Birth of a Dark Nation Read Free

degree?" Cissy
asked.
    "His resume says so," Steve said.
    "I'm sure he bought one from someplace. There
are diploma mills all over the internet," I theorized.
    "God, I hate this place! I wish the economy
wasn't so bad; I would leave today," Steve said.
    "But the clients are worth it," Cissy said
firmly.
    "I can't believe the board is okay with this
guy," I said.
    "They're all his friends. They'll never fire
him," Steve said.
    "So what are we going to do?" I asked. Cissy
shrugged.
    "You can do computer work anywhere. You tell
me what you're going to do."
    "I don't know, Cissy. I just want to work
someplace where I can make a difference."
    "You've been here almost four years now. What
difference have you made? I mean you basically back up the servers.
How does that help women with AIDS?"
    "Damn, Cissy."
    "I'm not trying to be mean, honey. But you
are still young and have a lot of good ideas. You don't have to
work here if you don't want to. You've got a lot of executive
leadership potential."
    "She's right," Steve added. "You've got some
of the best ideas in the building, but Ernie's dumb ass…"
    "I'm starting to think Ernie's last name is
'dumb ass' for real," I said.
    "Might as well be. We are up shit's creek
here and nobody is doing anything about it."
    I shrugged.
    "Well, let me know when y'all have a plan
together. I'll support it." I stood up to leave Cissy's office.
    "That's it?" Steve asked.
    "I don't know what else I can do. We're all
stuck in crappy jobs at a mediocre organization with a shitty boss
and a negligent board of directors. What can I do other than apply
for a new job?"
    "It makes me sad that this place has robbed
you of your passion."
    "Passion?" I laughed. "Don't worry about me.
I'm going to be okay. But if y'all will excuse me, I'm going to run
to Dollar General and get me a soda. Want anything?"
    My coworkers shook their heads. I headed out
the door and jogged across the street during a rare break in the
heavy Rhode Island Avenue traffic.
    This dude who I saw from time to time was
sitting on the steps of the Masonic hall, casually looking in my
direction. I had conditioned myself not to notice the boys on the
street. Even after four years, I wasn't as comfortable in Woodridge
as I was in my little corner of Uptown, where I'd lived since
moving to DC. I kept my distance.
    It was hot. I hated the summer with a
passion. I'd gained so much weight since college and it seemed like
the summer heat made me more aware of myself. Sweat rolled off my
neck and down my chest, pausing at my stomach as if to mock its
ever-expanding roundness.
    I had never been a small guy, but the
preceding few years had been incredibly sedentary for me. I really
needed to join a gym, but I was afraid that the moment I did so,
I'd lose my job and then not be able to afford it.
    Excuses.
    I just didn't feel like doing anything about
it.
    I bought my Sprite Zero and exited the store.
I could see the profile of the guy sitting in front of the Masonic
hall more clearly. He had on a light gray t-shirt with a plain
black book bag, jean shorts, plain black tennis shoes, and short
white socks. His long dreadlocks came past his broad, strong
shoulders. His face was a living dichotomy: the roundness of his
cheeks made him appear youthful and innocent, but his eyes were
somehow old beyond his years, and his eyebrows and nose converged
into acute angles, making me unsure whether he was truly sinister
or just born looking suspicious.
    He saw me looking.
    "Aye, I got some music. Got some DVDs," he
announced.
    "What?" I asked, stopping in front of his
stoop.
    "I got some music… Old school hip-hop, go-go,
R&B. Whatever you want. And some movies. Got that comedy shit,
shit that's in theaters now. I got you."
    This nigga was trying to sell me bootleg
merchandise. I hadn't been hit up by a bootleg man in years. With
all the ways to get free music on the Internet-legally or not-I was
taken aback by his offer.
    I looked at his face and time stopped.