(Senester): Christina…your “Uncle Ronnie” is a thief. Your “Uncle Ronnie” grew up a delinquent that thinks he’s turned his life around because he’s an athlete, makes a good living and is on television. Christina…your “Uncle Ronnie” doesn’t love you. When your daddy called him to tell him you were gone, he was out partying…celebrating the new year. I’d hardly say he gave you any emergency attention. It’s been one week he’s allowed you to stay with me. He could have brought me the property he stole from me at any time, but he didn’t. He left you because he was more concerned with trying to get under my skin than he was caring for your well being.
Just then, Ronnie comes to from his sleep, and sees Christina watching the footage, her face almost blank, eyes wide open. Ronnie nudges her to get her attention…
Is this true Unc? Did you steal this from that man? Did you know I was gone all week and not do anything?
No Chrissy….I didn’t steal this from him. You know that really big round thing that’s downstairs at Auntie Toya’s job? That is what the sun stone was. It had been there longer than you’ve been alive. And if I had known where to find you after they took you, I would have come running to save you little bit.
You promise Uncle Ron?
I promise little bit. I love you like you were my own child. I know that your dad will be happier than happy to see you….but I don’t know how happy he’ll be to see me.
Will the man be back? Will he come after you again?
He probably will…but it’ll be just me. I won’t let you guys get involved again….
…and uncle and niece settle in for the rest of the flight, winging their way back to Birmingham…back home, where they belong.
We fade back in the next day inside a high-rise apartment building in the heart of downtown Birmingham, nearest the University of Alabama-Birmingham. The top floor apartment is empty, and within it stands Ronnie, wearing a beige UAB shirt and sweatpants, talking on the phone, when he hears a knock at the door. He walks over and opens it, and it’s his brother, James. He walks inside and looks around, before speaking.
I still want to strangle you, but thank you for bringing my little girl back home.
I owed you that. She should have never been a part of what was going on, and I apologize from the bottom of my heart for that. It will never happen again.
I know bro….you didn’t know he would go that far. I’m just glad she’s back home, not harmed at all, and seems to be OK otherwise. I know she asked you about what he said….
Bro, I had no clue where he was. They were nowhere near the old towers the entire week, and all the backchannels I could think…
Don’t worry about it bro. My munchkin’s home. That’s all that matters. Carmen, on the other hand, is scared out of her mind…she doesn’t want to go home…she’s staying at her mother’s place.
I can understand it…she and your mother in law were there, as it was told to me when I called the police after I talked to you. I got that sense from Toya when I talked to her after she dropped off Chrissy over there. Carmen didn’t even want to go in there to get some clothes for the next few days…Toya had to go in and grab some stuff.
can’t keep sleeping down at the gym…a brother got needs man….
Believe me, I feel ya bro. Water’s been dry in my house on that subject because of all this. But maybe this will be a start….sign this.
Sign what….and now that I’m thinking about it, why are we even here?
Well…I didn’t know what mood you would be in, so I figured an empty apartment would be better than my place. You like it?
It looks pretty good. Nice view, clean, close to Chrissy’s school, the gym, and Carmen’s job. It’s also closer to her mother, but hey…it would be nice to be over here and out of Irondale…that commute is getting worse every day it seems.
I feel ya on that…now sign here.
Why am I signing this again?
Cause your signature on this guarantees me you won’t come kick my ass behind this…
If you say so bro…*James signs*
…and welcome home.
Welcome home? What the #### you mean?
Welcome home. This whole top floor penthouse is yours.
You ####ing kidding me, right? You better not be ####ing with me little bro.
I’m not. When Toya told me how Carmen was looking, I couldn’t let her suffer through that, nor could I live with myself because it was my fault. It’s the least I can do to make amends.
Ronnie hands James an envelope. James opens it, and inside are the deeds to the apartment, the keys and the access code to the elevator.
This is for real, right?
This is for real, big brother. Enough room to live as you are, and enough to hold yall very comfortably if yall have a couple more kids…lol. I’ve gotta get back home and make up with my wife now...so surprise Carmen and Chrissy however you want to. I’ll see you at the gym tomorrow. Give Carmen and Chrissy my love...
Both Ronnie and James reach out to each other at the same time; give each other a big brotherly hug, before parting ways for the day, as the scene fades...
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