June
PRESS PLAY
I sat in front of the guys, trying to find the right words to say. Foe’s impatient ass ran his hand down his face.
“Ayo, Chev, fuck is up, man?”
“Foe, slow up, nigga. We chillin’.”
Diamond shook his head. “Nah, this ain’t chillin’. This is niggas sitting on the back porch waiting to hear some bullshit.”
Zeus glanced around. “What are we waiting on? The other little niggas?”
I lit a blunt and began smoking. “Nah, it’s just us. The OGs.”
“Well, pass the blunt, nigga, ’cause you on some paw-paw shit, and I need to smoke.”
Preach shook his head. “Let me sit down for this.”
I glanced at them and took them in. They all had truly stepped into their purpose, and that shit made a nigga’s heart warm.
Zeus had a family, Diamond was married, Foe was being Foe, and Preach was true to what he stood on.
From the time I left California until now, I would never have imagined this was what it would lead to.
Each of them was young and dumb as they grew into men. It was not only time for me to sit back and try to enjoy life, but for them to do the same. I took a few more pulls before handing it over to Foe.
“Nigga, finally! Shit smells like some gas too,” he cackled.
While Foe pulled on the blunt, Diamond rolled another and lit it.
Puff, puff, pass.
His shoulders bounced as he choked on the smoke. Foe handed the blunt to Zu while Diamond handed me his blunt.
Puff, puff, pass.
“It ain’t smokin’ if you ain’t chokin’.” Foe laughed. “You know, Diamond, you’ve always been the weak one with the weed.”
Puff, puff, pass.
Zu passed it to Diamond, and I passed mine to Foe.
“Nigga, fuck you. You ain’t the weed Connoisseur,” Diamond hissed.
Foe cheesed. “Something like it.”
Puff, puff, pass.
The smoke lingered from my lips as I ran my hand over my waves. “I’m stepping down and away from the Zoo.”
The harsh cough that came from Foe sounded like he was dying. I smirked. “It’s gas, nigga.”
“Fuck you mean ‘away’ from the Zoo?” Diamond asked.
“I mean, give this time to my family. I’ll be around, just not with the Zoo activities. Too old to be out here killing niggas.”
Foe threw his hands up. “Says the nigga who just slaughtered the fuck out of Gramps.”
Preach shook his head. “Chev, you do what God is telling you to do. You deserve this happiness. There is no Zoo without you, so stepping down, yes, but nigga, it’s Zoo over everything.”
I could see Zeus still sitting there with no words. I wasn’t sure what he was thinking, being that he and I started this shit together. Zeus was my muhfuckin’ brother, and whatever he thought mattered to me. I nodded his way. “Zu, nigga, you cool?”
He placed his elbow on his knees. “If you had said this shit before Sash and I got married, I would have screamed "nigga, you dumb.” However, I’m on the same side as you.
Our story will read differently now, Chev, because we’re all different.
The Zoo will forever be a thing, but you are getting that happiness we drove thousands of miles for. It’s time.”
Those emotions were brewing in me again. All of this was deeper than walking away; it was something added to the plan when I realized I was reaching my truth at the finish line.
Diamond held his hand out. “It’s whatever, Chev. Ain’t like you’re about to move away and shit. Zoo over everything. I love you, nigga. It’s your time.”
“Old nigga ’bout to do old thangs. Zoo over everything,” Foe said.
“Look at God. In his holy hood name, Zoo over everything.”
Zeus didn’t even bother. He stood up, and so did I. We looked at each other long and hard. Zu pulled me in and hugged me tightly. “Zoo over everything, Chev. I love you, and I know. It’s your truth,” he whispered.
I glanced at him like he was crazy as the tears rolled down his face. Zu quickly wiped them away, but it was too late because that shit broke me. I dropped my head, as tears rolled down my nose. I blew out a sharp breath before looking at all four of them.
“I’m giving the crown to Dio,” I said as I stared at Zu.
He nodded slowly. “He’s going to take care of business.”
Foe smiled. “Nigga won’t be running me, but he’s deserving. I would have shot one of the new niggas.”
They all laughed. The one thing I loved about the Zoo was that no matter the trial or hardship, we always found a way to overcome it. I just wished that word applied to my life.