Echoes of a Distant Summer (105 page)

Carlos nodded and said, “Yes, it is the same feather that El Indio gave you so many years ago. I have kept it for this moment. Now you have earned it twice.”

Jackson exhaled. “This is quite an honor, to have this gift from El Indio. I don’t know what to say.”

“Say nothing, just continue to act in a manner that the old ones would respect. You are El Negro now.” Carlos nodded to the envelope on top of the cigar box. “That’s the last letter your grandfather dictated before he was killed.”

Jackson pulled the tape off the box and held up the envelope. “I bet there’s a bombshell or two in here.” He shook his head as he studied the envelope. “I don’t know if I even want to read this! Let me enjoy the feather for a moment.” He laid the envelope down on the table and shook his head again.

The door at the top of the stairs opened suddenly and there was the sound of steps descending rapidly. Rhasan burst into the room. “Man, my mother’s gone crazy! I have to live with you! I can’t stay with her!”

Jackson put up his hands. “Whoa! What’s this all about?”

“She’s nagging me all the time! I’m beyond all that, I’m eighteen now! I’m a man! I want to move in with you. She’s wacko!”

Jackson studied his nephew then inquired, “I have to ask, are you dealing with all your responsibilities? Or is she having to do your share?” He put the box containing the feather in the rolltop desk.

Carlos stood up and said, “I’ll go upstairs while you finish this discussion.” He turned and headed for the stairs.

Jackson looked at Rhasan. “Are you doing your share?”

Rhasan frowned and shook his head. “Why do you always start off as if I’m in the wrong?” Rhasan rapped his chest. “Why do you question me?”

“Because your mother is a fairly sane, logical person who’s just trying to get you to carry your weight. Isn’t she trying to get the house ready for sale? Isn’t there a lot of packing still to be done?”

Rhasan growled, “How do you know I haven’t done my share? I—”

“Watch your tone!” Jackson warned. “We are here to discuss, not argue! There’ll be no raised voices or angry intonation! This is family; you bring your best skills to the discussion.”

“Just answer me: Why do you think I’m always at fault?”

“If you want the truth, it’s because you’ve been getting pretty full of yourself since we’ve returned from Mexico. You want to act like you’re the equal of men who’ve been tested many times.”

Rhasan tapped his chest. “I only respect those who respect me!”

“Respect is valuable, but it isn’t given freely. It must be earned. You haven’t earned it. You haven’t done anything worth the stature you’ve given yourself. And let’s examine the way you’re dealing with your mother. Isn’t it true that when your mother asked you to assist with the packing, you told her to hire someone?”

“She told you, huh?” Rhasan exhaled then he turned jaunty. “Well, we got money, why sweat the small stuff? We don’t have to do the packing ourselves now!”

“All the money you have was given to you. You haven’t earned any of it and it isn’t yours. Yet you feel free to spend it in lieu of your work.”

“You talk all this family stuff, you say I’ll lead the family one day, then you say the money isn’t mine! What’s up with that?”

Jackson stared at Rhasan then asked, “Do you really want to be part of the family business? And if you do, how much do you want it? Truthfully!”

“I want it more than anything!”

“Then you have to prepare yourself. You must be willing to learn all the lessons of leadership. But most of all you must be willing to work and take your responsibilities seriously. We’re not going to let the power to ruin or improve this family fall into the hands of a fool. Otherwise, we’d give Franklin control. He’s family too. You don’t get anything until you have shown that you have the discipline and focus to guide this family’s fortunes.”

“What do I have to do to show that I have that?”

“Be willing to work hard in all family-related matters. Complete your college degree with a B or better grade point average and get your nose out of your ass. Treat your mother with the respect that she deserves. Do more than your share of the work.”

“Okay! Okay! But I’m moving out! I’m not going to live under her roof ever again!”

“Where will you live?”

“You won’t let me live with you?”

“No!”

“Well, Fox has some room—”

“If you do that you’ll throw away your future. You better move in here.”

Rhasan’s eyes got big with excitement. He looked around the room. “Move in here? Sure!”

Jackson continued, “You can take my old room. But you’ll observe all the rules of the house, including whatever chores are demanded, being here for dinner every night, and the hours of curfew. You fail to comply, you lose the BMW.”

“Curfew?”

“You heard me right. Unless you’ve received permission from Grandmother, you’re home by the time the house closes up.”

“Do I keep getting the training in self-defense?”

“As long as you show that you’ve got your eyes focused on the family’s long-term goals.”

“Okay. I can do that.”

“One last thing. Don’t ever come down here without knocking and requesting permission first.”

“But I thought—”

“This matter is not open to discussion. You are not part of the business until you’ve completed college. Another thing, until you head the family you cannot bring anyone in here without permission. Not your friends. Not anyone. This room is sacrosanct. Don’t ever violate the rules concerning this room!”

“Okay, but can I come down here and play pool if no one is here?”

“As long as you don’t touch anything else and you clean up after yourself.”

Rhasan nodded his head and said, “That’s cool. I can live with that.”

“Good.” Jackson turned toward the rolltop desk, but his nephew stopped him.

“Say, Uncle Jax. I know I don’t have the right to ask this, but if it wasn’t important to me I wouldn’t ask for it.”

Jackson faced his nephew. “Go ahead.”

“Ever since you brought Diablito home, you know he and I have been tight. I’ve been taking him everywhere and you encouraged it.”

“Yes, I’ve noticed that you and he seem to have bonded.”

“You know I’ve never had a dog before and I’ve always wanted one. Well, Diablito is my dog now and I don’t want to leave him. When I come home from college next summer, he won’t be a puppy anymore. I don’t want to miss that time.”

“But you’re living in a dorm.”

“I know, that’s the problem, Unc. So I was talking to Terry Strong—”

Jackson interrupted. “Dan’s son?”

“Yeah, he’s going to Morehouse now. And we’ve been talking about getting an apartment, but we need some help with the money so …”

Jackson’s first reaction was to tell his nephew that he hadn’t demonstrated sufficient responsibility to live off campus or have a pet, but as he thought about it, other ideas sprang to mind. He had to get a place in Atlanta anyway. Why not let it serve multiple purposes? He gave Rhasan a long look, then said, “Your schedule, including your studies and your martial arts training, is going to be pretty rigorous. Are you sure you want to add the pressure of a dog? Pit bulls in particular need a lot of attention and must be taken to obedience school. It’s dangerous to have one that isn’t trained. Are you sure you have the vinegar and commitment to do all this?”

Rhasan considered Jackson’s question a moment then nodded. “I think I can do it.”

“What did I tell you about the difference between thinking and doing?”

Rhasan affirmed, “I can do it. I’ll make you proud.”

“All right. I have business in Atlanta, so I’ll buy a house in which you and Terry can stay. Further, I’ll send Theresa out there to watch over things and make sure you get at least one good meal a day.”

Rhasan was exuberant. “You’ll send Theresa too? Uncle Jax, that’s the bomb! Wait till I tell Terry. Thank you! Thank you!”

“Understand Theresa is not there to be your maid and I’ll be visiting often to check on things.”

“No problem. I intend to be a man of my word like you and Great-grandfather. Can we shoot a game of pool to celebrate this?”

“You go ahead, my nephew. I have a letter to read.”

While Rhasan racked the balls on the pool table, Jackson lit a cigar and opened the envelope. The letter it contained was one page, typewritten. It read:

Jackson put down the letter and wiped the sweat off his forehead. Suddenly it was quite warm in the room. He got up and walked out of the exterior door. He stood on the paved walkway on the side of the house and felt the cool breeze blowing across his face. He had a son. A son that he had never seen. Jackson let his cigar go out as he reread the letter. How long had his grandfather known of the boy’s existence? Why was everything so byzantine with his grandparents? Jackson began thinking about how he would mount a rescue effort. There was never a moment’s doubt whether he was going to go after his son. He would not knowingly abandon a child of his blood, particularly when that child was in danger. Jackson was angry when he turned back into the house. Why did his child have to pay this price? Eighteen years lost! Another Tremain raised by strangers. He needed to talk to Carlos, to plan.

Rhasan leaned on his cue and looked around the room. It seemed like he was in a dream. He was shooting pool where his great-grandfather had stood. All the stories he had heard, now he was standing here himself.
The future was laid out for him. All he had to do was perform and one day, he would be a man like his uncle Jackson; one day he would lead the family and he would be the one explaining the rules of this sacrosanct room. His chest was filled with pride. His family was one of the toughest that walked the earth. Not only was there King Tremain and Jackson, but his great-uncle Elroy was something too! Rhasan had wheedled the story out of him about how he had walked into the den of the DuMonts and held a gun to old Pug himself. He knew that there were real men in his family and that there was nothing he wouldn’t do to earn their respect.

He broke the rack and followed the cue ball down to the other end of the table. He had sunk half of the balls when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. He stopped and looked up, expecting Carlos. He was surprised to see Franklin step into the room. Rhasan returned to his pool game without a word. He had never gotten along with his snooty uncle Franklin and he had nothing to say to him now.

“Well, I see that Grandmother opened up this old room. It looks the same as I remember. Is that cigars I smell?” Rhasan continued shooting pool and did not respond. Franklin declared angrily, “I’m talking to you!”