Toby and the Ten Year Stint Pt. 2

Him: Long story short, my cousin and I staged a robbery and I got charged with robbery and attempted murder.

Me: Wait what? You’re going to have to explain this to me.

Him: I was eighteen. Me and my cousin came up with the plan. He was working at a T-Mobile shop and he told me everyone was already in on it. We was gonna go in, steal the phones in the back, and take the money, real quick. But, come to find out one girl didn’t know. So we all came with masks and BB guns tryna make it look real. I took one girl out to the back, thinking she was playing along, and I said stupid shit like, “If you scream bitch, Imma kill you.” Come to find out she didn’t know and thought it was real, and she testified against me. They locked me up for ten years because I had a few prior offenses from when I was younger, so they was ready to put me away.

Me: What had you been charged with before?

Him: Assault and attempted murder.

Me: Who was you tryna kill?

Him: The funny thing is it was someone who had robbed me. I was angry so I grabbed my gun and went after him. I was in and out of juvenile since I was about twelve, I think. This was back when the Bloods and Crips was real big. Anyway, this last time I got locked up was in...

He paused to count.

Him: It was my senior year of high school, so 2005. God, making me feel old. How old are you?

Me: Twenty-two.

(I honestly don’t know why I lie about my age, but I do)

Him: I thought you was eighteen or nineteen. You look so young. Good for you. Anyway, you probably don’t even remember that time. I got out in 2015. When we got caught, I felt so bad for the girl. I confessed to my part in it, but what I didn’t know was my cousin had put the blame on me.

Me: No!

Him: He did. So they only gave him one year, but he was out in about eight months.

Me: Did you serve the full ten years? They didn’t give you probation or anything.

Him: No, you know how they do.

Me: Especially when you’re young and black. Were you angry at your cousin?

Him: Naw, although the year after that we didn’t speak. But now we alright. We talk every week. He my cousin. I actually had to tell people to stop messing with him. Everyone knew what went on and they wasn’t happy with him. But I had to say, “Listen, if I’m not tryna get him, you can’t either.”

Me: Wow, that’s impressive, to forgive like that.

Him: You can’t be fighting with your family like that. In the end it woulda just hurt my grandma. My momma wasn’t even on my side, she be saying, “You know how his mom is, you shoulda known better than to go along with him.” She was right. We grew up together. He was my big cousin.

Me: That’s true.

Him: And later I understood more why he did it. Anyway, while I was locked up I started this program working with the juveniles. We had to do our community service and I chose to work with the kids, mentoring, giving them guidance and all, because I don’t want them to end up like me.

Me: You go to schools to mentor kids?

Him: No, I go to Juvie. These kids is already locked up. I could be doing schools, but I prefer the kids in Juvie. They remind me of me. I made an outreach organization so now I travel around the country talking to the kids. When I started, I was talking to them, but now I’m talking with them. It’s a conversation. I learn as much from them as they learn from me. I wasn’t even thinking I could get paid for it. Now I get a call and they asking me how much I charge for a talk and what kind of flight accommodations I want. I ain’t even took a flight before, and now they asking me. I ain’t even been this far west until this week. This my first time.

Me: Well, welcome to California. Sorry it’s been rainy.

Him: Even with the clouds, it’s beautiful. The palm trees, the city. I love it. If you told me I would be here like this a few years ago, I wouldn’t’ve believed you. It’s been amazing. I’m blessed. I got my finances in order. I make my own clothing line. Just had a baby girl.

Me: Congratulations.

Him: Thank you.

Me: How old is she?

Him: Nine months. Here, I got a picture of her. I’m twenty-eight now.

He takes out his phone and shows me a picture the two of them together. He’s holding her in his hands, his arms outstretched so they’re facing each other. She’s smiling, wearing a little pink dress and bow on her head.

Me: Aw, she’s adorable.

Him: She’s the best thing to happen to me. I love that little girl so much. I would do anything for her. If I could take out a life insurance policy that could guarantee she would be taken care of for the rest of her life, I would have someone cut me down. I’m serious. She means that much to me.

Me: You’re probably better for her alive than dead.

Him: Naw, my life is worthless. Hers is everything.

His eyes well with tears as he looks back at his phone.

Him: I just wish I didn’t have to deal with my baby momma. It’s like, bitch, we ain’t together no more.

Me: That’s hard.

I open my mouth and close it again. I’d wanted the story but I hadn’t expected it to take so long. I watched two dancers shut themselves away into a thirty minute room. I wanted that half hour room money.

Him: I’m sorry. I done told you my whole life story.

Me: It’s cool. I wanted to know. But I have to ask, can I take you for a dance?

Him: Naw, I’m cool.