Junior

Aaron stepped off the train wearing a brown Ecko cotton jacket, black gloves and a backwards Yankees cap.

He smacked on a piece of gum, and slung his green duffel bag on his shoulder. No one was at the 125th street station to greet him, and he was grateful for that. He didn't want some fanfare about his homecoming,  and he hadn't formulated what exactly he'd say to his mama. He supposed that he had some time think as everyone would just assume he was home for Christmas.

He considered that Dr. Peterson had already sent her a letter about his dismissal, but his mother  probably wouldn't fully grasp it. She was the type of woman who loved little children but didn't know what to do with them once they became actual human beings. By the time her children were 7 or 8, she was over them and she let them run their own lives.

Mama's standard for success for her kids centered on making sure they ate, and ensuring that they were not in jail. On both counts she was doing quite well though her son, Junior, had a truancy problem that had once brought the  police to her door.

She would get the letter from Xavier and shrug her shoulders. She would be worried about where in the cramped apartment he would stay.

Aaron stopped at the bodega right below the Harlem metro north station and ordered a hot turkey sandwich with pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato and a bit of mayo. It was his Dad's favorite sandwich and become his own standard.

A crazy on the street teetered toward him as he left the the small store. Aaron could smell the malt liquor on the mans breath from several feet away, and, knew he was truly home. This time, however, he was not merely visiting. He was here to stay, and the thought was sobering.

He evaluated the filthy street and the morning din of east Harlem. He saw a woman with no teeth begging for a cup of coffee, and a young whore who was badly made up strutting down the street. He observed the little boy conspicuously peeing in front of the Pathmark supermarket, and was surprised by the strangely coherent murmur of a elderly yellow skinned man who was clearly nodding off on some hardcore drug.

Aaron squared good shoulders, and slowed his walking pace. He was in no hurry to home, and he wanted to appear cool and confident. Inside, though,  anxiety rose within him. He had not spent more than two weeks at a time at home since he had started at Xavier three years ago and though he was loath to admit it, his time away had changed him immeasurably.

"YO!"  Someone called from across the street as he aimlessly headed toward 125th and 3rd avenue. Aaron had begun chowing down on his sandwich and was not about to engage with anybody looking for a handout.

"YO!" The voice cried again, this time even closer to him. A tall man with broad shoulders and deep set dark eyes approached him.It took Aaron a second to recognize him.

"Junior? Damn nigga, when you get so big," he called to his brother, as they embraced. They had not seen each other since the summer and they rarely spoke while Aaron was away.

Junior was only 15 but was already 6 foot 3. He'd always been bigger than his older brother but in recent months he had clearly filled out. Though they were a year and a half apart, they were only a grade different in school. He was a sophomore at P.S.80.
"I didn't know you was comin' so early, man, I wouldn't of hooked up this morning with that bitch you was into last summer," laughed Junior.

"Aww, you wouldn't even know what to do with her if you had the chance," Aaron fired back.

"And shouldn't you be at school?  I know you ain't cuttin' again."

Junior rolled his eyes, " Here you go with that papa bear shit. We ain't got school today cuz of conferences. And, by the way, I got perfect attendance this year."

Aaron began laughing, but stopped when he saw that his younger brother looked genuine.

"I played football, man, and you gotta show up to stay on the team," Junior said, shrugging.

"No, shit," Aaron said, impressed. His brother seemed have matured by miles since be August.

They turned on 2nd ave, and a light snow began to fall. They were almost home. Aaron suddenly felt the urge to tell his brother everything. About how he had fucked up at school. About how his scholarship was gone. About how he his record would be permanently blackened. About how uncertain he was about the future.

Suddenly, Junior's phone rang. After a second of listening, he turned to his older brother.

"Wanna smoke?"

Aaron shrugged. He hadn't been baked since summer and he was realizing that this homecoming was going to be more painful than he had ever imagined.

Junior stayed on the phone and pointed north to where his friends were gathering.