Value Family

“Value family because they are not always going to be there forever.” Summer time, beginning of august, playing call of duty on the new zombie map, shangri la in my living room with the lights off so I can focus on the game while on the phone with my girlfriend. My dad walks in from work hard day at work and turns on the lights, “Hey dad how was your day at work” I said. He came home very happy for some reason, with his usual three laptop bag but I didn't bother to ask, I just sank back into my game. “ Busy as always son but i only have a couple more days until till my break,”

After an hour or so of playing my video games and speaking on the phone with my girlfriend I started to feel tired and that’s when I noticed something. There they were in the kitchen my mom, sisters and my dad were playing around very loudly with a Spanish accent. I felt a little left out and couldn't really hear them that well, But I wanted to be funny, so i said something to him “Dad why you acting so hype and loud,” my dad replied “What What ! I can acted how i feel because i do what i feel you know”  right after his reply I knew he was playing because he was still speaking in the accent, I told him, “ha ha i understand but you acting real weird” then he changed his accent to imitate Scarface and replied, “look listen to me, ever day until Friday when my vacation start I'm going to come with a different accent “I thought about what he said and the only thing i kept thinking was it’s Tuesday and I’m going to have to listen to his ridiculous act for another three day’s. but then i said my thoughts out loud “This is going to be funny” he heard me say that with no problems “What’s so funny about the way I act jermel” he said this with a female voice it was by far the funniest voice i ever heard. I just had nothing to say to that so i told him “ you know what you got it.” then he started to laugh and was like okay “I'm done that was to funny” Then he yelled “Who you talking to on the phone, Tiye”  everyone always knew i was talking to tiye on the phone because i was always on the phone with her. “ Yea” then he asked this question he always asked “ how do y’all talk on the phone so much and never get bored or anything.” i just replied the same way i do any other time. “ We just talk i don’t know” but then he changed the subject and told me to tell tiye something “Yo for real tell tiye she crazy” Then i pauses the game and asked him to repeat what he said. “She crazy if she messing with you” i laughed, unpaused the game and told tiye “ My dad said your crazy because your going out with me” she replied as she laughed, but she felt awkward and said “ Ummm okay” she said this fairly slow like she didn't know what to say. “ Dad she said okay” I'm guessing he didn’t hear me because he stayed talking to my sister. I just continued to play my game and talk to tiye.

My dad was talking about how he is so happy that his vacation is coming and i was happy too because really i don't get to see him that much because he work all the time. We was supposed to have a great vacation.But not everything goes as planned.

It’s been two day’s and with one blow everything changed. Again I’m on the phone with tiye playing around with her. “ I gotchu don’t speak no words to me good bye.” I hanged up the phone to mess with her but as soon as i hanged up the phone my mom call me in the kitchen. “ Jermel come here i need to talk to you” I’m nervous because when she say that i know it’s ether I'm in trouble or somethings wrong , but as soon as i walked i realized something was terribly wrong, my mom face had tears running down them and her face was down. She started to look up at me and i said “Mom What’s wrong?” with tears poring she said “ Uncle Rif passed away”  the feeling of a very strong punch to the heart but i didn’t cry. it was weird, i said to her “ Mom what happen” she just said real fast “He stop breathing” I just  hold her until she let go and she went in her room and i went to my room. When i went to my bed I Called her to talk to her. I really didn’t have anyone to talk to because everyone always tell me i have to be strong for other people even if I’m hurt, but she didn’t answer my call so i texted her and explained that i need to talk to her I wasn’t playing around. After i sent the texted her, I call again and she answered and i told her what happen.

Later on that day i was just in my room relaxing playing my PlayStation 3 and my cousin Aquil walk in With a 76ers Jersey on and basketball short. Aquil is my uncle rif  “Yo Mel-Mel wassup” He looked like he was 6’5 “Nothin playing call of duty as always man, but how you been, you good” “Yea I’m good chillin over grammy house, you should come over sometimes.” when he said that all i thought was ever time i go to grammy house i get in soo much trouble because i act so retarded over there. I Just replied “ I Will but you know my parent be drawlin all the time” I Guessed he believed me because he looked at me as if he understand exactly what I’m talking about then he just said “ True Cuz they do be drawlin all the time ha-ha but what’s up with you and all the Lady’s” I laughed in my head because he always trying to make a joke. “Man I Have a serious relationship right now don’t laugh at me ha” then he replied ”Man I'm not going to laugh I'm in one to and I’m enjoy it.” Then he look at the game and said “Come on cuz let me trash you in this real quick” He seemed okay but i knew he was feeling hurt and sad because his father just passed and i know if my father passed i would be hurt. At this time i had so much respect for him and i kinda looked up to him. One thing that always hurt me is to have to watch my family cry and be hurt, and for my cousin to a have to watch his 5 year old brother talk about “Daddy, Daddy, where is Daddy” And His little Sister that is 14 cry her heart out because her father will not be coming home anymore. I really don’t know how he Did it but he showed me a different part of him and i will never look at him the same.

By the Night i went to talk to my dad because he always told me how close uncle rif was to him. all i asked him “Are you he okay” and he just replied “yea man” but i really didn’t  have anything to say about it to him. i really was worried for him. but i didn’t know what to do.

After the funerals Day’s later. I Reflected on everything. Everyone knows that Men always have to be strong for the Woman, but I've learned that it’s not something you learn, it’s something that comes naturally. No Matter how hurt we are as men, we will always try to keep our feeling to our self.  I can say with being a male our job is to make sure everyone Else is okay and stay strong for females in our life. It comes natural like a habit but it is something we have to do and will always do.

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