Play It Forward by Frederick Smith

Author:Frederick Smith [Smith, Frederick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626392939
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2015-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

When we pulled into the alley behind my apartment building, I gave Blake my apartment number and key to let himself in.

It was almost eight in the evening, and after a cross-country flight and the post-flight drama at the airport and at Tyrell’s and Tommie’s, I knew Blake had to be hungry. But Tyrell didn’t want to chance eating anywhere in public, since the Tommie / Tyrell story had hit the air, so I told Blake where he could find his favorite turkey chop dinner and to get started without me.

With Blake gone, Tyrell parked behind a car I didn’t recognize, but knew was probably one of my neighbors or a visitor to a nearby apartment. He turned off the lights and the truck.

“Your nephew is cool,” Tyrell said.

“Thanks.”

“Like his uncle.”

“I’m going to have my hands full this summer,” I said. Wanted to change the subject quickly. “His mom—my sister—thinks I can help him get his life on track. He’s nineteen and just wilding out on her lately.”

“We’ll get him on track,” Tyrell said. “Once this whole thing blows over, I’ll get at you and we’ll see what happens. I know you need some alone time with Blake.”

“After what he experienced today,” I said, “I’m sure he’ll need therapy. Welcome to L.A., Blake! Now, let’s go see your therapist and get you some mind drugs.”

We laughed. On the radio, a Tommie Jordan song was starting to play. Tyrell changed it quickly to a jazz station.

“Loser,” Tyrell said.

“Be nice.”

He turned my way and stared. “You’re so nice. I mean, the whole LADS work, community service thing. You’re educated. Together. Look good.”

I wanted the compliments to stop. So I rebutted wtih, “Older than you. Unemployed. Not famous. Definitely not an athletic body. Poor…compared to you.”

“It’s not a money thing,” he said. “I’d give it all up to be happy and have peace of mind like you seem to have.”

I smiled. “‘Seem’ is the operative word.”

“Still,” he said, still staring at me. I was feeling a little uncomfortable with the attention. “I’m not saying this because I’m some famous baller who knows he can get whomever he wants—because I can…”

“Whatever, Tyrell.” We laughed again.

“But I think you’re smart enough to know I dig you,” he said.

“Me? Why?”

“Yeah, you.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“Wow,” I said. “I’m shocked.”

“Why do you think I took that hundred-dollar speaking gig at LADS? I researched you, Malcolm.”

He grabbed my hand with his dinner-plate-sized hands. I couldn’t wait to tell Kyle about the fingers. The places my mind went. I was getting a bit…excited.

“It was three hundred,” I said and laughed.

“I woulda done it for free just to get to meet you,” Tyrell said. “For real for real.”

“Oh God,” I said. Blushed. “I don’t know what to say, Tyrell.”

“Don’t say yes or no,” he said. “I’ma get a room at The Standard or Mondrian, lay low for a few days, maybe a week. Settle this Tommie thing. Then see what’s up. You do wanna see what’s up, don’t you?”

“What’s up? Like…” I pointed to Tyrell and me and back to Tyrell with my free hand.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.