Chapter 1

Petty Revenge

Mistakes can equal to failure unless you welcome the opportunity of change.  As a teen, I unconsciously did a vast of foolish stunts. The most memorable one was at the age of 16yrs.  This particular episode could have landed me in jail for life.

Sorry Mom and Dad, but I'm about to break your heart.  One fall evening, a close friend and I went to play ball at a local Catholic Church in Detroit.  This Church was gracious enough to open their gym to the public as an attempt to keep black males out of trouble.  Every week, we would play basketball at this church for a few hours at night with no problems.  Unfortunately, this night changed both of our lives.

Our team of five was playing some older dudes about 21yrs-25yrs old.  Since our team was winning, they began to threaten and bully us the remaining games.  These thugs were obviously upset we were beating them mercifully each game.  Finally their ring leader promised to kick our ass at the end of the night.  My boy Lee A. and I were very angry and felt like we were being punks.  It was time to go!

 I motioned Lee A. to the car so we could leave in one piece.  As we were leaving, the thugs taunted us by calling us punks, little b*tches, and hoe's.  We were totally disrespected.  We got into my car and ventured back home in silence.  Lee A and I devised a plan to scare the bullies.  We walked in silence from the car to his front door in a hasty manner speaking not a word.  As we entered the house, his mom greeted us from the kitchen which always had an aroma of Gourmet food with a smidgeon of King Size Kools in a Box (Her favorite cigarettes).  We both spoke in unison, "Hey Ma!"  as we steadily make our way to Lee's room.  Lee A. grabbed a few things and threw them into a duffle bag.  We began to laugh in a sinister but hysterical manner as we walked back to my 1978 Ford Grenada.  I opened the trunk, and he placed the bag.

I don't recall the conversation, but it had plenty to do with redemption.  This plan would be the best practical joke ever played on a bully.  We arrived back at the church.  We noticed the bullies still inside the gym as we peered through an open door.  I decided to make this moment very surreal.  As our adrenaline rushed, I began to back my car within 2 feet of the entrance.  After I blocked the exit and popped the trunk, we walked to the rear of the car.  The time was about 8:30 pm in this poorly lit parking lot.  Suddenly, the silence was broken by an abrupt zipper sound from the duffle bag.  Lee A. and I made confirmation through eye contact before we both reached into the darkness.  Right before we entered the gym, we could hear laughter and sounds of basketballs dribbling echoed toward the doors.

When we entered the gym, the balls lost all ownership as the thugs began to disperse frantically.  These gangsters turned into caged frightened animals when they realized we blocked the only exit for their escape.  "Who's the B*tch now?!!! Lee A. said as he cocked the chamber of the 12 Gauge Shot Gun.  I was guilty too, standing there very menacing with a Winchester Shotgun.  I can't recall if the guns were loaded, but we scared those dudes to death!  They begged, pleaded, screamed "We sorry man! We're sorry!"  These thugs knew they were trapped.  That was enough for me.  "The joke is over!" I said to myself, however, something strange happened.  We felt powerful, respected, and then I felt sick from guilt.

Lee A. basked in the Glory of Gangsterism.  He commanded respect as he made these three grown men huddle into a corner at gun point while they whined for their life.  The more Lee A. shouted "Whatcha gone do now!" Whatcha gone do!" the more it became real.  I immediately realized that I was no gangster.  Lee A. was the truth, and a Natural Born Gangster.  I remember yelling, "don't shoot'em!' We just suppose to scare them!" The cowardly thugs yelled, "Listen to your boy!' Please don't kill us man!"  My boy Lee A. eyes squinted in anger, and I yelled, "NO!!! We got to go now!"  There were other onlookers easing toward the door that I was blocking, but the view of the Winchester stopped them in their tracks.  I remember thinking, "OMG! We are holding hostages at gun point!"  ‘Aww man, my father is going to kill me! And my mother is going to disown me!" I locked eyes with the terrified witness's and quickly motioned them to freedom. 

Truthfully, I wasn't thinking about jail, I was thinking about my parents whom gave me everything.  I failed them miserably. I was considered a Rich Kid with Upper Middle Class parents making over $100,000 per year, for many years.  My parents were putting me through Lutheran East, a private high school.  They even bought me the getaway car that I was driving as my Christmas gift in 1985, just one year prior to this felonious act.  I was living large and stayed fresh with the newest clothes.  I totally dishonored my parents for a mere moment of disrespect from thugs that almost cost me my freedom.

After our foolish felony, we rushed from the gym with guns in hands and carelessly tossed them straight into the trunk; slammed the trunk shut, ripped opened the doors, got in and sped off into the night.  I was a nervous wreck all while never breaking my silence.  Lee A. was amped and being completely animated by imitating our victims "Please don't kill us man! Listen to your boy! Please!"  He laughed gasping for air. His improvisation was very comical but for some reason, I couldn't laugh.

When we arrived to his house, I said "Talk to you later!" Those were the only words I muttered.  Neither of us ever spoke about it again, until now.  That night I was a pivotal moment in our lives. I was scared straight and my boy Lee A. became a gangster.  That incident eventually led us down two different roads as you'll see later.