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Once they finished their game of football and Josh signaled for Lisa to gather her things so they could head home.They lived in an area where many low-income families had resided for decades.The place was crawling with crack heads, girls with cuts on their faces and drug dealers.They never heard the term gangs, but they knew whose corner belonged to which group.Her dad didn’t trust none of these people, which was another reason he made Josh stay with Lisa at all time.Aaron would use the N word often, but when he talked to Lisa, he tried not to curse or use derogatory language.Her father was a construction worker and this particular month he was laid off.He said that they (white guys) always laid off the black guys first.She was only eight, so she didn’t always understand what he was saying or how these things he mentioned impacted their lives.They had food on the table, clothes on their back, although Josh often complained that he wanted certain kinds of sneakers.Nevertheless, their dad made them focus on their education.His mantra was, nobody can take that away from you.Have your own, so you will not ever be laid off.He constantly drilled that into them, which seemed like it was on a daily basis.
Her father often worked with his friend and County Chairman Wallace Pinkney.He and Wallace grew up together and they seemed to have a mutual understanding and respect for one another.Pinkney had this ambition of helping with the change of theNewPhiladelphia, helping low-income people, merging racial divides and attacking hard issues like education.The community loved him because he was from the same hood.He just happened to also be a politician, which meant he did some questionable things, like the upcoming community event.Her dad would shake his head at him when he saw Wallace on TV talking about the rich and poor working together.Aaron thought that was the politician talking, not his friend.Lisa's dad always said that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.White people made sure of that, so this notion of them working together to eliminate poverty, change the education system, or help to keep these kids out of jail was ridiculous.
One of Wallace initiatives was theOver the Trackscommunity event that included food, games, sports, vendors and a celebrity appearance.Wallace had people canvassing all of north and south Philadelphia, to ensure that there were as many people as possible in attendance.He even had elected officials from other districts involved, black and white.This was supposed to be a spectacular event, so the police were ready for any sort of commotion.They had been there to keep the peace because they were like her father, who didn’t believe in that‘kumbaya shit’as he would say, but not in front of her.
The event was beyond spectacular, there were people everywhere, black and white alike.They ran out of food, so Wallace ordered 100 pizzas because he didn’t want there to be any issues.They had community speakers, gave out awards, and held a basketball tournament and still people were out and about having fun.They were not necessarily having fun with each other, meaning mingling outside of their friends, but they were all there with no trouble.After the basketball tournament, Josh and friends all started to play a pickup game with Lisa.On the other side of the court, there were several white boys playing a game as well.Wallace must have seen this and saw it as an opportunity to begin the mending of the racial divide starting with the youth because the adults were not budging.He stopped both of the games and said they should just play each other.Lisa looked at her brothers who had smirks on their faces.She knew they thought white people were not good at basketball, so why not.She looked at the white boys and saw they had similar smirks, but she couldn’t decipher what theirs meant.
Lisa was nine, Josh was eleven years old and so were all of his friends, except Danny, who was twelve.They flipped a coin and the white boys got the ball first.Danny muttered that would be the only time they got the ball.Josh had taught Lisa how to play basketball and he always stressed that defense was critical because anyone could score, but to stop someone else from scoring was what mattered.Josh, sometimes, could be a real sage.The boys put Lisa on the point guard who brought up the ball, so she guarded him from afar at first.She didn’t know him and was not sure how he played.Danny yelled at her to get on him.So she moved closer with her hands extended on her sides.The white boy went to cross her over, but she anticipated the switch, stole the ball and laid it up on their side of the court, scoring the team’s first point.Her team cheered and to her surprise, all the black people cheered.There was a huge crowd watching the game.After she had made the layup, she felt a little more confident, so she pushed the ball out of bounds towards the glaring boy who she just stole it from and stood there.It might have seemed innocent to a non-ball player, but that move was a challenge.It said, ‘I just scored and I’m not running back, I’m going to stand here and guard you so I can score again.’The boy picked up on the challenge and chest passed the ball to her really hard.He looked shocked when she merely caught it with quick hands and checked him.
He started dribbling the ball, with his hand guarding it now, as she slid sideways to keep up with him.He glared at her, then muttered something.Lisa looked from his hands to his face and asked, “What?”
He kept dribbling while saying through gritted teeth, “Y’all always cheat.”
She looked at him with confusion etched on her face.Who was y’all and who cheated?He dribbled past her quickly, so she ran to catch up as he threw the ball to his teammate, who sat at the three-point line and sunk the three, scoring for his team.This time, the white people cheered and the black people groaned.Wallace had a look on his face that could have been read, maybe this was not a good idea.
The game went on with the same sort of intensity.The tension could be cut with a knife and the emotions were extremely high over a quick game of pickup with kids.Now, it seemed like everyone was watching, with cheers and groans each time a team scored.The score was tied 22-22 with one minute left.There was no referee because, in a game like this, everyone called their own fouls.Fortunately, there was someone to keep the score and time.Lisa was tired because the boy she was guarding was fast like her.He scored on her twice, but other than that, he directed his entire team and set them up to score.And they executed this flawlessly and mostly behind the three-point line.
After her team had lost the ball, Josh tapped her on the shoulder and whispered, “Take it from him again.”
Lisa nodded and got closer to her opponent as he dribbled the ball up the court.He must have known she was going to try and steal it from him again.His elbows were out, so when he was getting ready to pass the ball between his two hands, she reached for the ball, but he elbowed her and she fell from the force of the blow.Outrage erupted from her teammates and the viewers on the sidelines to the point where Wallace got up and started pacing in front of the crowd with a lame attempt to pacify them.“It’s just a friendly game with kids.”He forced a nervous smile.
When Lisa got up, she saw her dad staring at her.He did not audibly say anything, but what she felt he said was, ‘Get that damn ball.'She didn’t call the foul because only babies did that, but she did nod towards at her father in acknowledgment of his silent demand.She picked up the ball since Wallace had just separated Josh and her opponent.Mentally, Lisa was ready to steal the ball again, so she pushed the ball towards the boy with a hard chest pass.He quickly grabbed it and started dribbling towards her again.She swatted at the ball several times to throw him off, but then he tried to do an around the back cross over and she had him.
Lisa stole the ball from him and took off dribbling to their side of the court.She could feel him on her heels.Her strongest arm was the right hand, but with 20 seconds left, she couldn’t switch the ball to her right hand without losing time or him stealing the ball.His breath felt like it was right on her neck, to the point that she cringed.Lisa was a pretty good basketball player, however with the anxiety that was building in her stomach she feared that she would miss the lay-up.As she reached the inside of the paint near their basket, she felt a strong push on her right shoulder, but she had just released the ball with her left hand for the lay-up.The next thing she knew, she was on the ground with her opponent on top of her.He glared at her and whispered, “You’ll pay for that blackie.”
The crowd erupted, then they groaned as he was pulled off of her and punched in the face by Danny.Followed up by Josh.By the time she got up, people were pouring out of the bleachers because that one incident turned into an all-out brawl.Strong arms pulled her out of the mix, moving her away from the stampeding crowd.She looked up and saw it was her dad, who was shaking his head.The police were at the scene on bullhorns telling everyone to stand back.Wallace just looked at the commotion with confusion and disappointment.Other people of all ages and colors were hastily leaving.Gunshots were fired in the air, but she was not sure if that was from the police or from the drug dealers.It did the trick because everyone scattered.
When they arrived back home, it was the talk of the neighborhood.How little Lisa stole the ball from the white boy across the tracks twice, then scored on him to win the game.Lisa didn’t even know that she scored that last basket.All she knew was she got pushed hard.Her dad tended to her scrapes and bruises while Josh tended to his own, which were mostly from his fist.She did not even want to know what that boy looked like, between Danny and Josh, they hit him hard.As they were headed for bed, their dad spoke, which stopped them both so they could hear.Aaron took a swig of his amber liquid and said, “Proud of you both for sticking together.”He looked at Josh, then looked at her, “Baby girl, that’s what I want to see.Never back down.”He held up the drink towards her, “Way to win that game today.”
He took another mouthful of the drink as Josh nodded towards her and smiled.
He was also proud of her.
15 years later –
RICH:
Why his father felt the need for him to be a public defender was beyond him.He hated representing low-lives.Mostly hated representing the same drug dealers who were caught over and over again, then had the nerve to feel like the world owed them something.Hello, stop selling drugs, dumb ass.Get an honest fucking job.His father was a Philadelphia State Representative and he represented parts of South Philly, where they grew up.The plan was for him, Rich Jr., to become a State Senator and represent other parts of South Philly, to keep it ‘together’.The best way, according to State Representative Richard Wells, Sr., was to be a public defender because a lawyer working in the private sector would be frowned upon.Especially if he decided to run for the Senate seat or any seat for that matter.South Philadelphia was made of hard working people and specifically blue collars workers.They did not always embrace white collars and especially those that rubbed it in their faces.So even amongst your own kind, one could be considered an outcast.
Richard Wells, Sr.was a smart man and knew the best way to work the system.He sent Richard Jr., now Rich to the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) to study Political Science.Once he finished undergrad, his father paid for him to go to law school at the University of Pennsylvania (U Penn).These were the best schools that offered the most elite programs, according to Richard Sr.They were also his alma maters.It could have been perceived that he received special privileges and if a party was busted or things got out of hand, he was a politician’s son and his father contributed significantly to both universities.Rich didn’t get into much trouble because while his father was accommodating and would use his power to make things go away, he also would provide serious punishment to his son when he was young.The punching stopped when he got to college, but the other disciplines started if he messed up.Cutting off his credit cards, disabling his car, having it towed, showing up after his classes to tell him he was a failure and didn’t deserve the family name or legacy.Rich tried to stay on the straight and narrow because his father was more lethal than anyone would ever know.
He often wondered how his mom dealt with him or if the father he knew was a result of his mother’s death.Rich often thought he was that way because his mom died so early leaving him with a son to raise alone, therefore he would take his frustrations out on him.He had only seen pictures of his mom at his aunt's house because his dad did not have them posted anywhere.The older he grew, the more he realized how much of a problem this was.The only thing he knew about his mom was what his Aunt Anna had told him.She was beautiful, humble and a world changer.Her passion was education, but she stopped working when she married his father.She had no siblings and her family was from North Carolina and migrated to Philadelphia, which was years before she met Richard Sr.
His father never talked about his mother.Rich could not recall a time, when he uttered her name or even acknowledged that she existed.When he was young, Rich made the mistake of telling his father that he wanted to visit his mom’s family in North Carolina.He had bruises for two weeks after that suggestion.That meant he also never recognized that his mother existed.At least in that house.Rich’s only hope was that, his mom, Margaret Wells, was at peace and no longer in pain from the cancer that took her so soon.
Court Room 5
Rich put his papers in a folder and stood tall, waiting for his next client.This boy was picked up for stealing food from a corner store.He mentally shook his head.Some things just did not make sense to him.Rich thought he probably took some candy when he just did not want to spend the dollar.The judge picked up the gavel and banged it on the desk.
“Next,” he croaked.
In walked a Hispanic looking teenage boy, who did not look any older than 14.He was accompanied by a tall black woman with brown skin, full lips, arched eyebrows, long lashes, and shoulder length straight hair.Rich estimated she was around a size eight or ten, had an impressive rack and a round ass that looked perfect in that pencil skirt.Everything on her looked good; the stockings, high heels, off white blouse that loosely fit her and a red scarf wrapped around her neck.Her spring jacket was draped over her arm and she walked in with purpose.She probably wasn’t related to the boy, but he could see that the boy trusted her because he reached out for her hand, which she quickly grabbed as they walked down the aisle of the courtroom.
Rich looked down at her hips, which despite that loose blouse, he could see swaying back and forth flawlessly.The woman looked like she was floating down the aisle.They finally reached him and he pulled his eyes away from her hips.What was wrong with him?He held out his hand and said, “Hello, you must be Ricardo?”The boy nodded.“I’m Mr.Wells, your lawyer.”
He felt the woman’s eyes on him.“So, petty theft, corner store, what do you plead?”Rich said in a low voice.
The boy looked at the woman and asked, “Guilty?”
