Skip looked at the young man. Even though Jayden was almost 28 years of age, Skip could only see the hurting and sad little boy inside of him.
"Hey little Duke… it's not the end of the world." Jayden lifted up his head hearing his words. His words sounded like words of hope and Jayden needed to feel some hope; he needed a way out; a way that would put his heart at ease and bring peace within his soul.
"No matter what has happened in yours and your father's pasts; tomorrow is a new day and you can always start over again with him."
* * * * * * *
"Hey… Mr. Cleaves… Mr. Cleaves…"
"Hello…" Jayden answered his phone expecting to hear Mia's voice but was taken by surprise at hearing her father's voice.
"Watch super-bowl with you and some of your friends?" Jayden repeated his request. Jayden wasn't a diehard sports fan. He knew football but not like other men did. He hadn't been raised with a father figure therefore he had never done that whole sports-male bonding thing and he didn't have the same affection for or love of sports like his friend Avery had.
"Well sir… I'm not really… Of no… it's not an excuse… Okay then sure I'll see you."
Jayden entered Mia's house around four in the evening for Super Bowl XLIII. Entering the living room Jayden saw that Skip was planning for the party of the life time. Behind the 55 in flat screen TV Skip had squeezed in two big buffet tables against the bay window. Underneath the tables were rows and rows and rows of beer on ice in old-fashioned tin-tubs and a couple of coolers filled with soda pops and water.
"The Steelers take on the Cardinals…" Skip excitedly said as he brought in another serving tray of buffalo wings. The spread on the tables was a king's feast. Buffalo wings, pizza, sub sandwiches, cheese sticks, all sorts of chips and dips, trays with mini barbeque tips, egg rolls and more.
"And fine-ass Jennifer Hudson is going to sing the National Anthem."
"Need me to do something" Jayden offered since this was like his first official super bowl party.
"Yea go down in the basement and bring up some of those folding chairs. When you go down the stairs, look right under them. They are under the stairs against the wall."
"Sure thing" Jayden said as he followed Skip's instructions. Going downstairs was like stepping back in time on Mia's childhood. Jayden stopped and took in all of the things that were once used as Mia was growing up. The first thing that caught his eye was were the cement walls. Pictures and more pictures of every stage of Mia's young life from birth until her sweet 16 birthday party and prom were on them. Jayden saw her first blanket, booties and her christening gown. Then there was a baby's carrier and stroller followed by her walker. He almost tripped over her folded up crib that was leaning against the wall but its legs were sticking out. He saw pictures of Mia's mom and Skip and suddenly he could see the young teenager who was forced into manhood before he had time to think about what parenthood entailed. Jayden's respect for Mia's father grew. He could have ran away with fear and ignorance of not knowing what to do or how to survive, but instead he chose to stay and protect those who he was responsible for.