Narrative

Will Regenauer Dabrush 5/21/12 L&L 1 __From Good to Bad__

A poor single mother named Doris Nix lived in the housing projects in Harlem, New York. She had five children and her husband was a drunk. Doris was pregnant with another baby and she was due in two weeks. A week had passed, and Doris was in labor. She was rushed to the hospital by Jeff, her seventeen year old son. Sadly, Doris was only thirty one. A week had passed and Doris had the baby. It was a boy and Doris named her baby, Jamal.

 Two years had passed and the Nix's weren't doing too well. Doris could not manage to feed herself and the family all three meals. Jeff, Tyron, and Nate, her three high schoolers had dropped out of school to work, so Jamal, and Layana could be fed. This did help the family out and eventually they were able to afford food.

 Another tough year passed for the Nix family, Jamal was three and Tyron and Nate had been thrown behind bars for attempted robbery and assault. They were going to be in jail for four years and that put the family back to where they started. Layana was is middle school, and she began to realize that there was no hope to have a future because there was no money for her to attend college. Layana flunked school, and Jamal was always saying to Doris, “Mommy, why are you always working?” “You are never home to feed me.” Doris would respond to little J, as she called him, “I am trying, I only work because I love you. Someday you will understand.”

 A year later Layana was expelled from school because she got hooked on marijuana and began to sell it at school. She got it from a man living in the same complex as her. Then one afternoon Russell, Jamal's dad who wasn't around very often, took him out for ice cream. Before they even left the complex, a gangster came up to Russell and said, “Where's my money?” Russell said, “For what and who are you?” “Look dog, I sold you those drugs and liquor and you haven't paid up yet, man!” Russell replied, “ Look calm down I will get it to you in an hour!” “Fine,” said the gangster. Jamal was crying and said to Russell, “Is that man going to kill you and what are drugs?” “Don't worry about it Jamal,” Russell replied angrily. They continued down the street and Russell said to Jamal, “Follow me, I gotta stop at the bank.” Jamal followed Russell and on the way into the bank Jamal said to Russell, “Can we move, I am tired of all the violence and yelling around here.” Russell softly said, “I hope we can someday, I hope we can.” When Russell went into the bank, he discovered he had no money to give this man. Russell came up with a plan, he thought, I am going to have to be careful, if he pulls a gun on me, I will pick Jamal up and we will run.

 After a great ice cream, something that Jamal only had twice in his life, the boy saw the gangster again. This the gangster said, “Give me the money or I'm going to blow out yo brains!” Russell saw the gun behind his back, and he took Jamal and ran. The gangster said, “Sorry daddy,” and shot Russell in the foot. Jamal ran up to the apartment. Russell screamed to Jamal, “I love you!” and Jamal screamed the same back to his father. Jamal was watching from the balcony, screaming and crying. Layana came out too see, and at that moment the gangster shot Russell in the head. The police came but they never found the man. Layana became more depressed and began to smoke and drink herself to death. Two nights later she had committed suicide.

 A year later, Nate and Tyron were still locked up and they had to serve for two more years. Jamal had just turned five and he had begun school. Jamal really liked school, but what he really loved was going to the park and playing football and basketball. He made friends at the park. His best friend at the park was Ray. Ray's family had more money than Jamal and they fed him dinner every night. Jamal was also doing very well academically in school. He was the best reader in the class. At the park Jamal was already beating fourth graders in basketball and playing with the older kids in football. They even let him play quarterback. Doris heard about Jamal's talent and she was so proud.

 After eating dinner each night at Ray's house, Jamal ran around the block back home and waited for his mom. Jeff usually got home at the same time as Jamal. The two brothers watched cartoons and sports together every night, waiting for their mom. When mom got home, they all went to bed. Jamal had developed serious fears ever since witnessing his father's murder. Because of Jamal's fears, he slept with his mom every night, which helped him feel safe. In the mornings, Jeff walked Jamal to school and then took off for work with Doris. Doris worked at a convenient store and Jeff worked at a car shop. The two barely made eight thousand dollars a year combined.

 As Jamal finished elementary school he was still the smartest kid in the entire class, and he was still the best basketball and football player at the park. Jamal entered middle school. There Jamal started to receive grades. Jeff told Jamal one day, “If you worked hard in school and in sports then you could get a college scholarship. If you don't get a scholarship then you wouldn't go to college.” Jamal said fine, “I don't want to end up like y'all, I want to make money or play pro sports. I want to help all y'all get out of here. Look Jeff, I hate this place and I know you do too. I am going to get you, Mom, Nate, and Ty out of here.” Jeff said in response, “Well then work hard, baby bro.”

 Jamal started middle school, and in fifth grade he breezed through the first half. Jamal dominated in fall football, scoring a touchdown almost every time he had the ball. High school coaches began to take notice. As basketball started everything began to seem the same. Once again Jamal played incredibly well. At home the Nix's were not doing great as usual. Jamal was still eating at Ray's most nights, he still could not sleep alone, and Jeff had got fired. Doris had to begin working even more. She went to work at seven and came home at ten. Jamal became very depressed. Jamal took notice that his family really wasn't doing well. He cried for hours when he found out Jeff lost his job. But he told himself in his head that he would use this as motivation and he would continue to try and reach his goals.

 By the end of the school year, Jamal had made many new friends from basketball and football. Their names were Tom, Luol, and Teddy. Each day they would all go the the park after school and Ray would accompany them as well. Jamal finished the year receiving all A's. At that point Dorris prayed each night to God saying, “Please help Jamal continue this greatness to help out our family, please.” After a long, hot summer, it seemed that Doris's prayers were being answered. Jamal went to school, got A's, and continued to dominate in sports. One of Jamal's teachers said to Doris in a meeting, “Jamal is the next Issac Newton.” Jamal's football coach said, “He is the next Tom Brady.”

 As Jamal finished up sixth grade, life was the same as usual, Doris was working and Jamal was doing great. Jeff also found a job at the market. During the summer, girls kept surrounding Jamal. Ray said to Jamal one day, “You are a stud.” Jamal in response said, “I know.” That is when a big problem started, Jamal became cocky. He had a large ego, from girls swarming him to him being the best at everything.

 Before the beginning of seventh grade, Nate and Tyron were released from jail. Jamal refused to talk to them for a month. In addition to that, Ray got hooked to drugs. At this point, Jamal's best friend was turing into his father and he hated his brothers. His life was really awful. He barely saw his mom either. Jeff was the closest person to him and Jamal prayed that nothing would happen to Jeff. Jamal went through seventh grade with a chip on his shoulder and from there it would stay with him for the rest of his life. He got all A's again, but when he stepped on the field and or court, he thanked God for his talent and asked got to help him use his talent correctly. Jamal became tougher and played with more heart, even at the park. Jamal Nix was trying to prove something. He told Luol, “I am going to the NFL and NBA.” Luol said back, “I know, as long as you stay away from Ray.” Jamal did just that, but he found himself with no dinner every other night. Jamal then began eating at his new friend Tom's. But Tom did not have much more money than Jamal, but it worked out okay.

 Jamal had a decent summer. He began working at a CVS store. This payed him minimum wage, but it fed him every night almost anything he wanted. After work he would go to the park and play, rain or shine. Once school started Jamal stopped working because when eighth grade hit he had to go to football practice everyday. Nate and Tyron found jobs and Jamal slowly began to start talking to them. Jail seemed to have really helped them out. Doris did not have to work as much anymore and Jamal got to see her more often. He also still slept with her. One day though she told Jamal, “Honey once high school starts this has to end.” Jamal ran and cried screaming “No!” This is when Doris really found out that this was because of what he saw when he was three. That day Jamal finally told her what he was really scared of, violence. This changed her mind about what she said.

 The football season finished up. Jamal threw twenty touchdowns and got twenty five. This had high schools and colleges already scouting him. As basketball started Jamal set scoring records, averaging thirty points per game. Scouts were again looking at him and at that point so were girls. Jamal got a girlfriend named Sarah. Sarah was nice; she played basketball and cheered. Jamal and her spent a lot of time at each others' houses. One day in the spring, Jamal went to her house and she was drinking. He yelled, “Sarah what are you doing, girl?” She said, “It's fun, you want some baby”? “No!” Jamal yelled. Jamal picked up a picture of the two of them in her house and smashed it. He slammed the door and didn't return home that night. Doris called the police and they found him at the park playing basketball at two in the morning, crying. He told the cops, “I don't know how my life could get any worse.” They told him, “If we didn't find you and you did something stupid.” They took Jamal home and Jamal told Doris. She gave him a big hug and said, “Look J, never do that again and you ain't getting a girlfriend until you're more mature.”

 During the summer, Jamal came home from the park and the phone rang. He answered and it was the athletic director from Oak Hill Academy High School. He offered Jamal a full scholarship for basketball, football, and academics. Also he said they could arrange things for the family to able to live there. Jamal said in excitement, “Let me talk to my mom and thank you, thank you, thank you.” The athletic director said, “You earned it young man.” Jamal told Doris and she said yes right away and gave Jamal one hundred hugs and kisses. They called the Athletic director and he said, “Okay and they will be staying in a condo.” Jamal, Doris, and Layana left that August; Jeff and Tyron stayed in Harlem.

<span style="background-color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Once high school started Jamal made a friend, Marcus. Marcus was on Jamal's football team. Jamal decided to take all high honors courses. Jamal had no problems with the classes and he had a G.P.A. of 4.0 during the first month of school. The football season started. Jamal was the starting quarterback and Marcus was Jamal's number one receiver. By the middle of the season after six wins, no losses, Jamal had thrown twelve touchdowns and ran for eight. Nine of the touchdowns he threw were to Marcus.

<span style="background-color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> At that time, Layana was attending Mouth of Wilson, Virginia Middle School. Doris was working at the local Walmart. The condo that they were staying in was really nice. After the football season, Oak Hill went undefeated and Jamal set new high school records in, passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns. Also Oak Hill beat Lower Marian High School in the championship. Jamal throw one touchdown and ran for three.

<span style="background-color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> At the same time the football season ended, basketball started and Jamal still maintained a 4.0 G.P.A.. Jamal played point guard for the basketball team. The basketball team went undefeated that year, Jamal set school record in scoring, averaging 41 points per game. In the championship they lost to St. Vincent–St. Mary.

<span style="background-color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> The next two and a half years was similar for Jamal. He had a 3.9 G.P.A., he had aced his SATS, and set more high school records in both sports. Also both of the teams those two years won each Championship. It was Jamal's senior year; all of his high school years were done. It seemed every school in the country was looking at him. He could go anywhere as long as he kept his G.P.A. higher than an 3.8. Then one night Layana was out for a walk and she did not come back. Jamal went out looking for her and she was being mugged at a gas station by three men. Jamal screamed, “What are you doing, that is my sister, get off her!” They didn't and Jamal came in and fought all of them. Layana was crying at the time. Jamal realized one of them had a knife. He quickly punched the other two guys brutally until he knocked them out. Jamal said to the other guy, “Put the knife down and fight like a man or run away.” He said, “Hell no,” in response. The guy quickly lunged at Jamal and got Jamal right in the arm. Jamal screamed but kept fighting for Layana. Jamal kicked the guy and punched him in the arm and he dropped the knife. Jamal pounded the other guy and before he knocked him out, Jamal said, “You will pay for what you did to her and me,” and that was the thing the guy heard before waking up in jail with his two buddies. Layana was in the hospital, but she recovered quickly.

<span style="background-color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Jamal finished high school and decided to go to Auburn for football. At Auburn, he started his freshman year as quarterback. Jamal set ten school records and the college record for passing yards and rushing touchdowns for any quarterback. He also won the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to the best college player of the year. That year Jamal led the Auburn Tigers to a championship. In the championship he set a record for most passing touchdowns. He threw five. His grade point average was a 3.5. After the season, Jamal decided to go straight to the NFL. He got drafted first overall by the New England Patriots. He got a contract for ten million dollars, the highest ever for a rookie and he also got a 20 million dollar contract with Nike. Jamal retired after 16 seasons. He won six championships, five MVPs, made over 295 million dollars in his career, and went to the NFL Hall of Fame. The best part is, Jamal saved his entire family from a life of poverty and crime. They all lived in his 35,000 square foot mansion in Los Angeles. Jamal also bought other houses in Miami, and Lincoln, Massachusetts. His house in Miami is even bigger than the one in L.A. But Jamal spends most of his time in Lincoln, with his two kids, Ray, and Marcus, and his wife, Nicole. <span style="background-color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">

<span style="background-color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> By, Will Regenauer