I nod in agreement, watching as he slides the folder to the side before steepling his hands in front of him.
“Alex is a smart kid. I think he’s a little too smart for his own good. It’s made it easier to manipulate people, adults and peers alike. He’s realized a smile and a little charm go a long way. Sound like anyone you know?”
I give him a grin.
“He loves baseball. He’s actually a really good player, could be the star on the team if he didn’t get into so much trouble. University interscholastic league rules of the state make him ineligible when he’s suspended. The coach takes things a little further and benches him an extra game every time he’s sent to the office. It worked for a while, but Alex is very close to giving up.”
“Is the coach a dick?”
“Not at all. Hard on his players, yes, but Brian is one of the good guys. He wants these kids to succeed, but he can only do so much from the dugout, you know?”
I can understand what he’s saying, but tough love doesn’t always work, especially for a group of kids where tough is all they’ve ever known. Things are hard enough at home. They shouldn’t be difficult when it involves something positive that they enjoy.
“According to his records from elementary school, Alex showed up in Texas with an attitude. School is hard, kids are just mean. They all have something going on. Every one of them has a chip on their shoulder, and putting kids like that together when each one is trying to scratch their way through life makes it even harder. Alex seems to have come out on top in that regard, but he has to fight daily to stay there. There’s always another kid who is tired of being beat down and walked on. There’s always a challenge, some reason he thinks he needs to prove himself to his peers.”
“Sounds familiar,” I grumble.
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but it was the same for you. You had struggles. Cedric had struggles. Every kid has them. No disrespect, but you weren’t alone. You weren’t the only one who needed help. You’re just one of the few that was eventually willing to accept it.”
“And Alex?”
“Alex is in desperate need of assurances. He needs out of south Houston. He needs a chance to flourish where he isn’t getting into trouble. Where he doesn’t have to look over his shoulder terrified that someone is going to jump him to prove a point.”
“I know.” And I do. I want all of that for my son, but I can’t just swoop in and save the day, walk up to the kid and tell him he’s coming with me. First off, Tinley would never allow it, and as shitty as what she’s done to me, I know she’s a good mom, doing the best she can with the hand she’s been dealt. I push down the pain and anger over her lies and meet my mentor’s eyes. “How do I start?”
This man knows what it’s like to build rapport with an angry kid who has had more life experience by middle school than many adults have had.
“He’s at practice right now. What you have to prove to him right now is that despite not being there, by no fault of your own, you aren’t going anywhere now.”
“That I can do.”
“He needs consistency but expect pushback. He’s had to be strong for himself, for his mother and sick grandmother. He doesn’t know any other way. Accepting help from you will make him feel weak, and you know what happens to the weak ones around here.”
They get eaten by the wolves.
“Build trust through presence, but don’t try to force anything else. He’ll let you know when he’s ready for more.”
I thank him, shaking his hand once more before leaving the school and heading to the baseball field. The facilities around here are shitty at best. Grass covers much of the diamond, patches of weeds threatening to engulf the dirt, but the boys on the field don’t seem to mind, and why would they? They know nothing else. Sports, well, any sanctioned activity was never my thing. My grades were never good enough and when I brought them up after Tinley moved to town, all I could see was her. There was no way I was wasting my time hanging out with athletes when her arms were waiting for me.
I spend the entire practice leaning on the fence watching the young man I helped create, and to say the least, I’m in awe. He bats, runs, and cheers on his team like a completely different person from the one I saw outside of that store days ago. Here, he can be himself. Here, he doesn’t have to worry about extra cash or fighting for clout. His reputation on the diamond is built through his hard work and determination. The kids here respect him for that alone, not the power he has been granted through working for Cedric. This is something I can work with. This gives me more hope than I’ve had since seeing him in that parking lot with Tinley and realizing I’ve missed his entire life up to this point.
When practice is over, Alex walks right past me without even looking in my direction, and although it hurts, I know exactly where he’s coming from. If I were in his situation instead of the horror of knowing my father was dead after killing my mother, I’d act the same damn way. If I made it that long without a dad, I sure as hell wouldn’t need one now.
But I’ll be right back here tomorrow and the next day and then next until he’s ready to look in my direction.
Chapter 12
Tinley
“How was practice?” I ask as Alex climbs in the car.
He ignores me, and although it crushes another little piece inside of me, I’m just happy he’s actually here, sweat still
