Abdul comes home and he's angry at John because John didn't pay him his royalties for the song, they had released a year ago. He was on the phone yelling when he walked into the house. He said, "Look John I am home, and Marisol is waiting for dinner."

“Hey, sweet pea”, says Abdul as he picks up Mayra. She bounces up and down as he holds her. Today she found his nose. Daddy said, "Don't pick my nose, Mayra." Marisol, said, "She's too young. Keep repeating it.”

"You fed her?" asked Abdul.

"Yes," said Marisol.

As they sat down to eat, Abdul observed Marisol. She looked drained. He knew she was worried about how they were going to make it. He'd lost another job and no royalties had been paid. Bills were piling up.

He looked down as his eyes filled with tears. All his hard work was for nothing. His mother would have been proud of him. Bought a house for his family which he paid for without too much assistance. Maintained for a year but now his past hurt him. Record, trouble followed. His wife was all.

*****

Abdul is a tall, light-skinned black man with brown eyes, a bald head, tattoo on his neck and arm wears black; and the longest eyelashes you ever saw! His voice was slow like molasses to match. His mother was a maid in the neighbor’s house. She got paid an hourly wage of $7.50 plus food. The family gave her leftovers. The clothes Abdul wore when the guys first met him were the salvation army. In fact, he wore some of their old clothes, but the guys never told him.

After the first CD started selling, he bought his mother her own home and started paying her money into a savings account.  She stopped working for the neighbors and started going out to school at night. His mother earned herself a high school diploma and a bachelor's all in eight years. She was now the proud owner of her own business for maids, and she treated them with better respect than she was ever treated.

Abdul bought himself his own condo along with a membership at a club he’d been dying to go-to since high school. He also proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Marisol who accepted. They were married a year later. After the marriage things got rocky with the group. Marisol had problems with the music they were singing and the places they played. She didn’t like the lifestyle they were leading. Now, she wasn’t the reason the group split but according to Abdul that was part of it.

*****

After they moved into the new house Abdul started having problems with some members of the Scorpio gang.  They had changed their names to Raptors. A few of the members found out he had moved back to the old neighborhood and then moved right back out to his new house Marisol, Mayra and he currently lives at. So, they stopped by to pay their respects. When they left, he called up John, Marquis, and Marcus; without a word, they said they would be right over.  Upon learning that Marisol and Mayra were out they said do not call Steve or the cops until we get there.  Trouble is brewing Dul and we need to protect ourselves and you. Man, they came to see us all.  

When he was waiting for them, Marisol came back home to pick something up for the baby.  Seeing him home she was surprised.  “What brings you home now honey?  Why aren’t you at work?” asked she.

He responded, “Some trouble with the old gang Mari.  But don’t you worry none. Abdul got it covered.  Where is the munchkin?”  Looking searchingly at him she debated on whether to push.  Something in her eyes flickered.  Defeated her shoulders dropping, she responded quietly,

“She is at grandma’s eating a snack. Please Abdul, what is wrong?  I know it’s something wrong.  Leisia and I didn’t deliberately find trouble. He ran out the alley.” Shaking his head,

“Honey I know but I worry.  Look, Mari, Mayra will be looking for you soon. Go and just get back here safely.”

Immediately following her car pulling out the driveway John’s car stops in front of the house. The twin-Marquis and Marcus drove up and parked right after him.  Abdul’s eyes filled with tears. He had never been so happy to see someone in his whole life.  He wished he could call up Darnell, but he couldn’t. The one member of the group who was not affiliated with a gang was him. They had agreed to keep it that way.  Although they kept their colors, they did not participate nor wear them.

Striding up to them he embraced all three and invited them in for a beer or something else to drink.  All three were working the night shift tonight so they had to be sober.  Curious the men looked around and to their surprise saw a very homey, country house in the middle of Irvington. Laughing they saw the big fluffy pink pillow from her room many years ago.  “Please sit down. I will be back with glasses and water.” Says Abdul.

Glancing around the men spied places to sit.  Still the same as ever, shaking his head, he thought to himself.  Quickly walking back in he put the glasses on the table and went back for the ice-cold water pitcher.  Pouring glasses, he handed them out; then he sat down with his and quietly began speaking. As the hour grew long, he told them all that had transpired since Marisol, and he moved to Irvington. Listening quietly and asking questions when they interrupted the four men caught up and reciprocated with their lives. Silence soon descended and then a huge sigh shook Abdul.

He started and stopped finally saying, “I can’t have my baby hear about this now. The cops, Steve, the murder, and the baby- she is stressing out. I need her here and safe.  You feel me?”  All three nodded their heads.  Then Marquis started speaking.  As he was speaking Abdul observed his friend whom he hadn’t seen in many years.  Still the same black brother with light brown eyes.  Still very fit and pretty smile.  He was the smiler. Marcus joined in. His twin.  They look identically alike with a deep baritone like warm wine.  One big difference now was that both Marquis and Marcus joined their girlfriends in holy matrimony.

John, the short and stocky brother was also light-skinned with brown eyes and wavy brown hair.  His voice too was slow.  He finally spoke and said, “Look.  We all want to know what happened here.  Sure, we have seen an escalation in gang activity over the past few months. But to come to our home now- that is bold.  Why would the powers let them do that?”  Fuming he said I can’t be risking my family. Jasmine and John Jr. are not to find out.  I don’t want to lose Jasmine and we have been fighting the last couple of weeks.”  Laughing all the men should their head in understanding.

“So, you all feel me?” asked Abdul.  “I don’t want any trouble.  This murder the girls found was just another added problem.  I don’t know how the gang found out, but they came to offer her protection.  I don’t want her involved nor around them.  Even if they could protect her from other criminals-what about protecting them from the criminals? Plus, I have been good about sticking to my plan of being a law-abiding citizen.’  Once again silence rained. Then the group brainstormed to see what ideas they could come up with to help them out.  Then Louis’ number was called to loop him in.

The four continued talking for another hour and a half before the trio decided to leave.  John hung back to talk with Abdul.  Watching the men leave John remained silent.  When both cars pulled up he turned to Abdul and stated, “Look, I will have a check to you next week for your royalties and full payment for the song you gave us.  I will also have another contract ready for you to review about your role with Dreaming.  Please don’t misunderstand. I didn’t speak with the rest of the crew so this will consolidate our relationship in business, but they may still not appreciate being kept in the dark.  But all your songs have gone platinum.”

“Thanks, John. I really need the money.  I have back bills to pay, mortgage payments, etc.  I don’t want to nor need to lose this house.  I do appreciate the lookout.  Look, if they truly have a problem, I don’t know what to say. We started out together.  And I really need the money that this gig brings me.  Plus, I can stay home with the girls and be normal.  Another plus, the cops will see I am working and bringing home money.   My parole officer shouldn’t be causing me any more problems. I can concentrate on the Raptors. Thanks, man, I really needed to hear that from you.” Says Abdul. John smiles and quietly walks out to his car; raises his hand then gets in the car and drives away.