On this moonless night, lightning bugs flashed brilliantly in the yards along Jordan Drive. Moths fluttered around the hopelessly dim porch lights. The air was warm and muggy. Darkness covered the neighborhood's working-class splendor. There wasn't a single siren to disturb the calm. It was absolutely beautiful.
This was the night their boyhood would end. Each would tell himself quietly not to cry.
Allen Iverson and crew tried to play cards like it was a normal night. Bubba Chuck, as he's known, had taught them to play tonk. He gave them what little money he had then would win it right back. He was the most upbeat. He made jokes to put others at ease. This is what Chuck did. Still, it was his life that would change when the sun came up.
Allen Iverson was going to jail tomorrow.
They sat around unsure of what to say. They fired up the Sega thinkingTecmo Bowl would provide the much-needed distraction. They put down the controllers within minutes. The Five Heartbeats came on TV. They watched in silence.
It was all too much. They were confused. How did it get to this point? They were scared. Chuck was scared, which scared them most of all. Because he was never scared.
Just after midnight, Iverson lay on his bed—his Air Force 1s still on—in his small room in the little blue house at 106 Jordan Drive. There were Michael Jackson posters on his wall. Iverson's lightness of being filled the room. Then suddenly, he was a bolt of lightning. A convoluted mash-up of swagger, naivete and confusion.
He practiced the speech he would give the judge after receiving his slap on the wrist. A burst of confidence followed.
He was still Chuck.
He was still going to Notre Dame. Touchdown Jesus would wait with open arms. An ankle bracelet wouldn't be that bad. His jeans would cover it when he went to the mall. Tawanna would still love him tomorrow. She would kiss him when he got out of court. He would come see her at work. They could go to Hardee's.
A slap on the wrist.
He had no idea how wrong he was. Well, maybe some.
"That judge," he said lying back on his bed, "That white motherf----r got some power."
Published by: Bleacher Report
May 28th, 2015
Source: www.bleacherreport.com
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