Fool me once, shame on you... - BA 11

Fool me once, shame on you…


James Wilkins awoke from his 9 hour sleep on a Saturday morning at 7 am with a smile on his face with his whole day planned out. He got out of his king sized bed as he began walking toward his bathroom to take a shower and brushing his teeth with Colgate. He was out the bathroom 20 minutes later and headed down the stairs for breakfast, “ hey mom, how’d ya sleep,” James asked as he kissed her on the forehead while she read the Chicago times newspaper, “good morning sweetheart, I slept pretty well I guess, how about yourself,” she had asked him as he searched for some cereal in the pantry, he replied, “ I’m doin’ just fine mamma, where’s pops?” He asked that with a little concern in his voice, for he hadn’t seen him since he had walked out the door last night claiming he had a late shift at work. He left at 7pm the day before with his brief case in hand as he wore his black khakis with a white button up with a black tie. His leather black shoes fit comfortably on his size 13 feet. “I haven’t seen him all morning James, but I’m sure he’s fine wherever he is,” Mom had said while she kept her face in the newspaper, James looked at his watch and said, “Mom I gotta get up to the court now and play some ball, I don’t wanna disappoint Lil’ Lenny,” James had said as he grabbed his Spalding basketball from near the front door as he walked out the door with a grin on his face. He walked down the street dribbling his basketball between his legs as he walked down 5 houses to Lenny’s place. When he walked up the front steps to Lenny’s door and knocked 3 times then Lil’ Lenny finally came to the door with a white head band around his braided hair and his green Celtics jersey with the number 33 on it that represented Larry Bird. Lenny also wore basketball shorts that came down all the way to his ankles for he was only 11 years old standing only 5’5 , but he was excited to be able to play ball with the big boys for the first time, “James! Hey Big Man how’s it going?”
“I’m doing great Lil’ Man, where’s ya mamma at?”

“She went out to work, but she doin’ fine, my dad is in here though”

“Cool, you ready to go Lenny?”

“Sure am!” Said Lenny as he grabbed his big bull dog by the leash and they walked out the door.

After a good 20 minute walk, they had finally made it to the Chamber land, aka the basketball court, where 2 other boys were waiting, all James’ age (18) and all his friends.
There was Mac “Smooth Cream” Jabbar, who can always drive to the hole with no problem and can always block shots though he is only 6’1. He is known for his signature dread locks.
Moe Jackson was also apart of the crew, known for only his 3 point shooting, that’s all he does.

“Alright y’all let’s bust this game,” Lil’ Lenny said as he shot the basketball from half court, it rolled in and out of the rim. James laughed and turned his head where he found a disturbing sight. His smile quickly faded away as he saw his father with another woman on the park bench hugged up together. In anger, James threw the basketball at the back of his fathers head as it collided with a huge pop noise as the basketball ricocheted off his head and into Lil’ Lenny’s arms. James stormed away in anger back to his place. Lenny never got to play with the big boys liked he wished to. Mac and Moe barely play ball like they used too. And James moved out that night wishing not to see his father again.