Two Brothers
I was once asked how I felt about being the very epitome of hypocrisy? This was normally the type of statement that would lead to a scuffle. But in this particular instance, I chose to ask this poser for further clarification to his accusational query. The poser, perhaps surprised by my question, answered tentatively. He told me that it was incomprehensible that I would be both the catalyst for good in one brother, and, all the while, I acted as the complete antithesis for my other brother. This was a fact that I had dealt with at times before, but to hear someone else say it had left an undeniable impression.
What made the impression so undeniable was that it was a completely true observation. The observation is based upon the matter of my two brothers. My brothers are twins, and are twenty years of age. While they got along as well as can be expected, they are truly as different as night and day. But, it should be understood that even night and day have things in common. While night is dark, it still has traces of daytime light. And sometimes, even thought the day is normally bright, a thunderstorm can cause darkness that is darker than half- past midnight. This information withstanding, my brothers are different from each other in many ways.
Soft Spoken, the first brother I'll write about, is a nice guy. He graduated in the top ten percent of his class, while working a part-time job and playing baseball. Soft even kept a steady girlfriend the last two years of high school, which is a relationship that has also stood the test of two years of separation while Soft is at college. But, please, don't let me paint Softs portrait as that of an angel. I mean, he does work for my sales force. Soft is the main connection at college, and is paid well for his job. Some people may look at distribution of sticky greens as a bad thing, but as it pertains to the evil that resides in some men, Soft doesn't have any.
He is a very intelligent student, and I encourage that. When he needs money for books, bills or whatever a college student needs money for, I give it to him freely. The repayment that I get is to tell anyone who will listen that I have a brother in college that's Dean's List. Even the realest gangster will tell you that there is more promise in life if you acquire riches the legal way.
Soft is known to get a bit drizzed on the weekends, like all of the other college students. But, most likely you would find him studying hard in the library on the weeknights. I usually try to do all that is in my power to steer Soft in the right direction. I tell him to stay faithful to his girl, keep studying, and never keep any product on him.
To put it into perspective, I try to support Soft in the future endeavors he has chosen.
On the other side of the coin is "No Joke". No Joke is my other brother. He is just as the name illustrates. No is the kind of guy who has your back in all situations. This is invaluable in the lifestyle I've chosen, but it can also lead to some sticky situations. On more than one occasion, I've gone to pick up No on a dark corner, only to find his clothes bloody and a look in his eyes that can't tell of the chaos he just took part in.
No is a nice man, too. The only difference between No and Soft is that No will take it to the next level with the quickness. I think the best way to illustrate what I mean about No, is to tell you about the summer of '97.
The summer of 1997 was a good one for my brothers and I. We all had girlfriends, and since all the girlfriends got along, this led to a countless number of double and triple dates.
On one particular rainy Friday in August, Soft's girlfriend came to the house in tears. Showing great concern for her well-being, Soft led her into the kitchen where he asked No to make some coffee while he tried to console her. After a few minutes she calmed down enough to tell us what happened.
She had been walking home from work at the movies, when, she happened to encounter her ex-boyfriend. He apparently thought that she was ready for another go-around, and tried to make a go of it in an alley outside the theater. In the beginning, she thought he was joking, and tried to laugh it off and stated that she had somewhere to be. At this point he pulled her real close, until their faces met, and told her "if he was ready, she was ready."
Smelling the alcohol on his breath, she began to panic. She tried to fight him off, but he slapped her a couple of times, and forced her to the ground when he choked her throat. While on the ground she continued to fight, but it was a battle she was going to lose.
As he unzipped his pants, a group of teenagers had stumbled upon the scene and made themselves known. As he turned to face the teenagers, she ran away, and luckily, he didn't follow.
During the duration of the story, Soft put his arms around her and did his best to console her. It was evident that he was angry but Soft wanted to help his girlfriend now, and seek retribution later.
I happened to also look at No during the second half of the story. He stood still like a stone. He never said a word, and his eyes never left the floor. His eyes had traces of tears in them, but they never fell across his cheeks.
When the story was over, Soft and I offered to call the police. She refused, saying that she was just glad it was over. She took a deep breath, and asked a question that, if she hadn't asked, would have led to No being in jail for a long time.
Through tears that were still falling, she asked, "Where's No?"
I knew exactly where No was.
As I drove to the movie theater a million thoughts raced through my head. I wondered what No would do? What would the consequences be? Would I be able to stop it?
When we pulled into the theater lot, I could see No waiting outside the doors. He was completely still, his shirt hung open, exposing a wife-beater underneath. His fists were clenched and his focus was intense.
I'll remember this image for the rest of my life. I try sometimes to imagine I am the poor bastard, walking out of the theater, unsuspecting, and seeing this 6'2", 235-lb. monster on the verge of a sadistic rage. The image sent chills up my spine. This is my second most vivid memory regarding the theater. But, I will tell you more on that later.
Anyway, the poor bastard walks out and immediately he is picked up off the ground and thrown into a brick wall. His head crashes against the bricks, leaving traces of blood to drip to the concrete below. His two friends vainly attempted to attack No, but were thrown to the ground like dead leaves.
No punched and kicked the "Poor Bastard" for almost two full minutes before Soft and me pulled him away. By that time, the poor bastard was laying in a fetal position on the ground. He was most likely unconscious, but he was very definitely, badly beaten.
I'll be honest. The beating was so bad, even Soft's, almost raped girlfriend, grimaced at the sight of the poor bastard laying in blood on the ground.
The last thing I remember, after No calmed down somewhat, is that he broke free of us and slowly approached the Poor Bastard. The Poor Bastard tried to slide away, but the wall was right there. No bent down slightly, just enough to reach out and grab Poor Bastard, by the collar. He pulled the poor bastards face close to his own and said perhaps the most shocking words I believe I've ever heard. No, in all seriousness, told Poor Bastard, "If I hear you talked to her again, and I'll have you raped!"
No dropped Poor Bastard to the ground, where he was left to moan through a bloody mouth of broken teeth.
Now, don't get me wrong; No is a nice guy. He just has his own code of justice. He, like most people, doesn't like the idea of a guy raping a girl. He always said that rape, is, "a power he wishes he didn't have." I never fully understood that idea, but maybe you do.
Sorry, I've digressed again. I just thought that story might explain the type of person No Joke is.
No Joke works for me and he is my best salesman. His greatest skill in life is that of a hustler. While Soft excelled in the history of the Crimean War, or matters of a textbook, it was No who always understood that there is always more money selling dimes than ounces. It's a simple concept, but people forgot, or maybe ignore it.
No Joke hit the block daily. He hustled from the moment he awoke, until the moment he slept. I encouraged him to be the best he could be. For this, some poser calls me a hypocrite? I just tried to support my brothers in what they did best, and in who they really were. This is how I think. And, those are my brothers.
Poser's Dictionary
GIVEN
IT UP- lost virginity, have sex
STICKY GREEN- marijuana
REALEST- dangerous, a person committed to a lifestyle
DRIZZED- drunk
BACK- offer protection or assistance in times of danger
NEXT LEVEL- the escalation of confrontation
QUICKNESS- the rapid escalation of confrontation
WIFE BEATER- white undershirt worn to show physique
HUSTLER- any person that makes money illegally
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