DESTINY: Come in, welcome to my world. You caught me in the middle of a work out.
SEVEN: That was wonderful. I have a new appreciation for pole dancers. The music selection made it even more cool.
DESTINY: Well, I’m not a pole dancer, but thanks love. It’s great for working out. Strengthens the core. And far as Billie Holiday, I love her.
SEVEN: (While turning his head and looking at the room) This world of yours, I’ve never seen nothing like it. I wouldn’t want to leave this room. It’s like a home movie theater room, slash lounge, slash get away spot.
DESTINY: You like it?
SEVEN: Yea it’s pretty live in here.
DESTINY: And so I hear your going on a trip with us?
SEVEN: Yea I’ll be tagging along.
DESTINY: Yayyy it’s going to be so much fun.
SEVEN: Your hair is different.
DESTINY: That was a wig I was wearing last night.
Seven: I love it. It’s so different.
DESTINY: Aww, well your just making my night complete. Yea, ya girl be switching it up on them. (patting her hair in a sassy way)
SEVEN: So was that a disguise last night?
DESTINY: Was what a disguise?
SEVEN: That look in your eyes before you ran your finger though my piece of cake without asking, or washing your hands?
DESTINY: You didn’t mind. You probably ate that part of cake first.
SEVEN: (Smiles) You think so?
Destiny: (Long pause) Yes it was a disguise. (Before Destiny could finish her sentence King walks in the room)
KING: What’s on the menu Destiny. You want me to order something?
DESTINY: Hold what you got. You boys are in for a treat tonight.
KING: Whaaaaat, what you got on your mind.
DESTINY: Seven do you eat meat?
KING: In moderation I do. I keep a balance. A vacation is a good time to enjoy it all.
DESTINY: Ok good, cause I’m thinking fish, chicken alfredo, broccoli and bread sticks. Water with lemon and wine for the drink. How does that sound?
SEVEN: That sounds amazing. I don’t know when the last time I ate like that.
KING: Already, that’s what I’m talking about, let’s eat!
DESTINY: Well I’m about to take a bath, and when I get out, I’ll whip that right on up.
(King and Seven leave out from the back room and rejoin Turtle and Squint)
KING: So are yall getting ready to leave, or trying to stay and get beat on them dominoes.
TURTLE: Aw here we go again. You see Seven, I can’t fool with them no more, they both been lying their ass off all day.
SQUINT: I hear you talking youngster, but I don’t hear no dominoes being washed.
KING: Yall turn the game on mute and come on over here. Seven, I put a towel, wash cloth, soap, and all that good stuff in the bathroom back there. Or if you want to get in the mix, hey, it’s your world.
SEVEN: Cool, I’ll go shower up, then come back and get in the mix.
KING: Already then author, sound like a plan. Besides, you been asking all the questions. Now it’s time for me to get to know who you are.
SQUINT: King you wouldn’t happen to have any cold brew’s sitting up in that ice box would ya?
TURTLE: Hello, that’s what I’m talking about. Squint, I don’t know why King acting all brand new.
KING: HaHa, yea I have some beer in there. But I’m charging.
SQUINT: Aw hell naw!
KING: I’m a business man, what do you mean.
TURTLE: I’m out then man. I just got a little tired all the sudden.
SQUINT: Yea me to, maybe some other time.
KING: (Laughing) Oh it’s like that huh, alright. (Looks at Seven while smiling as his gold teeth were shinning) You see how they do me? Yea I got some beer in the refrigerator for yall, free of charge.
Seven leaves for the back while Squint and Turtle helped themselves to some beer. King turns on some music and breaks out the dominoes. The sound of pots and pans clinging together in the kitchen was Destiny preparing to throw down. When Seven returned back, he felt like he was entering a room of a close nit family. Destiny looked stunning in the most simple way. It was the third time Seven was in her presence and there was three different versions of her almost. This time she looked like your everyday girl in her jeans and t shirt. The cool pretty woman at your job who everybody liked for not letting her beauty go to her head.
When she walked over and placed a glass of wine next to Seven. He gravitated to her scent without making it look obvious. She washed her hair so it was still a little damp and smelling good. Her nails were done, her skin was glowing, while wearing no makeup. She was hard not to like. Despite Sevens understanding of how dynamite she was, he had no plan of doing anything he wouldn’t want his girlfriend to do. Not to mention her big brother being King.
Seven took score of the domino game, while he sat back taking in the new experience. He would never have guessed that he would be sitting at a table with a hustler, two functioning drug addicts and an intriguing woman who happens to be a virgin in the kitchen cooking a home cooked meal. Seven learned more about King from all the music being played from his phone. The more Turtle and Squint spoke, the more it was understood that you can never judge a book by its cover. Despite their flaws, they were both OG’s in the game who has been there and done that.
Destiny didn’t say much. She would chime in here and there. Sometimes use the spatula as a microphone and sing to different parts of songs. Once the food was ready, she made the men their plates and served them at the table. It was new for Seven to be around a woman of such beauty and grace be that down to earth. The pen was working in his mind. His heart was warming up. He began to feel even more alive, while eating the good food Destiny prepared. His appreciation for the smallest of things were noticed by King. The more King scoped Seven out, the more he believed that Seven was as advertised. His writings matched his character.
Once they finished eating, both Squint and Turtle left for the night. King, Destiny, and Seven went to the back room in Destiny’s world. There was an area of comfortable seating by the projector screen. The only light in the room was coming from her fish tank and the old school Pam Greer movie the plays from the projector.
KING: How you feeling Seven?
SEVEN: I feel good. I’m truly appreciative of all the love and hospitality. I haven’t ate like that in a long time. Or have I laughed like that in a while. Besides my body being soar, I feel good.
KING: It’s all our pleasure my brother.
Destiny tells Seven to come sit on the floor in front of her and lean his back against the couch. The feel wasn’t in a flirtatious way. It was more of a reaction when someone you care for is in need. Seven was a bit hesitant until looking at King who didn’t look as if he was against it. He followed her wishes and sat were she asked him to. Both Destiny and Seven now sat across from the man thinking of a master plan. King didn’t change his expression at all from fully trusting his sister’s ability to know what she was doing. Destiny massaged the shoulders, neck, and a part of the upper back of Seven while they listened to King speak.
KING: Flying is too risky. I’m thinking road trip. There is a big Mayweather fight in Las Vegas this weekend so the traffic will be crazy. Little bit of gambling, little bit of shopping, and eat good. We could hit the Cali coast, put our feet in the sand and just live it up.
DESTINY: Do slipper’s count on this vacation?
KING: The karmetic train is coming indeed. You know the drill.
DESTINY: And you know I stay ready to be a blessing.
SEVEN: Sounds like one great experience awaiting to happen. I’m here for the ride.
KING: It’s a done deal then. We can leave in the afternoon to give us a few extra hours of rest. I would advise you my wise man, just go for the ride. The time is now.
SEVEN: I’m with it.
The trio sat around and talked a little more before King shakes
Seven’s hand and leaves the room. Destiny finishes up her massage and sits down on the floor next to Seven. The two look forward at the 70’s movie playing on the projector screen.
SEVEN: Thank you. I already feel the difference.
DESTINY: Your welcome.
SEVEN: For the first time in years I felt like I was at a family get together. This is all new to me.
DESTINY: Yea it’s our little circle. Turtle and Squint come over and hang out sometimes but that is it. You must have really took an effect on him because he doesn’t call anybody his brother. You know what that means right?
SEVEN: No, what does that mean?
DESTINY: Once he calls you his brother, you are in. You have someone who will really ride for you.
SEVEN: Under the outer layer, I sense a lot of good in that heart of his.
DESTINY: There is. Not too many have experienced that side. I remember when we were kids, he was just different. Off in his own world. We would walk home from school with all the kids who lived in the same apartment. He would walk off from the pack, although he was with us. There was this back alley that we would have to pass in order to make it home. And one of the houses we passed had a fence with this huge dog. That ugly dog would jump on the top of the fence and just bark at us like crazy, like it wanted to get over that fence and tear us into pieces. The dog’s neck and face would be sticking out from the top of the fence. Our little gang of kids would run passed the dog fast as we could. One kid would cry, while some would act like they were getting ready to have an anxiety attack before we passed Cujo. So one day we were running past the dog and I fell to the ground. King and some of the other kids picked me and carried me a little further from the barking dog. Once King saw that I scraped my elbow and it was bleeding, I saw that look in his eyes. That look will clear a room out if they knew what was good for them. As I was sitting down and looking up towards the sky, the whole group of kids were huddled over me to see if I was okay. I could see King standing there looking down at me with revenge in his eyes. You could hear the dog barking like it was possessed by the devil. King then turned around and stared at the barking dog from a distance.
SEVEN: The plot thickens.
DESTINY: So King stands there with his fist balled up, while the other kids are helping me up to my feet. King started walking towards the dog. We were yelling at him to come back. But he just kept walking towards that beast. I was scared out of my mind, I thought Cujo was going to eat my brother. Once King got close to the dog, he turned and looked the dog face to face. That vicious dog was barking like crazy to where spit was flying out its mouth but King didn’t show any signs of fear. The dogs head looked twice the size of Kings. There they stood looking each other in the eyes. This is when I feel like everything changed. King took a step forward at the dogs face that was leaning over the fence, and cocked his fist back and punched the dog right in his it’s nose.
Seven: Whaaat!
DESTINY: Yes! The dog squealed and backed off of the fence. The dog became scared of King. And we didn’t hear another sound from the dog. All of the kids started cheering like we just won a championship game as King walked back towards us. The kids lifted King up on their shoulders and they carried him off to our apartments. You should have seen the look on his face, it’s the happiest I’ve ever seen him.
SEVEN: Hey that’s cool right there. Straight out of a movie scene.
DESTINY: But check this out, the next day at school on our way home, the dog just watched us, never heard another bark from that dog again. That’s when King gained so much respect. He had a reputation as a child.
SEVEN: He has a dominating presence to him.
DESTINY: Ever since that day, I just totally trusted my brother. And since we didn’t know our bi- logical parents, he became like my father.
SEVEN: You and King were adopted too? I mean I knew my mother, but I was eventually adopted.
DESTINY: We didn’t have the same father but we were always in each others lives. They say King’s father died of a drug over dose. My father just left and nobody ever heard from him again. Our mother passed away when we were babies so we never really knew who she was.
SEVEN: (Shaking his head) My goodness. I can’t even imagine that. My mom passed away from cancer when I was eleven. But to have lost both parents had to been tough.
DESTINY: It definitely took its toll.
SEVEN: So, who is Destiny June? So far from what I’ve seen, I mean, what can’t you do? We entered each other’s lives less than a day ago and I’ve witnessed you cook, thrill me with your pole dancing, massaged pain out of my body, do poetry on the fly, serve plates of food, listen to Billie Holiday and have three different looks. And not to mention, read parts of my mind. And I’m sure there is a lot more to add. Who on God’s green earth are you?
She turns from watching the Pam Greer fighting scene and looks at Seven. She gently rubs the outside of her hand against Seven’s wound above his eye brow.
DESTINY: Who am I? I’m still trying to figure that out. I can be that girl from the hood. I can be that sweet southern bell. I can be that educated and independent woman. I can be your everyday girl. I can be a bad bitch with money. I can have a man’s soul at my mercy. I can do all these things but I’m not complete. Nor have I been in true love. Or have I made love. And last night was a wake up call.
SEVEN: A one of a kind you are. Being a virgin in today’s world has become extinct. How have you managed to do so?
DESTINY: I have to give my brother King a great deal of credit for that. His communication with me was like a big brother, father, teacher, and friend. One day he asked me what I wanted to be in life. What was my dream? After I told him, he dedicated a part of his life to help me reach that dream. Using my body as a temple being one of them. He taught me the game. He brought me inside the mind of your average man. He believes that the power of sex is one of the main reasons to cause distractions. That sex was one of many big reasons people do not achieve their dreams.
SEVEN: How so?
DESTINY: One day you are free and ambitious. Then you fall in lust, or maybe seasonal love and become sexually active. Then you slip up and have kids. Which is a 24 job. So how many are going to have the same drive or energy to put towards their dream after having kids? The dream seems to fade away, and we end up settling. Or going with the best paying option. So King was like, why not take care of my business first, have my life in order, then start thinking about a relationship. He tells me that sex is like a powerful drug that can be addictive. And once you become a part of it, it can change the dynamics of our thinking and effect our decision making. So when it comes to a partner, until we get that feeling inside that we can’t describe, it’s not the time to entertain it.
SEVEN: Big bro taught you well. Have you had any boyfriends?
DESTINY: Yea I had a couple. Mostly just going on a date here and there. Once I let them know I’m not having sex, they eventually fade off over time. Some think they can change your mind, or some try to hang in there long as possible, but not long enough. The one who is willing to wait for me is the one who really loves me for me. Strange how a man like my brother can plant the right seeds to somehow get me to save myself for the one I wouldn’t mind being with forever.
SEVEN: Righteous. I’m impressed. What does King teach or instil that most parents may fail to do, or to realize? Because a parent can only do so much.
DESTINY: Time. He realized at an early age, there was no way he could properly raise me the way he wanted to by working most of day. The minimum wage he was making wasn’t enough. That’s when he started looking towards the streets to make fast money. It didn’t take him long to start making money because he already had a reputation. Not only from having respect in the streets, but from playing ball. He was an awesome basketball player, easily could have went D1 but he chose the streets. Going to college wasn’t going to make him money to help support us. Eventually the life style took its toll on him. He got tired of being on call 24/7
and taking having to take cat naps. He still had to get me to school and everywhere else. He was spending more time making money to provide, then actually being with me. That is when he started to find ways to get money without having to spend so much time to make it.
SEVEN: The beginning stages of becoming a mastermind to create that time.
DESTINY: That’s right. That is when he activated the power of his name, King. He devoted his time into me. He helped me with my homework. If he didn’t know how to do it, he would find someone who did. He would drive out to the rich neighborhoods and ride pass the big houses. He wanted to show me something different than what I was accustomed to seeing. He told me that I can have one of these houses one day if I was willing to work hard and stay focused.
SEVEN: Planting those seeds.
DESTINY: That’s what he did with a lot of his time. He poured those essential seeds of growth into me. I was the only thing he had in this world. The more he learned, the more he would feed me the knowledge.
SEVEN: How awesome was that, being schooled by your older brother.
DESTINY: Oh but don’t get it twisted, it definitely was a challenge. When he went to prison is when he stepped it up even more. After he came out of that hole for 3 months is when everything changed. He would say over and over in his letter’s to just trust him. Each letter he sent me, I could feel the growth. I could feel his desire to get out and execute this plan of his. He knew the right buttons to press and get me to dig deep. He gave me a workout regiment, homework assignments and small mission’s to complete.
SEVEN: If you don’t mind me asking, what kind of homework and missions?
DESTINY: Far as homework, I would have to read certain books and watch certain documentaries. Past greats like Madam C. J. Walker, Nat Turner, Malcolm X, Huey Newton, Harriet Tubman, Angela Davis, Bruce Lee, Nikala Telsa, Maya Angelo and Ali to name of few.
SEVEN: That is a powerful bunch, sounds like he was mentally preparing you.
DESTINY: Yep, the homework was for the mental and the missions were for the physical. The missions consisted of running a certain amount miles per week, exercising and staying on a healthy diet. He knew I was in college so he didn’t overdo it. I was just so amazed by his growth, it caused me to believe in my big brother even more. Before I knew it, I was starting to see a change in my body. The working out and eating a proper diet started getting ya girl body right. Had me feeling like a superstar out here. At the same time, all the knowledge and wisdom I was consuming was causing me to grow and mature. It’s like my eyes opened, while being totally awoke.
I Am Your Brother Page 7