I Am Your Brother

by Jaimy Reynolds

  SEVEN: May I pray with her. All three of us together. Tonight, after I drop off these items to my neighbor’s.

  DIEGO: You think that will be the key?

  SEVEN: If all three of us have 100 percent faith, then of course I do.

  DIEGO: I’ll call her while you are in the store to see what she thinks.

  SEVEN: How about you come inside the store with me, so I can show the food items you should be buying now. And we can talk as well. There are some things I would like to share with you.

  DIEGO: Sounds like a plan. I actually think she will be glad to speak with you. She reads the book you gave and is thankful for it. But she has not tried to apply any of the teachings.

  The two weaved in and out of aisles while picking up items on the list. Seven took Diego to school on dealing with human body. He gave details on the wonders of how the body is designed to heal itself. He led Diego to the vegan section of the store and recommended food items. He pointed out what to look for on the ingredients and how to know if they are organic or not. School was in session while Seven was filling up his shopping cart. Diego took all the information in, while Seven spoke straight forward and direct from really wanting the information be comprehended. The seeds were planted to better prepare Diego for the guidance of his wife’s healing process.

  Both men fill the trunk and back seat full of groceries and items needed. The bags were separated according to which household they were assigned to. Diego drives to each apartment where Seven carries the grocery bags to each single parents household. One by one he drops off bags and some cash to pay some bills. When Seven was invited inside each home, he mentally prayed for the holy-spirit to enter the home. He silently prayed for each person he shook hands with. He was casting out spirits and generational curses to leave the home in his mind. He silently prayed for protection, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding while looking into the eyes of the receivers. When Seven was inside one of the homes, Diego called his wife to inform her that he wasn’t coming home alone. On the way there, Seven was praying that the holy spirit of God to guide and work through him. He prayed for himself to be cleansed before praying with others. He prayed for God’s grace and mercy. He asked God to bless him to be a vessel of healing and he truly believed that he would receive what he was praying for.

  Once after Diego introduced his wife to Seven, they would all sit at the dining room table and converse. Without making it look obvious, Seven paid very close attention to her in order to get a better read of his intuition. He feels her energy. He looks into her eyes as she speaks. He watches to see if the edges of her finger tips were jittery. He wanted to see if her skin glowed and how healthy her hair looked. He took in all of what he received and then calculated everything together. Then aligned it all up with the knowledge and wisdom he gained in the realm of self-healing..

  SEVEN: According to what information you two have shared with me, you have never detoxed your body. Meaning, over the years of consuming of the toxins, processed foods, and GMO’s that still resides in the body. Even if it is a micro amount of it, over the years it causes a buildup, leading the body in an acidic state which may affect the process of getting pregnant. The stress can only hurt the situation. Stress can intensify anything that is wrong inside the body. The body follows the mind. So what we need to do is try and eliminate the stress as much as possible. Instead, start believing that you can and will produce a baby. Start believing. Start speaking it out loud so you will be speaking it into existence. And while you are cleansing your body, your thoughts can be manifesting itself.

  Your diet will be the most important factor to healing. Let’s take out fast foods, meat and dairy while on this mission. It’s time to eat more live foods that come from the earth. Take on the mindset that you are eating to heal and feel good again. Eliminate what all you read on the internet of how your chances of getting pregnant are slim. None of that matters now. We want all positive thoughts. You have to change your thinking, which more than likely will be the deciding factor. You have to fill your mind with full faith and believe that you can and will have a baby of your own.

  In the book of Matthew 18: 20, it reads, “for where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” So God is with us and will hear our prayers and will answer our prayers. The key is for all of us to have 100 percent faith and trust in God. We are going to already give thanks in advance. Any doubt can defeat the purpose. So let’s all hold hands and pray. All three holds hands while Seven prays. Chill bumps ran through the wife of Diego. A graceful energy electrified the air after the prayer. A sense of hope caused for a smile on the couples face. Seven thought it would be best if he walked the four miles home so Diego and his wife could be together. Diego insisted that he took him home but Seven didn’t take no for an answer. He was actually looking forward to his journey home.

  Seven puts on his headphones and begins to walk in the midnight hour. The closer he made it to his side of town, the less appealing the city began to look. There seemed to be less street lights and more police cars riding around. The stroll of the police car was more creepy like. The look in their eyes, the energy and vibe came off as if the police were against the people, rather than for us. As if the people here in our own streets of America were terrorist. Seven wondered in his thoughts as he walks fearlessly through the rough streets that never seem to sleep. The death of King pressed an extra dose of boldness to the spirit of Seven. The silent hurt caused him to smile less throughout his day. The feeling he carried in his heart caused him to think of how so many people in the community could be sharing the same hurt. From losing a family member to violence, or having a loved one locked away behind bars. All of the combined hurt and frustration built inside can eventually turn to anger and rebellion. Seven could sense both emotions in a good deal of the young men standing on the street corners. He could sense the lack of fear from the young men as well. The same lack of fear that Seven possessed when walking in an area that most people would avoid.

  Seven stops walking in his tracks and just looks at the world around him. He asked himself the questions, how big would I think, after being accustomed to subconsciously seeing and living in the less appealing part of the city most of my life? From the run down school buildings, to the low income apartments that could use some fixing up. Not to mention the number of unhealthy fast food options to choose from. There were thousands of young people and a handful of decent paying jobs to apply. What is the effect of witnessing to your people being taking away in police cars to spend years in prison? How does the police brutality effect the confidence of feeling protected by the ones who are working to serve and protect? What is the root problem to all of the madness? How did the drugs even get into the community in the first place? What is wrong with the criminal justice system? Why can’t there be more money put into revamping the community?

  The more Seven asked himself questions, the more cause and effect options appeared in an imaginary upwards bubble from where he stood. His understanding was increasing as he connected the dots and filled in the blanks. Despite the odds, there was nothing that was going to break the spirit of Gods people but it didn’t have to be like this. Compared to where Seven grew up, to now living in the hood, it seemed like the results of a classified experiment. Could it be called the projects, because it was actually a project once upon a time? It was apparent that more must be done. The problem was deeper than how he was going about making a difference. The note that King left inside the bag full of money kept popping up in his mind. Seven knew that he was going to have to come up with a mastermind game plan in order to bring about a real change.

  Seven snaps out of his daydream and carries on to his destination. When walking north on the sidewalk, he spots out a police car driving south. The eye patch wearing police officer was spotted out once again. Seven avoided his face being seen by acting as if he was looking down at his phone. He continues to walk calm once the police car passes by. Once he turns around to look back, the po
lice car begins to make a U turn and drive back towards Seven. He momentarily was stuck, thinking if he should take off running or not. He briefly closes his eyes and asks God to cover him. The police sirens loudly sing it’s song. Seven opens his eyes to see the red and blue lights surround the area. He kept walking while his heart raced in his chest. The loud sirens approached closer and closer. Just as the police car moved towards Seven, it picks up speed and passes by and drives off. A side of relief for the midnight walker.

  Chapter

  12

  THE UNDERGROUND APARTMENT

  Seven moved like an angel in the night. The man on a mission searched for souls in need, while performing walk by blessings throughout the neighborhood. Random strangers were hit with a memory that would last forever. His intuition was telling him that the word was spreading, but to who was the question? The more days that went by, the more he felt like he was being watched. Telling himself that he was just being paranoid didn’t help the strong feel to go away. The thought of being watched, and constantly thinking of ways to better the world around him sparked an idea to expand his operation.

  Seven was thinking of renting out a second apartment in the same apartments. A three bedroom that would consist of a learning center and health clinic. He was thinking about an underground railroad type of fashion. He thought of ideas such as, holding secret meetings to teach about nutrition, the human body and life coaching. A group think tank. A place where one can go and have their voice heard. A place where you can go and pray together. A place where one can go to build, grow, and gain wisdom.

  The apartment would need structure from a set of rules. The organization would need to be enforced in order to maintaining a beneficial system. He would need help to operate the underground apartment. A full-time helper and cook. Both would have to genuinely be down with the movement. That is when Squint came to mind. Not only could Squint help out with the ones who battle addiction, but share his testimonies with the youth as well. The foundation would be built on trust, love, loyalty, and respect.

  Seven was thinking of a three bedroom apartment. One being set up like a clinic for health and medical attention. He will able to check blood pressure and cholesterol levels. A degreeless doctor ready to give free medical advice. The second room would turn into a learning center. He would order many powerful books. Readings on the mind, body, spirit, wisdom, history, autobiographies, and handpicked novels. There would be two computers with wifi available. An available chess board and pieces set up. Influential quotes scattered throughout the walls of the room. The third would be set up like a hotel room with two beds. He never knew who may need a place to sleep for the night.

  Seven decided to hire a woman from the apartments to be the cook. A few days out of the week would be planned to help feed the homeless, provide healthy school lunches for the kids, and at selective meetings were being held. The rules of the underground apartment were simple, but very important to be applied. The home was open to all, but only by referral, appointment or invite. There were rules and regulations when coming to pay a visit. A visitor must only knock on the door four times exactly, or, when being asked, “who is it,” the response must be, “I am your brother.” Mostly all visitors would enter from the back door to avoid the obvious traffic. The teen hooper’s would have to have their parent’s permission to be inside.

  Seven wasted no time by putting his plans into action. He used his resources within the apartment by finding the right woman to rent out an apartment in her name. He ordered all that he invisioned inside the apartment ahead of time. Less than 48 hours the apartment was set up just how he imagined it. His thoughts, plans, and vision were in motion. He was in rhythm like a hot shooter on the basketball court. The chips began to fall into the right place. The more books being given out, the more people began to walk up and shake his hand. The essential seeds inside the book were benefiting more and more souls. There were less people going without. Less lights were being turned off. Less people were hanging out outside in the late night hour. There was less drama going on in the neighborhood.

  The plan was to end the mission by the end of the summer. Until then, he would activate the love in his heart and make the lives around him better. He had every move mapped out. Every scenario was well thought out and covered. The operation was being designed to continue on without him. He schooled, taught, and trained Squint and Miss Sharon during the journey. Miss Sharon and Seven became closer friends as the time traveled. They both admired each other’s soul. A sweetheart indeed, but yet firm. Not only was she just the cook, she was the mother of the home. The elder woman who schooled the young women with food for thought. She gave cooking lessons to the young women at certain meetings, while feeding game on relationship, the power of sex, and understanding their worth.

  The only time Seven wanted the word to spread was about the apartment cookout. Although making it clear that he wanted everyone to show up at the start time, he didn’t want anybody to show up early to avoid attention from the authorities. Unfortunately, when a large group of black people come together in a lower class community, the gathering is usually shut down or broken up by the police, even if the large crowd was peaceful. Seven didn’t want to give the city, or management of the apartment a chance to cancel, or not approve of the special occasion. The plan was to keep the the big cookout amongst the people of the community. Just bring you, the family, and everything else will be provided.

  When seven was not out playing the role of an angel in the flesh, he was still working at the library to counter any suspicion. He wanted a paper trail to camouflage the increase of his purchasing. He spent his free time with Destiny June who was slowly but surely recovering from the loss of King. Seven could feel her pain when looking through her eyes. She cried herself to sleep in his arms one night. She would breakdown at random moments of the day. His shoulder was the only one she could lean on. His love for her grew by the day. Destiny was battling the thought of never being the same. Seven was her balance and strength during the worst time of her life. She wanted to be in his presence all the time, but she understood when a man was on a mission. The two texted throughout the day like best friends who were falling in love. He would text her a small piece of poetry and she would respond back with poetry of her own. They went back and forth until they both could feel when to stop.

  Seven walks to the basketball court inside the apartment complex. The young hooper’s stopped their game once recognizing him. Seven had to mentally gather himself from not crying when seeing how happy the teenagers were to see him. They dapped, man hugged, and shook hands. They all moved to the bench area where they gathered around. The basketball stopped bouncing and their undivided attention was on Seven.

  SEVEN: What’s going on my young kings? I would like to propose an opportunity to make some money. Now some of you may already have one, but I say we meet up right here tomorrow and we all walk to the library. If you don’t have one, it’s time to get a library card. I will show you how to search for books on the computer. It is key that you all read. Knowledge can be power. So here is how you earn your money. For every book you read, I give you 50 dollars cash. Once you finished reading the book, you have to write me a one page summary of the book you read. There is no limit of how much money you can earn. Let’s do some math. Let’s say you read 2 books a week. That is 100 dollars. There are 4 weeks in a month. So 100 dollars times 4, equals to 400 dollars you made in 1 month.

  That is the first way you can earn some money. The second option is, we meet up once a week and go around to pick up trash. All over the whole complex and around the community. This is where you live. This is your neighborhood. So we must take care of it. It may not seem like much right now, but if God can trust you with a little, he will be able to trust with a lot. I will pay you 25 dollars each. Now, for the third and final opportunity for you to earn some money. When your last report cards come out, if you pass with A’s or B’s and no C’s, for every A you get, I give you 50 dollars.
And for every B you get, I give you 25 dollars. Another thing I wanted to tell you young kings… I rented out a new apartment that is meant for mind elevation and building. And with your parent’s permission, this apartment will be open to you guys. We can meet up 1 or 2 days out of the week if you like. This is where we will conduct our business if you decide to earn some money. There will be days where you can come and just hang out. We can watch the game, talk about life, learn new things, discuss books, watch documentaries, and have bible studies. So what do you say?

  Seven leaves the group of young men momentarily speechless. A few were soaking it all in, while others where smiling from the good news. One of the youngsters gave Seven a man hug. “Thank you Mr., because Lord knows, this opportunity came right on time.” “It sho did,” as the tallest player on the team spoke out. Some of the teens were mentally doing the math in their mind, while others began asking questions. “When can we start coming over to the apartment, I’m ready to start building?” “Yea, me too, when is the first session?” “We can discuss that after our first gathering at the library,” Seven replied. Cool, they replied at once. The smallest player on the team stuck out his hand towards Seven and asks, “why are you doing all of this for us?” “Because, I am your brother,” Seven replies.

  The priceless faces of the young men kept Seven up throughout the night. He sat by the window for a long period of time and stared out his project window. He has become closer with the beautiful souls of the neighborhood outside his home. To his surprise, the drug dealer Monty calls to discuss the deal. Seven knew he had him then. Now it was just about getting Monty to see his vision. The two spoke and set up a time and date for the meeting. Seven requested that Monty brought his hustler’s that worked for him. He was skeptical at first about allowing these men to come inside the underground apartment, but he wanted them to see how passionate he was about cleaning the streets up. He wanted them to feel him when he spoke his vision for the community. He wanted to show his love and hospitality by having Miss Sharon cook a meal that would be prepared on the dinner table.