"Boys!" Robert Freeman yelled as he watched his only grandsons being taken away.
"Granddad!" The freeman brothers both yelled.
Riley—the kid that always claimed to be tough—was crying a river while Huey—the kid that rarely showed any emotion—wore the most pained look of them all.
"Please not my boys! Please take anything but them." Robert begged the social worker.
"I'm sorry Mr. Freeman but they can not live in these conditions." The social worker said as she looked at the house. The place looked utterly rundown. "I'm truly sorry." She said once again before leaving.
Robert fell on his knees crying.
"Riley wake up." Huey said while shaking his brother awake.
"Five more minutes." Riley moaned.
Huey walked out Riley's room and came back with a cup full of ice-cold water. With out hesitation he dumped it on Riley's face.
"What the hell!" Riley said as he jolted up.
"Get ready for school." Huey said with his normal scowl.
Huey walked down stairs and was greeted by his foster mom Linda. Living in South Carolina versus Maryland was definitely a big change; not to mention their foster parents.
"Good morning Huey. How did you sleep?" She said as she placed a plate of cut up apples in front of him.
"Good." He simply replied as he grabbed the newspaper and began reading.
When Huey and Riley were taken away they stayed in an orphanage for foster children for six months. Linda Walker and her husband Richard Walker had finally came over to adopt Riley, but Huey refused to separate from his brother. After Linda had a talk with her husband, she managed to convince him on taking both Riley and Huey. It had now been five years since then.
Riley walked down stairs dressed in his school uniform. "Why do I have to go to this stupid private school?" He asked.
"It will keep you out of trouble." Linda said as she placed a plate full of bacon and eggs in front of him.
"Thanks mom." Riley said.
Huey was fourteen when they were taken away and Riley was twelve so it was a lot easier for Linda to convert Riley versus converting Huey. Riley barely used the word "nigga" anymore, unless he was mad. He did not use slang and he didn't sag his pants anymore either… I guess that was the benefits on living with a white family. But it was hard for Linda to convert Huey. Eventually after two years of trying he did start to warm up to her but he did not call her mom like his brother did.
"Good morning family." Richard Walker said as he walked into the kitchen.
"Good morning Love."
"Good morning dad."
"Good morning Richard." All three of them said simultaneously.
"What's for breakfast?" He asked his wife.
"Your favorite" She said as she placed a chocolate chip muffin on a plate and an orange on the side.
"I love your home-made muffins." He said as he pecked her cheek.
"That's why I make them," she said playfully with a bright smile on her face. They all hear a honk of a car and Linda turns to look out the window before facing Riley.
"Well your ride is here," she told Riley. Riley grabbed his book bag and some extra bacon.
"Bye." He waved as he walked out the door.
"Well I think you should go get started with school too, young man." Linda said.
"I'm home schooled I can start anytime." Huey said. He was truly lucky Linda got used to his personality and smart remarks.
"Wazzup Riles?" 16-year-old Faith Brown asked her best friend.
"Same as usual, Faithy. What's up with you? Found another playa to date yet?" He jokes. Faith slaps him playfully on the arm.
"No…"
"Why? Were Marcese and Marcus enough for you?"
"No," Faith plays along. "Marcese, Marcus AND Mikey were enough for me." They both erupt into laughter; Riley loved that Faith could joke about herself unlike many other girls. After their laughing is over, Faith finally begins to drive, but they continue to talk.
"What's up with all the M names?"
"…"
"No explanation, huh?"
"People with 'M' names are more sexy!" Faith says as she sticks out her tongue once they come to a stop at the red stoplight. Riley makes a fake pouty face. "Quit playin', Ri. You had Lea, Sasha and Maia."
"Huh, I guess you're right… at least I did have a variety of names…" he continues to joke with her. Faith reaches out to slap Riley's head but the cars behind them begin to honk; signaling that they've been holding up traffic by not watching the stoplight as it turned green.
"You're too much of a distraction while driving… I don't know why I keep letting you ride in the car with me."
"Hmm… maybe because you love me?" Riley says playfully. Faith's milk chocolate skin turns a light tint or pink in her cheeks but she dodges his last question that was a bit more like a playful comment… maybe a little too playful…
"We're here!" Faith says as she pulls into the sophomore parking lot at their school, John Caldwell Calhoun High School. They step out of Faith's BMW and begin walking into the school. They split up when they get to the main hallway because they have different homerooms, but not before saying bye.
Faith punches Riley a little harder than her usual hits and says "that's for earlier."
Riley rubs his arm twice and then makes eye contact with Faith again. "You're lucky I like you, girl," he says as he begins to walk away. They were best friends after all.
"See ya at lunch, Riles!" Faith calls out as she begins to walk the opposite way.
"Mr. Freeman?" Jazmine asked through out the empty apartment. She searched every room but he seemed to be nowhere. Jazmine, Cindy, Caesar, and their family's where the only people that had a spare key to check on the old man. Cindy was in charged on checking on him every Mondays and Fridays and Caesar had Saturdays and Sundays. Leaving Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to Jazmine. Today was a Thursday. She sat on the couch and text Cindy.
Jazzy: Mr. Freeman is gone! I'm freaking out.
Cindy: Chill jazzy I'm sure he went for a walk or something. He will be back soon.
Jazzy: Yeah you're right.
Jazmine locked her phone and decided to wait on him. After ten minutes he walked in. "Mr. Freeman I was so worried where did you go?" Jazmine asked all in one breath.
"Woah calm down Cutie Pie. I just went grocery shopping." Robert informed her.
"I could have done that for you." She said while shaking her head.
"I know but I needed to get out of this dump for a little." He said as he placed the two bags on the kitchen table.
The place was small. The kitchen connected with the living room and in the back there was the bedroom and bathroom. But the rent was one hundred and fifty a month so it was not so bad. The apartment was a mess papers and law books were laid all around the place. The place was pretty much empty. There was one small couch and next to it was a bookshelf. In the kitchen there was a small table with one chair and in his bedroom there was a closet and one single sized bed. The only thing that decorated the house was a few pictures of his grandsons. Jazmine stared at one of Huey, her and Riley sitting in her backyard smiling, well not Huey. Robert noticed and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry I have not given up yet."
Jazmine woke up from her sleep. She was remembering a few days back when she was at Robert Freeman's house. Unfortunately the man had died two days ago, he was found by Caesar. Caesar said he died a natural death but Jazmine thought it was unfair for him to die alone. After all the things he had done to reunite with his grandsons. All the things Jazmine and her friends did to help. All the things their families did to help. It seemed to be all a waste. Her father was in charge of the funeral. Jazmine grabbed a sheet of paper and pen from her computer desk and started to write a letter to Huey and Riley.
Robert Freeman had figured where they lived a month ago but he still could not reunite with them since technically they were adopted, but he was fighting and trying his best. He fought until his death.
She began to write as tears fell from her cheeks.
Huey sat in his room typing on his laptop when there was a knock at the door. "Come in." Huey said.
Linda walked in with a handful of envelopes. "You have mail." She said.
"Thanks." He simply said. He waited for her to leave before opening his mail.
Once she left, he took the time to flip trough the envelopes. Most of them where junk mail but one caught his eye; it was from Woodcrest. Woodcrest, the place he and his brother were taken away from. He thought of throwing the envelope away. He hated Granddad for never looking for him and Riley but he felt like he should read it. He opened the envelope and began to read.
Dear Huey,
It's Jazmine… as in Jazmine Dubois, the girl from across the street in Woodcrest. How have you been? I know it's been a while but I feel that you should know this. Your grandfather died recently. The funeral is in four days and he would really want for you and Riley to come, I know it. See you soon.
Jazmine
He read the letter over and over. He felt like he should just rid himself of this letter but he also felt like it was Riley's decision as well. He checked the clock for when Riley got dismissed from school, and then Huey walked downstairs and sat in the living room waiting for his brother to arrive. Riley finally walked in.
"Hey bro what's up?" Riley asked. Huey just handed him the letter. "What's this?" He asked.
"Read it." Huey said.
Riley read the letter and then looked at Huey. "I need a moment." He said as he walked to his room.
Riley reached for his phone and called Faith.
"Hello?" Faith asks. She has a habit of just answering her phone without checking the caller ID, and regretting it half the time after it was done and over with.
"You know how I told you about my grandfather?"
"You mean the one that came to eighth grade graduation? Uhh… Jim I think his name was?"
"No! Granddad. As in Granddad who used to live in Woodcrest… the crazy place I was telling you about where I lived for four years!"
"Oh yeah… and used to? Riley, what happened?"
Riley sniffles a bit. "He died recently and his funeral is in four days… I'm not sure if I wanna go."
"You have to go."
"But Huey hates him, I don't know how—"
"It's your decision too… not just Huey's. You have to go."
"But it's gonna be so, well, weird, seeing everyone from Woodcrest. Imagine what they'll be expecting! Same old Riley; Thug Riley. Huey hasn't changed at all, so they won't be surprised by him. But I'm a whole 'nother story."
"Riley, this isn't about what the hell they think about you. It's about your fucking Granddad." Riley knew Faith was being serious now. Her and him both grew up in kinda tough neighborhoods for the first few years of their life. Faith moved from Detroit to South Carolina before she was 10, and before Riley and Huey moved to Woodcrest, they lived in Chicago. South Carolina had changed them both, and they didn't regularly curse or perform "thug activities" now. Faith only cursed when she didn't want to deal with nonsense or didn't get why someone wasn't getting the point she was making; like right now.
"Fine. But you have to come with me."
"What?!"
"You always said you wanted to meet Ceez and Jazmine and Ed III and Gin Rummy and that crazy dude Uncle Ruckus. And how could I forget C-Murph? Seriously I can't count how many times you've said you wanna meet C-Murph when I talk about what used to go down in Woodcrest."
Faith sighs. "Alright… I'll tell my mom now."
"Don't you mean ask?" Riley says with a hint of laughter in his voice. It's funny how one call can stop your tears and instead make you laugh.
"We all know I run this house."
"Keep believing that if ya want to. But unlike you, I gotta go ask my mom. I'll talk to you later, Faithy."
"'Kay. TTYL Riles," she says cracking up while Riley groans right before she hangs up the phone. She knows how much he hates people using acronyms in regular everyday life conversation. He puts his phone in his pocket before sighing, knowing what he has to do now.
Huey laid on his bed staring at the ceiling when his brother walked in.
"Hey." Riley greeted. Huey just nodded. "Huey we should go." Riley got straight to the point. "Huey I know you hate him and all, but I think we should go. It's his wish after all." He continued. Huey looked at his younger brother.
"I'm doing this only for you Riley. If I had the choice I would not go to that bastard's funeral." Riley shook his head.
"He was a good man Huey."
"So then why'd he leave us?! Explain that Riley!" Huey snapped. He then shook his head. "Never mind," he added quickly. It was really just his way of saying sorry, and Riley had known that by now.
"It's okay… I'll go tell mom and dad." Riley said as he walked out.
"What?!" Linda exclaimed.
"Linda calm down. Riley and Huey have the right to go," Richard said.
"Please mom it's my Granddad's funeral. I should go," Riley begged.
"He's right Linda."
Linda stayed quiet for a minute but then spoke again. "Ok, I'll go book a flight for you and Huey."
Riley hugged her and ran upstairs to tell his brother. "Huey pack up!" Riley yelled as he ran to his room and called Faith.
"PACK YO BAG, GIRL!" he yells into the phone.
"Dang, Ri! You didn't have to blow up my eardrums!"
"Too late for that now. See ya tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow." She hung up. They both had smiles on their faces the whole time they were packing.
A/N: FIRST CHAPTER Y'ALL! Okay, in case you didn't see before, this is a collaboration with cutechibilolita! Basically how it works is one of us writes a chapter and the other person gets to read it and add some things and share opinions, etc., then it gets published and for the next chapter it's the same process, just it's the other author's turn. This first chapter was mostly written by cutechibilolita, with some added scenes from me, so props to her! The next chapter (chapter 2) will be primarily written by me, with some (possible) extra scenes from her. So CHECK OUT HER WORK if you haven't!
Until next time, peace out!
