#carterhighschool

“There has to be a reason we were brought here.” Russ said.

“What do you mean?” Young asked.

“We were brought to this place to meet new people. God wouldn’t have sent us here to fail.” Russ responded.“If anything, we were all blessed to come here to succeed; however, we have to stay mindful that success, like failure, is a choice. God knows the path and lights the way, but if we are walking through the wild path with shades on...”

“Hold on, you’re losing me.” Young responded.

“The point is, if we walk down the path with shades on, we are bound to stumble, then trip, & fall.”

Why did The Lock-In sound so appealing to them? Carter made interesting points about the extra-curricular activities, but even aside from that, it sounded like it could really be something special. It seemed like it would be similar to the Welcome Dinner on steroids. 

With roids, there’s anger, with aggression there’s anger, with anger there’s a fight. The University had to have some experience with bringing minorities from all walks of life together without there being any problems. It was evident, from the “No Phones” Policy.

No one would be able to browse anyone’s path & create any new beef. Beef is only for those with strong enough teeth to chew it. Let’s face it, there may be some hood niggas in college, but The University didn’t enroll too many goons because they know the consequences and repercussions that could come from it. Too many, could lead to chaos, too little could lead to a lack of diversity. The “sweet spot” for The University & all the students would be the Happy Center. 

The Happy Center required them to admit minorities from all walks of life, but if someone’s walk up to the point of applying for admission had been too tough, then that walk could have hardened their souls. They couldn’t allow “those people” to attend because a dysfunctional Student Body was something no one in the administration was willing to do, unless those student’s could prove themselves, adequately.

Back in high school Young was involved in some extra curricular activities. He was active in Student Government, briefly and was also a member of the school’s Mock Trial 

Program. Even briefer, he was active in his High School’s Football program. He left each of them. They were fun, but bills will come regardless. His High School’s faculty understood his decision to go and work. They accepted the situation for what it was. The Football Coaches, most of which were hall monitors, had a tougher time understanding Young’s decision.

***

“Tuck in that shirt, son!” The Assistant Coach said as Young passed through the metal detectors. 

Fuck, another Dress Code!

Being required to tuck in his shirt, made him feel as if he couldn’t truly enjoy his Senior Year. He began to tuck it in, slowly, as he gathered his things from the table and put on his belt at the end of the metal detector. The hall monitor walked to the end of the table where he was getting himself together.

“Where you been at, BOY?” 

Young shuddered at the reference. The monitor was a grumpy man. He appeared to be a man that lost a lot at life and that left him, unhappy and miserable. The only highlight to his life, the only light in his darkness, depended on the performance of Young men chasing a dream many of them would never achieve. 

One fateful day, one fateful day, the Young men on any team get hurt, flunk out, or in short don’t make to the big leagues. Those soldiers are doomed to return and replace him as the new versions of grumpy old men. Young saw that cycle. He knew he could get into a better school based on his cranium, rather than his athletic ability. 

His chances going to a D1 school for football after not playing for 4 years (he played in Middle School and Pee Wee Leagues) and trying to play again were not looking too good. Once he saw that the politics surrounding football programs in a State notorious for Friday Nights Lights ritualistic gatherings, he knew football, or any other sport for that matter, was not for him.

“I don’t play anymore.” Young replied smugly.

“You a quitter?”

“Naw I just don’t waste my time with stuff that don’t help me get where I need to be. Like this conversation.” Young said as he began to walk off. He was already 5 minutes late for Biology, and about to be even later.

“It’s a shame to see someone of your size wasting they talent.” 

Okay he asking for it now.

“What talent is that? Being large and taking up a lot of space?”

“Boy, you can’t go to college without sports?”

“Really? What college did you go to?”

“I went to _______” (Some no name unknown HBCU)

“When you graduated?” Young asked.

“...I graduated in uhhh...”

Young cut him off before he could finish his lie and said, “My mama said if you gotta say uhh you’re lyin’,sir.”

“...”

“Look. I left football cause I got a job at Chick & Strip. I need to make money this last year of High School because, like you, I got into The University. Unlike you, I got there on my smarts, not my athletic ability. I got into THE University. As you know it is one of the best colleges in the State and one of the Top Schools in the country. I did all that, and I didn’t have to borrow NOBODY shoulder pads to do it.” Young said arrogantly. 

My goal wasn’t to insult the man.