Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 118459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 592(@200wpm)___ 474(@250wpm)___ 395(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 592(@200wpm)___ 474(@250wpm)___ 395(@300wpm)
I turn to see his smiling face. “Yes. Let’s go, Will.”
EPILOGUE 2
JULIA
We walk into the building, Will carrying Michael and Ever holding my hand. There’s a crowd of people seated in folding chairs facing a collapsible stage along the back wall. They turn as we walk in.
Some of them smile, some walk over and shake our hands and introduce themselves.
We take our seats at the front of the room next to Olivia, Macie, Mrs. Ficht, Victor, Brett, Adam, and Dane. I personally asked them all to come. They each were instrumental, in their own way, in getting us here.
I look at my smiling daughter.
She’s beautiful in her little yellow dress, her hair now to her chin. The sparkle is back in her blue eyes, just like her daddy’s. And her mischievous grin is so reminiscent of her other daddy, it makes my heart clinch.
Her life is a mixture of two of the greatest men I’ve ever known.
She opens her little purse and takes out a piece of Laffy Taffy, something I’m certain she’s addicted to at this point. She nibbles on the candy, swinging her legs back and forth.
I feel Will move at my side. I look at him, but his eyes are trained on Macie. She gives him a tight grin and he smiles brightly in return. She shakes her head and crosses her arms and turns back to the stage. I have no idea what’s going on between them, but that’s nothing unusual. I think Will’s met his match with her.
The room erupts in applause as Sal takes the stage. He taps the mic and waits for everyone to settle. As Sal begins to speak, Michael scrambles off Will’s lap and tries to climb the stage. I start towards him and Sal laughs. He waves me off and scoops up my son. Michael jabbers while Sal situates himself behind the podium once again.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you all for joining us today. I’m so proud to be a part of this organization.”
He readjusts the microphone and clears his throat.
“A few years ago, I was driving to Providence when I stumbled upon a group of boys fighting behind a supermarket. Two of them caught my eye right away. They were tough, street-smart, and had a spark about them that’s hard to find. I invited them to train at the Blackrock Gym and they became regulars. They became students. They became friends.
“The Gentry boys came from the inner city. They had no father and a working mother. They had, to put it bluntly, no future. But what they did have was potential.”
Michael twists in Sal’s arms and he sets him down. He makes a beeline to his favorite person. “Will!” he screeches.
Will heads to the stage and catches my son. They sit next to me, Michael playing with Will’s keys.
“Gage and Crew Gentry were given the opportunity to make something of themselves. By coming to the gym, they stayed out of a lot of trouble. They stayed off the streets, off drugs. They were given the chance to better themselves . . . and they did. Both kids grew up to be men worthy of respect.
“When Julia Gentry came to me a few months ago with her idea, I knew I had to be involved. This program will give countless kids in the same position as the Gentry boys the same opportunities and more. They’ll be given a place to go, something to turn to besides the evils of the streets. They’ll learn about discipline, respect, and giving back to others. I’m honored to attach my name to this project.” He takes a deep breath.
“Now,” he says, a smile on his face, “without further ado, I give you the man that brought this full circle, Mr. Crew Gentry, everyone.”
The crowd leaps to their feet, clapping enthusiastically. We watch him make his way across the stage. He comes across briskly, rolling his wheelchair like it’s an Indy car. He looks at me and winks.
He’s getting stronger every day. For weeks, he lay in the hospital bed, unable to move. They said he’d never walk again. They said to prepare myself, that Crew would be an invalid. The doctors would walk out and Crew would tell me they were full of shit. He promised me he’d walk again.
And Crew doesn’t break his promises. Not anymore.
He gets to the podium and stands. He rests his forearms on the wood, taking the weight off his back. He’s been more active than usual, trying to oversee the construction of the building and helping with Michael.
He still tries to do everything he could before and some days it’s just too much. He’s learned to let Will take some of the pressure off, like taking me to the cemetery this morning. When he gets back on his feet, because I’m sure he will, he’ll make up for lost time.