Page 40 of Butterfly 6, Phase 1

“Look, I know this is your parent meeting for the banquet and all, but I want to see how you feel about getting the boys to work with a therapist afterward. They lost a teammate, and Eazy is struggling with it. Said they been fucking with him about being sad about it. We got a responsibility to teach them to be more than tough. The game makes ‘em strong, physically. Little niggas teasing my baby about some shit that’s supposed to hurt. If they not hurt behind it, they’re calloused to it. These boys too young to be numb,” Ethic said.

“I ain’t know that was happening on my field, bro. Nephew ain’t said a word, but I’m with you. What you got in mind?”

The metal doors clanged, and Ethic looked up, nodding toward the beauty entering the building. “Her,” he said.

“Absolutely her,” Nyair admired as Khadeen approached them. “You been in that?”

Ethic scoffed and shook his head. “Nah, bruh, we went out once and once only. Might be the worst date I ever been on. Khadeen ain’t my type. The attraction ended as soon as we sat down and started talking. She’s a go left when a man says go right type of woman.”

Nyair chuckled. “Your wife a go left when you say go right type of woman.”

Ethic shared in the laughter. “Only when she’s mad. If I’m doing my job, the submission is effortless. That one there ain’t fucking around regardless. Watch how she start bossing her way around this mu’fucka in a bit,” Ethic joked. It was funny, but he was dead serious. “She’s sharp as hell, though. Driven. Successful. Accomplished. All the things independent women are made of. Most of all, healing. She’ll be able to help here.”

“Ethic, good to see you again,” she greeted with a smile. “How’s your wife?”

“We’re blessed. She’s at home with the kids,” Ethic answered.

“I’m happy to hear that,” she replied.

“This is my brother, Ny,” Ethic introduced. “Ny, this is Dr. Khadeen Brown.”

“Your brother?” she questioned with intrigue. “Nice to meet you, Ny. Thank you for having me.” She held out her hand, and Nyair accepted it with both of his, holding onto her wrist first, then shaking gently.

“Absolutely. It’s Nyair,” Nyair responded, shaking her hand. “Pleasure’s mine.”

“Ethic explained that you guys lost a teammate, a little boy, and that there hasn’t really been an opportunity to process it. I think it’s important that the kids do that together, as a team.”

“Yeah, whatever helps,” Nyair said.

“I have some things in my car. Can I borrow a few of the boys to bring them in?” she asked.

Nyair waved his hand for her to step in front of him. “By all means,” he said. He faced the parents and kids, then blew his whistle. When all eyes were on him, he spoke. “This is Dr. Khadeen Brown. I’d like for you all to give her a moment of your time. As you know, we’ve lost a member of this sports family, and it hurts. If it’s okay with you parents…” Nyair looked around at the adults in the room. “I’d like to allow Dr. Brown some time this evening to work with the boys to help them process this loss. Because that’s what it is. It’s a devastating loss, and I’ve cried about it many nights.” He paused at the shocked look on his players’ faces. “That’s right. I cry. It’s okay for a man to cry. Dr. Brown is going to help us express the feelings we’ve been afraid to show. We’re tough on the field, but it’s okay to let somebody know when we’re hurting off the field. Can we give Dr. Brown a big welcome?”

The boys and their parents clapped, and Khadeen smiled.

“Well, first, I want to tell you how sorry I am that you’ve lost a friend. I know that’s hard. While your coach and Mr. Okafor go out to my car and get my supplies, I’m going to get to know you all a little better. You and you,” Khadeen pointed at two of the obviously older boys. “Go and help.” They did as they were told, and Ethic shook his head as he gave Nyair a knowing look.

“Alpha as hell,” Ethic snickered.

“I don’t know, G. A nigga kind of like that,” Nyair chuckled.

Friendly banter among men as they honored her request.

Khadeen was none the wiser as she continued to counsel the team.

“Which one of you would like to tell me what happened to your friend?” Khadeen asked. The room fell deathly silent as the boys avoided eye contact with her. She saw a bunch of terrified boys in front of her. They didn’t know what to say, but the look of torment in their eyes told her they were confused and hurt by what had occurred.

“We lost one of the boys. DJ. He hurt himself,” one of the men in the room said in a hesitant and low tone. Even adults had a hard time with death.

“He was stupid, man; he killed himself. How you kill yourself, though, bro?” one of the boys bantered.

“He didn’t kill himself. He cut himself. He didn’t want to die. He just wanted somebody to notice,” Eazy mumbled the words so low that Khadeen barely heard them over the other boys.

Ethic, Nyair, and their two helpers re-entered the building and set down plastic bins at her feet.

Khadeen rubbed the shoulders of one of the boys as he passed. “Thank you, young man,” she said. “Both of you. Have a seat, and let’s give this young man the floor. What’s your name?”

“Eazy.”