“There was an OG by the name of Trent, whom I met one day, hanging out at the park when I was about nineteen. He took a liking to me because I used to help him clean up the park for a few dollars.
“Anyway, he looked out for Kenzi and me when Ashanti split, and I couldn’t find work because of my condition. He had me into a lot of shit to redirect my anger, so he taught me how to fly. He was a pilot at the time, and I can say, aside from meeting you, he was another safe space for me.”
“Aww, is he still around?”
“Nah. Lost Mr. T about four years ago due to natural causes. He and Ms. Betty were like our fairy godparents and shit. We still got Ms. Betty, so I’m grateful for that.”
“I’m guessing Ms. Betty was a close neighbor?”
“Yup. Right next door. She’s the one who kept me on top of my meds, along with Kenzi.”
“I’m so glad you all had someone to look out for you guys.”
“Yeah, but you know a nigga like me always been hardheaded. It wasn’t until I joined the MCR did I learn some discipline. Ruger was another person to save my life on thesestreets. If it wasn’t for them, I would have been out of here a long time ago.”
She reached over and slid her hand down the back of my head and massaged my neck. “I can see where they taught you well. You’re not a bad guy, Ghana. I want you to know that and believe that.”
“I got you, mamas. I’m just happy you’re allowing me to show you that I can be normal . . . sometimes.” We both laughed.
“And I love that about you.”
I smiled at her. “You ready for the surprise?”
“What surprise?” she asked.
I tilted the plane until it looped. I could hear her screaming and laughing as she covered her face again.
“Oh my God, Ghana! Don’t do that!”
I laughed jovially. “A’ight, I quit.”
“I’m going to fight you!”
“I don’t want no smoke, baby. Just your heart.”
She blushed and looked away.
Yeah, she was definitely my ray of sunshine.
Thirty-two minutes later, we landed safely in Commerce, Michigan. I helped Autumn out of the helicopter and into our town, where we waited for a car. I wanted to make this date special because one: I was trying to get her to fall in love with me. And two: she deserved to be treated like nothing less than a queen. As I’d stated before, Autumn’s energy and spirit made me feel a comfort I hadn’t felt in a long time.
I didn’t know if it was a good or bad thing, or if I was setting myself up for failure. But I’d rather take a chance and find out if it wasn’t real than to not take the chance and realize it was real all along.
We pulled up to the building fifteen minutes later, and I helped her out of the car. I guided her up the flight of stairs, and the security guard opened the doors for us.
The building was big enough for the vision I had in mind and was coming together perfectly. The high ceiling and walls were painted with photos of Nana Zuri, Kenzi, and me from a photo album I kept stored away when I wanted to see my nana’s face.
It was of a photo of us as kids, when my nana would read to us, that our grandfather had taken off guard. I got in touch with Emery Aldana from Aldana Institute of Creative Arts, and he had some students come out to showcase their talent.
I was pleased to say they perfected every detail of the photos I gave them.
Along the walls were large built-in bookshelves that weren’t all the way stocked yet, since the place was still under maintenance. There was a stage and a lounging area where I would host poetry/spoken-word nights and have book club sessions or book signings for authors in the community.
There would also be a small cafe upstairs that served pastries and coffee.
I watched Autumn’s eyes scan the building with her mouth agape.
“Is this yours?”