Where the Heart Is by H. G. Hawk

Author:H. G. Hawk
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Urban Books
Published: 2019-09-12T00:00:00+00:00

20

A few weeks had passed since my first delivery for Burn. I learned my lesson not showing up to the gym after I made the drop-off. We’d only had one delivery since that first one, and I made sure to follow all of Burn’s directions. It was the only source of money for me, and I needed to get in good with him, so no deviating from the plan. The more deliveries, the faster I’d get the money for the certificate.

On top of not having any deliveries, I also hadn’t seen my mother. Each day, I’d go to the park for a few hours and wait, but she never showed up. As usual, none of the park regulars knew anything. When I’d start thinking of horrific scenarios of what could have happened to her, I’d push them from my mind. It was better that I focused on what I needed to do for the certificate and trust she was doing what she needed to on her end. We both wanted to be a family again. We just had to work to get it back.

Each day, after waiting for my mother, I’d head to the gym where I’d meet Daquan. While I was in the park, he was in the library studying. He was determined to get a high school diploma so he could go to college. More power to him. Reading and learning were definitely not of interest to me.

With so much time and Daquan encouraging me, I was able to really focus on my training. I’d started to feel like I was making progress. My feeling was re-enforced by Pop while in the middle of a training session.

Pop was sitting on an upside-down bucket next to the water fountain. He was leaning his elbows on his knees, looking a little worn down. I walked over to get a drink from the fountain.

“Hi, Pop.”

“Hey there, young man. You’re looking good, stronger. Your training is getting better.”

“Thanks.” I took a sip of water, happy that Pop had noticed my improvement.

“Be careful, though.”

“What do you mean?” I faced Pop, expecting him to give me some boxing tips.

“I mean don’t throw it away. Be careful of the company you keep.”

“I don’t follow,” I said.

“Let me tell you about Burn. You all may know him as Burn, but Bernard came through those doors a scared little boy.”

“Burn’s name is Bernard?”

Pop nodded. “Bernard was around your age when he first came in here. He’d been getting bullied on the streets and wanted to learn to protect himself. He had talent, thought he could have gone pro. But he got distracted. The streets were too enticing. There was a playa who used to come around, like Bernard does now, and he would flash his money and cars. Well, Bernard got caught up with this cat and started working for him.

“Years later, this cat, Fat Jay was his name, disappeared. Suddenly, Bernard takes over Fat Jay’s business. That business ends one of two ways—prison or death. Fat Jay isn’t in prison.

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