All’s Fair in Love and Football
Copyright 2013 Desean Rambo
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All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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1
WHAM.
Punches and kicks rain down on Atlanta’s young franchise player Marvin Johnson. The six foot plus receiver is stunned by the strikes. He quickly fights back and gains ground against his attacker. He grabs the man and slings him down to the pavement. The men wrestle underneath the street lights on the streets of a quiet modest neighborhood. Marvin is much stronger than the man and is able to hold him off.
Marvin strikes the man in the gut. The blow stops him. It isn’t over yet. The attacker’s much smaller friend is with him. He glares at the superstar. Marvin looks back, “Don’t even try it girl.” The friend can’t weigh more than 150 lbs. but he jumps at Atlanta’s star player regardless, wildly throwing punches. Marvin drops him with one punch.
Marvin slowly retreats. He heads in the direction of his Cadillac Escalade parked outside his girlfriend’s house. Though he handled the two men rather quickly, one can never have enough backup.
Before he can make it to his vehicle his girlfriend runs out of her modest one story home. She’s terrified.
“STOP! STOP! STOP IT!”
Marvin stops at her call.
She blurts, “What is going on?!”
“These dumbos tried to jump me. I have to protect myself.” He responds.
She cries, “That’s my family…”
***
72 HOURS AGO
The day breaks quietly like any other regular day in Decatur, Georgia. It is a quiet day in November. The hustle and bustle of children playing and those returning home from work sets the ambiance of a calm Monday afternoon in the suburbs.
KNOCK, KNOCK.
Earl bangs the door of his Aunt Jo’s single story brick home. The home lies on a quiet street amongst well manicured bushes. Earl is all of twenty three years old. He sports a wild miniature afro, with a button up shirt, designer jeans and boat shoes. He’s what you would call a “black hipster.” His Aunt opens the door.
“What do you want?”
Earl is taken back by his Aunt’s bluntness. She’s the typical Southern, middle aged, God fearing woman. She looks every bit of forty but her youthful spirit shines through.
“Aunt Jo, it’s me!” Earl answers.
“Earl I know what you look like. What do you want?”
He beats around the bush. “I just wanted to come by…”
“Be straight with me Earl. What do you want?”
“I don’t know how to say this but I need a place to stay.” He confesses.
Aunt Jo welcomes her nephew inside. He takes a seat on the couch. His Aunt starts tidies up the living room as she makes conversation. “What’s going on? And why aren’t you in school?”
“My pops and I had a little disagreement.”
“Ok. And what else?”
“I couldn’t do school. You know that. That financial aid was killing me.”
“Ya’ll argue over money again? I thought that was over with.”
“That’s not the issue actually. I’ve been working so I got money for a little clothes and stuff. I just…” he takes a deep breath, “…I just can’t live with that man anymore. You have to understand Auntie.”
“Alright. But Chelle has the other room so you’d have to sleep right where ya’ sitting at.”
He laughs.
“You think I’m joking? I’m dead serious. Nephew, I love you like my own son but that room is for my daughter and whatever she wants to do with it.”
Earl leans back. He’s at some sort of peace with the situation. He looks around the living room. Aunt Jo’s house is meticulously kept, everything has a place and everything stays in its place. Family photographs line the freshly painted walls. A religious trinket decorates the room at almost every turn. Earl’s not quite sure how to feel about the crucifixes. He’s visibly taken back by the room’s Christian chic.
Aunt Jo notices. “When’s the last time you’ve been to church?”
“What? Huh?”
“Don’t what me Earl. You heard me. When’s the last time you’ve taken your hind parts to the Lord’s home?
Earl ignores the question. His Aunt grows irritated.
“…Earl…”
“I don’t know. I don’t really keep up with the church anymore.”
“If you’re going to stay in this house you are going to have a relationship with the Lord. I’m not going to make you go to church, you’re a grown man, but you will not sit in here and act as if the Lord does not exist. Do you understand that?”
“Yes Mam.” That shuts her up.
“You don’t have any clothes or nothing?”
“I have to go get them. I’ll be right back.” Earl picks himself off the couch and exits through the front door. Almost immediately, he steps back inside with small boxes. His Aunt is puzzled. “You had those boxes outside the whole time you’ve been sitting here talking to me?!”
Earl smiles, “I knew you couldn’t say no to this face!”
“The Lord has a plan for you my son. And you don’t even know it. Put those boxes in the closet. I don’t want my home looking like some warehouse.”
Earl places the boxes in the closet. He changes the topic. “Where is my cousin Michelle at? What is Chelle doing with herself today?”
“Chelle went into town. I think she said she was going to the mall or something. Who knows? That girl is up to too much these days.”
Jo fancies the room as clean. She heads into the kitchen and starts working on dishes. Earl yells out to his Aunt, “By too much you don’t mean that playboy she’s with?”
“Umm hmm.”
“So she’s really with that guy?”
Jo emerges from the kitchen. She wipes her hands dry with some paper towels. “You didn’t know?”
“I mean, I saw it on Facebook, but you can’t take everything on there as the word.”
“There’s only one word that matters and that’s the Lord’s.”
Earl rolls his eyes. Poor choice of words. She continues, “I don’t know what you mean by playboy this and that, but I know they are together.”
“So that’s really her man? You really believe that?”
Aunt Jo isn’t sure how to answer the question. She heads back in the kitchen to tend to something. She yells out, “All I can do is take her word for it.”
Earl’s curiosity peaks, “So have you met him?”
“Yes, he came over here before.”
“But that doesn’t mean they are an item. He could just be keeping her around. You know guys like that have so many options. Especially in Atlanta.”
KNOCK. KNOCK. Someone is at the door. Earl checks through the blinds to see who it is. He’s in shock. He happily screams out, “Aunt Jo! Come here!” as he swings open the door. His childhood friend Michael is at the door. They haven’t seen each other in years.
“What’s up man?! Where have you been?!” The guys shake
hands and embrace.
Michael is your average, clean cut, brother. The twenty four year old is dressed down in a t shirt, athletic shorts and a pair of running shoes. The guys make small talk as Jo makes her way into the living room. She is shocked to see him. “Michael!!!”
“Hey Miss Jo!”
“Oh my Lord, Michael you are so handsome!”
She hugs him as if he was her own child. He practically is. Michael, Earl, and Chelle grew up together between playing in the streets and Aunt Jo’s home. Jo can’t her eyes off the mature man Michael has grown up to be.
“Michael, what have you been doing with yourself?”
“I’ve just been chilling, working, you know. Caught up in the real world.”
“How are you doing son? Come on inside!”
Michael and Aunt Jo take a seat on the couch. Earl excuses himself. “I have to go back to the house. I left something.” He turns to Michael, “Long story. I’ll tell you later.”
“Aight bro.”
Earl leaves on foot. He doesn’t have a car. Jo continues to Michael, “You look good. Is everything going alright?”
“I’m fine! I’m fine!” Michael insists.
“Someone’s got to look out for you little fast children. Now what are you doing back around these parts anyways?”
“I was jogging and I decided to come back through the old neighborhood. See all the old sights. Get that piece of home I’ve been missing.”
She inquires, “I thought you went and got you one of those fancy jobs up North, living the city life and all that.”
He confesses, “I went up there and it wasn’t like it is down here. You got to ride trains all the time with a bunch of strangers. They don’t even ask you how you’re doing. I was doing alright it’s just that people up there aren’t made like they are down here. They just don’t care.”
He takes a moment to take in the familiar photos in the living room. He takes comfort in the ever growing collection of crosses and Bibles scattered on the coffee table, bookcases, and entertainment center. To some this is just a room, to Michael this is home.
Jo continues the conversation. “I’m disappointed to hear that but it sure is true.”
“Yeah, I think things weren’t going to work out. So I moved back a few weeks ago. Got a place round Franklin Street.”
“You’ve been back for a few weeks? And you couldn’t speak to nobody? And boy stop kidding yourself, when did you start working out?”
He pauses, “I didn’t know… how it was going to be seeing everybody again since I left. And I’m trying to get back into shape like I was in high school.”
“Boy you skin and bones! You need to get some shape on ya’ before you worry about getting back to it.”
“I guess so. How’s everyone doing? “
“Everyone doing the same. Earl is still as crazy as he wants to be.”
“And how about Chelle? How’s she doing?”
“She’s doing just fine.”
He pauses, “What’s she up to now-a-days? “
“She’s still around. I tell you, you children all grew up so fast…”
“Is she here?”
“Oh, no. She went to go shopping.”
“You know when she’ll be back? It would be real nice to see Chelle again. Boy, Chelle is something else.”
“I don’t know. She’s been living the fast life now-a-days, out with that friend of hers, Marvin.”
The name rings a bell. “Marvin?”
“Yeah she’s running around with that boy Marvin all the time. He’s a fine gentleman. He takes her on the water, takes her to the shows, he even took her down to Florida a few times. Chelle met a nice man. That man plays for Atlanta and is as polite as he can be. Fine gentleman.”
“You don’t mean Marvin Johnson do you? The receiver?”
She thinks, “That sound about right. Fine, fine, young man. Michael I tried to tell you that Chelle wasn’t going to wait forever…”
KNOCK. KNOCK. Earl’s back. He joins Aunt Jo and Michael on the couch.
Earl hollers at Michael, “Look what the wind done blew in today! What you been up to big man?!”
Michael answers, “Just came by the old neighborhood to see everyone. Why are you yelling bro? We are indoors.”
“Because I thought you’d never comeback! I can’t believe it. Michael James back in the flesh. Boy ya look good! What you been doin’ all this time?”
“I moved back. Things didn’t work out up North so I moved back ‘round Franklin.”
Jo gets up, “I’m a let you two boys catch up. I got a Turkey to fix. Michael you know you’re more than welcome too. When you get settled in your new place make sure you come back around here and let me feed you a home cooked meal alright? It’s the least I can do if I don’t see you for a year again.”
“Yes Mam’.”
Aunt Jo goes in the kitchen. With her just out of earshot, Earl interrogates his childhood friend.
“Mike why in the world did you come back down here?! There ain’t anything going on round here but the police. I thought I’d never see you again.”
“I’m just a country boy I guess. I couldn’t handle living up there in the big city. Bright lights, fast cars, fast jobs…”
“Fast women!” Earl interrupts.
Michael continues, “That too, that too. And my job expected so much from me because I’m so young. I just had to leave.”
“Come on Michael shoot straight with me.”
“What?”
“I know why you came back.” Earl grins.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“There ain’t any money down here. And you don’t work out. Bro, even if you were washing dishes up there you’d make more than most folks down here. Now be real with me because I know.”
Michael gives in. “Ok. I couldn’t do it. I had to come back. But a pro football player? Man I can’t compete with that. I’m just me.”
“I hear you but that’s all you need. You came back. Not too many folks would do that. Especially with a celebrity involved.”
Michael slinks in the couch in disbelief. “How did they even meet? How did this even happen?”
“Facebook.”
“Facebook? You can’t be serious.”
“That’s what I heard. But who really knows.”
Mike pulls himself up. He’s heard enough. “Aight fam. I can’t think about this all day. You want to take a ride? Let me show you the new crib.”
“I thought you jogged over here?”
Mike grins. “Yeah, I did. Right from my parked car around the corner.”
Earl laughs, “You’re a clever one.”
“You know what they say right?” Mike boasts, “All’s fair in love. And football I guess.”
***
Michael’s car is nothing special. In fact, it is the same car he and have been riding in for years together when they were younger. The fading, blue, 1995 Mercury Cougar isn’t the best looking car but its reliable and a smooth ride. The guys listen to the radio and enjoy the five minute ride through the suburbs to Michael’s house.
Michael’s house is a wide two story residence with wood panel that could use a fresh coat of white paint. It’s certainly too much home for a single man with no children. They pull into the driveway and get out. Earl is pleasantly surprised at his friend’s living quarters.
“Nah man, quit playing with me, is this really your house?”
Michael looks at him, “You want to try me? Here, go try the key.”
He tosses the keys to Earl. Earl pauses in front of the door. “What if this isn’t your house?”
“Open the door!” Mike playfully yells. Earl turns the key and enters. Mike’s house isn’t atypical of a bachelor pad. It isn’t decorated at all. The walls are bare, the little furniture he has includes a small kitchen table set, a mismatch living room set, a television, and milk crates that act as end table
s.
Earl gives himself a short tour of the first floor. The kitchen, living room, and dining room are oddly familiar. He can’t quite put his finger on it. Michael grabs some beverages for the two to enjoy while they catch up.
“So what do you think about Chelle?” Earl makes conversation.
“I can’t compete with that.”
“That clown’s a jerk; he's not right for her. You and I know that.”
Earl’s pauses, he’s puzzled. He knows this house but he’s still not quite sure why. He and Michael used to play in the neighborhood as children but how does he know the inside of this particular home? He asks Michael, “Do you remember this street?”
Michael replies, “How could I not? Do you remember this street?”
“Heck yeah. We used to run these streets all day. Playing with the rich kids with the nice two story houses.”
“Good old Franklin Street. I remember the first time we all met. The crew.”
“Who could forget? On the bus stop, 6th grade. We were all late and had to walk all the way to school that day.”
Michael corrects Earl. “Nope. Before that.”
“I don’t remember. That was it.”
“Nope. Anthony’s party. That summer.”
It finally hits Earl how he knows the home. “Oh yeah! I remember. He used to live in that big white hou... your house! This house!”
Michael reminisces, “I always told myself I’d own that house one day. The first time we all met. Anthony dragged me from the house and made me go. He was the only person I knew because our Moms worked together at the Post Office. Then that’s when I met you. And Chelle, she had just moved down from St. Louis. You introduced us and it was like time stopped for a little bit. She always had that effect on me.”
“Oh I remember clearly. Time didn’t stop. You were too shy to say anything until she accidentally punched you in the face trying to tag you.”
“She floored me, literally. She always did, all the way up through High School. Every time I was around her it’s like I reverted back to that nervous skinny kid at that party. I grew up so much with her. She taught me how to ride a bike, how to play softball, she helped me break out my shell; she taught me how to dance…”
“You could never dance!”
“I can dance better than you!”
“Go ahead and bust a move Mr. Jackson!” Earl challenges.
Michael jokingly does his best rendition of a Michael Jackson routine. Michael Jackson would be ashamed. Earl continues, “Speaking of dancing. Since we’re on the old days, why didn’t you take my cousin to prom? I always wondered that.”