The next day King went to the chow hall alone. He sat by himself at the end of a table. He could feel the tension of other inmates smelling fresh blood. His blood pressure raised high. His self- control was out the window. He felt like exploding from not wanting to be around any human beings. He didn’t want to see or be around anybody. After eating he made his way up the library where he stood in the same window and watched out into the prison yard. He watches the bully of the yard named Rambo dominate a conversations. Anger filled in the eyes of King before he turns away from the window and leaves the library.
King walks outside on the prison yard cool, calm and collectively. He walked in the middle of the yard where everyone could see him and just stands there. He stood there for about a minute while looking at the ground in front of him. Then looks up to the sky. Inmates started to watch King stand there. He then looks around and spots out the big 6 foot 6 inch giant. Rambo was minding his own business before King walked in front of him. Soon as Rambo noticed King, he gave him a crazy look as if he was lost.
KING: You gotta light?
RAMBO: Do what?
KING: I said do you gotta light?
RAMBO: Do it look like I gotta light bitch.
Soon as Rambo finished his sentence, King cocked back and hit Rambo with a straight right that was packed with all his life’s pain in it. Once the right fist connected to the jaw of Rambo, it left him in a daze. King didn’t give him time to think, he then hopped right back on Rambo by catching him with two solid body shots to the rib cage that sent Rambo to one knee. He clutches his stomach while looking towards the ground. That’s when King finished him off with a vicious upper cut to the face that left the giant flat on his back. King put his foot on the neck of Rambo, “I said do you gotta light…. bitch!” All you could hear is marching boots in a prison yard of silence.
While King stood over Rambo, a gang of prison guards bum rushed and tackled him to ground. They roughed King up before tying him up, “you think you are going to come in here and cause trouble,” while hitting him in the side with their batons. Allowing their elbow to slip down to his jaw. A soccer kick to the thigh and chin checked while being dragged off the prison yard. They took King straight to the hole where he would spend the next three months of his life in solitary confinement. A group of guards dragged Seven in the room from not being able to stand on his own to two feet. The last guard to leave out of the room left the beat up King a message, “let’s see how tough you are in there kid, your about to look the demon in the face now. And you better hope Rambo gets moved or dies before you get out of here (Small sarcastic laugh). “Damn, it would suck to be you. Good luck kid,” and closes the door shut. The turning point of King’s life took place while in the dark and cold room. There was only a hard bed, toilet and a sink inside. There was a small opening that allowed a small amount of light inside. The narrow window he would not be able to see out of from it being up toward the ceiling.
King laid on the side of his face with blood from his mouth dripping on the cold concrete floor. The beat up, angry, hurt young man would spend the next twenty - three hours out of the day inside this room with no human contact for the next three months. His mind was tested to the max. He shouted at the guards through the small opening in the door. He would beg and plead with the guard who dropped off his food at the door to open the door so they could fight. The guards would intentionally forget to take King outside for his one hour out of the hole just to show him who was running things. Sometimes his meals would be missing the meat off the plate. Other days the vegetables. Often they wouldn’t take him to shower until he began to calm down.
The young lion King became broken down to where he was losing his mind. His energy for life was running low. He became mad at God. For a moment he became a killer in his mind. He felt what it was like to have a demon spirit in him. He began hallucinating while in the dark room. As days passed he began hearing the phone ring from across the room and would race to it, hoping it was Destiny. He thought he saw demons and angels in a war above him as he curled himself in a ball. He closed his eyes when seeing things. His mind played tricks on him as he began think of checking out of life each day that went by. After he became mad with God, his depression slowly moved into insanity. He contemplated how he could find a way to kill himself.
Just when King was at his worst, while on the way to self- destruction, a package was slipped into the open space of the door. King was so out of it, he just stared at the package on the floor for five minutes before walking over to pick it up. He sat on his bed while opening the package. Inside was Joe’s tape player, headphones and few tapes. King laid in his bed in the same position as Joe used to do. Inside were a total of four tapes. The tape already inside the tape player was the album, “What’s going on,” by Marvin Gaye. The second tape was a mix of Bob Dylan songs. The third tape was the album, “Kind of Blue,” by Miles Davis. Last but not least, the fourth tape was a voice recording of Joe. As soon as King put the tape in and pressed play he heard Joe’s voice, “If you are hearing this, then that means you have received it. All I know in life is pretty much music, money and the field of con artistry which involves knowing a great deal about the human mind. So since that’s all I have to offer, this is what I have to give. Hopefully you can leave out whatever info is not for you, and keep what you can benefit from.”
King listened to the tape of Joe speak over and over while soaking in all the information. He was learning from a master people reader and wise hustler. Joe spoke on how to increase your awareness and intuition from reading body language. How to spot out the real from the fake. How he will be able to tell if the woman is your life partner or not. He spoke on how to make money and how to manage it. The importance of patience, persistence and self -control. Joe would tell king in the recording to read the books on Malcom X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bruce Lee, Jesus Christ, Nat Turner, Muhammid Ali and list of book’s to read. King listened to this tape so much that he memorized it all in three days.
The package provided strength and hope to King. He started working out while listening to the music. He ran in place, did push up’s, sit up’s and squat’s. His body began to get more muscular and define. His mind was becoming sharp, aware and still. The music would take his mind off the misery. Slowly but surely, King was finding himself. He searched from within and became stronger by the day. By the time he was let out of consolatory confinement, King was a new man. Still with fire in his eyes, he was more mature and humbled to go along with a kind of body the ladies love. On his way out of the hole, a guard spoke to king, “bitter sweet news. I recken you would want to hear the sweet part first from being locked up in the dark cage all of this time. The sweet part is, lucky for you, big Rambo was transferred just a couple of days ago. But the bitter part, your man Joe was released into the free world.” King was at a different place mentally to where neither bit of news bothered him. He became a better man. He also became cold and numb to feelings. He was a man on a mission and you could feel it through his piercing brown eyes.
The first time King walked out on to the prison yard you could feel the respect he now had. The word spread like wildfire after King took out Rambo. The power that Rambo once had, was now shifted to King just like that. The new inmate who played the role of David slaying the Goliath. At the same time, faced being in the hole for three months like a man, he come out the hole mentally and physically stronger. King looked around the yard and could see and feel the respect from the inmates. Although, he was still behind bars, he mentally knew right then and there, that he has arrived. He would due his time by never being tested. He spent most of his time in the library reading books and listening to music. He gained as much knowledge, wisdom, understanding and game while he was in prison. Soon as he got out into the free world, he was prepared to execute immediately.
BACK TO THE PRESENT TIME:
KING: And that’s how I end up listening to Bob Dylan.
SEVEN: Yo, that’s some deep stu
ff man.
KING: Oh were just getting started my light skin brother.
SEVEN: It’s all starting to make sense.
KING: Let’s go pick up the last items you need to pack. Then go meet up with the one and only, Destiny June.
Chapter
5
DESTINY’S WORLD
The gap in between middle class and poor was the type of houses in the neighborhood King rides through. Seven was learning quickly that King went out of his way to receive as little attention as possible.
KING: There are only two people who has ever been to my home. And those are my clients I sell to. You will be the third. I’m sure Destiny will get you all squared away with a pillow and blanket when you decide to get some rest.
SEVEN: Respect. It’s all greatly appreciated. So what makes a man who doesn’t trust many, allow two drug addicts in his home. I’ve never heard of that one.
KING: Have you ever been around a functioning addict?
SEVEN: Not until I moved into the apartments I currently live. But no one personally.
KING: It’s a small world. The apartments you live in used to be my old stomping ground. But to answer your question, it’s a feel. An addict may be the most honest person you come by. Good people who just happened to be on that issue. We need each other. I have the fix they need and they bring me the money.
SEVEN: A win win situation.
KING: I wouldn’t say that. I find it hard to win when I’m helping them deteriorate themselves. Seems kind of twisted. Speaking of the devil, there they go, Squint and Turtle HAHA.. These two joker’s will have you laughing your ass off. Like two uncles I never had.
SEVEN: Why do they call him Squint and Turtle?
King: Because he always squinting his eyes like something stink. He wears glasses but he can’t keep up with them. I stopped buying them after the third pair he lost. So now he just buys the cheapest pair he can see out of from the dollar store. I might see him walking down the street in some glasses with thick purple frames. Or some tiny glasses where the frames are like half an inch. You know the ones they let rest on their nose. Something like Benjamin Franklin would wear while writing a letter. He usually just goes without. And far as Turtle, hell, his name speaks for itself, he slow. Straight auto pilot. He has one speed, cruise control. He talks with a very slow pace although pretty witty.
King turns into the drive way and both Squint and Turtle were standing on the porch watching the car drive in. They get out of the car with bags in their hand and walked towards the front porch.
KING: I just know I’m seeing things. Why am I pulling up and seeing two old ass men standing here, looking like they just came from a Salvation Army swap meet extravaganza.
TURTLE: We knocked on the door but no answer.
SQUINT: Salvation Army got some bad ass shit in there, what you mean?
KING: Yall know the script.
SQUINT: Destiny didn’t answer the door, what you want us to do?
KING: Go sit in the car, leave, do something besides sit at my front door.
TURTLE: We just got here, been sitting for about thirty seconds, tops.
SQUINT: Ohhh the feds is watching twenty-four hours a day from a satellite in sky looking ass.
KING: Squint where is your glasses at? What happen this time?
SQUINT: Man look man..
TURTLE: Yep, go on and tell ‘em HAHA.
SQUINT: Damn Bill Cartwright, are you going to let me speak?
TURTLE: You sho right.. well the stage is yours, show us what you got.
SQUINT: It was a lil miscommunication with the manager at Boogie’s Chicken Shack. When he grabbed ahold of me, my glasses fell off and they broke.
TURTLE: He lying his ass off!
KING: What happen then T? (King would call Turtle T for short)
TURTLE: Pass the mic one time. We placed an order at Boogie’s Chicken Shack right, high on that shit. This crusty ass Squint, damn near ordered the whole menu. He ordered a family size box of boogie’s chicken, a box of fries, a box of rolls, pecan pie, corn on the cob, fried pickles and ordered two dozen gizzards.
SQUINT: It was one dozen of gizzards!
TURTLE: So he walks up to the counter and the man tells Squint his total. Remind you, I drove up to the chicken shack with this fool. He didn’t have a care in the world. He ordered his food with confidence and rode proudly to the shack with a for-certain look on his face. Walked in and waited in line as if everything was going to be fine. So he gets to the counter and tells them his name on the order. So, soon as they come with all the food is when Squint pulls out his bill fold. Tell me why he pulls out four dollars and some lose change that was down in the bottom corners of the bill fold. Then held the money out in his hand. To make a long story short, the man behind the counter stuck his hand out to the east, and swung it to the west, and slapped the dog shit out of Squint. That slap slid him under a table. His glasses flew and all you heard was loose change hitting the ground. From the time he got pimped slapped, until the time he slid under the table. He managed to still be holding those four dollar bills sticking up in the air.
KING: (Laughing) How long was he down for the count T?
TURTLE: Oh he was outta there passed the ten count. Knocked out at the chicken shack for coming in there with that bullshit.
KING: (Laughing) Damn, a slap got you KO’d like that! You didn’t eat your wheaties that morning?
SQUINT: Man screw yall, I don’t have to take this. (walks off to the car)
KING: O he mad now. (The three watch him walk away) Watch, I bet you he turn around any second.
About five seconds later, Squint turns around and starts walking back towards the porch. One of the laces to his velcro shoes didn’t always stay attached, so it would lean over to the ground as he walked.
SQUINT: Look man, let me tell yall something, yall ain’t no good.
KING: Yeah, look at him. Forgot what he came over here for in the first place.
SQUINT: Damn right, speaking of that.
KING: Say Turtle, Squint, I want yall to meet Seven.
SEVEN: Hey fellas, nice to meet you guys.
SQUINT: I thought you were an angel when I noticed somebody riding in the passenger seat. Somebody riding with King just don’t happen. And I’m just now hearing you speak to, no for real, I thought I was just coming down off a high and was seeing a spirit following King. That’s why I didn’t speak to you right at first. But pleasure meeting ya.
TURTLE: Just when you think you have heard it all, Bowinkle over here will find some way to surprise ya eveytime. Imma pray for you man. But pleasure to meet you young blood.
SQUINT: Pray for yourself, oh Jimmy the Cricket looking ass.
Seven laughs while King opens the front door. Seven hears the music of Billie Holiday from the back part of the house. Without making it look obvious, Seven was very observant of how King went about his life. King walks through a hanging curtain in front of the hallway entrance to the back part of the house. Turtle was last to walk inside and find him a seat on the couch. Squint looks for the remote and turns on the television. The inside of the home was your typical furniture consisting of your standard things in a living room and kitchen. Nothing out of the ordinary. King returns by walking though the curtain, “Destiny is in the back, she doesn’t know we are here, surprise her. Go ahead and go back there.”
Seven walks through the curtain and the entire vibe changed. The whole back part of the house was decked out. From typical, to live and vibrant. The ambience, carpet, art work, paintings and the rich taste in the air. A light shined out of the back room. He could smell the scent of a woman as he approached the light. He walks to the door and looks inside. While standing in front of the door, he sees is a silhouette of Destiny high up on a stripper pole. The pole stood from the ground to the ceiling. Her silhouette was spinning gracefully in front of a movie screen that covered the whole wall displaying the movie, Kill Bill on mute. She was unaware that Seven was watching.
He felt a slight conviction for standing there while in the moment. The classic sound of Billie Holiday playing while a graceful woman moved with elegance on a pole.
He noticed that Destiny’s hair was not long as he remembered. She locked her legs to the highest point of the pole while her shoulders and head leaned away from the pole. She tilted her head back to where she sees the room upside down. She had some small boy shorts on, a cut shirt that leaves her stomach open and a silk robe that dangles from her body. It’s like she was on a merry go round in slow motion. Her eyes were closed while spinning. It was like watching a ballerina high up on a pole. Seven didn’t want to interrupt her so he stood there and watched her perform. Destiny leaned her back against the pole while upside down. While in motion she opens her eyes and sees Seven. She slowly slides down to the bottom of the pole while still making eye contact. Right before she reaches the bottom, she repositions her body for perfect landing. She stands up and fixes her robe while never taking her eyes off of Seven. The narrow glare coming from the projector to the wall spotlights her face. Her moving in closer felt like a woman goddess was approaching. She walks up to him and places the palms of her hands on both sides of his face.
DESTINY: My angel. I’m so thankful for you.
SEVEN: How are you feeling Destiny?
Destiny: I feel a lot better. It’s so good to see you, I didn’t know if you were still alive or not. I prayed and prayed that you were okay. How are you doing?
SEVEN: I’m okay. Just a little sore.
Destiny gave Seven a hug and didn’t let go until she ready.
I Am Your Brother Page 6