BOOK EXCERPT, "HE WAS MY HERO TOO"

One

The silky smooth sound of legendary jazz saxophonist, John Coltrane, permeated from the Voice of  Music phonograph. Simon sat in deep meditation behind the desk in his office at the South-side Mount Vernon Boys & Girls Club and soaked it all in. Simon, a portly and bearded man with a tinge of gray hair, was attired in a dark brown velvet warm-up suit which offsets the colors of his new digs--the log cabin.' Simon's office attracted the sobriquet by club members when he personally had his office renovated with all wood fixtures.

The sole piece of accessory not made of maple was the "wall of fame" where Simon kept the snapshots of every athlete to ever grace the club's gymnasium who went on to the professional ranks. He also had a space where he kept all of the club's, "hall of fame" honorees.
Simon's focus was abruptly broken by a knock on the door. It's Kirby sporting shorts, hi-top Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers, and droopy socks with a white towel draped around his neck. Simon, alarmed at the common sounding voice, swirled around to greet his visitor. The two gentlemen smiled, then embraced.
"Man, I haven't seen you in a month of Sunday's." Simon, the club's program coordinator, said while shutting off the music that stirred his soul.
"Yeah, I know, IBM had me in the frozen tundra, Chicago doing seminars--and I've been dealing with a few things which sort of needed my immediate and absolute attention."
"I can dig it, Mr. Computer Consultant."
"So how've you been?"
"Me," Simon smiled and patted on his ever-expanding balloon belly, "I've been making it just fine. You know, another day, another fifty cents."
"You're a trip," Kirby said.
"So," Simon's voice shifted in tone, "how's life in White Plains?"
"It's all right, considering. I really don't do too much there, just work and sleep." Kirby sucked in some air and sighed. "It's especially hard not seeing Junior and Bennie, every day."
Simon pointed to the photo of Kirby's family positioned on his desk. "And what about Kathy, your wife?"
Kirby makes an impulsive about-face and shoved his hands into his pockets to jingle with his change. "Yeah," he moaned. "I almost forgot, her too."
"Hang in there, you guys will be all right."
"I think we're headed for divorce court, if you ask me."
"Well no...didn't ask you," Simon said with a sly grin. "You'll see; it'll come around. A year's separation after nine years of marriage isn't the end of the world. Just look at it as a refreshing period-a cleansing period."
"Cleansing? Refreshing?" Kirby questioned. "I'd say it's more like an emotional enema."
"Enema?"
"I don't know," Kirby said and shook his head in disagreement. "Women's be buggin'. It's like a light goes off in their head and they just...flip! First they get our ribs, now they take our paychecks!"
"Man," Simon sounded a little more reticent as he picked up the telephone. "Simon speaking, can you hold please." He then placed his hand over the receiver to muzzle the sound. "You better not go anywhere in public talking that stuff."
"What? About my wife?"
"No, about the ribs and money."
The door swung open as if a hurricane wind had gotten a hold of it. It's Dannon, clad in a white Adidas sweat-suit and matching white sneakers.
"I need a ball, Bra Simon."
"You forget how to knock, man?" Simon said as he was just about to conclude his telephone conversation.
"Oh, I apologize, Simon. Kirby, what's up?"
"Nothing. Yo boy, how tall are you now?"
"Six-eight."
"It's only been a couple of weeks since I last saw you, and you put on two more inches?"
"I don't know, I guess."
Kirby shook his head in astonishment, cogitating of how it felt like just yesterday when he used to give him piggyback rides.
"Whew! And you're 17 now?"
"Yep, turn 18 June 10th."
"I know when your birthday is, chump."
Dannon playfully landed an elbow to Kirby's chest. "Well, I gotta roll, gotta shoot some hoop; keep my jumper on target."
"When's the next game?" Kirby yelled down the corridor.
"Thursday! Big game against New Ro!"
Kirby made his way back into Simon's office. His thoughts drifted to his best friend Dannon's older brother, Bennett. He thought about how much he still missed him with every passing day. And the thought of how proud Bennett would have been of Dannon, who took over from where he left off--touted as the best basketball player Mount Vernon High School had ever produced.

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