ASCENSION (28 page)

More applause.

“With the assistance of our notable sponsors we are able to have such events and will continue to make the dreams of a college education a reality for each recipient. Let me introduce ou
r
sponsors….”

Alfonzo’s cell buzzed
, he slid the device discreetly from his pocket and held it close to his knees as he gazed down to read a text from Emilio; ‘
Franky split
.’

His reply text asked how long ago?

Emilio’s response; ‘
4 hrs
.’

“…here tonight is one of our illustrious guest speakers and organizer
s
of this
evenings
event, Miss Maria Diaz.”

His mother rose and
walked graciously to the podium
in a flowing pearl colored gown
.
S
he
gave
Selange
a gentle
hug then addressed the crowded room
as
Selange
took a seat
behind the
podium
next to
her
assistant
Cam Lee
.

Alfonzo turned off his cell and gazed at his son
.
A sense of foreboding crept along his spine. So, Franky disappeared…it could only mean one thing…the F.B.I. were about to make a move. Why else would he
dip out now
?

He leaned over to his son and whispered, “Papa loves you, hijo. I might have to go on another
trip,
do you want to stay with Abuela for a little while?”

The boy nodded excitedly, “Yes,
I get to play with my cousins.”

Alfonzo smirked, just like a kid to
only think about play.
“Then it’s settled.”

Fo
r the rest of the evening he pseudo-listen
ed
to the speeches, smiling undisturbed, determined not
to
ruin Selange’
s big night.
He watched the beaming faces feeling a sense of pride and sadness.
Then the last recipient was called to the podium and the name T
yree Davis
was
attached
a face. The young man he spotted earlier in the ill-fitting suit stood and Alfonzo straightened. Something about the youth
demanded attention.
Perhaps, it was the confident walk or the focus in the young-old eyes
,
but
whatever it was brought him
upright.

The boy cleared his throat and looked down the aisle
as
photographer
s snapped pictures then faded into the
background.
The youth appeared
comfortable in
his
surrounding, unafraid and regal
despite the cheap quality of his clothes
.

“
Um, thanks
,” he s
aid in a voice much older than his years
, “to everyone at the Brown-Diaz Foundation for this
s
cholarship
it is truly
a
honor
..
.
seriously.
”

He attempted to adjust the microphone and
it screeched loudly.
His wife’s assistant
sc
urried
forward
to adjust the height and volume then returned to his seat.
The young man blushed with embarrassment
and
received a
round of
encouraging
a
pplause
.

Tyree stepped closer to the podium,
“W
ow
, I need to give thanks to my
dad,” he became
thoughtful
, “
yeah,
he’s
t
he one who taught me about hard work
and
trust me I’ve worked hard to get here. Damn hard!”

The group laughed as he said, “
Ooops
, sorry
about that
!”

Alfonzo chuckled riveted by the you
ng man’s
hon
esty.
Totally
d
ifferent
from the boy he was a
t
th
at
age.

“Like I was saying
,
my
dad
worked hard
. S
ometimes he was
really
tired
yet
never too tired for me.
He was always interested in
my schoolwork and me. He’d get
on my case
whenever I slacked off.
He reminded me that I had to p
ut in the
work
and
not be afraid to
sweat.
He said don’t let imaginary
walls people say are impenetrable
be a reason to give up. Knock ‘
em
down or climb over
‘
em
, is what he
taught
me
. You’re just as good as anyone else in this only God is Supreme.”

The audience
listened;
captivated by the young man’s speech.

“
I’ve been knocking
down walls
ever-since he died.” He paused for a minute to bow his head in remembrance then looked back at the crowd with eyes on fire, “
When my friends were out doing drugs I was in the library. I wasn’t about to sully my dad’s memory by becoming part of what’s wrong with our society. The
hopelessness, violence, racism and poverty
is
tearing us down as a people.” He coughed and paused. There was something weighing on his mind.

The audience clapped. Someone shouted, “Go ahead Tyree. Preach it!”

And the heaviness of his soul was
lay
bare. “
My dad got shot coming home from work. A route he took every day of his
motherfucking
life. A
long train ride from the Bronx to Brooklyn then another ride on a bus that put him off three blocks from our home. He should’ve been retiring.
Two more years and he was done but he didn’t make that long because on the second block somebody figured his life was worth
twenty-two dollars
. That’s all he had in his pocket.
Twenty-two dollars and a card for me.”
The boy sniffled. “I was graduating early, top of my class and he was proud. The card was found on him stained with blood.” He pulled the card from his pocket and stared down at it, “
Man, I miss my dad but thanks to this scholarship I can make him pro
ud, be the man he always
knew I could be. Instead of taking lives, I want to save them.
I
will
be a doctor and I
will
return to
Brooklyn to work in the ER
trauma room
. Every
gunshot victim brought
in
I
will
work hard to save his or her life because every day I
will
always
remember
my dad…
thank you.
..
” He looked over and Selange, “
thank
you Mrs. Diaz for everything
!”

She stood and the two embraced. His
acceptance speech
received a
roar of applause.
People stood
clapping
, some with tears in their eyes
and others with
smiles of pride
.
The young man’s words resonated
deep within.
He
envied the
kid for
having a dad who instilled such admirable qualities in his son
and he saw the true depth of his wife’
s positive influence
.

He immediately stepped out to call his accountant and requested he transfer one hundred thousand dollars to a fund in the name of Tyree Davis then returned to the hall
. He ap
proached the young man’s table
and reached out his hand,
“I want to be the first to say well done Doctor Davis.”

T
he youth smiled, “Thank you.”

Alfonzo took out a pen and a business card and wrote the accountant’s name and telephone number on the back. “
Give this person a call on Monday. You’re going to need a lot more money to pay for med school and room and board.
You definitely don’t want to come out of school in debt. Having to pay back student loans is a bitch. I’m making a contribution to your future, that’s all I’m doing young man. I believe in you.”

Tyree took the card and read the name.
“You’re Mrs. Diaz’ husband?”

“Yes.”

His eyes smiled, “She’s great. I’m glad she started this scholarship or who knows how I’d make it through undergrad.”

“Trust me I know. College is getting really expensive.” Alfonzo extended his hand once again, “Take care Doctor Davis and if there’s anything you need…I mean anything…call me, okay?”

The boy’s spirit lifted
as he looked up at his tall, impeccably attired benefactor
. “Thank you.
Thank you Mr. Diaz
.”

***

Sometime later as the ceremony came to a close and people began to disperse he
spoke with Giuseppe
and gave
him instruction
s
in case the F.B.I arrived before they were to leave. Giuseppe nodded then stepped away to make a call.

Alfonzo saw his wife amidst a crowd of people. She
was
radia
nt
tonight
, truly
. His mom approached smiling, “It was a wonderful night, wasn’t it?”

Alfonzo nodded in agreement, “Yes.” He waited for her to sit then
leaned over
,
“I love you
mama
.”

S
he smiled, “I know hijo
,
I
love you too
.”

“I need a favor
mama
,
”
he said sadly as he reached for her hand.

“What is it hijo, what’s wrong and do not lie to me?”

His eyes
traveled around the emptying room
. He did not want Sal around to witness his arrest or learn of his troubles
, “I want you to take care of Sal for a while. I might be going away for a bit.”

“Hijo, are you in trouble…
is
…
is…
it this business of your father’s…is it?” Worry lines wrinkled her
lovely
forehead.

“Yes.”
He lowered his head in defeat, “Pray for
my soul and for my family
. Pray
Sal’s heart
remains good like his mother’s and I
don’t
corrupt it.
Por
favor
.”

Her son’s eyes were sad.
Lost.
A look she saw many years ago. Whatever he had done God would forgive. She squeezed his hand to give him strength, “You are a good son. I am proud of the man you are, nothing will change that.” Then she
gripped her ever present rosary beads, rolling them around her fingers, praying quietly in Spanish then looked upon her son’s calm face, “I will take care of my grandson but promise me when this is over we talk.”

“
Prometo
.”
He got up and walked to her side, bent low and kissed her cheek, “
The limo is waiting to take
everyone
home.
I’ve arranged for Domingo to give you whatever you need.
I’ll call you soon
, mama
.”

She nodded then went to collect her grandson and the others. Giuseppe strolled over from the bar with two
glasses and a
n entire
bottle of champagne. He popped the
cork
and
filled the glasses to the rim then
pass
ed
one to Alfonzo, “
You are right
cugino
. The
poliz
ei
are coming
,
bu
t
there
i
s time
to drink
o
ne for the road, it’s
what
America
n’s say
, no?”