Page 72 of Mr. Calloway

Zu passed it to Diamond, and I passed mine to Foe.

“Nigga, fuck you. You ain’t the weed Connoisseur,” Diamond hissed.

Foe cheesed. “Something like it.”

Puff, puff, pass.

The smoke lingered from my lips as I ran my hand over my waves. “I’m stepping down and away from the Zoo.”

The harsh cough that came from Foe sounded like he was dying. I smirked. “It’s gas, nigga.”

“Fuck you mean ‘away’ from the Zoo?” Diamond asked.

“I mean, give this time to my family. I’ll be around, just not with the Zoo activities. Too old to be out here killing niggas.”

Foe threw his hands up. “Says the nigga who just slaughtered the fuck out of Gramps.”

Preach shook his head. “Chev, you do what God is telling you to do. You deserve this happiness. There is no Zoo without you, so stepping down, yes, but nigga, it’s Zoo over everything.”

I could see Zeus still sitting there with no words. I wasn’t sure what he was thinking, being that he and I started this shit together. Zeus was my muhfuckin’ brother, and whatever he thought mattered to me. I nodded his way. “Zu, nigga, you cool?”

He placed his elbow on his knees. “If you had said this shit before Sash and I got married, I would have screamed "nigga, you dumb.” However, I’m on the same side as you. Our story will read differently now, Chev, because we’re all different. The Zoo will forever be a thing, but you are getting that happiness we drove thousands of miles for. It’s time.”

Those emotions were brewing in me again. All of this was deeper than walking away; it was something added to the plan when I realized I was reaching my truth at the finish line.

Diamond held his hand out. “It’s whatever, Chev. Ain’t like you’re about to move away and shit. Zoo over everything. I love you, nigga. It’s your time.”

“Old nigga ’bout to do old thangs. Zoo over everything,” Foe said.

“Look at God. In his holy hood name, Zoo over everything.”

Zeus didn’t even bother. He stood up, and so did I. We looked at each other long and hard. Zu pulled me in and hugged me tightly. “Zoo over everything, Chev. I love you, and I know. It’s your truth,” he whispered.

I glanced at him like he was crazy as the tears rolled down his face. Zu quickly wiped them away, but it was too late because that shit broke me. I dropped my head, as tears rolled down my nose. I blew out a sharp breath before looking at all four of them.

“I’m giving the crown to Dio,” I said as I stared at Zu.

He nodded slowly. “He’s going to take care of business.”

Foe smiled. “Nigga won’t be running me, but he’s deserving. I would have shot one of the new niggas.”

They all laughed. The one thing I loved about the Zoo was that no matter the trial or hardship, we always found a way to overcome it. I just wished that word applied to my life.

Dionysus

PRESS PLAY

“Fuck it up, Stutter Man!” I shouted.

The gang and I decided to come to the skating rink. While Peanut, Beans, and I floated on the rink’s floor, Streets and Scooter sat at a table nearby looking like suckas. The girls were in their little group, doing what they did best. The rink was our spot; it was the new generation of the Zoo type shit. Monfua didn’t really fuck with us, but it was cool because I respected his reason. His mind was on a whole other level, and we needed that in the Zoo.

Each guy was built differently, and that was what made us the perfect crew. From the OGs to the newbies, we all offered something different and something worth calling family.

I wanted to talk to Stutter Man about a business venture. He was the only one I felt could handle something as big as owning a business. I rolled up near him, spinning myself around to backward skate.

“Ayo, Stutter Man!” I shouted over the loud music.

He bobbed his head as he looked at me. I knew talking to him like this wasn’t going to work, so I tapped his shoulder andpointed to where Scooter and Streets were. Once we made it through the thick crowd, I looked at Streets.