"Yea it was…" Avery agreed as they laughed. However that was beside the point; the damage had already been done. "But at least you know. And who knows; he could've changed." Avery said weakly trying to make it not look and sound as hopeless as it seemed.
"What do you know?" Jayden asked mockingly as he stood dismissing Avery's suggestion.
"You can't keep living like this." Avery asserted forcefully as they began walking the two blocks to the transit center to catch the bus. Jayden stopped. Avery words held his attention.
"How am I living?" He asked earnestly. Avery then stopped turning around to face his friend.
"Like a shadow." Avery told him honestly. His words stunned Jayden but made him realize the truth about himself.
"You know I always say you have to earn the right to bitch. You don't get the right to bitch about your life if you don't or won't take the responsibility to fix it." He paused allowing his words to penetrate Jayden's mind. Then he continued.
"Either do something about it or quit bitching about your misfortune. You ain't the only fatherless child out here. Matter of fact, you're not even the first and you won't be the last." Avery harshly finished his speech. He then promptly turned around continuing his walk to the station while Jayden stood mulling over his words.
Avery's words were harsh but they were the reality check that Jayden needed to hear. He couldn't keep feeling sorry for himself and resenting a man who was clueless about his whereabouts. Avery was right; the least he could do was give Mr. Ellis a real opportunity to man up and be a father figure in his life.
"A shadow huh?" Jayden repeated his friend's words; taking them to heart. "I guess that is what I am… Just a shadow of Mr. Ellis's past." He quietly resolved to himself. Maybe he should confront Mr. Ellis and ask him directly. At least he would give his father a chance to tell his side of the story. He would give his father one last chance of being a decent father to him. After witnessing this last humiliation of being a "shadow"; Jayden determined that he would overcome this blow to his pride by not only confronting his father about his absenteeism in his life, but also that he would live his life to the fullest and best of his ability. That was the only way to make that man regret and pay for his sin against him.