My Son...

Flashback: June 12th, 2005

In a rough neighbourhood somewhere in Brooklyn, New York lives a young black woman and her young son who is around ten years old. The shady grey paint which the front of the small apartment is covered with now begins to fade and fall off onto the 'Welcome' carpet. The carpet is unusual for it nearly is the standing out object of the entire hallway of the apartment block and the entire neighbourhood. For some visitors, looking at this carpet makes them feel immediately welcome as the other apartments are either filled with junkies or dope dealers. However, some contain well meaning families who are poor. For these inhabitants, this is the poor side of New York that everyone has seemed to ignore over the past few decades. The rap culture enslaves the youngers around the area judging from the vile ghetto speak they use and the crime that takes place on these streets. Once upon a time, a well known rapper called Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls to many and Christopher Wallace to his close friends and family, told stories of his life in Brooklyn which he called 'home' and he represented this area for nearly his entire career until his death at the hands of the life he had once rapped about; guns, bullets and 'thug' life. For some of these people, this culture has destroyed their lives and corrupted their children. However, people believe that it is the person that holds the gun which is truly responsible for their actions, not the rappers.

Martin Luther King once fought for freedom against racism in the United States but was also killed by a bullet. He knew of the racism that corrupted America and stopped many black men and women from getting jobs. Malcom X was another of these men and he too shared the same fate. For these people, the people who have come out of the ghetto and succeeded have eventually died at the hands of it. The only thing they ever did was tell the stories of the struggles. Another rapper known as Tupac Shakur also told the story of his life and how there was still a large amount of racism not destroyed by the succeeding of Martin Luther King. He lived the 'thug' life but also told stories of how the children of society in these poor black neighbourhoods. His life was also ended at the hands of a gun. So who is responsible for this madness?

For these people living in these neighbourhoods, opinion is varied. However, for this young black woman and her ten year old child, life is normal and they are simply 'living'. They have not much money but also are not poor enough to be out on the streets. Sounds of ghetto speak, children playing and the roaring of updated cars echo across the cloudy skies of Brooklyn and enter through the open windows of these run down apartments. In one of these, a young black woman in her late twenties stares out at the chaos that curses the streets. She is watching friends of her child 'freestyle' outside her apartment and lets out a loud sigh. A gold chain around her neck suggests that she has had enough money at one point to treat herself. By the look in her eyes and the sad expression on her face, she regrets buying this for the rest of her life. At the same time, she feels that throwing it away or selling it would devalue herself and so she keeps it, even though it bruises her ego and pride.

Her beautiful blue eyes and her figure makes her a rather attractive woman which makes her stand out in her neighbourhood. She is known as Tricia but 'Mom' to her ten year old son, a light skinned boy with long black hair and a well built body. Even so, his face gives the suggestion that he is a happy child with lots of success waiting for him. His mother believes that he will not reach eighteen but still hopes that he leaves the 'ghetto' forever. He is wearing a white vest and a pair of black trousers but wears a blue bandanna on his forehead which makes the mother cringe slightly for it is the colour of the 'Crips' gang. Is her son becoming a gang member? She doesn't know but waits for a sign that it could be true. The mother calls out to her young child.

Tricia: "Carl, I want you back by 7."

The child looks at his young mother with blue eyes and a grin across his face. Tricia smiles, knowing that her son is a beautiful boy and that he is not yet a slave of the culture that enslaved many black males.

Carl: "Mom, I wanna go to a house party tonight. Can I stay out till late?"

"Lemmie guess, it's Scooby's, right?"

"Yeah."

"He's such a bad influence on you. I dont want you hang around that boy anymore. So no, you can't go to the party."

"That's not fair! His mom lets him stay out until twelve. Why can't I stay out that late?"

"Because I'm not his mother. I'm yours. And what I say goes."

Carl looks up at his dominating mother with the same puppy eyed look he has always used. She waves the look away and smiles when a loud tapping is heard at the apartment front door. Carl quickly runs towards it, shouting to her mother as he does so.

"I'll get it, mom!"

Seconds later, the front door is heard opening with a loud creak. A few moments later, Carl is heard crying out in excitement at the person standing at the door.

"DADDY!"

Tricia suddenly spins around with shock; the words hitting her like a tornado. She quickly marches to the front door as the man steps inside the house looking rather worse for wear but holding his son who is hugging him. Her eyes are almost red with fury staring at the man who abandoned her. Nicky Mills stands in the doorway with a black baseball cap and a black jacket on. His black sunglasses protect his eyes and we can assume that he identity is well hidden from anyone else. His long black hair falls onto his shoulders and his smile warms the heart of his young son.

Nicky Mills: "Hello, Trishia."

"What are you doing here?"

Judging from the cold response, it is clear their relationship is not a happy one and that Trishia is still angry with Nicky who merely smiles back.

"I came to talk to you."

"That's a first."

"Listen, I don't have time to explain. But I have to talk to you alone."

"Over my dead body. Get out."

"Please."

Tricia looks at her former boyfriend with a look of fury but eventually realizes that this is the first time she has seen him in a long time. And even though their relationship ended in a bad way, she still loves him. And he feels the same. Carl gives his father a hug before looking at his mother who speaks to him.

"Carl, go to your room."

"Mom?"

"Do as your mother says. I'll talk to you in a second."

Carl immediately obays and walks into his room, shutting the door behind him. Tricia immediately lets a smirk escape her lips as she sneers.

"Still sleeping with those whores?"

"Nope. Still living in this shit-hole, I take it."

"It's home to me. On the other hand, you left me with nothing."

"That's why I'm here. I've come here to tell you that your never going to see me again as of today. I'm here to say my goodbyes."

Tricia looks at her husband with shock and tears form in her eyes. However, she notices a bag that Nicky is holding and wonders what could possibly be inside the bag. Her boyfriend is a notorious gangster, she remembers, along with being a professional wrestler. She loved him because he was a caring man but left him because he was slowly changing into the man he was portraying. This is the first time she has ever seen him back to his caring self as Nicky is rather emotional but trying to keep his feelings bottled.

"What's going on?"

"I'm sorry for all the harm I've ever caused you and Carl. When I met you eleven years ago, you were such an attractive beautiful woman. You still are. But I have gotten uglier and uglier as a person. It ends today."

"Why? Are those gangsters coming after you?"

"Yes."

"My god. I've been told that Lunacchio wants you killed but you were never scared of him then. Why now?"

"He is nothing. But it's someone close to me that has betrayed my trust and will try to have me killed by the end of tonight."

"Who?"

"He's my bodyguard and an associate. But I was warned by someone today that he's still angry over how I treated his sister, Andrea, and now he wants me dead. And that person is going to help me live. But I probably won't come back here. Ever."

"Where are you going?"

"It's too complicated for me to explain. But the man is a professional wrestler called Rilo. He's helping me escape my fate. If I don't get this help, I'll die. But I have to fake my death in order to escape my bodyguard's clutches. He will stop at nothing to see my dead body once and for all."

Tricia puts her hands over her mouth and stifles her sobs as tears quickly flow from her eyes. Nicky shakes his head and walks over to her, putting a hand on her shoulder with affection.

"In this bag is five hundred thousand dollars in cash. Nearly enough for you to get out of here and find somewhere to go. You mustn't stay here otherwise my bodyguard will kill you and probably kill Carl as well. I need you to leave and go somewhere far away."

"Nicky, I-"

"You left me because I was becoming a horrible piece of shit. I've made my mess and now I have no choice but to leave it all. But I came here to make everything right, to make sure you and Carl will be safe. I have to say goodbye to him... but I also came to say goodbye to you."

"I still love you."

Tricia reaches over and gives her ex boyfriend a kiss on the lips, letting her tongue slide into his mouth. He responds by doing the same and the two are locked in a deep kiss, tongues going through each other's mouths slowly, while Nicky begins stroking her face. They finally break the kiss and stare at each other. Nicky begins laughing and flashes the grin she was used to early in their relationship.

"I've missed you."

"I bet you have."

"Can I speak to Carl and say my goodbyes to him?"

"Sure."

Nicky smiles and begins slowly walking down the hallway towards his son's bedroom. He slowly opens the door and peers into the room gazing at the posters there. His son is sitting on the bed with a grin on his face while looking at his dad. Looking around the bedroom, this is the typical bedroom of a ten year old. Messy and unclean, the room sports several Eminem posters, a few Diva photographs and finally, in full sight, a large poster of his father with the TNT World title around his waist. Nicky smiles, remembering the night like it was yesterday and feeling proud his son remembers.

"Nice room."

"Thanks. I got that poster off your friend, Jeremy."

"I see. I have to tell you something, son."

"What is it, Dad? Mom looked awful upset earlier with you."

"Carl..."

For several moments, Nicky cannot bring out the words that he wants to bring out for emotion is choking him up. He looks into the eyes of his son and realizes he has his mothers looks but has the same nose and hair as him. Carl sits by his father while Nicky removes his sunglasses and begins to talk to his son.

"Carl, this is going to be the last time we ever talk. After this, I'll probably never see you again."

"What?!"

"I want you to know that I'll always love you, no matter what and that your mother will take care of you. Listen to her always."

Carl stops and begins sobbing, his eyes flooding with tears and tightly clutching his father, burying his face into his chest.

"Don't leave me, daddy! Please! I want you to stay!"

"I'm sorry, Carl. But this is for the best. This is to protect you and your mother from harm. I need you to be strong for me."

"DADDY!"

Nicky holds his son who sobs into his tee shirt and begins almost wailing. The emotion in Nicky is building up as he begins talking to his son while holding him.

"I'm sorry you and I didn't get much time to spend with each other but that was the happiest time of my life. You must be what you want to be and provide for your mother. Make her happy, Carl. You'll be out of this dump and having a new life. I've given your mother enough for you two to live on for a long time. But you must promise me something..."

Carl finally looks up to his father and wipes the tears away from his eyes.

"What, dad?"

A long pause delays the next speech while Nicky thinks of the words to say to his young son. He thinks of all the horrible things he has done in his life and knows that he will never be forgiven for them should he die. But he wants his family to be free of all the evil he has in his body. Nicky finally realizes the words to say to his son.

"You have the power to change lives, son, for better or worse. You are a good person but so many things here can corrupt you and turn you bad. Please... don't do the things I have done. Protect your mother always. And take care of yourself, my son."

Nicky finally begins to cry and clutches his son as the two share a hug. After everything Nicky has gone through in his life, he has finally realized that his son will grow up to be a wonderful person. And that despite all the horrible things Mills has done, he will leave behind a family that mean well. He releases his son and pats him on the head before heading out of his room and into the hallway. Opening the front door, he stares out into the hallway and without turning around, says his goodbyes to both his ex-girlfriend and his son.

"Goodbye."