Page 120 of The Sweetest Devotion

“It’s too many of us losin’ a war that should’ve never been started,” I said further. “They say LA on a different type of time, but shit, it’sallof southern California. You shoot at them kids and then they’ll bust back, but they won’t just stop at you, they’ll get your mom and little sister because they won’t give a fuck.”

Dominique winced beside me and I knew I was getting through. He glanced at me, his eyes glassy. “What do I do?”

I’d just spent the weekend customizing a car for someone. I had money to spare and if Dom owed a debt, I was willing to help. But in case it wasn’tthateasy, I was ready to offer more. “Let me have that gun, D. You need a place to lay low? You can stay at my crib. I got an extra room. You just go to school and come back, and most importantly, stay out of trouble.”

Dom didn’t like this offer too much. “I don’t wanna look like a punk.”

The male ego was such a fragile thing when you were young. “You wanna live to fight another day, or break your mom’s heart by havin’ her bury her son at only seventeen?”

Anger flashed in his eyes and his nostrils flared. “Man, watch that shit.”

I slapped my hand on his back hard. “Yeah, the thought doesn’t feel so good, does it?” I gestured to myself. “Iwas in a gang when I was your age. Shit had me gettin’ pulled out of school by my mom, and contrary to what the movies show, I didn’t have to get jumped out or fight anybody. I just stopped doing the shit I wasn’t supposed to be doin’ and it was done.”

Dom narrowed his eyes. “That’sit?”

“That’s it.” I was twenty-nine now, and of course things were different when I was a teen, but it wasn’t a dramatic exit from my gang life like they showed in Hollywood.

Dominique snorted. “You tellin’ me you can just leave the Bloods or Crips by just stop showin’ up to work?”

His words caused me to laugh and he joined me. “A simple letter of resignation to the streets.” I chuckled some more. “It was anticlimactic, but I’m fortunate to have gotten out and to have had my mom and grandma in my corner. I’m sure your mom is in yours, and you know you got me.”

Dominique nodded and I was happy he wasn’t too thickheaded. I knew a lot of the boys out playing basketball before us or reading textbooks scattered across the bleachers, but Dominique had always felt like a mirror of my younger self.

Besides that, I didn’t want to see this young Black boy die.

The streets would chew you up and spit you out, and no one would bat an eye.

“You owe any money?” I asked, getting back on track.

Solemnly, Dominique nodded. “Just a stack, but I don’t have it.”

“Well, I do. You take it and you pay it back and let them know you’re done. Do it publicly so that nothin’ pops off.”

“Thank you, Keith.” He looked me in the eye, his gratitude prominent.

I held my hand out. “So, you comin’ through my spot?”

Dom smirked, but he reached out and slapped his palm against mine. “You better have some good video games.”

I stood up. “Nah, that’s BYOS.”

Dominique’s brows furrowed. “Huh?”

“Bring Your Own Shit,” I clarified. I’d never been into video games all like that. I’d mess around and play a game or two at Savon’s if he was in the mood, but it wasn’t my thing.

Dominique clicked his tongue, and before I could tease him further, I chanced a look at the gym floor and noticed my grandmother walking in. She’d spotted us and was making her way over and because she was alone that left me wary. She was eighty and active, but still, I worried about her.

Dominique came with me as I stepped down from the bleachers and met up with Betty Jean.

She was holding a couple of blue plastic bags carefully. “Hey, I came to give you a care package.”

I was quick to scoop her in for a hug. Her familiar perfume of flowers and just her enveloped my senses.

I released her and introduced her to Dom. “This is Betty Jean, my grandmother—but really, once you get to know her, you see how she’s everyone’s grandmother.”

Dominique was shy as he bobbed his head at Betty. “Hi.”

“What you bring me, Betty?” I wanted to know, because it already smelled good.

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