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“A bunch of guys and I are heading to Primrose Hall to watch the other team’s play-by-play,” I replied, making my dad frown.
“This is the first I’ve heard about this.”
That’s because it was total bullshit.
“We just made the plan in the locker room,” I improvised. Hopefully, I wasn’t a complete failure as a liar.
“Is this true, Gabriel?”
“Yes, everyone is sleeping at my place after that,” the unfeeling bastard lied without blinking an eye.
If you’re having a hard time understanding our friendship, don’t worry about it, you aren’t the only one. I’m not even sure I like the guy half the time.
Gabe was real serious, unlike me. Dark, intense, cold, whereas I loved life. I loved having fun, good food, and a good joke. Life was made to be enjoyed and only a fool would let it slide by. In a way, you could say I was the lighter side of him.
Ah! Did you see what I just did there? Light side of him. Dude couldn’t be whiter and blonder if he tried.
“Well, I’m glad you’re taking this to heart, Son. A wise man once said practice makes perfect.”
And here come the Franklin quotes.
“Do you boys need a ride home?” my mom inquired.
“No. Gabe’s driver will take us to his place.”
“All right. I’ll see you tomorrow at church. Don’t stay up too late.”
“I won’t. Bye Mom, bye Dad.” I bent way down so she could kiss my cheek.
“Bye, honey.”
When my parents drove off in their Mercedes, I intentionally adopted a light stance. I didn’t want people to know how much my relationship with my father affected me.
Don’t get me wrong, I knew where he was coming from and why he was so hard on me.
Being a black man in the United States wasn’t easy. You could get gunned down for walking in the street or driving in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time.
Sure, we’ve come a long way. We recently had a black president in the oval office. Bad cops were taken to task for their actions, and public awareness campaigns were making headway. But there was still a lot to be done.
In a way, my father was trying to protect me because he loved me. I just wished he loved me enough to be proud of me.
“Thank you, my brother. You just saved me from a two-hour lecture,” I stated.
“You’re welcome, but give me a little warning the next time you invite the entire team to my place.”
“Ah, come on, Winthrop. You don’t have to go through with it. It was just an excuse to get away from the old man.”
“I know, but the one thing I’ve learned is it’s easier to bend the truth than to break it.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Anytime, Moose.”
“Let me make it up to you. How about we go for a burger? My treat.”
“Deal.”
I waited until we walked further down before saying, “I’m assuming you’re not inviting Kobe?”
