June
PRESS PLAY
The shit they were able to pull off behind my back was crazy.
All the while, I was thinking I was going to tell Dio he was up next, but they led me here.
I couldn’t lie; it felt good to ride my bike like I did the very first time.
To see my wife and kids standing there watching me proudly, my friends—no, my family—waiting at the finish line was something I knew I would never feel again.
All the guys came from their bikes over to me. They each dapped me up and hugged me. Dio came over and stood there.
“Enjoy, Chev. This shit is for you. I even got some things for the kids. We know you like giving back and shit, so what’s a Zoo Day without it?”
My brows narrowed in. “You did all this shit?” I pointed around.
“I set it up. I had help from others, but yeah, this was me. Oh, my bruhs are going to make sure all this gets cleaned up, too. Look, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. For giving me a chance to ride beside you. You can’t do it forever, but while you are, I’ve got you. I love you, Chev.”
I grabbed him by the head and hugged him. “It is your time,” I whispered.
While Z and I walked toward the tent, she was stopped by Dr. Carter. “Well, hello, Savior,” she cooed at him.
She and Zaria hugged like they were friends. When Dr. Carter stepped to the side, some nigga with dreads appeared holding a little boy and a girl’s hand. The doctor smiled.
“This is my husband, Chase, and my two little ones, CJ and Kiara.”
The nigga looked me up and down before turning his attention to his wife. “Who are these people, Coffee?”
I didn’t want to react as I did when I first met Bishop, but my eyes never wavered from his ass. She smiled. “These are the parents of that little one right there.” She pointed at Savior.
His son pulled from his hand and ran over to Love. Diamond almost broke his neck as he ran over and scooped his daughter up.
“Who little nigga is this?”
“He’s my son, nigga. You got a problem?”
“Yeah. Keep his ass away from my daughter.”
I looked at Z as she looked at me. Coffee rushed over to her husband. “Chase, relax.”
I leaned down and whispered in Z’s ear. “I’m not that bad.”
“The lies you tell.”
I laughed and shook my head. Coffee was able to tame him, but the way he eyed Diamond, I knew I was going to have to stay alert on his ass. They moved through the crowd and disappeared.
“Diamond, my nigga, you should have hit his ass,” Foe said.
“Y’all promised no fighting,” Yana added.
This little issue was nothing compared to what he would face in the future. Love was beyond spoiled, and that shit was going to bite him in the ass.
As the event went on, shit was pretty cool. When I saw that old head nigga whose ass I beat walking through the crowd, I knew those NTR niggas were around. My family was here, and the goal was to be on my best behavior.
Dio's voice on the mic caught all our attention.
“Can I get my nigga Chevy on the stage? Listen up. Today is special. Today, we pay homage to a real one, the real OG, the nigga who would starve before you do. I want everyone to welcome the king of the Zoo and a performance by the next nigga to grace your ears, Scooter!”
I looked at Z, and she nodded for me to go up. I ran my hand over my waves as I walked toward the stage while Scooter blessed the mic.
They call him the OG, like the Chevy/
The nigga with the long green, you’ll see/
Out here serving purpose, in these streets/
You’ll neva find another, the black, vegan, plant brotha.
All I could do was shake my head. By the time I reached the stage, the crowd was repeating the hook like it was a number one hit song.
They call him the OG, like the Chevy/
The nigga with the long green, you’ll see/
Out here serving purpose, in these streets/
You’ll neva find another, the black, vegan, plant brotha.
Dio bobbed his head as he looked at me and cheesed. “This nigga up next. I’m telling you, Chev.”
“You are too.”
He stopped as he looked at me. “I’m the Prince.”
“Nah, little nigga, you’re the king. The guys know already. I’m stepping down. The crown is yours. Just remember when it falls, pick that shit up and put it back on.”
He ran his hand over his head. Dio’s eyes watered slightly, but he knew it was his time. He earned it. I gave him a head nod. “Now it’s the King speaking life into a God.” I smiled.
He and I stood there and bobbed our heads while Scooter performed. There weren’t any other words needed to be said because Dio knew what it was, and so did I.