Interlude (Dave East)

Interval

June 16, 2015
Chicago, Englewood - 9:16PM

Mylion/Myli (Pronounced as Mill-ee-yon & mill-ee)

I dribbled my basketball deliberately as I crossed the courts floor, I had been challenged to a 1v1 by my brother Eli, so far the score was 9 to 7 despite the fact that I was ahead, Eli wasn't losing without putting up a fight

He held his arms wide open trying his hardest to keep me from the hoop but he couldn't stop me Eli was good at sports but I was even better

I teased him acting as if I was about to go to the left but actually went right, I jogged towards the goal but so did he, while I hopped into the air with the ball in my sweaty palms, Eli jumped up in an attempt to block me from shooting fortunately he failed as I tossed the ball near the entrance of the hoop making the shot. I swung from the ring with a smirk across my lips

"That was a foul and you know it was"He shouted, bending down to grab his knees and catch his breath

"How? You just mad cause I won"I hopped down from the hoop

"Let's run it back"Eli hated to lose, losing was definitely a pet peeve of his

"No bruh, you lost fair and square"

"A'ight so let's play again.. exactly you don't want to cause you know I'll beat you"

"You already lost it's giving sore loser and that ain't cute"I threw the small towel I used to wipe sweat over my shoulder, grabbed my book bag and placed the straps over my shoulders

"So you really not gon' play me again?"

"No, let's go foolie, we been 'posed to be home before the street lights came on"

"You right, momma finna cuss us out"

"No she bout to cuss you out cause I'm blaming this on you, you're the reason we going home so late"

"Wow you gone do me like that? Snitch"Eli grabbed his bookbag off of some bleachers, we proceeded to walk out of the gym

My straightened hair cascaded down my back as we walked down the filthy streets of Englewood, it was a very humid day although it was dark out it still seemed to be super hot

"I'm thirsty as hell"

"Shit.. We already late might as well stop at the corner sto'"

"Man no, I'm not that thirsty"

"We gon pass the sto' on the way there what difference would it make? We just gone go, you grab a drink, I'mma grab some chips, then go home"

"You really want ma to kick our asses out tonight huh? Cause you askin for it"

Eli kissed his teeth "She ain't gon kick us out, matter fact her ass better have some food on the stove a nigga hungry"

I tightened my fists around my bookbag straps "You ain't still sellin that stuff right?"I asked Eli, he looked down at the ground then at me

"Nah, I stopped but you understand why I was doing it right?"

"I do understand but that doesn't mean I think it's right. Momma don't need your help Eli"

"Yes she does, she can barely keep up with our rent"

"She said she got it, you don't need to worry about that"I stated