Sure, hold on.”
Billy glared at his principal while picking up the receiver. He wished Mrs. Hendricks wasn’t sitting right there. It didn’t matter. It’s not like he cared what she thought anyway. “The woman’s lyin’ ‘bout me, Momma! I wasn’t getting high, and I ain’t steal nobody’s marker!”
“You listen to me, Billy Andrews, and you listen good! I have had it up to my eyeballs with your stealin’ and lyin’. If that school presses charges against you, don’t expect me to hire a lawyer. You can get one of those worthless public defenders to represent your behind, and if you end up in juvie, I couldn’t care less.”
Billy noticed a smirk on his principal’s face. His mother had been so loud, he was certain Mrs. Hendricks had heard every word. “Momma, how you gonna take her side? You don’t even know this woman!”
“But I know you, baby. I’m gonna get off of here and phone your probation officer. What you think he gonna say ‘bout all of this?”
This thing was getting blown way out of proportion. First his principal, then his momma, and now his probation officer. What next? Was somebody going to inform the president of the United States? “Momma, please don’t tell him!”
“Why?”
“Cause… Well, Momma…,” Billy stumbled to find his words. “Mr. Bones is all excited. He got called to preach last night at church and—”
“He did?... That’s wonderful, Billy. But why on earth would that stop me from tellin’ him about your behavior?”
“Cause you wouldn’t want to steal the man’s joy, Momma! He’s gonna preach his first sermon Sunday night. He got some serious studyin’ to do. Worrying about some piddly little thing like a marker I found ain’t gonna make things easier for him, Momma. Know what I’m sayin’?”
“Oh, I hear you loud and clear. You afraid of what that man might do to you, aren’t you, boy? Mr. Bones must be a better disciplinarian than I am, huh? You always did respond better to male authority figures. And now you’re stayi
n’ with a preacher. Can’t get no better than that. You better believe I’m gonna call him. I hope he blisters you!”
Billy lifted his eyes to meet those of Mrs. Hendricks. She looked like she was struggling to keep a huge smile off of her face. Billy couldn’t believe the words flying out of his momma’s mouth. He would have expected it if they were face-to-face in the privacy of their own home. But he was at school, and his momma knew he was sitting there with his principal. Had the woman no shame? Billy lowered his voice a notch, “He ain’t like that, Momma.”
“Oh, he might not be… yet! That’s just ‘cause he ain’t been parenting very long. You just give the man time… And give me the opportunity to do some convincing.”
Billy could only hope he was right about Mr. Bones. He knew his momma could be pretty persuasive, but his probation officer seemed like the kind of guy who did things his own way. Still, Billy didn’t want to take any chances. “Momma, please don’t tell him ‘bout this. I’m beggin’ you!”
“Beg all you want to. I’m callin’ the man. Let me talk to your principal.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Billy handed the phone back to Mrs. Hendricks, “She wants to talk to you.”
“This is Mrs. Hendricks… No problem, ma’am… Yes, I think that’s a fine idea… Sounds like Billy has some respect for him… Sure… As a matter of fact, why don’t you tell his probation officer he’s more than welcome to stop by anytime?… You too. Take care.”
Hanging up the phone, Mrs. Hendricks gave Billy a look that said, “You’ve had it now.” However, she didn’t say a word.
“Well?” Billy asked.
“Well… are you going to level with me?”
“Let’s see here. How’d you put it a few minutes ago? You wouldn’t know the truth if it smacked you upside that ugly mole stickin’ out your neck!”
“Billy, you are getting yourself in deeper water than you’re going to be able to swim out of. You need to watch the way you speak to people. You wouldn’t be in this mess had you simply kept your nose clean. You know we have a zero-tolerance policy for drugs in this school!”
“Drugs?... It’s a marker, not crack!”
“But you used it to get high, Billy!”