Page 57 of Krash & Bern

“Let’s talk about the road leading to this moment. Many people know your history, but for the ones who don’t, give us the Krash Williams’ story.”

I licked my lips and folded my fingers. “I grew up in Houston. I was raised by a single father. My mama left when I was a baby…” I gave a run down on my terrible upbringing. “Boxing was where I found solace in the fucked-up cards I was dealt. In the beginning, I released my rage onto my opponents, despite the warnings Coach Larry gave me. I couldn’t go in like a street fight. I had to have calculated movements in the ring.”

We talked about Coach Larry and the impact he had on my career. I owed him everything. I dropped a hint about opening my own gym, to follow in his footsteps. Leslie asked about where he was now. I gave updates on Coach and Gary and the crew.

“While we’re on the topic of close friends, we’ve seen a lot of articles lately about you and your new boo,” Leslie began. “What’s the tea with you and Ms. James?”

“Bern is my heart in human form. I’m not afraid to admit I love this girl with my whole being. My soul dances when she’s near me. Reuniting with her was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. For anybody wondering if they should spin the block on the one they think got away, do it. The love is undeniable and unbreakable now.”

Leslie placed her hand on her chest and cooed. “Aww! I love this. A man who isn’t afraid to love his woman out loud.”

“It should be the norm. I be looking at some of these niggas with a side-eye. How can you claim to love a woman when you don’t love her out loud. Niggas who are afraid to show their women off are either insecure, cheating, or both.”

Leslie laughed. “Oop! Period, Krash. While we’re on the topic, will we be hearing wedding bells in the future?”

“Fa shit sho. By the time this interview airs, I plan to have already asked her. I have the ring picked and everything. Fucking hos gets old fast. Having a reliable, loving, and beautiful woman to come home to every day is the ultimate blessing. Everyone might not want to settle down, but I sure do.”

“We love a man not afraid to love his lady! Before we go, do you have any words for future boxers and your opponent, Dre Bricks?”

“To Dre Bricks, it’ll be a fun match. I’m not going to go easy on you, but I do want you to know I’m willing to mentor you when the match is over. I’ve seen you fight, and you have a hell of a left hook. With the proper guidance, you could be bigger than me one day. To any young man looking to get into boxing, think about what being a boxer is. You have to be able to take a punch. You have to be able to fall down and get back up. They say boxing is a poor man’s sport because historically, boxers were known to be of lower class who couldn’t afford the expensive shit like golf or tennis.”

I gave a quick history of boxing. I’d never been so forthcoming in my interviews, but I figured as I planned my retirement tour, it made sense to drop as many gems as possible. I ended the interview telling everyone this wasn’t the end of Krash Williams.

“Thank you, Krash. It was a pleasure interviewing you.”

I smiled at Leslie. “You did a great job. Keep up the great work. This is only the beginning for you. Your career will take off because you make everyone feel comfortable.”

“That means so much. Please, if you or Bernice ever want to promote something, don’t hesitate to reach out. There will always be a spot for you on the show.”

“Thanks.”

We said our goodbyes as I headed back to the dressing room to change.

“You really about to be done with boxing,” Gary stated as he packed my gloves into the bag.

“I wouldn’t word it like that. I’m not fighting anymore, but I’m going to still be surrounded by the sport.”

Gary nodded. “Pops is going to go crazy when I tell him about the plans for the mentor program.”

“I owe it all to him. I still feel like the money I give him isn’t enough for everything he’s done for me.”

“He feels the gratitude in every paycheck and story you share. You’ve brought his gym a lot of success. Hell, you’ve brought me a lot of success. I’ve got young niggas in my email asking to become a part of the team. They want me to manage them too.”

“That’s what the fuck I love to hear!” I exclaimed. “I want to be able to expand everyone’s business so when I’m not moving like I used to, the bags still come y’all way.”

I’d moved in my purpose, and everyone around me had elevated in one way or another. The end of this chapter in boxing would be the beginning for so many others. I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life with Bernice. I’d be content being nothing more than her man while she went out and continued to do big things.

I had it bad, and I didn’t care.

The week flew by in a blur. Between the busy schedule of BerJam, Security to Krash turning me every way but loose, I was exhausted. Since the incident with Rodney, business had tripled. Everyone wanted to have security installed. I was grateful, but I wanted to enjoy my days off.

I’d been staying at Krash’s place for about a month now. Each evening when I came back to his mansion after work, he’d have his chef prepare dinner. We’d get lost in each other’s presence until we passed out. Despite my plan to sleep in on Sunday, the persistent ringing of my phone had me up. I picked the device up and noticed my mama’s name and face on the screen. Immediately, my heart thumped against my chest. I hadn’t talked to or seen my parents since before the news of my abuse dropped. The anticipation of having to face them weighed heavily on my heart, which made it difficult to visit.

“Hey, Mama.” My voice was still laced with sleep as I cleared my throat.

“Don’they, Mamame. Why haven’t we seen or heard from you in what feels like forever?” she asked with a stern voice.

“Well… see… what had happened was…” I rolled off my stomach to get a better angle to talk.

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