Page 57 of My Brother's Keeper
“La-le-le-let hu-hu-him d-d-d-down!” I shouted.
Dio ran up to the side of me. “Nigga are you crazy. His ass is not going anywhere.”
“Ll-let him d-d-down!” I barked this time.
Chevy snatched the knife and cut him loose; his body slammed against the concrete in the Zoo. Colby groaned loudly. I could see Chev and Dio eyeing me curiously.
Colby struggled to get up. “At least one of you got a brain.”
Whap!
I hit him, knocking his face against the concrete again.
Stomp!
My foot impaled his ribs. Over and over again. I could see Dio jumping up and down while Chev circled me. “Yeah! Get in motion, Peanut.”
Clap! Clap!
“One, two, the Zoo is coming for you!” Dio taunted.
“Three, four, Conner should have locked his door!” he continued.
Colby held his hand up against his face.
Pound for pound.Whap! Whap! Whap!
Colby lifted his head as his bloody mouth opened. “Wh-wha- wait!” he cried.
Chevy bent down, growling. “Five, six, you’re about to die in this bitch! Seven, eight, mommy, and daddy won’t save the day.”
Clap!
“Nine, ten, Peanut beat his ass again!” Dio shouted.
Pound for pound.Whap! Whap! Whap!
I turned around, snatched the knife off the table, and jabbed his ass.Jab! Jab! Jab!
Colby sucked in his last breath before his head slammed against the floor. I moved off emotions for Alyse, but this shit was really about my brother because I am his muhfuckin’ keeper. Now I needed to decide if I was going to tell Alyse about Colby.
ALYSE
I shook my hands as I positioned myself and glanced at the judges sitting only a few feet in front of me. I wanted my mom to be here, so I invited her, but she hadn’t shown up. Jalen said he would come, but he wasn’t here either. I honestly wanted to run off the stage and scream, but I knew this was my chance to do something that could show I was strong enough to do something without anyone holding my hand.
Then I thought about Flex. This was for the ballerina who never got a chance to do her last Jetè. For the midnight ballerina who hid between the pole and pointe shoes. When Jalen told me she was a stripper, I couldn’t believe it, but she wasn’t a stripper to me; she was my mentor. I glanced at the person behind the curtain and nodded to signal that I was ready. When the music cued, I went in.
First position plié, spin, hip swivel.
Third position, glissade, pirouette.
I moved my body swiftly to the music as I used the entire floor. I spun, landing flat on my feet, then up on my toes. That’s when I spotted my mother. A smile eased on my face as I rolled my hips quickly to the beat before I did a light ass pop. I swiveled my body and came up to see Jalen.
You better kill that shit, baby. He smiled.
My heart skipped a beat, and I skipped my ass all across the stage. I had gotten so lost in him that I found myself doing sign language at the same time.
I’ll be your peace.
