I surely wasn’t a big winner that night but as usual my cousin was. Go figure it was his house, his game and his business really.

Much later that evening when everybody was packing up leftovers and giving kisses goodbye my cousin summoned me and my eldest brother to the basement “ta take alook at sumptin.” This being rare, we walked especially quiet through his winding, dimly lit basement to an empty old wooden desk surrounded with folding chairs.

“You know what this is about” he said plainly and we did. “I got a lot of things moving and a few things to take care of right away” he said in an odd tone for one who usually keeps things light. “I’m only asking once and that’s that.”

This was the night my brother had be fantasizing about forever and I could see him suppressing actual jubilance with every tough guy nod. I too began fantasizing myself into cliche scenes from my favorite movies and then naturally began flipping through my mental calender to see if I could even accommodate a busier schedule. At that moment, in fond remembrance, I realized what I was personally celebrating this particular evening. Early that week, after a grueling month of all-nighters, I successfully pitched a tough new account an aggressive marketing plan featuring creative I personally developed. We beat out some stiff competition and it was going into my portfolio.

“Wow ...no I’m good ...thanks though cuz” I said politely while strangely thinking about the daunting workload on my desk. I could see my brother still pondering the idea and offer of a glamorous new lifestyle. “Come on my brotha ...you know how this ends ...besides you don’t even like track suits. Fagetaboutit.”