Full Circle Moments

“Nobody believed in me, that was their first mistake.” One girl states while in the midst of overcoming the most trying time in her young life.

The second mistake however will be discussed, and it’s crazy, because back then this type of haunting-doubt, for her, felt the equivalent to receiving 13 consecutive drug racketeering indictments.

And to think, those imprinted doubts coming directly from blood-kin, relatives, her supposed support system. She still remembers the stinging critique from her uncle, “I swear girl, you done gone and messed up, nah, destroyed your entire damn life.”

She teared a bit, and not because she thinks it’s true, but because of the hurt and disappointment found in family realities. That supposed fortress of a bonded family is soon found as illusion.

In the midst of the troublesome situation, older family members scolded, others formed venomous judged-critiques, and some even turned their entire backs on the situation.

However though, what was needed and missing was love, compassion, or any form of relevant guidance/advice. So how did things get to this point?

ALANI & KEDAR. It all started in 10th grade, the series of events that would lead to the eventual situation where one young girls entire family turned their backs on her in her greatest moment of need.

“Alani Majors”, present, she answers slightly irritated as she is presently in 4th period ready for the class to end. She wants it to be over because she’s ready to move on to cheerleading practice, but the real reason lies in Kedar, who’s now waiting for her by the boys restroom to walk her to cheerleading practice.

Kedar Peterson. Tall, black, even possessing a Michael B Jordan type of vibe, in respect to how females respond and interact. Also, he’s the one guy in his youthful generation that’s actually trying to get to know more than what color “they are”. (Innuendos fully implicated).

Yup, a very unique breed of young adult, one who actually cared about something like her middle name. “Kia-Sofia, Kedar teases, turning her middle name into a nursery rhyme jingle. “But nah, aye, that’s a cool lil name, sending the honest compliment. Alani smiles as they walk in synchronized foot motion down one isolated side walk in Brooklyn, NY.

Kedar is the type of male that throws girls off being that he’s non toxic, but a sarcastic prankster with more than an edge to em. He has a reputation for having a lot of female company, but doesn’t treat females as if he’s Tom Brady’s personal, housed trophy case. Once again, a very unique breed of young adult.

He jokes with Alani who’s eating a Cinnabon she got from the Mall yesterday. “Yo, you betta cool-it with all them Cinnabons, you gon close your eyes one second, body fit like Clarissa on fight-night, then open them joints, body built smooth like Drewski out this bih.” Alani laughs off the joke, “boy bye, I weight 126 lbs, Thank You”, while she jokingly rolls her eyes, both laughing.

They reach to where her practice is being held, Kedar, then attempts a send-off when Alani stops him. “I’m not ready to leave you yet”, she looks his way, “me neither” equals his response. “I’m not going to practice, come on.”

Now, Alani and Kedar head towards the football field, then under the bleachers. Kedar looks at Alani, “hey, I got some weed, matter fact, I already have the (J) rolled.” Alani obliges, puffs three times, then sends it back to Kedar who now has his shirt wrapped around his head, imitating one of “Natalie’s Baddies” from that ZEUS Network.

The laugh from Alani, mixed with the effects of the (J) lasts seeming hours. Alani already had a crush on Kedar, despite his joke over-kill tendencies, but after that form of entertainment, she felt almost as if she should have paid for an admission ticket. Then an admission does happen as Kedar speaks.

“When I first met you, I knew you were dope, but now, I can’t even get through a game of 2K without thinking bout you”, he says with a serious playful honesty. Then he gets serious, “my mom died like 5 years ago, and… and I went into a crazy depression… but, when I’m with you, you give me the same feeling as when she was alive, I think I jih-love your lil bean head a**. They mirror smiles.

Intimate atmospheres, sunshine’s gaze, two teens on cloud-bliss, and one honest I love you admission added leads to what every parent dreads. As following, weeks later, is one uncomfortable conversation with family that now zips into the atmosphere.

THE MAJORS HOUSE. Alani’s mother, Angela speaks, “what were you thinking?” “It wasn’t like that Ma, it, kinda, just happened.” “What, what does kinda just happened mean?”

”Ok, I get it, it’s just reality, your fathers been locked up your whole life, I did my best, but, maybe you’re probably feeling a male void, or need male a-t-t-e-n, Alani cuts. “It’s not that Ma, I’m in love with… her mom now cuts, but stops because she feels a rage she has never felt before, currently at a loss for words.

Feeling she’s loosing control, she calls her brother Michael, known to all as Mike-Mike. Alani really loves and respects her uncle, almost like a father-figure, agreeing to the conversation. Mikes and even tempered individual, but also the type who plants firm in a belief. With ZERO bend or break. Ex-military type of guy.

Angela then calls her brother Mike to come and talk to his niece. Alani was always a good girl, a little teenage-testy at times, but a good girl who all feel now has lost her way as a result of this teenage pregnancy.

However, this was a terrible moment, made worse with heated conversations, full-blown arguments, and one statement from ole Uncle Mike himself, “I swear girl, you done gone and messed up, nah, destroyed your entire damn life.” That stung. So did the fact that her mother plus pretty much everyone else in the family stood on the side of Uncle Mike.

An ultimatum was then made, X-out Kedar, have an abortion, and get your life back on track. OR ELSE!

Unfortunately, Alani chose ELSE, explained Kedar’s a good dude, and also explained that she loved him, and that she was keeping the baby. This is where things got dark, challenging, as well isolated. Inside of this struggle though is where Alani found that true fighters spirit, re-unforced by Lauren Hill’s song “To Zion”, which she would play repeatedly. The Miseducation of Lauren Hill is her mother’s favorite cd as she would play-it during Alani’s childhood.

She had to find that spirit though, she was young, with no education, no family support, and a new addition added, her daughter Sonye.

Obviously seen, Alani was kicked out after a heated convo between her and her mom, at only 16 years old with no job, no education, and one life-long remembered statement from her uncle Mike.

In the midst of the argument between Alani and her mother Angela, Angela’s mom, Alani’s grandmother, Eunice is addressed. In this conversation, Alani soon learns of her grandmothers promiscuous sex-worker past, her mother’s shame, and the true reason her mother is coming at her so hard. Trauma re-surfacing, the continuous whirlwind of inevitability for all… until conquered.

However though, Angela’s words aren’t falling on deaf ears, just ones tuned maybe to a different frequency as Alani responds.

“Sorry to hear that mom, and I never knew that about grandma, but, that’s not me”, would equal the last statement between the two in TWELVE YEARS!

PRESENT DAY. It’s a beautiful, blistering hot day, 4th of July to be exact. At a park in Brookly, NY the smell of BBQ fills the air as blended family pull into the secluded park. The introductory sign stands firm reading: WELCOM ALL; MAJORS FAMILY & FRIENDS.

It’s the Majors family’s family reunion, and singing Leon Thomas’ “Mutt”, while simultaneously grilling is good ole Uncle Mike. While greeting all arriving family members at the parks entrance is Angela. She’s also anticipating a special guest, one who is on the way.

One who was unjustly dis-owned by her family, who had a baby young, went to college, graduated nursing school, then had another child. One who, after college, started a vegan restaurant. A vegan restaurant that’s now being spot-lighted on Jess Hilarious’s “Jess-with-the-mess’s” segment on The Breakfast Club.

Yup, the same Alani Majors that was told by her Uncle Mike that she destroyed her life. Now, the entire family waits on her presence at the reunion.

Just then, a white KIA Telluride pulls up and parks. Oh, and BTW, it’s been 12 years since Alani and Angela, her mom, have talked. She exits the car, walks over to her mother, and shares an embrace that could rival Michael Jordan and his first NBA championship trophy.

THEN IT HAPPENS, Mike looks up from the grill, walks over to his niece and sister, and tearfully exclaims, “I’m sorry baby girl, I thought I was doing the right thing for you, with you never having Herm around, I mean Herman, your father”.

I was just fully convinced that you were lost and on a path to… Alani stops him, “nah, I get it Uncle Mike, now that I’m a parent myself”. Either way he tearfully apologizes as they hug.

Then comes the big reveal, along with unison tears as Alani introduces her two daughters, Sonye and Amira to the entire family. They all embrace.

Alani calmly walks to the bathroom to freshen from the trip. She looks in the mirror, thinks about everything including her uncles apology, then lets out 26 lifetimes of tears as this is all she wanted from the beginning.

Oh yeah, along also, a 28 year old version of Kedar, who’s now play fighting with Mike-Mike after an intense man to man conversation. He’s also fighting Bakhram Murtazaliev in 3 weeks, Kedar has worked his way into one of the most talented super welterweights currently.

And once again, that now famous very unique breed of young adult was there the whole time with Alani, struggling, learning, then conquering, and is now a man.

Alani comes from the bathroom and walks to her mother Angela, holds out one beautiful ring and states her new last name, “Simkins”. Tears stream from Angela’s face as Alani speaks, “we got married a while ago, but are doing it again, and I want you and Uncle Mike there this time.”

She then internally thinks, nobody believed in me, and I don’t care about mistakes now, and I definitely don’t hold it against them… they say you chose your family even before you get here, meaning earth, and I’m more than thankful that I chose mine”, says the other-worldly overcomer.