Blood Is Thicker

By Cleo Stinyard III

Kevin Lancaster is a new graduate
from college and a new professional track athlete that has a chance to become champion. He has a plan on how he plans to accomplish such a feat but what he comes to realize is all things arent guaranteed to go according to plan. A short trip home to visit family and friends becomes more interesting as he hits it off with a young lady that seems to instantly grow on him. He knows how to prepare for his track meets and he knows what to expect when it comes to his training but what he doesnt know is that they both share a common interest that will challenge his life, his loyalty to family and love. Kevin has arrived and so has a new sizzling companion in his love life and they dont hesitate to pour it on thick but as time goes on Kevin will realize that at the end of the day, Blood is Thicker.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456701031

Cleo Stinyard III

Cleo is a father of three. He currently makes his home in Columbus, GA.

Book preview

Chapter 1

It was late afternoon when my plane landed at the Tampa International Airport. I had called ahead to ensure that I had someone there to pick me up. My sister Erin said she’d be there but I wasn’t all that thrilled because from what I heard, she drove like a bat out of hell. I was willing to take that chance because it had been at least six years since I’d been home long enough to see everybody. With the high demand of being a student athlete and the distance I just never had the time.

I’d left for the University of Texas to study Criminal Justice and run track. In the process of it all I earned my degree in both Criminal Justice and Political Science. I became a professional long jumper after winning the Big 12 conference championship with a jump of 26 feet 9 inches. I was getting ready to train in Macon, Georgia, after I returned from my family reunion here in Tampa. The family reunion would be the perfect opportunity to kill a few birds with one stone. I can come home, see all of my family, and chill with my brother from another mother, Trey.

Trey was already home from playing basketball overseas. We were moving around so much that we hadn’t had the time to keep in touch with each other the way we should have but we both understood how rigorous the schedule of pro athletes could be. I didn’t even have his number but I was damn sure going to go to his mom’s house as soon as I got settled in.

As I exited the breezeway to go claim my luggage someone quickly put me in the sleeper hold. I tried to get out of it but they were too strong. I knew I had to know the person if they were crazy enough to grab me like this in the middle of the airport, so I just waited for them to let me go. I knew my sister said she was coming to get me but whoever this was can’t be my sister, I thought. Because their arms were big and powerful as hell! Finally, I was released and I turned around to see Trey smiling.

Trey, what’s up boy?! I said as I embraced him. We gave each other quick explosive hugs, each of us showing off how strong we were on the sly.

Nothing much Kev, I saw your sister about a half hour ago. The police had stopped her for speeding. She said she was on her way to get you so I told her not to worry, I’d come scoop you up.

Mama said she be driving like she at the Kentucky Derby. I said. I emphasized Kentucky Derby.

The Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Derby is where horses race. He exclaimed.

I know, but you know how mama is. She is always trying to talk sports lingo with me even if she doesn’t know what the hell she’s talking about. I said, as we both laugh about it.

As we descended the escalator to baggage claim we saw a car had run through the window and was parked near the baggage claim carousel. We saw this old guy in some plaid golf shorts standing there being questioned by the police.

Man, don’t tell me this old ass white dude done drove through the damn airport window. How long has he been down here? I asked Trey.

Trey answered as seriously as he could amidst a hilarious situation. I don’t know; he had to just do it because he wasn’t here when I was coming to the gate to meet you. That’s why I always say that these retired northerners need to get tested at least every six months after they turn 65. The officer was clearly annoyed with the fact that he was even out here dealing with this amongst the crowd of concerned onlookers and I wasn’t about to make it no better.

Excuse me Mr. Officer. Now I’m not the smartest man in the world but from the looks of that bulge in the back of his golf shorts and that crazy smell in my nose, old St. Nick had more than one accident just now. Trey damn near died right there at the baggage claim and even though I realized I may have used bad judgment when I made my last statement I couldn’t hold in my laughter either. The cop was very young and looked like he was ready to crack up at my comment as well. I was relieved, because I didn’t need any trouble two minutes after landing in my home town.

You are crazy as hell Kevin! Trey said. If I was that policeman I would’ve took your ass to jail! Let’s get outta here before he starts shooting. He added. It didn’t take us any time at all before we were back to our old ways. I was ready for whatever as long as my boy and I were doing it together.

So Kev, what are you getting into tonight? Trey asked, and I knew what he was really asking.

Nothing; after I put my bags up and get settled in I’ll be ready to do whatever. What’s on your mind? I asked.

I was going to go to the Purple Plush tonight, you down?

Hell yeah, I gotta get me a jump off to keep me satisfied for the week that I’m here. I answered.

Well go ahead and handle your business. I’ll be through to pick you up around eleven o’clock. It was thick as hell last Saturday.

I figured as much, where else are they going to go? I’m down though, you know I have to stop through and see some of my old babies from back in the day. I couldn’t help but laugh at what I’d just said. He knew what I was capable of and if the females were willing I was definitely able. As Trey pulled up to my house we exchanged numbers and he helped me with my bags.

Hello Mrs. Lancaster, how are you doing today? Trey asked my mother as she ran outside to greet us.

Hey Trey, how have you been? You’re looking handsome. She said, as she gave him a hug and then proceeded to block my path so that she could embarrass me by showering me with her routine kisses out in the front yard for the whole neighborhood to witness as if I was still some little goofy kid. I let her have her moment because there was no sense in fighting it. I figured it was the least I could do for not coming home more than once or twice a year at best.

Hey mama, how have you been? I asked after she let me up for air.

I’m just fine, especially now that my son is home! She said. Your father is in there watching ESP or something as usual." Trey started laughing as he went inside the house with one of my bags. I couldn’t help but laugh too because even though I warned him of my mother’s humorous attempts at staying up to date on the sports trivia, he now had a chance to witness it himself. I couldn’t let her go out like that.

I think it’s called E-S-P-N, mama. I said, sporting an uncontrollable smirk on my face as I corrected her.

Oh, is that why Trey was laughing? She followed me inside. "Trey, were you laughing at me because I said ESP instead of ESPN? Trey started cheesing big as hell as he tried in vain to get out of it while my dad chuckled to himself. My mom was a trip and my dad was mellow compared to how he normally was. I guess it was because the football draft was going on and he eagerly wanted to see who the Buccaneers were about to pick. Otherwise he would’ve been trying to challenge me in a basketball game, a race, a boxing match, a wrestling match, something; anything to prove to himself that he still had it. The truth of the matter was I about a week from turning twenty-four and I’d been upholding a twelve year win streak in everything including our occasional piss contests.

What’s up pops? You must’ve entered the draft, you watching it and holding your cell phone like you waiting on a call from your agent. I joked and we all laughed, including pops. Trey thought it was hilarious as usual which only fueled my urge to keep it going. I took after my pops so you know he was game.

I could’ve, lord knows I can still whoop you and Trey’s ass in anything from pop locking to ice skating and ya’ll so called pros. Hell, I’m so bad I made a pro too! So that makes me a professional baby maker don’t it? Do they got a draft for that? I might be the first pick for that, huh baby? He aimed the last question at my mother. She just sucked her teeth and shook her head while laughing with the rest of us. Trey was laughing so hard we all started rolling right along with him until my sister came in the house pouting.

As soon as mom saw Erin pouting she quickly put on her face of concern and Trey took his opportunity to get the hell on before the storm opened up in the living room. Alright well I’m about to hit the road. It was nice seeing you Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster, Kev, hit me up when you’re ready. Bye Erin. Erin moved right past Trey in a huff as if Trey hadn’t said anything.

Neither I nor dad felt like hearing the latest drama that my sister was sure to entertain my mother with. My mother was just as eager to get the scoop as my sister Erin was to give it. My father knew the routine, get out while there was still time and if it was something he needed to know they’d notify him. He moved as if he was on a mission to get to something very important in his bedroom.

Son, I need you to come back here with me for a second. He asked seriously. My dad was always laughing and joking but this moment was one of those where he was all business.

What’s up pop? I asked in return once he closed his bedroom door.

"Well son, I wanted to tell you about how your mother and I got together. I know we had always drawn this picture of how we fell in love and all but to be honest it was a little rougher around the edges than all of that.

How do you mean pop? I asked suspiciously. All kind of possibilities jumped into my head.

"Well, before your mom and I got together I was with another woman. I had been with her for about two years before I met your mom. I loved her but your mom took my breath away.

"Your mom was on some other trip that I needed in my life. You see, I was in the dope game real big back then. I was educated but we weren’t afforded the same opportunities that you have today. Don’t get me wrong, success could be granted to anyone who was willing to go through whatever it was that you had to go through but I wasn’t. That is until your mother came along. Your mother always said that I could be so much more than a casualty that eventually I started to believe it. She influenced me to do better.

"My connect at the time was named Vicky before we started seeing each other. Vicky and I were crazy about each other. We just clicked on all cylinders. She was this smart, independent girl who was able to hold her own on any level and she seemed more determine to do so since people always assumed daddy was taking care of her. She was my supplier and lover. I was just a year older than her and I always had her back. Her father was a ruthless gangster but he had since retired and turned everything over to her due to the fact he saw something in her that he liked so much so, that he gave her the reign over his own son. His son was named Louis and he and I were really close. Vicky and I though, we were something else. She was of course, more of a laid back operator. She was a fair supplier who was more a team player. She, in my opinion was a descendant of Captain Morgan or some shit. She had the ways of a pirate, so to speak. She wouldn’t do like these boys around here today, where they hogging up all of the profits. They rich, while they friends and closest men starving. That method causes unnecessary trouble. She kept everything in order. People in her sect had roles and a name for that role. She held business meetings and charities. We even had a dress code. Most importantly, we had honor. We understood that it still took a village to raise a child.

"Mother’s and Father’s can provide the necessary tools to ensure that you get big and strong but raising them up to be productive is a whole other story. We did that, we watched the neighborhood. We watched every child and took note of their strengths and weaknesses. We preserved their strengths while we fought against their weaknesses.

"For instance, when we held our quarterly business meeting, we’d have to give updates on the children in our community. If my time came to give an update and I said; Jesse here is a fast running motherfucker but the only way that I know that is because he keeps snatching purses. I think we need to set up a job for him at one of our local track clubs. That way, he can work around the thing that I think he could have a future in if he tried. After I finished giving my report we’d open the floor for others to give their suggestions but we’d always do something.

"Somewhere along the way we stopped banning together and started going for our own. Now we operate on greed. Once you let one of those deadly sins in then you leave the door open for all of them. That was a sin that I was tempted with when it came to me being with Vicky.

"Vicky found out about your mother and had known for some time before I even found out that she knew. Your mother was in college and Vicky used to send her money for tuition. Now I was shocked when I found this out and I asked her why was she handling her scholarship, she told me that it was because Diane was doing something positive with her life and she’ll always support any positive thing. Preserving our upstanding black people would always be bigger than her personal life. Besides, she could tell that I cared for her and to harm her would harm me. That was genuine love and it’s a very rare chance that you’ll see that type of love again but if you do, never let it go. Needless to say, I fell in love with her instantly.

I would’ve married her too but the times were changing. It was getting harder and harder to keep these kids excited about education and then crack hit the streets and things changed drastically. I mean, we dealt dope sure enough but we managed our communities. These new hoodlums though? They didn’t give a damn and the hand writing was on the wall. If I didn’t get out I would either be dead behind one of these fools or I’d be in prison for killing one of them.

If I was going to be with Vicky, I was going to have to stay in it and I didn’t want my kids growing up around that. Or, I figured that I could get with your mama and have a chance at providing a better life for you. I chose you son. You standing before me today, after all that you’ve accomplished has made me the happiest man alive today. My decision to be with Diane all those years ago has paid off and I just want to say again that I’m proud of you. Even though I would’ve liked to have had two sons, I am overjoyed that I have you as my one." He concluded before hugging me with teary eyes that mirrored mine. I had never heard that story before and I loved the rawness of it. I could tell by the way that his eyes lit up, that he still loved her. To know that he chose me over her was a testament of his love for me. That story brought about a new freshness and respect for my father that I hadn’t noticed until now. I was interested in hearing more of my father, the thug.

So what happened between you and Vicky after you chose mom? I asked, hoping that he’d give me more.

After I told Vicky what I had decided she told me that it would be best if I moved out of town if I wanted to avoid any trouble. A person couldn’t just walk away from something that they’ve pledged to, the crew wouldn’t generally allow it. So she just told me to pack up and go where your mother was and she’d handle it. I asked if I would see her again, she said if she ever needed me, she’d know where to find me. I didn’t ask any more questions, I just left. So we moved here and we’ve been here ever since.

So where is she now?

"She was still in Columbus, Georgia but she was killed about ten years after we parted ways. I went to the funeral, paid my respects. I found out she had a son about the same age as you. I didn’t hang around long enough to speak to the family or anything. I didn’t want