Chapter 19
Chapter 19
T o James’ surprise, he really liked Jason’s cousins. When they came to visit for the surprise wedding, he got to spend a lot of time with them getting a feel for who they were and what they were about. So much so that he kept in touch with them once they returned to Atlanta. He took Taylor up on her offer to visit once they returned from their honeymoon. While there James really got a chance to get to know each of Jason’s cousins, including, London, Carson, and Athena. The more he got to hang out with the guys, the more he liked their mindset. Hearing their perspective helped him formulate his own plans to help Black communities targeted for gentrification.
“This is the area I was telling you about, James,” Demarcus said as they stepped out of the SUV. He had told James about an area that was in somewhat of the same condition as the property in Baltimore. All of the guys looked around, urban blight was evident.
“The decaying of certain neighborhoods was allowed on purpose,” Ulysses stated. “This one is near the new stadium. If they succeed, the few people who are left here will lose their properties to high taxes, or the city will come right out and condemn the buildings they live in.”
“Then wealthy developers are allowed to come in and buy it for little of nothing, build condominiums, and sell them for ridiculous prices.” Kingston elaborated.
“The right thing to do is to provide these people with low interest loans to help them rebuild. Or simply come through with some basic maintenance and clean the place up. Some of these folks don’t have anywhere else to go. Then there are some where this has been their home all their lives and they don’t want to go anywhere else.” Demarcus explained.
“What would you do if money was not an issue?” James asked.
“Man, I would put up a few trailers, for the people to live in. Tear down the old buildings and put up new ones. Then put these people back into their homes.” Demarcus advised.
“All of them don’t need to be torn down,” Ulysses stated. “Some of them have good bones, they just need a better structure built around them.”
“But even if you have the money to put into this area, you have to fight with the city.” Kingston added.
“Why?” James asked.
“Because they see more dollars coming from the sale of condos than they see coming from people who have a claim to this area.” Demarcus stated.
“Why accept monthly rent, when you can get a big paycheck from developers,” Kingston’s question was more of a statement. “Some of these landlords are purposely evicting people so that they can sell out to developers who want this land because of its proximity to downtown.”
“You should see some of the renderings developers have put together to sell their ideas to the city.” Ulysses exclaimed. “They don’t care that they are putting some people out of their homes. They see dollar bills…the Benjamins.”
“The problem as I see it is twofold,” James stated. “Money and politics.”
“The two evils of the times we live in,” Demarcus exhaled.
“I think we can do something about both,” James smiled thoughtfully. “This is not just happening here, it’s happening in just about every metropolis. At some point we have to level the playing field for our people.”
“What are you thinking?” Ulysses asked.
“Let me work it all out in my mind before I share my plan.” James answered. “You guys should come back to Virginia for a visit. I have an area I’d like to get your thoughts on.”
“Say the word, we will be there,” Demarcus promised.
James looked around as his mind began developing a plan. He could envision working with the cousins as he referred to them. Then he thought of two more cousins who could round out the team.
Upon his return home, James decided to stop by to see Priscilla and Sean. As he pulled up to the home, he was happy to see the yard was well manicured and they had planted flowers around the front of the house. The white picket fence was actually white again. He smiled thinking the neighbor would be happy.
“I see you’re back again.”
James looked across the street. The neighbor he met before was sitting on the front porch.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied walking towards her.
“You did good with the house. The ladies keep the yard up. Even watched them paint the fence.”
“You’ve met them?” James asked.
She nodded. “Have coffee with Priscilla some mornings on the weekends. They work in the city during the week. But I suppose you know that already.”
“Yes ma’am, I do.” James nodded as he walked through her gate.
“Yeah, that Cilla is a nice young woman. Now that Sean, she has a bit of a mouth on her. Suppose you know that already too.”
James nodded his head, trying not to chuckle, but he couldn’t stop his lips from curving up. He leaned back against the gate deciding to let the woman tell him all she needed to. “Yes, ma’am. I know that too.”
“The young ones don’t understand the workings of a neighborhood like this. She calls me a nosey old woman.”
“What’s your name?” James asked.
“Dotty Mason. Why you wanting to know?”
“I like talking with you Mrs. Mason,” James smiled.
“Dotty is just fine.”
“I was raised to respect my elders. Is it all right if I call you Ms. Dotty?”
She thought for a moment, then nodded. “Somebody raised you right.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’d like to think so.” James replied. “Having someone like you around is a blessing. You care about your neighborhood.”
She nodded. “My husband and I bought this house back in the fifties. It was a struggle back then. Had to take the people to court. Wasn’t nothing but White families out here then. They weren’t too crazy about a Black couple moving in. Since that time, I watched people come and go and I’m still here.”
James listened as Ms. Dotty talked about the pride she and her husband experienced from purchasing their property and how they had to fight some of the neighbors for the right to live there. It explained why she watched over the neighborhood the way she did.
“You value your home and your surroundings. There is nothing like sincere neighbors watching over each other. I am sure the neighbors appreciate you.”
“Some do, some don’t.” She nodded her head but didn’t say anything more.
“I’m going to go in and talk with Priscilla now.”
“Hold on a minute.”
James watched her walk into the house. He noticed another neighbor next door to her step out onto the porch.
“She don’t mean no harm,” the man said. “Just likes talking.”
James smiled at the man. “It’s okay. I don’t mind listening.”
“I sense that.”
“Does she live alone?” James asked.
The man nodded. “But I keep an eye on her.”
James smiled thinking he probably did a little more than keep an eye on her. The way he stepped out to defend her told him there may be a little bit more going on there. Ms. Dotty’s door opened, and the man abruptly went back into the house. Yep, there was more to that story, James chuckled to himself. He walked over to Ms. Dotty as she came down the steps.
“Give this to Priscilla. It’s my homemade apple pie.”
James took the pie that was wrapped in aluminum foil. “Did you make the crust?”
“Only way to make pie.” She nodded.
“Did you brush the crust with butter?” James asked. The smile from Ms. Dotty transformed her face.
“You spent time in somebody’s kitchen.”
“Yes, ma’am. My grandmother’s.”
She touched James’ face with the palm of her hand. “Yes sir, somebody raised you right.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He said as he turned to walk away. “I’ll tell Cilla you sent the pie.”
“You be sure to have a piece.”
“I definitely will. Thank you, Ms. Dotty.” He said as he walked across the street. He heard the next door neighbor come back out the door and ask if she had another pie for him. James smiled as he continued across the street.
Priscilla opened the door before he knocked. “Come on in. I see you met Dotty.”
James stepped inside and was confronted by Sean.
“You’re here to put us out, aren’t you? That’s why you kept the other house. Now that we have put all of our hard work into the house you want it back.”
“Sean, shut up and speak to the man,” Cilla exhaled.
“Hi,” Sean said with a little attitude. “How long are you giving us to get out?”
James simply laughed. “It’s good seeing you again, Sean. I’m not here to put you out. This house is yours and your sister’s. And you are right,” he said as he looked around. “I can see you have put a lot of work into the house. The yard is beautiful.”
“That was all Sean,” Cilla advised. “She was always the one with a green thumb.”
“I like beautiful things.” Sean smirked. “That’s one thing I like about you. Easy on the eyes.”
“Sean…” Cilla chastised.
“Well, he is.” She hissed back. “But if you’re not here to take the house back, why are you here?”
“James, give me the pie and come into the kitchen.” Cilla ignored her sister.
“Ms. Dotty sent this to you.” James replied as he followed Cilla into the kitchen. “Nice,” he said as he looked around. “The painters did a nice job.”
“Yes, they did,” Cilla nodded. “I still can’t believe Taylor had the entire house painted.”
“She has someone coming to cut the grass every other week too,” Sean added. “So why are you here?”
“Do you want a piece of pie, Sean?” Cilla asked. “We need to put something into your mouth before you put your foot in there like you did before.”
“I’m just asking the questions you are afraid to ask. You want to know too.”
“I have to admit, I am curious, James,” Cilla advised.
James took a seat. “I came to offer both of you a job, full time with health benefits and a decent salary. I’m thinking sixty to seventy thousand a year to start.”
The two women looked at him with their mouths gaped open.
“I’ll take a slice of pie now.” James said as the two women turned wide eyes at each other.