I had to start my mornings with a workout or else my head wouldn’t be clear, I had a ton of meetings and appearances. Today would be the day I needed Xari to pull through if she was serious about being Frankie’s nanny. She would have to pick her up from school, feed her, help her with homework, and hang out with her until I got off.
I hit the weights heavy and let my mind run wild. The first thing I thought about was the way Xari Lucas looked in that black and white dress yesterday. Goddamn. Something so distracting shouldn’t come in such a pretty package.
When I finished my last set of deadlifts, my phone rang, stopping the Notorious BIG song that pumped through the speakers. I wiped the sweat from my face and answered the call once I saw my father’s name flash across the screen. I had to be in my right mind to speak to him. I didn’t have the type of father I could carry on mindless conversations with. Every conversation with Warren Freeman had to be calculated.
“Hey, Dad,” I said pushing out a whoosh of air from my lungs. I sat on the weight bench with my elbows on my knees wanting desperately to get back to my work out. To get back to Biggie. Something about 90’s hip-hop was so raw. The beats hit so hard I couldn’t go a day without listening to it.
“Van, how are you?” His voice was deep and rich.
“I’m good. How are you feeling, old man?”
“Can’t complain. Just got done with my morning run. I hear you’re having a meeting about the art program funding cuts today.”
“I am. Why what’s up?” I already knew why he was calling. He wanted me to vote his way. That had been the case my entire career. Dad groomed me to move and operate like he did in the senate. Like his father did and like the men before him. We were four generations deep into the senate and now it was all on me to continue carrying out the Freeman legacy. I knew it would stop with me though. I couldn’t see forcing this shit on Frankie.
I was only going along with it because I’d been conditioned my entire life. I knew the importance of having a Freeman in the senate. Our family had been lucky to have a hand in creating laws that benefitted our community. I appreciated the legacy we had but my father was more calculating with his senate term. He voted on issues that would line our family’s pockets or put future generations of Freemans at the top of the food chain. His goal was to eventually have a Freeman in the White House.
“You know why, son. I want to make sure you know which way to vote.”
“I’m voting against the cuts, Dad. I’m not playing these games. Inner-city kids need art programs. Without them, we see criminal activity, gang activity, and homicide skyrocket. You know that.”
“I also know that there is no Freeman child in any of those filthy inner-city schools so the fate of them is of no concern to us. Cutting funding to those programs will divert more money to the private organizations that support you. One of them being Francesca’s school, Holy Trinity.
“So, usurp funds from schools that need it to fund schools where parents can afford to pay for their children to have extracurricular art programs?” I laughed because it was a fucking joke.
“Evander, take your goddamn heart off your sleeve and use your brain. You will vote the correct way. People are depending on it. Most of the others are voting to cut funds to ensure our children stay cultured without it going to waste.”
“You think funding inner-city schools means the money will go to waste?” I scoffed.
“Of course it will. Those kinds of kids don’t know how to properly appreciate anything that isn’t rap music.”
“Dad, I gotta go. I was in the middle of a workout.”
“Well, fine. Just vote for the cuts. Remember, I want my granddaughter to have every opportunity to excel. I’m trying to set her up for the best possible future.”
“I know. Frankie is fine though. I can afford to give her any opportunity I want. I’ll call you later,” I said. I pressed end call then took my frustrations out on the weights.
…
FIVE
“Should I keep dressing business casual, or can I switch to casual?” I asked Navy with the phone pinned to my ear. Shoulder length spiral curls dripped shower water down my back as I stared at the remaining clothes in my closet.
“Until you get the official dress code, keep it business casual. You’re gonna do good today, Xari. I’m proud of you for trying. Even though I got you through the door. The rest is up to you.”
“Thanks, Navy. Hey, can you do me a favor and not say anything to Mom and Dad about the job? I want to tell them when I actually nail it because I’m awesome and not because I’m your sister.”
“Okay,” she laughed. “You’re going to have to show them you’re serious about this lifestyle change.”
“I know. I know. I got this,” I told her, looking in the mirror at my hair. Did I want to wear it up or down?
“Okay. Call me when you get a chance, I want to know how everything went.”
“Will do. Bye, sissy.” I made kissing noises at the phone then ended the call. Hopefully I did well in the at-home interview process because I needed a check at the end of the week to start paying my car note. Once I was dressed and my hair was swept up in
