Chapter 76
It had been two weeks, and I had been waiting to hear back from the academy.
I had decided to come to the bar early today since everyone had decided to go to Bishop’s Halloween party tonight.
Also, on the days that Kareem worked, I wanted to be in the building.
I stood behind the bar pouring a drink for a patron when Lakia came busting in the door, excited.
“Baby, look!” she said, showing me her phone.
It was acceptance from TSU. She had gotten in.
I was so happy for her because I knew how she felt about going back and to know my wife was back on track to the career she’d dreamed about made me excited.
She reached over the bar, pulling me down for a kiss.
“I’m fucking proud of you,” I muttered in her mouth.
She cheesed. “Thank you.”
We kissed until my eyes landed on the door to see Chevy walking in. He glanced around, then headed toward the bar. He eyed Lakia, then me. “House drink,” he said.
“Well, hello to you too, Chev,” Lakia said to him.
“Sup, Kia.”
He looked at me. “I heard you applied for the academy. Is that true?”
I nodded, and so did he. I fixed him up the house special and slid it to him.
He took a swig before he focused his attention back on me.
“I’m proud of you. It takes a real nigga to do what he loves despite what he’s been through.
It’s real niggas like you that fight for who and what they love, no matter the obstacle.
Shit like that is what makes bringing you onto the Zoo worth it. ”
I went to say something, but he held up his finger. “And the way you handled the Foe situation. Big nigga energy,” he finished.
I respected Chevy in so many ways. From the shit Sasha told us to his beef he had with Bishop.
Chevy was a solid soldier, a king in his own right.
We all looked up to him, and somehow, he always managed to speak life into us as if we were his idols.
He pulled out his phone, then an envelope.
He texted someone, then slid the envelope over to me.
As I opened the envelope, Lakia’s gasp sent my head shooting up. All the guys came into the bar with their jackets on and Streets held up mine. “Zoo ova everything!” he shouted and they all followed.
I looked down at the letter to see that I had been accepted into the academy. “Shit, yeah!” I shouted.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the letter. However, when I heard his voice, I had no choice but to look up.
My father stood there, along with a few of my cousins from Samoa that I hadn’t seen in years.
They wore no shirts, with Samoan-printed garments wrapped around them.
Their warrior faces were on point. I could tell this was a big moment not only for me but for him as well.
His eyes filled with tears as he looked at me.
My father stepped forward, and he nodded slowly. He raised his arm, “Samoa!” he shouted. “Sauni e tau le taua! Tau e matua tau! Fai ia mafai! Le Manu!” he added.
I could feel not only his passion and energy but the tears building up in my eyes. The way my father stood firm forced me to do the same. My lips trembled as he continued. The more the passion came out of him, the more I broke. “Samoa!” he shouted again.
Before I knew it, I found myself hopping over the counter and moving closer to him.
“Sau ia!’” I shouted.
They all began to slap at their thighs. That’s when my mother came from the side, slowly walking around them as she joined in shouting the words. “Le Manu Samoa e ua malo ona fai o le faiva!”
Her love for me and my father showed in her action. Tears began to fall from her as she embraced the moment as well.
I heard Diamond. “The fuck are they saying?”
I ignored him as I chimed in with my family. “Le Manu Samoa e ua malo ona fai o le faiva!”
To have a bit of family show up for me, honoring me with Siva Tau, made me want to cry like a baby.
The sounds of Samoa, the other half of my blood, were speaking strength into me and telling me to fight, to achieve, to bare my soul and heart.
All I could do was chant and cry at the same time.
“Le Manu Samoa, O a'u o le toa, O'au le Manu, Samoa!”
I didn’t even bother to wait. I walked up to my dad and hugged him tightly. “I am you, Dad. Thanks for showing up.”
“I’m proud of you. I am,” he cried into my shoulder.
I didn’t want to pull away. I couldn’t because it had been so long since I’ve felt this embrace from him. He squeezed me tighter before he pulled back to catch his tears. When he smiled, so did I. His eyes landed on my mother, then back at me. “Me and your mother are back together,” he muttered.
My head shot toward my mother as she came up to me, hugging me. “If you can make it work with someone you’ve known for so little time. I think me and your dad can too.”
Today was one of the best days of my life. I turned to look for Lakia, but spotted Kareem peeking from the back. As everyone was leaving, I stopped Chevy. I knew my loyalty was to Mali, but I needed to put Chevy on game. “Mali, keep an eye on him, Chev. Something isn’t right,” I whispered.
He squinted curiously but nodded. “I’ll see you at the party tonight.” He said before he walked out.
I didn’t know what the fuck that squint ment, but I hope it was him tapping the fuck in to fix whatever was broken in the meantime. I had a special date with Sukalati before the party.