Summer, Summer, Summer Time // Ordinary People [ Excerpt ]

T. WYATT TURNER Park, an oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle. In the center of Granville, it was otherworldly. The sounds of laughing and shouting were the soundtrack of this hot day. Kids were playing with water guns, running clubs making their way around the manicured paths, folks on bikes going faster than they should, same for the folks on skateboards and rollerblades.

I’d parked my truck and made my way through the gates about 60 minutes ago. The fellas and I started a game of two-on-two about 50 minutes ago. And 1 minute ago, I’d hit yet another half-court shot, putting me and Crane in the lead.

The smell of Costley summer was intense. It was a sweet, warm scent. Something that made you feel like a kid again. I wish I could bottle this up.

Crane crashed into me with his bare chest.

He shouted. “Saxe, that’s what the fuck I’m talking about!”

We clasped hands and pulled each other into an aggressive, brotherly hug. Sweat covered both of our shirtless torsos. Yeah, we beat our homeboys, but they put up a valiant fight. 

Crane and I performed the three-move handshake we created to celebrate our wins years ago. Crane smiled and showed off his latest mouthpiece: a gold and emerald green upper grill. We were the skins in this two-on-two basketball game.

“Man, Micheaux, fuck you!”

That was one of the shirts in this game. My homeboy Skee shouted at me as he flipped me off with both of his middle fingers.

Crane and I laughed and joined Skee and Keeyon in the middle of the court. Skee was even shorter than Ashley, at about 5’5 maybe 5’6”, but he didn’t have a little man complex, despite the rest of the crew towering above him.

Keeyon grabbed my hand and pulled me in for a quick hug.

“Good game, Micheaux.”

Skee nudged Keeyon in the stomach. “Nigga, don’t good game them. You suck! Ain’t you a professional basketball player?”

Keeyon laughed. Keeyon was the giant of the group, easily over 6’4”. Though he’d left Costley before me, he’d put on some weight with his return.

Keeyon palmed Skee’s head and pushed him away from the group.

“Skee, relax. It’s a friendly game.”

Crane, Keeyon, and I laughed. Though Skee doesn’t have a little-man complex, he was terribly competitive. Which caused so much unnecessary stress in his life.

Keeyon said. “For real, for real, good game y’all.”

Crane asked. “Keeyon, this lil nigga is out of pocket, but you weren’t as fast as you usually are. What’s going on, bro?”

Keeyon used the neckline of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face. His hair was just as unruly as mine. He had pulled his hair into a bun at the top of his head, and I used a terrycloth headband to hold mine back from my face.

He said. “Bro, I’ve been in physical therapy. You know, I had that accident that fucked up my ankle while I was in Germany playing. I’m trying to get my shit right so I can get back over there, but it ain’t looking too good for ya’ boy.”

I slapped Keeyon’s arm.

“Bro, why didn’t you tell us? We ain’t need you out here playing with a fucked up ankle.”

Keeyon laughed. “It’s cause I don’t need y’all niggas babying me. I’m grown. I know what I can handle.”

Skee shouted. “Well, your dumb ass should have let us know about this injury before the game started. I would have paired up with Crane instead.”

Keeyon said. “Ain’t nobody trying to see your bird chest.”

Skee ripped his shirt open. Skee was far from bird-chested. He stayed in the gym as much as the next man and had the abs and definition in his arms and legs to prove it, but far be it from Keeyon to miss an opportunity to pick with Skee.

“Fuck you, Keeyon. You broke boned bitch. You see these pecks, nigga. I’ll beat your ass.”

“Calm down, damn. It’s too hot for all that.” Crane said.

I asked. “How long are you in town, Keeyon?”

“Shit, I’ll probably be here through the summer. My physical therapy should be done by then. I think by mid-fall I’ll head west. I’m staying in this nigga’s driveway right now.”

Keeyon shoved Skee towards the bleachers. Crane and I followed suit. This moment, yet another thing I had to be grateful for. Being back in Costley with my boys had my heart full. Even through the bickering, they still felt like home.

We sat on the bottom two benches behind the hoop we’d finished playing with. The sound of sneakers and basketballs bouncing and dragging across the asphalt were loud. The sounds of Outkast’s Elevators was even louder. Summers in Costley have consistently felt like a gigantic block party.

Crane tossed each of us a towel and bottled water from his duffel bag.

He asked. “What you mean you’re in this nigga driveway? You’re driving a Winnebago?”

Skee laughed. “Nah, this big ass nigga is in a tiny home.” He smacked Keeyon on the arm with the back of his hand. “Keeyon, tell them about your car-house.”

Keeyon shook his head.

“Y’all don’t mind this fucking knockoff Kevin Hart. When the doctors in Germany put those pins in my ankle then cleared me for travel. I had my lil studio packed up and caught the first thing smoking back here. Got me a big ass RAM ProMaster, converted that mother fucker into a tiny home so I could get around and not have to rush to find a place—”

Crane said. “Man, Keeyon, you know you could have crashed at my spot.”

I said. “Yeah, man. Same here. I mean, I just got back not too long ago myself, but I have an extra bedroom.”

Keeyon smirked.

“Nah nigga. I know what you got. You got some new booty you playing house up in. You know good and damn well I wasn’t crashing that party.”

Skee released a laugh as loud as Uncle Valentino. Crane and Keeyon added to it. I laughed, then threw my towel at Keeyon’s head.

“Boy, fuck you. And you’re right, my baby and me been joined at the hip—”

Keeyon said. “Oh, that’s what y’all calling it now?”

I punched him in his chest. “Man, shut your cyborg ass up.” I couldn’t help but laugh with these rockhead ass niggas.

“But seriously, that’s even more reason for you to hold up at my spot. I been at Ashley’s for the past week…well, it’s our spot, Lil’ Bit slid me the key this morning.”

My bros all yelled in unison. The oohs and ahhs were a mix of congratulations and poking fun at me. These niggas worked my nerves, but it was all love.

Crane wrapped his arm around my neck.

“Saxe, so Lil’ Saxe hit you with the key to the front door. I know your Lover Boy ass was starting to pre cum when he handed it to you, didn’t you?”

Skee and Keeyon’s laughter went up a few decibels. I laughed as well, then pushed Crane off of me.

“Man, fuck all y’all…but yeah.”

Another wave of laughter erupted from the four of us. Skee sprayed me with a bottle of water. Keeyon dapped me up. Crane tossed me his towel.

Crane said. “If y’all knew the back and forth he and Lil’ Saxe had, you’d understand how big this is. This simple nigga almost missed out on the love of his life, being stubborn.”

Keeyon asked. “Man, when you gone let me meet this lil nigga that got your heart and dick in his back pocket?”

I smiled. My smile was so wide it hurt. The thought of Ashley kept me on Cloud 9. I sucked my teeth. I could still taste the faint flavor of his lips on my tongue from earlier today. Damn, I loved that man.

Keeyon continued. “Oh, I see. You scared he gone look at me and realize he went for the less sexy friend. Aight, I get it. Don’t want Ashley to be disappointed so early in your relationship.”

I laughed. “Nigga, there are too many things wrong with that sentence. One: you ain’t the sexy friend of this group—”

“Yeah,” Skee yelled. “I am!”

The rest of us met each other’s eyes, then back down to Skee. I did all I could not to laugh first, but a laugh deep from the bottom of my belly jumped out of my mouth.

“Sure, Jan. Anyways, Keeyon, Ashley ain’t looking at your straight ass.”

Keeyon downed his bottle of water.

“Man, attraction knows no orientation. I may not be drooling over dick and ass, but I know he gone take one look at me and wish I was gay.”

I threw Crane’s towel at Keeyon’s head. This nigga was full of jokes. Always jumping on an opportunity to be the troll.

He continued. “Seriously, bro. You do seem happier than when we last saw each other. So, if this lil nigga is the reason for it, then he’s good in my book. Real talk, when you gone bring him around us? See, I knew Crane was your favorite even back in college.”

Crane said. “Quit your bitchin’, Key. I met that lil nigga by accident. You know, Micheaux ass, always the recluse. He was shopping when I ran into them two.”

I said. “Key, you’ll meet him tonight at Ordinary People.”

Skee said. “Well, I can’t wait to meet this lil nigga you been keeping secret for months.”

I said. “I ain’t been keeping him secret. We just been in our own lil world. Really only been working and with him. Shit, Nicky the only one who really been around.”

My heart was heavy. Though several weeks had passed since the shooting incident, I still held onto some guilt for not being with Nicky that night.

The drive to the hospital, making all those calls to Mama K, seeing Ashley, breaking down, and then trying to stay strong for Miranda and Mama K, was all a blur. I’ll never forget that night for the rest of my life.

The sounds of snapping brought me off of memory lane. Skee was waving his hand in my face. Crane’s hand was on my shoulder.

Keeyon asked. “Meesh, you good bro?”

I smiled. “Yeah, man. I’m good. Ashley and I are going up to see Nicky in a lil bit. Have y’all been to see him?”

Skee said. “Yeah, Keeyon and I went up there earlier today. I was with him for a few hours Thursday. Miranda been by his side every time I’m up there. Does she have a job?”

I laughed. “Yes, fool. Of course, she has a job…I think. But it doesn’t matter. She’s standing by her man.”

Skee said. “Shit, I just want to make sure she ain’t taking advantage of bro. You know you and Nicky are soft as fuck when it comes to being in love. Sounds like this Ashley nigga is good for you, but we don’t need another chick trying to bleed Nicky dry after she got his nose wide open.”

Keeyon mushed Skee.

“Bro, shut up. The nigga is recovering from gunshots. Talk all that shit when he’s out and healthy again.”

Skee said. “By that time, it’ll be too late. And I only have room for one of you dusty niggas in my driveway.”

Keeyon smacked Skee in the head.

“Nigga, my house has four wheels and I’ll tear up your lawn and drive off if you keep talking shit.”

Crane said. “Aight, niggas. I need to meet up with Adalyn before heading to Ordinary People. I’ll see y’all tonight at the Box Office.”

I asked. “Oh, how’s that going?”

Crane shrugged. “She’s good people. I like her company, nothing more to report right now.”

Skee said. “Key, these niggas getting boo’d up left and right. I guess I’m next since you’re going on your lil Eat Pray Love run soon.”

I laughed. Man, I missed my bros.

*Ordinary People ebook HERE
**Ordinary People paperback HERE