Promoted, Presented, and Persevered

Promoted, Presented, and Persevered
Written By:
Daniel Williams

Percy Brooks lived in a rough neighborhood in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His parents, Brian and Joan Brooks, have been marriaged for a long time. Percy lives with his father, but never knew his mother. She's around but she did not stay with them.

Percy was a beautiful baby. He had curly hair when he was born. His parents had a good relationship, but his mother left him and her husband. Percy used to visit his mother often but mostly lived with his father. He loved his mother and wanted her to come home.

Brian Brooks has dark skin, and he wears glasses. He also sells incense and his son, Percy helps him. For a while, his dad took a break was at home. Brian Brooks likes to wear color summer shirts and shorts around his house and leaves his shirt open. Brian likes to wear sandals.

Joan Brooks has a brown complexion, and dark, black, short hair. Joan never worked in her but was unemployed. She still cared for her son but needed to have her own place.

One day, Percy's father came home from selling incense and wanted to relax with a Newport. He opened his shirt. Percy was on the couch watching television. Next, Brian told Percy to go with him to the store.

"Boy, let's go to the store," said Brian.

"Okay," said Percy.

Brian locked the door and took Percy to the store. They went to get candies and pop. They paid for their stuff and came back home. They went inside and got settled. Brian stood up and lit a Newport. He had the cigarette hanging from his mouth.

He figured if he left and stayed with his mother, things would get better. He went to sleep.

After fourteen years living with his dad, one day while his dad went to sleep, he started packing. He went to the living room and took two Newports. He went out to go home to his mother. He shut the door so his dad did not get disturbed, or Brian might realize his son was leaving him. Percy was glad to get out the house. (Off this table by his dad.)

Once he reached his mother's house, his mom stood out her door, waiting for her son to get here. She hugged him and took him inside.

"How are you, baby?" asked his mom.

"I'm having some things on my mind," answered Percy.

The phone rang.

"Hello?" asked his mom.

"Baby, where's Percy?" asked Brian.

"He's here; what do you want?" asked Joan.

"I just wanted to know where he went. I'm coming over," mentioned Brian.

Brian drove his Volkswagon over to his wife's house. He got out and went inside his wife's house. He was dressed in a yellow summer dress shirt, long dress pants, socks, and brown sandals. He also wore cologne and lit up a Newport. Brian came to the door.

"Baby," Brian knocked on the door. "Open up!"

Joan dealt with the wet washcloth in her hand and went back to the kitchen.

"Just a second." Joan came to the door. "Here."

"Is this important?" asked Brian.

"No, you better." Brian paused. And Percy came into the mix. Brian breathed in and out. Breathed in and out.

"I'm sorry, son."

Brian got to see his son finally.

"No, mom; I'll be in the room," said Percy.

"Okay, baby," said Joan.

Percy went into the room.

"Let's sit down," said Joan. Joan and Brian sat down to talk about what happened.

"No, I was wrong," said Brian.

"You're right. I should have never left you," said Joan.

Brian sat back on the couch and finished his cigarette.

"I want Percy to stay here for a while," said Joan.

Percy opened the door.

Brian finishes his cigarette, threw it out, and went to his car.

Brian turned his back and looked at his wife. He opened up his Volkswagon door, got inside, started the ingition, opened his Newport 100s, popped a cigarette in his mouth, lit it, and smoked. Brian closed his door and pulled off.

Joan went inside and sat down in her kitchen chair. She cried and threw her glass on the floor. Percy heard the glass and opened his door. He rushed over to his mother, hugged and cried with her.

Brian sat down. He wore a white beater shirt, blue swoosh pants, and brown sandals. He looked at his family photos. He looked at his son's baby pictures. He just looked at the pictures. He kept looking at it.

Percy and his mother had dinner . They ate chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, green beans, and rice. Percy finally wanted to tell his mother he wanted to leave. Percy was starting his freshman year in high school.

"Mom, I want to leave," said Percy.

"Why?" asked his mom.

"I'm just ready to leave," answered Percy.

Percy excused himself from dinner and went packing. He smoked the last Newport out of his bag. Brian went to the gas station to get him a pack of Newport 100s.

"Can I get a pack of Newport 100s, please?" asked Brian.

"One pack of Newports, one pack of Newport 100s, sir?" asked the clerk.

"Yes, please," answered Brian.

The clerk gave Brian his cigarettes, and Brian handed the clerk his change.

"Thank you," said Brian.

It was the first day of high school. Percy attended Millow High School. He had a friend named Daniel. Daniel and Percy kept smoking marijuana and kept passing the blunt around and were high. It was some good blunt.

Daniel took Percy to get his bag from his mother's house because Percy was living with his friend. Percy went inside his mother's house and went to the back getting his bags. Joan was sad but was happy for him. Then, Percy went to his dad. When Percy came into his dad's door, Brian pushed his son to the wall.

"Where you been?" asked Brian.

"Oh, dad, why did you do that?" asked Percy.

"Now, why did you come over here?" Brian put his hands on his son. "Where you been??!!"

"No, dad." Percy left out the door. "You can't hurt me no more."

Brian stood in the door, with the screen door open. He looked, turned his head, and he looked at his son again. He was pissed because his son decided to show up this long and it made their relationship worse. Percy got into the car and was quiet.

"You okay?" asked his friend, Daniel.

"I'm good; I'm going to be fine," said Percy.

Daniel drove off.

Later, Percy moved into his friend's house and got settled in. Daniel wore a grey university shirt, blue jeans, and Nike sneakers. Daniel lay on his bed and picked up his blunt and lit it up. He passed the blunt to Percy.

"No, man, not right now," said Percy.

After what happened today, all he wanted to do is sleep. So, he had Daniel get up, so Percy could lay down and go to sleep. It's been a long day. Daniel went out to smoke his blunt. Daniel put out his blunt after he finished and went in the house.

At school, he met this girl named Kim. She's beautiful with black long and short hair and a brown complexion. She like Percy.

"Hi, Percy. How are you?" asked Kim.

"I'm doing good, and you?" asked Percy.

"You know, you have been really nice to me," said Kim.

"Thanks!" said Percy.

After time passed, Percy and Kim been dating for a while.

Kim felt her stomach was getting big. So, Kim went to the doctor and the doctor said she was pregnant with her first child. Kim called Percy to tell him the good news. Percy was happy about the new baby. She wanted to named their child Percy. The sex of the baby is a boy. She went with her mom and got clothes for the baby. She prepared a place for her baby.

Weeks later, Kim had her baby named Percy Kyles Brooks. The baby had his father's last name. Percy showed up at the hospital to see his baby's birth. He felt home to Daniel. He told him about the baby and what it looked like.

The baby looked just like him because he also had curly hair. Percy started his homework and read a good book. His mom checked on him to see if he was okay.

"You okay?" asked his mom.

"I'm fine," answered Percy.

She shut the door.

Percy and Kim moved in their new house with another oom for his mom. His mom has been supporting him. Percy Kyles is now nine years old. Joan looks older but prettier. She has blonde short hair and she has thicker eyebrows.

"Oh, I love this place. Is this room for me?" asked Joan.

"It's yours, mom," said Percy.

"Thank you, son," Joan kissed her son. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," said Percy.

"This is our new house," said Kim.

Percy called his father to check out his house.

"Hello?" His dad is now forty-one years old now. "Is this Percy?"

"Yes, sir."

"Hi, son. Are you in your new house?" asked Brian.

"Yes, sir," replied Percy.

"I'm coming over, bye son," said Brian.

"Bye, dad." Percy hung the phone up.

Brian looked a lot better. He was still bald headed and wore glasses. He still liked to wear his shirt open but lost some weight. He used to weigh 190 pounds. Now, he weighs a nice 170 pounds.

Brian drove his new Cadilliac over to his son's house. He traded his old Volkswagon to get his new Cadilliac. He trades new cars every year. He likes to get new fashion cars every year. It's not about how much money or expensive it is, he just likes to drive a new fashion model car.

He drove a Cadilliac.

Dad rung the door bell.

"Hey, son," said his dad.

"Hi, dad," said Percy.

They hugged each other.

"Come in," said Percy.

Brian met Percy's girlfriend of three years.

"It's nice to meet you." Brian extended his hand to Percy's girlfriend Kim.

"Oh, nice to meet you, Mr. Brooks."

All smiled up Kim replied.

Joan started dinner and she was happy to see her family together again. They suffered a lot and they are stronger than ever before.

After that, they sat down for dinner. They had spaghetti, salad, and garlic breadstick. They munch and had a good time.

Percy was new than ever before. Percy wore a blue short sleeve jersey with 22 on the back, his pants were not sagging because he was having respect for himself and he wore blue jeans, and fresh new high-top Nike Air Force Ones. He smokes Newport 100s. He also has waves in his hair.

Percy turned twenty-six and he went and got his G.E.D He went to school both day and night. He went to his instructor class one day.

"Okay, you guys have twenty minutes to take this test, good luck. Go!" said the administrator.

Percy began his test and worked on it until time was up. He felt he aced his test and he really wanted to get his G.E.D. because he wanted to do so much. He had little of finishing school but he regret it. He was hurt and there was pain with his parents at the time. He has a girlfriend who loves him and his son is who inspire him to do right by.

The time was up.

"Okay, you can stop your test, please," said the admissioner.

Percy went back home to his girlfriend and his son, Percy Kyles. Kim had something to tell her boyfriend.

"I'm pregnant!" excited Kim.

"Congrats! I took my test today, " said Percy.

"When will you know the results?" asked his girlfriend.

"Tonight." Percy looked at his girlfriend pregnant body. "I took my G.E.D."

Kim was six months pregnant.

Percy went to go find out if he got his G.E.D.

"Congratulations, Mr. Brooks, you passed," said the administrator.

"Wow, thanks," said Percy.

Percy used his cell phone and called his girlfriend.

"I passed." Percy waited for a response.

"Good job, baby," said Kim.

Percy called his parents and told them the newa.

Percy, the next morning, came out on the porch and got out his pack of Newport 100s. He put a Newport in his mouth, took his lighter, lit up and smoked. He puffed a smoke. His girlfriend interrupts him.

"Hi," said Kim.

"Hey," said Percy.

Percy and Kim talked some more.

Early one morning in March, Joan's husband came over. Brian came inside dressed in a yellow short sleeve shirt, white dress shorts and Nike flip-flops.

"I'm very glad you and Percy talking again." Joan went to the kitchen and poured some orange juice for her and her husband.

"Here you are."

"Thank you." Brian drinks his oranger juice. "My son got his G.E.D. Percy called me."

He finished his juice. Brian opened his pack of Newport 100s, put the cigarette in his mouth, took out his lighter, cuffed his hands around the lighter, lit up, and smoked. The cigarette was burning between his fingers while he talked to his wife.

"You know, Kim's pregnant?" asked Brian.

"Yes, she's doing fine," said Joan.

Brian puffed on his cigarette and blew smoke.

"Does she know the sex?" asked Brian.

"No." Joan took her ash tray and gave it to Brian using his cigarette while smoking on the table.

"It's great we are going to be grandparents again. Little Percy is cute."

Joan went to her room to get her photos of her family and bought the photos into the room to look at them with her husband, Brian.

"Let me see." Brian lay his burning cigarette in the ash tray. "Wow, he is cute, how old was he?"

"He was a baby," answered Joan.

Brian looked at his grandson's baby photos while he smoked.

Brian puts out his cigarette in the ash tray.

Back at Kim's house, she talked to her boyfriend and Percy finished smoking and threw the cigarette out.

Kim finally told her boyfriend the sex of the baby and it's a girl.

"Oh!" yelled Kim.

"Oh, my baby, come on." Percy ran behind her, and helped her up to the car.

Percy drove while on the way, he called his parents to come to the hospital. Brian ran to the phone.

"Hello." Brian had a Newport 100s in his hand burning. "Percy, where you at?"

"We're heading to the hospital. Kim is about to have the baby," explained Percy.

"Your mother and I will be up there as soon as we can," said Brian.

Joan and Brian got into his new 2006 Ford Explorer. Brian drove to the hospital. They parked in the hospital parking lot. Brian and Joan went inside the entrance and reported to the desk.

"Where's my baby?" asked Joan.

"In Room 220, ma'am," said the nurse.

"Thank you, ma'am," said Brian.

Brian and Joan entered the room. Brian came close to Kim and touched her belly. Joan walked over and listened to her belly.

"I can hear the baby," excited Joan.

The nurse walked in.

"Okay, it's time for the pushing," said the nurse.

Kim sat up and waited for what to do next.

"Okay, I need you to sit up. Mrs, if you could hold her hand," said the nurse.

"Okay." Joan felt scared but was ready to see her granddaughter be born. "I'm ready."

Percy and Brian crowded around Kim's hospital bed while she gave birth. Kim kept pushing her baby and the head came out. The doctors remove the baby's body out of the womb. Their second child, baby girl named Aleigha Elane Brooks. Brian holds his granddaughter.

"It's nice seeing you." Brian playing with her. "She's cute."

Aleigha made a nice cry.

Joan clapped her hands in joy and cried. Percy looked at the baby. Brian gave Kim her baby back. Kim played with her baby. The family was at peace.

Three weeks later,

Joan, Brian, and Percy were sitting at home, Kim held her baby in her arms, and Percy wanted to say something.

"What?" Kim went to put the baby in her crib and walked out the room. "Yes?"

"Mom," said young Percy.

"Baby, do mom a favor and watch your sister, okay?" told Kim.

"Yes, ma'am," said Percy.

"Get her bag and her diapers," said Kim.

Percy told young Percy to stay there. Young Percy grab the bag and diapers and the family went to the room where the new baby was resting her little body. Percy pulled a wedding ring out.

"You changed my life. I just want to know is...will you marry me?" asked Percy.

"Yes!" yelled Kim.

Kim kissed Percy. Brian, young Percy, and Joan hugged each other. Kim and Percy's wedding plans were in order.

Two weeks later,

The wedding ceremony took place. Brian and Joan looked lovely; Brian dressed in a red Stacy Adams suit and red Stacy Adams dress shoes; Joan in a beautiful red short maid of honor dress, waiting for her daughter-in-law to arrive. Everybody took their place for the ceremony. Percy's father was best man and was on the other side of Percy. Percy was waiting for his bride.

Kim walked down the walk way, arms tucked with her father. Kim sighed but knew Percy was there for her. The pastor was waiting for her to face her fiancee. Percy's mother was her maid of honor and so, were her sisters and mother.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today for the marriage of Kim Kyles and Percy Brooks. Now, take each other's hands. Percy, do you take Kim to be your lawful wedded wife?" asked the pastor.

"Yes, I do," answered Percy.

"Kim, do you take Percy to be your lawful wedded husband?" asked the pastor.

"Yes, I do," answered Kim.

"Can you both take the rings, please?" The pastor gave the rings to Percy and Kim. "Now, repeat after me, you both, with this ring?"

"With this ring," Percy and Kim replied.

"I wed, to be husband and wife," said the pastor.

"I wed, to be husband and wife," Percy and Kim replied.

"Forever," added the pastor.

"Forever," Percy and Kim replied.

"By the power invested in me, I pronounce Percy and Kim husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," said the pastor.

Percy kissed his new bride. Everybody clapped. Brian hugged his son and Joan hugged Kim.

"Congrats, honey," said Joan.

"Thank you," said Kim.

Young Percy, the bride, Joan and their guest went to eat cake and entrees. Brian and Percy talked about things over cigarettes.

"I'm proud of you son," said Brian.

"Thanks, dad," said Percy.

"Your welcome." Brian pat his son's back. It's all good."

Brian and Percy greeted guests inside the wedding. The family took pictures and ate good food. They danced, sang and had a wonderful time. Brian clapped his hands and Joan had herself some fun. Everyone had a wonderful time at the wedding.

Two years later,

On Percy's birthday, he came over to his dad's house. He brought his son, Older Percy over to see his grandpa. Percy was not called "Young" Percy anymore. Percy's father calls him "Older" Percy because he was big now. He is fourteen now.

"Grandpa!" yelled Percy.

"Hey!" Brian with open hands and arms grabbed, picked him up and hugged him.

"How are you?" asked Percy.

"Good," answered Older Percy.

Percy stood there watching his son play with his grandfather.

"Why don't you go in my house, I made some chocolate chip cookies for you. How's that sound?" asked Brian.

"Thanks, Grandpa," Older Percy.

"You're welcome," mentioned Brian.

"Can I talk to you?" asked Percy.

"Sure," replied Brian.

"There something that's changed about you, you're a man. Everything that I did to you, I'm sorry," said Brian.

Brian and Percy locked palms with each other hands.