Jack ran over to the grocery store and asked the manager if Ox was working there that night. When the manager told him that Ox had been by a half hour ago to collect his wages, Jack knew that Ox was probably headed for the garage. Jack raced off to Ox’s garage. When he got there he was surprised to see Keevan and Josiah. Keevan had Ox backed up against the closed up garage pointing his finger in Ox’s face. Josiah had a wooden bat and was tapping it against his open hand like he was getting ready to hit somebody with it. Without even thinking, Jack acted upon the situation.
“What are you doing to my friend!?”
Keevan and Josiah turned around startled and after they realized it was just Jack they slowly started walking towards Jack. Jack looked at Ox who slumped up against the garage and knew he was on his own.
“Well, well, well…if we don’t got a wannabe hero comin’ to save his homey…what you say Josiah…shall we teach this cracker a lesson?”
“Sound good foo’!”
As the two boys got closer to Jack the reality of taking a serious pounding wrenched up Jack’s stomach. It was time to run away like a zebra or fight like a lion. Jack clenched his fist and waited for Keevan to get close. When Keevan was about to bump his chest against Jack, Jack took a huge haymaker swing that hit Keevan square on the jaw. Keevan feel to the asphalt in the alley squirming. Josiah looked at Jack and took aim with his bat. Before he could swing the bat, Ox had grabbed the bat and pulled it out of Josiah’s hands. Ox yelled for the bullies to leave as he held the bat pointed at them. Keevan and Josiah looked angrier than a swarm of hornets, but reluctantly retreated as they cursed out Ox and Jack until they had left the alley.
“Thanks Ox…you save me.”
“You saved me country boy…dem two wuz bout to take my dough from workin’ at da market.”
“Are you gonna be okay?”
“Sure is…I just lock up da garage door tonight.”
“I was actually trying to find you to see if you’d come have dinner with my mom and me tonight.”
“What for?”
“I asked my mom if you could move in with us. She said she wanted to meet you first.”
“I ain’t takin’ no charity country boy…I’s good here.”
“Come on Ox…it’s just dinner. If my mom likes you she’ll invite you to move in with us…if not she’ll just say to have a good night…besides it’s starting to get cold outside and your garage can’t be that warm.”
“Is you tryin’ to get me out dis garage so you can play for Mr. Crazy?”
“I don’t know Ox…after what just happened I’m not sure I’d survive playing with those two idiots.”
“You’s right country boy…dem boys is Mr. Crazy’s favorites…I ain’t playin’ wit dem no more.”
“Is that why you really quit school Ox? To get away from Keevan and Josiah?”
“You’s smart country boy…but dem boys jus’ jealous of da Ox man!”
“You got that right Ox. Why don’t we go eat and see what happens?”
“Aight country boy…but I only come if you’s serious bout’ me living wit you.”
“I’m serious Ox…and so’s my mom…she wouldn’t have invited you over if she wasn’t.”
Ox nodded his head and agreed to go to dinner with Jack. By the time they got back to Jack’s apartment dinner was almost ready. Jack’s mom had made sloppy joe’s with creamed corn, potato chips, and freshly sliced peaches. The aroma in the apartment was wonderful to the two boys and Jack’s mom smiled when she saw Ox. She stopped stirring the sloppy joe meat and walked over to Ox to introduce herself.
“Hello…I’m Jack’s mom, Gina.”
“Hi Ma’am…I’m Ox.”
“Good to meet you Ox…are you hungry?”
“Sure is ma’am.”
“Good…let’s eat.”
Gina had the boys sit down at the little table and brought them each a plate of food. Jack was about ready to dive in and start eating until he saw that Ox was waiting to eat. Gina looked at Ox and smiled as she brought her plate over to the table.
“That was very polite of you Ox.”
“Thank you ma’am…my ma used to show me how’s to have manners.”
“She did a good job…what’s she doing now?...go ahead and eat Jack.”
Jack dove into his dinner while Ox just picked up a potato chip and thought about how to answer Gina’s question.
“She got into dat crack…I can’t stand it no longer so I’s moved into dat garage.”
“Well…why don’t you try to eat something Ox…hopefully Jack will save enough for us.”
Gina smiled and started eating. Ox smiled back and then looked at Jack who had red sauce across his lips and chin. Ox chuckled and then ate his dinner. Everyone had two helpings and Ox finished off the peaches. After dinner was over Ox offered to help with the dishes. Jack sat at the table in amazement by what Ox was doing. He didn’t know if this was the same kid he shot hoops with or if it was some choir boy from the local church.
“So what do you think mom? Is Ox invited to stay.”
“Jack!...you need to learn some manners from your friend here…I think we should find out what Ox wants.”
Ox and Gina continued to work on the dishes while Jack sat and watched.
“Would you like to stay with us Ox?...Jack has offered to give up his bed for you.”
“Dis apartment is small ma’am.”
“We’ll only be here a couple more weeks Ox…we’ll be moving to a house after that.”
“Where dis house gonna be?”
“I’m not entirely sure Ox…my boss at work is going to rent it to me…we’re supposed to look at it this weekend. He tells me it’s in a good neighborhood.”
“I’s cool wit dat…you ok if I keep workin’ my jobs?”
“What kind of jobs do you have Ox?”
“I works at da market sometimes, sometimes do yard work, sometimes I do work for whoeva’ need it.”
“Do you go to school Ox?”
Jack cringed at the question. He hadn’t thought his mom would ask, but knew instinctively that this could be the deal breaker.
“No ma’am…I got kicked out last year and my ma won’t take me to da other school where’s I can go.”
“I’ll tell you what Ox. If you can get all the paperwork from your mom to get you enrolled in school you can come stay with us…would you like that?”
“Very much ma’am…but I’s need to close out my garage…maybe we’s can wait til y’all get you house.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you Ox…but I think you should stay here with us…a garage is no place for a young man to spend the night. You can take Jack to school tomorrow and see about that paperwork. When we get the house we can see about getting your things from the garage…okay?”
“Yes ma’am.”
Jack was amazed at how his mom could be so nice and be so authoritative at the same time. Somehow she knew how to get exactly what she wanted and come off being nice about it. The great thing about this situation was that Jack wanted exactly what his mom wanted.