Right Of Passage

Ch.1 "Patience & Eloquence "

"So this is it?" "Yeah. For right now atleast. We need to get our heads in the right spaces. Well, I know I do atleast." Siah was speaking to his now ex-girlfriend over the phone. They had been in a rocky place for about a month now. After long contemplation he decided to end it here. "Ok well, let me atleast come see you one last time." Serenity spoke with worry in her voice. Her and Siah developed a bond that was fastly formed. But needed work to uphold. "Is that smart?" Siah spoke back. "Maybe it's premature or impulsive." "Okay, well you just finish your shift and let me know." Serenity said. "Okay I will, " Siah's words and heart were heavy. He knew that this moment eas crucial. But he couldn't find the words to express at the moment. The heat of the summer sun warmed his skin but on the inside he was cold. Looking out to the view of clothes drying on wires, brick buildings , and the committe of watchmen protecting the kids who werent in camp as they played. This was Tino Heights. The project housing complex where he worked. Formerly a resident, Siah moved out of the complex as a teen, to a complex a block away. A view that gave him a reality check. No longer was he away in college, embarking on a journey to get away from his environment . Lost for words how much pain he was harboring. "Sigh, I love you" Serenity spoke these words with concern. Almost as if she would never have this moment again with her boyfriend. Well soon to be ex for that matter. "I love you too. " Siah spoke back. Giving a sense of comfort but uncertainty. Knowing that maybe he needs to move on to elevate he feels. But cannot recognize the blessing God has given him with Serenity. Hanging the phone up Siah had this Gaze in the direction of a fence that enclosed the complex out to the street. In his head he was fighting his heart. Yet feeling like his heart eas deceived. Or? Maybe for a moment he finally is experiencing the are of his life he doesnt have to have his guard up. He takes one final turn around to look at the neighborhood. As the people occupy outside, mingling, playing music, cards, dice, or whatever they can find to bet on. Seeing the laughter from one another as they enjoy their company. Thinking maybe his joy was only meant to be temporary."SIAH, come back inside!" His supervisor yells. "Camp is almost over you can talk on the phone after." "Alright cool" Siah responds. Siah was working part time as a camp counselor in his neighborhood. A job that brought him much joy. The kids in the neighborhood lived in the housing authority. Which is the head of all of section 8 housing in the city. Very Familiar to him being he lived in the area, a place near and dere to his heart. Right about now the kids are in the gym are of the camp. Freshly finished from their daily activities. Arts and crafts, learning stations, just enjoying some free time before they go off home. The gym shrieks of laughter and happy shouts by the kids. With a smell of stale chips and soda from the earlier snack time. Yosiah took on this job to become a more prominent figure in his neighborhood. Someone who is familiar with what goes on, and how to lead the kids in the right direction. Most of the time the Youth staff members are required to stand up will supervising the kids. Just incase anything were to happen suddenly, where a quick reaction was needed. Filling out the mood of the day, the kids were having a blast. Nobody seemed to be problematic for the most part. So Siah found himself a chair in the corner, away from all the fun and just rested his legs and mind. At an angle see everyone with a mild stare. The gym filled with basketballs, hoops hoops, and jumpropes. With 2 hours left in camp despite all the energetic kids left inside, his mind wandered. Not JUST about Serenity, but everything. What even prompted the thought of a breakup was the feeling that Siah ran into recently. Sitting watching the kids play inside he thinks to himself "man God, it seems like i just never get a break. Anything and everything is a fight." Here Siah sits with several dilemmas. Fighting to remove himself once and for all from his environment. Fighting to clean his record to successfully get back into school. And now, losing what he feels like to be his wife. "Mr.S, you seem sad are you okay?" One of the little girls noticed his posture. "Do i?" Siah replied back sarcastically, with a smirk. "Yes you need to get it together!" He laughed, "Youre right, I do!" The lil girl was assigned to Yosiah's group earlier in the day as a new member. Every child im the camp has a story so unique it can make you cry, or inspire you. Hers was both, her parents abandoned her in Tino. Supervisors here at camp noticed her sleeping outside of the door before camp opened. Her optimism needed to be studied. It was like she didnt even realize her hardships. Or couldn't understand them rather. No parents, no house, but no complaints. " I need to cheer up sum" Siah said to the little girl. She skipped on her own way with the rest of the kids. "Alright everyone time to go! Mr.S will walk you home!" As the kids lined up one by one he counted them. Making sure nobody was missing. The families in the neighborhood were very protective and grateful that Siah willingly would walk around the projects to make sure the kids got home safely. Especially while the sun was going down... safety first. The projects were set up in a T Shape sorta. To honor the name Tino Heights. So the path was easy. Well, for the kids to get home atleast. Siah has to walk home from working everyday. Not having a car at the moment. So anybody he encounters on this walk with ill intentions... well Lets just say he puts it in Gods hands for protection. The door opens and the kids race home. One by one he checks them off his clipboard and knocks on doors until every child is safe. They begin their walk towards home after a successful first week of camp. By this time the heat has cooked the street long enough for the concrete to fry meat. People outside site with fans on high sitting directly in front of them, with radios and music blasting. "Yosiah baby how you doing?" Says one of thr mothers as he walks the kids. Even though these were seen as a sketchy area to some, for the ones who occupied it, this was home. Harder lessons and faster learning took place. Along with humility and character building. "Good Mrs. X! " Siah exclaimed. "See you next week Mr.S!" "Alright be good!" He replies. Passing off a group of kids to their mothers house. This particular mom doesnt speak or greet Yosiah. She just opens her door burning half of a 305, nods her head and closes the door. Its easy to tell the ones who are black and white. No gray area here. Before the last door closes a grandmother of one of the children stops Siah " baby do you know that car right there? In my parking spot?" It was a teal colored sedan. " "Not at all". They both just shrugged, uncertain who the person was. Around here, people are very attentive especially with who comes and goes. Cars people and even kids dont usually get mixed up. Every car is parked directly in front of the building in which a person lives. That us if they own a car. This particular lady did not. In his mind Yosiah wasn't concerned . Being that today is Friday and a host of people are outside gambling, listening to music and just enjoying the summer sunset. The lady went inside, and Siah continued his route to go back to the center to grab his things and clock out. The kid's spirits really cheer Siah up when he's down. He sees light in them. Despite how hard headed they may seem to certain people, they remind him humility, and patience. On his way back to the center, Siah turns a corner to find people outside in what seems to be just talking and drinking. He doesnt speed up or stare but continues his regular pace. "Aye! " one of the men yelled at Siah. Walking toward him with a hoodie on in Summer heat and a hand full of dice, he says " youre Yosiah Henry? You play ball right." With a hesitation in his response, "yeah thats me". The man was standing close to Siah. Not Close enough to disrepespect bus personal space, but just close enough to where you could visibly see how their was almost a sense of challenge. As if the man wanted to see Siah would stand his ground in his answers. Body language means alot around here. If your tone and speech doesn't match your posture, or your eyes wonder on every response, you cant be trusted. As the sun set in the west, casting a shadow on the bricks, the two surrounded by spectators were eager to see this interaction. Yosiah Henry was a neighborhood hero. Went to his neighborhood high school, broke records, but was wrongfully done by his superiors. Made it to the collegiate level, but withdrew his name from the school. Seeking a high scale school to showcase his talents. "Aye man keep ballin bru, somebody gone pick you up. Youre too raw to still be in the hood man" the man switched his money and dice over to his left hand. Extending his right hand to shake Siah's. Shaking left hands was a sign of disrespect. Or being untrustworthy. Yosiah Looked him in his eyes and spoke with conviction. " It wont be long, the fight isnt over." While shaking the mans hand firmly. "Oouu weee thats what I like to hear! Yall heard him?! The fight aine over!!" All the fellas behind him laughed with joy, relief even. Well known amongst the neighborhood hustlers, Street soldiers if you will. As Siah tried to walk off the man reminded him of something "aye boy remember doe, you only get one chance to see tyson". Yosiah smirked. This was a reference to a saying they had in his neighborhood. In a nut shell, reminding Siah that even tho his odds are slim, he can earn a title shot. But he MUST succeed. Because truthfully? It really references faith. Alot of things in life according to Yosiah, and the perspectives of those who occupy this area are from that of faith. No matter how hard you work or where you go, or even are currently Faith decides the outcome. Especially in a title fight. If you dont believe you can beat the champ you never will. There is no other option. " Naw, Siah replied with a smirk looking over his shoulder. " Tyson gotta see me." In a dramatic walk off like he was in an action movie. He left everyone on the corner nightly dice game elated. " The Champ is on the way mane!" Yosiah Henry was a renegade. Drawn a blueprint to righteousness according to what his dad taught him about the bible. "According to your faith," was important to him. No matter what he went through, his faith was never shaken. Sadly now, he is nust uncertain of his outcomes, even down to his relationship. A crossroads. The relationship is adding to unknown emotional burdens. Someone who has been fighting, emotionally mentally and even physically and spiritually. To be at odds with someone you love is trully tough. To add on the uncertainty about his own life. Not knowing or understanding where he could be going, or the thoughts of thinking he would become another has been. All of these things were small potatoes to his biggest concern. Himself. Yosiah knew himself better than anybody. Which was rare for a 22 year old. He knew he was a leader. Divinely chosen if you ask him. Yosiah Henry felt like God gave him the ability to lead  and represent people that everyone looked passed. Frowned upon. The only thing stopping him from reaching his full potential was himself. Not even just wrong place wrong time. Simply just....missing the call. Now granted, we all are human, so we tend to miss certain directions. Siah on the other hand, had been so close to breakthrough several times, a small inconvenience set bim back 100 yards. He's optimistic despite it. Willing to sacrifice whatever this time to make sure he reaches his full potential. Even if it means possibly taking a break from Serenity. Making his way back to the center, Siah grabs his hoodie and keys from the office space inside. "See you next week honey" Mrs.Channel says softly. "Alright have a good weekend" Siah says with a monotone voice. Clocking out frim his shift, the sun is on its way down, grazing the roof of each brick building as kids wonder and play in the street. Some barefoot, some ik diapers. Parents and adults sit along their door step watching. A typical summer evening at Tino Heights. Not puttin his hood on his head because of the sun starting to set. Wanting to have his peripheral vision intact. As Siah walks along the fence, exiting Tino and moving along the street the kids chase and wave to him as he leaves. This makes Siah smile. Seeing the fruits of his labor. Along with Knowing that he is sowing great seeds. The kids mean alot to him. Its almost as if the kids reassure him what God has placed inside of him. Natural Leadership. Walking down the street halfway home cars are passin with their lights on. Being the area alot of cars speed on slow down depending on the driver. Its a dead end street with no traffic signals, along with a few blind turns. So drivers carefully pass threw often to avoid an unwanted accident. While almost home, not even 300 yards from his doorstep, Yosiah starts to notice the teal car that was parked in the old ladys spot from earlier. The car passed Yosiah.... And slows down. This wouldnt be uncommon if he hadn"t seen this particular car earlier. At first glance he didnt stop and pay it any attention. Drivers slow down all the time to pass through. Until it stopped.Stopping next to him as he is walking. "Hey you need a ride? Get in." It was a man with tattoo on bis face and tank top. Yosiah wasnt startled. The tension in his spirit grew. Not saying he ever considered the ride from the stranger. He jus knew immediately something was up."Nah homie, im good keep driving." Yosiah never broke stride. As he kept walking Siah thought to cut through a nearby house to enter his residence from a way where nobody on the main street could see him. Safety first. "I said get in!!" The man flashes a gun at Yosiah. Expecting some sort of panic. You could see other people driving almost wreck their cars in the shock. Seeing a man yelling, halfway hanging out his window with a gun at someone walking. The summer evening air was sharp, not humid to make Siah break a sweat, but warm. Despite the temperature Siah was cool. "I said nah homie. KEEP DRIVING." Yosiah raised his hoodie to show his waist. Flashing a pistol he carries on his daily walks to work. The car speeds off. In the distance he yells "ill be back dont worry." A smirk cane from Yosiah. Without, speeding up or even sweating he finished his walk. No hesitation in his next words spoken. Yosiah calmly exclaims..." Even though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no Evil. A few scriptures from the bible were something st this point in his life Yosiah took very seriously. One of which are words Jesus spoke saying  " Life and death in the power of rhe tongue." This meant that words are powerful and they determine alot. You have what you say. In this moment Yosiah knew he was protected. Not because of his weapon, but his faith. Yosiah's dad is the reason for his understanding of faith in God. Recently and coincidentally, his Dad jus so happened to be trying to exclaim to Yosiah, he  has to understand what it means to have the hand of The Lord on your life. "Son I know alot of people, ALOT. But none of them have the Lords stronghold on their life like you. " This was something that Yosiah dealt with often. Pointing to a scripture in Ephesians that reads "we battle not with flesh and blood, but spirits and principalities." This was on brand. Despite what people try to say, or how they interpret that it applies here. Many people may not believe in God, or the bible, but Yosiah Henry does. This was nothing more than a battle that couldn't be won in the flesh. Despite his actions or efforts to do so.