CHAPTER 3

Twenty-Three Years Earlier - Portland, Oregon

Henry Hanks, model prisoner, was a penitentiary prodigy, a man with a plan, returning to
Portland after completing a 3 year sentence and obtaining a law degree from the University of
California, Berkeley, through a prison school release program His high academic achievements,
well!researched white papers via mail to "regon#s Prison $e!form Commission, and his focused
powers of persuasion convinced the "ffice of the Pardon %ttorney to recommend a presidential
pardon& his non!violent felonies were e'punged However, the "regon Bar %ssociation was not
as forgiving, and prevented him from practicing law in the state
Hanks had other plans He knew there would be opposition to his admittance to the bar
"nly a few credits short of a bachelors when he went to prison, he pursued the law degree for
show, prestige, to impress, and distinguish himself from the ma(ority of prisoners How many e'!
cons are walking around with a law degree) He#d developed a concept and a business plan for an
offender rehabilitation program, aptly named, *resh +tart ,raditional social programs like
-oodwill .nterprises, -od/s +alvation ,eam, Catholic +teppingstones, and other well!intended
organi0ations were not reaching hard!core repeat offenders, the minority that commit the
ma(ority of crimes 1hat the city of Portland needed was a program de!signed specifically to
address the uni2ue issues and problems repeat offenders face returning from prisons and (ails
*resh +tart, he said, would be that program, comprehensive, professional, providing a personal
touch only those who had served prison time could convey %t the time, the concept was
innovative 3.ach one, teach one4 was the founding principle
1ith a lot of work and contacts he#d made at Boalt 5aw +chool and the assistance of
Portland#s Community College, he formed a 678 9c:93: nonprofit organi0ation and obtained a
;877,777 grant from Health and Human +ervices to pilot *resh +tart, operating with a small staff
consisting of a (ob developer, receptionist!secretary, two community college interns, and a
support services mentor %fter a few years of successful implementation, developing
public<private networks, and close scrutiny from the criminal (ustice community, *resh +tart had
established local credibility =t provided family reunification counseling, (ob readiness training
and placement, transportation, educational referrals, pre!release and post!prison assistance
Because of its uni2ueness, its user!friendly characteristics, the new program was in high
demand by parolees and probationers, and was 2uickly overwhelmed by referrals from the
courts, parole and probation, and other nonprofit agencies less inclined to serve e'!convicts
Unfortunately, funding to pay for services did not accompany referrals
"ne day Hanks was looking out the window in the *resh +tart office when a gleaming
new Cadillac $oyce pulled into a parking space in front, driven by a strikingly attractive female
in her early twenties "ut popped a young man, 6#874, slender!built, light!skinned, about 8>!?7
years old He leaned into the car window, said something to the girl, and turned toward the *resh
+tart door His name was $obert 1illiam Parker, aka, +lam, up and coming drug dealer,
ambitious beyond all imagination, smart and dangerous He was flash and money, as Hanks
would learn, and @amal#s best friend since the 3
rd
grade, two peas in a pot, ace boon coons, blood
brothers +lam needed to do si'ty hours of community service before he could discharge from
parole& he had a referral from his parole officer
3Aeah, Br Hanks,4 +lam said, 3Aour nephew and me go way back +mooth, my dog He
say you might hook me up wit da community service4
+lam laughed but his eyes did not smile, and Hanks noticed this He had seen the hard
convict eyes in prisoners serving life sentences and contract killers +lam#s eyes were in that
category Hanks knew who +lam was, remembered him +till, he picked up the phone and
dialed 1hen the connection went through, Hanks asked, 3Aou know a brother named $obert
Parker)4
3Aeah, Unc#, you talkin# Cbout, +lam, right)4
3+lam)4 Hanks said, holding +lam#s ga0e
3Aeah, das me,4 +lam#s eyes were unblinking, watching Hanks talk into the phone,
listening
Hanks nodded his head a couple of times and said, 3"kay, = gotcha4 He put the receiver
back into the cradle ,hen accepted the written referral from +lam#s P" and wrote a community
service scheduleD two hours a day, Bonday!*riday, 3!6 pm, for si' weeks to dust and dry!mop
the training room and hallways +lam appeared grateful, showed up on time daily, followed
instructions, and did a good (ob %fter his third visit, he began to talk about his ambition to be
the best, go to the top, see the world and spend millions on lu'uries and good times His best at
what) -etting to the top doing what) He did not say
Hanks asked about the girl he#d seen on +lam#s first visit, and the Cadillac $oyce 3By
girl#s car,4 +lam said, his eyes veiled, offering a poker face By the fourth visit to *resh +tart,
Hanks was certain that +lam was involved in ma(or illegal activity, most likely drug trafficking,
which rubbed Hanks the wrong way %s an e'!con himself, a career criminal prior to *resh +tart,
he understood the motivation of economic crime, a direct by!product of poverty E under
education, racism and long!term denial He did not begrudge a brother getting money from a
corrupt system, but he drew the line at drug trafficking, which was ravaging minority
communities His brother, whom he could not seem to reach, was a twenty!five year victim of
cocaine addiction
+till, he was in the helping business, a service provider committed to the betterment of
offenders "n +lam#s last day of community service, he offered to help him get a full time (ob, go
legit +lam smiled, again those cold, lifer eyes, the glare of the contract killer
3= got a (ob,4 +lam said, 3at a car wash = start tonight4
He started for the door, stopped and turned back, a serious look on his face, his eyes
softening 3,hanks for lettin# me do community service =f you need anything, help for the stuff
you do E money E (ust let me know4 %nd he was gone
Hanks later learned that three other nonprofit organi0ations had refused to allow +lam to
do community service with them ,hey didn#t like his long and violent criminal record or his
cold gray eyes Hanks also learned that +lam actually owned the car wash he referred to, and
washing cars wasn#t the only product the business sold =t was a thriving crack cocaine pit stop,
with ma(or deals going down while cars moved slowly through the car wash cycle 1ord on the
street, +lam was making ;?,777 to ;3,777 a day at that location alone
Hanks walked back into his office, his mind locked into a vision that would radically
change his life and the future of *resh +tart Unknown to +lam, he had planted a fertile seed that
would eventually emerge as a grand scheme, not only to subsidi0e *resh +tart, but also revitali0e
the community Hanks would allow the idea to simmer awhile, in his brain, analy0e the various
elements, potential risks, and infra!structure necessary to implement *ailure was not an option
,here was no room for error ,his endeavor, should he pursue it, would be an all or nothing
proposition He was going to roll the dice
"ver the ne't two months, the *resh +tart program continued to overe'tend itself,
refusing to turn away new clients and increasing its workload ,he staff, all e'!cons, was
committed to the mission, but they needed to be paid ,o be sure, the last thing Hanks needed
was for one of his employees, model e'!cons, to be arrested stealing pampers and meat from
1almart He had an unreserved fondness for the under!dog and began punching numbers into his
cell phone 1hile he did not like the source of +lam#s money, there were bills and payroll due in
a couple of days and he was ;87,777 short 3%s much misery as this nigger is inflicting on the
community, he shouldn#t sweat ;87,777,4 Hanks thought @ust a loan until he generated fresh
money
31ho is this)4 he heard +lam ask
3Brother, man, this is Henry Hanks, over at *resh +tart4
Calling +lam 3brother4 forced a bitter taste into Hanks# mouth But the only thing that
mattered was results ,his young fool was making more money than he knew what to do with, he
thought 3@amal#s uncle4
+lam was 2uiet
*inally, 31hat#s up, "-)4
31hen you were leaving, you said if = needed any help to holler Can we meet)4
,hrough the satellite connection, Hanks could feel +lam processing what he#d (ust heard
3Fo problem, "-,4 he said 3-immie a couple of hours and =#ll swing by =#ll call befo#
= head dat way4
+lam came by *resh +tart around 6 pm, right before closing, listened to Hanks# re2uest,
and offered to make the ;87,777 a charitable contribution, in his late grandmother#s name Hanks
declined the gift and agreed to pay it back 1hen +lam left to arrange for the money to be picked
up later that night, Hanks knew that his bold, new vision for *resh +tart was ready for
implementation %merica was the land of milk and honey, and corruption, greed E greedy, and
more greed He would not wait on government handouts any longer ,his was his community, the
block on which *resh +tart was located, the highest unemployment in the city, crime!ridden,
drug!infested 1hy was he sitting on his ass) =t was time for a change, by any means necessary,
Balcolm G had demanded =t was time to get seriously busy
,oday, *resh +tart flourished, recogni0ed as one of the nation#s most successful and
effective offender reentry programs Fow, as he waited in the reception area of "regon
Correctional +ervices for @amal to finish meeting with a probation officer, Hanks found himself
thinking about the ne't phase of *resh +tart#s growth to become the nation#s premier reentry
resource *resh +tart would incorporate an independent living environment, *resh +tart City, to
empower prisoners for successful transition to their communities
He had found the perfect location for this e'pansion, a former commune called
$a(neeshpuram, near %ntelope, "regon, in 1asco County =t had been run by a religious leader
named Bhagwan +hree $a(neesh who had left =ndia one step ahead of the authorities ,he
Bhagwan, as he was called, had relieved tens of thousands of his countrymen of hundreds of
millions of dollars in e'change for spiritual transformation and meditation techni2ues %fter
solidifying his sucker base in .urope, he apparently decided he was ready for the big, big time
and E where else E the good old U+ of %, a goldmine for a master mouthpiece
=n the fall of 8>H8, the Bhagwan and his assistant, Ba %nand +heela, an astute
businesswoman with disarming beauty, landed in %ntelope, "regon, a town with less than 67
people ,he nearest town was Badras, with ?,?36 residents ,he Bhagwan said his nonprofit
organi0ation, which was devoted to spiritual enlightenment, would build a nondenominational
Campus for Hope and pump ;67 million into the local economy ,he town elders and leaders
(umped on board ,his was like selling the -olden -ate Bridge to a hapless hick ,hey couldn#t
believe their good fortune until two years later, when the I,677 residents of $a(neeshpuram
began registering to vote and electing the Bhagwan#s handpicked followers to the %ntelope City
Council %t the direction of the Bhagwan, they renamed the town of %ntelope 3$a(neesh4 ,he
local folks had misread the bearded guru and his beautiful assistant
.ventually, the (ustice department stepped in, deported the Bhagwan and sent Ba %nand
+heela to prison ,oday, the former commune was an assortment of weather!beaten build!ings,
abandoned and boarded up, in dire need of repair, but with a solid infrastructure in place ,he
buildings had been constructed well % radical overhaul and moderni0ation, and the city could
actually e'ceed its former glory Completed, *resh +tart City would be a private minimum
security facility for federal prisoners ,he design and structure of daily life and programming
would resemble the real!world as meticulously as possible, a si'!month simulation of %ny City
U+% $esidents, no longer called prisoners or inmates, would reside in small residences, fifty in
all, three to a residence %menities and accommodations would include a school with -.J and
some college courses, ongoing self!development workshops, a host of social work and academic
counselors, library, auditorium, gymnasium, and handball courts
,he comple' would also include a restaurant, theater, two or three small variety stores, a
post office, and a non!alcoholic lounge ,hree houses would staff personnel ,o transport the 867
residents and staff around the KL,777 acres, retired school buses, driven by residents earning a
minimum wage stipend, would pick up and drop off passengers at designated stops .very
resident would be re2uired to work a minimum of ?7 hours a week and be paid with a debit card
that allowed purchases at the various businesses % private security company and an electronic
fence would secure the comple'
Henry Hanks would, in essence, become the administrator, the warden of a correctional
facility, 2uite a change from his former status as an inmate ,he *ederal Bureau of Prisons had
already e'pressed interest if he could get the pro(ect funded, and he was working on raising the
capitol, developing plans and strategy with his Hall of *ame fundraising team ,hey had never
failed him He needed a little over ;I million to secure the property ;K million to the mortgage
holder, ;677,777 for the bank#s participation, another ;677,777 for the law firm, and a ;67,777
finder#s fee for his former cellmate, a brilliant paralegal who ran the prison law library and since
his release, worked for +pacey, Borrison M Nnapp, a 5os %ngeles law firm catering to discrete
clients and high!risk deals ,he firm had set up *resh +tart#s first corporate structure and
continued to handle a series of transactions for the program through a power of attorney arrange!
ment
Henry Hanks was consumed with the ne't phase of *resh +tart#s growth to become the
nation#s premier reentry resourceO
3Uncle HanksP4
,he sound of his name (olted him from his thoughts $eali0ing he was back in the "regon
Correctional +ervices office, he looked in the direction of the voice @amal was approaching, a
wide smile on his face +tanding, Henry Hanks towered over @amal#s 6#874 frame by at least two
inches Henry Hanks# gray suit, white starched shirt, and tie gave him the appearance of an
investment banker He wore his hair and beard neatly trimmed -old granny glasses sat on the tip
of his nose He greeted @amal with a handshake and affectionate hug
3@amal,4 he said, 3-ood to see you, especially out here = know how you feel4
3.h, Unc#, thanks for looking out = appreciate it4 His admiration for his uncle was
unmistakable
35et#s roll,4 Hanks said
=n the car, on their way to the *resh +tart office, he glanced at @amal 3,alk to me4
@amal knew e'actly what his uncle wanted to hear 31hat are you going to do with your
life, starting now)4
@amal offered a knowing smile, his tone emphatic
3=#ve got no e'cuses,4 he insisted 31hat the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve Fot
only am = going to community college, =#mma ace it ,hen take political science at 1ashington
+tate4
He paused, studying Henry Hanks# widening smile
3%nd =#m gonna enter politics4 ,here was pride in his voice
Hanks nodded and changed the sub(ect 3,he year you#ve been gone, =#ve been awfully
busyOmade a lot of progressOcleaning up the neighborhood4
3= know = saw something on the news about the clean
up around *resh +tart4
Henry Hanks started to laugh 3Can you believe it) ,he (ive turkey mayor gave me the
key to the city and a humanitarian award ,oo bad the key won#t open any real doors =t was a
dog and pony show But we really have done some good work in the area4
3= wanna be a part of it,4 @amal said 3=#d like to help out, wherever you can use me4
Hanks didn#t reply His e'pression was stoic @amal studied his uncle, waiting for a
response that did not come
3=#m serious, Uncle Hanks =#ll do whatever you need me to do4
3Aou need to focus on school = can come up with a few bucks so you don#t have to work
right away4
3But Unc#4
3Aou won#t recogni0e the building when you see it,4 Hanks cut in 31e#ve put a lot of
money into it %ctually, we own the building, the properties on both sides and one store front
across the street4
@amal#s ga0e was fi'ed on his uncle, his mentor, a trusted friend and confidant, who had
always provided good advice and sound counsel Henry Hanks was the only father image @amal
had ever known
3Aou must have gotten some serious funding)4
,he last influ' of cash, ;I3 million, was substantial, but Henry Hanks# overhead was
large, the cost of doing business E the attorney, the accountant, finder#s fees, and contingency
money going into escrow E a 3disaster relief fund4 in the event *resh +tart#s fundraising team
ever needed it 3% little over ;I million, but our budget is still tight 1e need more money4
3,hat#s a lot of money,4 @amal said, impressed 3= had no idea you were doing it like that,
in that kind of dollar amount4
.ven though they were in his car, (ust the two of them, Henry Hanks lowered his voice
conspiratorially 3,hat#s between us4 ,hen, almost as an afterthought but in a pointed tone,
31e#re family = may talk to you about things = wouldn#t tell anyone else, you understand)4
Hanks e'pression was deadly serious @amal nodded his understanding 3Aeah, Unc#, =
understand 1hatever you tell me stays with me4
Henry Hanks was parental 3= know4 He paused, shooting a 2uick glance at @amal
3=t#s a lot of money when you#re on the outside looking in But in the scheme of things,
the realm in which =#m operating, it#s really nickels and dimes ,here are social programs in the
community that claim to address the needs of offenders but really don#t do didley shit, certainly
not as much as *resh +tart and are not as effective But when $*Ps 9re2uests for proposals: are
issued by governmental agencies, these same unproductive organi0ations E with friends in high
places E get million dollar grants year after year ,hey all have ;?7 million a year budgets4
Henry Hanks turned onto ,erry +treet =n the distance, *resh +tart was visible @amal
listened intently
3,he money =#m talking about is ta'payer money, from the "ffice of @ustice Programs,
Health and Human +ervices, 5abor, .ducation and other federal agencies Fone sees its way to
*resh +tart4
@amal nodded and flashed a smile 3= hear you, Unc#, you get to keep some of that seven!
something million, don#t you)4
%musement in his voice, Hanks said, 3=#m on a salary 1e all are =#ve got twenty!seven
full time employeesD case managers, (ob developers, administrative assistants, -.J instructors,
counselors, secretaries, daycare and thrift store workers E plus we have three college interns and
five or si' e'!cons we pay a stipend for helping out4 He grinned 3%nd meand we#re buying
all the boarded up properties in the area4
3+o what#s ne't, Unc#) +eem like you#ve done what
you set out to do, create a community program for e'!cons 1hat#s ne't)4
Henry Hanks pulled into his parking space in the *resh +tart parking lot He gave @amal a
serious look, deciding how much he wanted to share about the future of *resh +tart His parental
smile returned
31hat#s ne't) By goal is to be the biggest and best, the most comprehensive, reentry
organi0ation in the nation ,o accomplish this, we need to raise capital to fund our e'pansion
plans = intend to have the capital within four months4
.merging from the car, @amal stood scanning the area again, as he had coming down the
block to *resh +tart He was close to speechless over the modern!looking renovations that had
been made =t was a block of refurbished buildings, an e'plosion of paint and repair in what had
previously been an abandoned building graveyard ,he *resh +tart rebirth had an air of success,
with sculpted landscaping that breathed new life into the area& it had been the city#s worst urban
blight, in dire need of revitali0ation
=nside, the *resh +tart office was abu00 with activity ,here were fifteen or twenty people
in the reception area, e'changing conversations, staring 2uietly ahead, and reading from an
assortment of maga0ines displayed on tablesD Forbes, Black Enterprise, Money, Essence, and
Ebony % couple of clients said, 3Hi, Br Hanks,4 as @amal followed his uncle across the room to
the receptionist, an attractive redhead with emerald green eyes, wearing a tailored tan suit and a
million!dollar smile 5i0 -ordon was a receptionist plus % firearms and karate e'pert, she was
also Henry Hanks# scheduler, confidant and office gatekeeper
3Aou remember, 5i0 -ordon)4 Hanks said @amal remembered& she was a se'ual fantasy
with a body screaming for a shoot in Hustler maga0ine His hormones were starting to flare, the
one year without kicking in How could he forget that beautiful face and flaming red hair) His
eyes beamed in on her revealing cleavage
+he flashed her Hustler Girl of the Year smile 31elcome home, @amal = look to see you
around here from time to time4
,hroat dry, he simply nodded
Behind the receptionist#s desk there was a burst of activity E case managers, (ob
developers, support service workers, in and out of offices, conferring with clients, e'changing
documents, phones ringing, fa' machines beeping, two secretaries hitting keyboards, the
atmosphere hard working
=n his office, Hanks motioned to a large sofa and took a seat across from @amal ,he
office was spacious "n the far wall there was a flat screen ,Q, built!in bookcases and a state!of!
the!art audio<visual system % large conference table with leather high!back chairs sat near the
middle of the room Henry Hanks# desk was massive, polished mahogany ,he wall behind it
was lined with framed photographs of famous and infamous personalities, including former
President -eorge 1 Bush, talk radio host $ush 5imbaugh, +upreme Court @ustice Clarence
,homas, and other notables Having taken in the spaciousness and lu'ury of the office, @amal#s
ga0e fro0e on the photos behind Henry Hanks# desk 3Bush ==, a failed presidency,4 he thought
3%lso $ush C"'ycotin# 5imbaugh and Clarence ,homas of C5ong Jong +ilver# fame4 He gave
his uncle a curious, probing look, a frown appearing on his face 3Bush) 5imbaugh) ,homas)
1here#s Barack "bama)4
Henry Hanks turned to look over his shoulder, ad(usted his glasses, and grinned He
stood, walked to the photo of -eorge 1 Bush, flipped it over and there was a photo of Barack
"bama He replaced it on the wall, and then turned the photos of $ush 5imbaugh and Clarence
,homas to reveal photos of +enator ,ed Nennedy and "prah 1infrey His grin was mischievous
3,he photos reflect the kind of visitor =#m receiving ,his morning = met with +tate
+enator %very 1inslow, right!wing asshole But he#s the chair of the @udiciary Committee and =
need his vote on some legislation coming before him He thinks =#m a black $epublican and
voted for @ohn BcCain4
Henry Hanks was providing @amal an education that could not be purchased He bu00ed
the receptionist and had her hold his calls, then peered over the rim of his glasses *or the ne't
two hours, he helped @amal develop a plan of action to successfully complete probation and
obtain an %ssociate Jegree from Portland Community College $elenting, after @amal#s
persuasive insistence, Hanks agreed to allow @amal 87!86 hours a week internship at *resh +tart,
working with the offender (ob developer % long handshake and 2uick hug sealed the deal, and
@amal was ready to leave Henry Hanks eased two C!notes into @amal#s hand
"utside his office, Hanks called to a powerfully built man with ice blue eyes and a ready
smile who was coming from one of the offices He wore a white shirt, red tie and gray slacks
His +tacy %dams slip!ons were buffed to a mirror gloss
3$udy,4 Henry Hanks said, 3this is my nephew, @amal @amal, this is $udy @ones, my
programs manager
3$udy, @amal, will be volunteering 87!86 hours a week =#d like for you to get him
started He#ll come in ne't week4
$udy @ones offered a professional smile and handshake, giving Hanks a knowing look
and said, 3Be happy to, Henry4 He pointed to his office 3,here#s my office, @amal Pop in when
you arrive or you can call me first and we#ll chat4
3,hank you, Br @ones4
CHAPTER 4
=t was a good day to be free @amal walked out the front door of *resh +tart and smiled
+lam, standing ne't to a sparkling black BB1, grinned so wide you could see his last row of
teeth, pearly white and even He was 6#874, slender with a light comple'ion, gray eyes and short!
cropped hair He wore silk everything, e'cept snakeskin shoes 1ith prison!bred arms and abs,
there was not an ounce of fat on him ,hey engaged in a brotherly hug, patted one another#s
back, touched fists and grinned
3By nigga,4 +lam said 3= wondered if you could talk your way out this time, probation
hold, facing new charges ,hought you might be on your way to the (oint4
3%lmost = gotta give the credit to my uncle He called in favors owed him downtown
,hey reinstated my probation, gave me two years to run bowlegged with the probation, and
ordered me to enroll at Portland Community College =f = finish the two years without any more
arrests, my charges are dropped to misdemeanor and = don#t have a felony on my record4 ,hen
eyeing his friend curiously, 3How you been) 5ook like you battin# a thousand4
+lam was still smiling 3+hit, man, it#s my world =#m (us# lettin# niggas live in it4
%gain, touching fists, sharing laughter, they fell into the BB1
=nside the *resh +tart "ffice, Henry Hanks stood near the window, looking out at the two
friends
35et#s roll through Chocolate Blvd right 2uick, then = want to show you something,4
+lam said
He started the engine and moved into the traffic, heading for Union Blvd, his side of
town, where the sidewalks were golden
3Aou know =#m in violation of my probation already)4
31hat)4 +lam asked3@ust being with you, an e'!
OshitOnot e'!felon E you are a felonP4
+lam grunted 3Aou always in violation .verythang a nigga do is in violation4
% half hour later, they turned onto Union Blvd, another world within the city of Portland,
a world of run!down buildings, the smell of piss, staggering drunks, loitering whores smoking
crack in doorways, porn shops, li2uor stores, walls covered with graffiti, and homeless bums
waiting in line for soup and sandwiches Bullet!proof glass and barred windows protected
business owners from local customers "n the sidewalk, sitting on up!side!down five!gallon
cans, two unemployed pimps passed a bottle of 1ild =rish $ose wine back and forth Jreams
came to die here, e'cept +lam#s
"n the corner stood a female of indeterminate age with a moustache and a perfect body,
wearing skin!tight Jaisy Juke shorties and a low!cut blouse +he handed a crackhead a package,
collecting crumpled bills 1as it a transvestite) 1as it a gorilla in disguise) +he was a woman to
whom nature had not been kind, with a uni2ue ugly +eeing her, you never for!get the e'perience
Plus, she had the temperament of a (unk!yard dog and a foul mouth that would shame a child
molester Her best friend was a $ottweiler Her birth name, probably no one knew "n the street,
she was called -orilla $ose E behind her back, of course, since she didn#t take kindly to remarks
that did not flatter and was as dangerous as she was ugly Her facial features were as close to
those of a gorilla without being a gorilla as was possible % prolific drug dealer, she often worked
around the clock and had a loyal following of smokers who knew she didn#t step on the dope to
stretch it
3%in#t that -orilla $ose) +he still out here)4 @amal asked
+lam grinned 3*reakatha week 1hat else she go# do) +he gotta pay for her dick habit
+he buy as much dick as dope she sell 1hen she ain#t out here workin#, she keep a young dick
in that ol# pussy4 +lam pulled the BB1 closer to the curb 3Hey, go!ah, $ose, get wit me Cbout
ten o#clock = be back through4 +he gave an imperceptible nod and +lam pulled off, laughing
3Ban, that#s a ugly bitch,4 @amal said
3$ight,4 +lam agreed 3,he ugliest bitch in the history of niggadom But she sho# can sell
dope "utsell everybody out here = developed a certain affection for her4
+lam lived and breathed the dope game ,his was one of his corners, and this was his
world E (ust the opposite of the 2uiet neighborhood Henry Hanks had moved his mother and
@amal into, right on the threshold of Portland#s suburbia with beautiful ,udor homes, condos,
townhouses, and well!manicured lawns =t was a block lined with trees and populated mostly
with families but also a handful of professional and small business owners, a nice place in which
to live =t was a world apart but @amal still considered this area E the Chood,# his roots, where his
friends were
35et#s get the fuck away from here,4 @amal said, looking back at -orilla $ose and
surveying the broken glass and beer cans strewn about 3,his is too hot for me4
+lam gave @amal an easy smile 3% nigga too hot wherever he at4 He turned the corner,
heading for the e'pressway on!ramp
,hirty minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of a Barnes and Foble bookstore on
Portland#s west side
3=#ll wait here,4 +lam said 3,ake your time4 He reached for his phone to make a call as
@amal e'ited the car
% clerk in the store, who looked like a geek, talked like a geek and, had she not been a
sales clerk in a bookstore, prob!ably would have been a librarian, lead @amal to the biography
section where he 2uickly found president "bama#s bestselling book, The Audacity of Hope, and
other books by or written about famous politicians %t the checkout counter, he handed the
smiling clerk the president#s biography and two others, My Life: The residential Years, by Bill
Clinton and A !har"e to #eep: My $ourney to the %hite House, by -eorge 1 Bush "ne of the
C!notes Hanks had given him took care of the purchase, and he returned to the car +lam was (ust
end!ing a phone call, a sly look in his gray eyes, grinning 35ike = said, = gotta show you
something4 He started the car and headed for the freeway
3,hanks, man, for running me by here4
3+hit, +mooth, you my dog = take you anywhere you wanna go4
3Aou know, = do need a haircut4
3Aou need more#en a haircut,4 +lam (oked good!naturedly, 3but = gotcha, haircut and all4
@amal pulled Barack "bama#s biography from his bag and hit it twice with his inde'
finger 3,his brother is a mira!cle worker He#s the best ,alk about a mouthpiece He put white
folks to sleep, hypnoti0ed, and when they woke up, he was sitting in the "val "fficeP Fow, how
tight is that game)4
3,ight,4 +lam said 3"bama#s got game4
3Can you believe it)4 @amal asked, getting e'cited 3% nigga in the 1hite House)4
3Aeah,4 +lam said evenly, his tone serious 3He got his game = got mine 1e all gotta do
something, Ccause ain#t shit fallin# out the sky4 He paused for a fraction of a second
3Aou know you can hook up wit me) Plenty money4 +lam had a hopeful look on his
face He had made this offer before, to no avail He needed a partner he could trust E it was
lonely at the top of the dope game E and the list of people he could really trust was short, very
short E only one person, and that was @amal
3,hanks, man,4 @amal answered, giving +lam a wide smile, 3but no offense, = like
"bama#s action =#m going to enter politics when = finish school4 %ll of the urban drug dealers
he#d known or heard about, the Few Aork and 5% kingpins, had served prison time, which
seemed the rite of passage or apprenticeship to kingpin status +ome had spent most of their lives
in and out for drug cases +lam had already served two prison sentences for drug trafficking
@amal had a twinkle in his eyes when he spoke again
3= got Caviar dreams, man =#m gonna break the bank one day, working from the inside4
+lam rolled down the freeway at K6 mph and signaled
to turn off at the ne't e'it =ntrigued by his friend#s aspirations, he offered a heart!felt smile and
devilish grin as he turned onto the e'it ramp Boments later, he pulled into the parking lot of the
Hyatt $enaissance Hotel and bounced from the car 3Come Cmo, dog = gotta stop ta make4 ,hey
entered the hotel, bee!lined to the elevator, and +lam pressed the but!ton for the Penthouse +uite
%s the elevator started its upward ascent, +lam upped his bankroll, peeled off twenty C!notes and
forced them into @amal#s hand 1hen the elevator stopped, he held the door, handed @amal an
electronic key, pointing to the suite
3Put them Choes in a cab when you finish,4 he said 3Call the barber, buy you some
clothes at the shop downstairs, whatever you want Aou got the spot fo# three days ,here#s some
weed and two packs of condoms in the bedroom = got a run ta make =#ll get wit you when = get
back in town4
@amal stepped into the hallway, smiling ,he elevator door shut and +lam was gone
,he day after @amal started his internship at *resh +tart, Henry Hanks went to great
lengths pointing out the family flavor of *resh +tart#s relationship with the community
3,his is our neighborhood,4 he stressed 3and, as service providers, we have an obligation
to encourage and uplift our clients, and rebuild the community .ach one, teach one ,his
network of people, the poor families, the struggling store!front churches, the under!subsidi0ed
schools our children attend E all need our best efforts to survive and to one day flourish4
1ithin a week, @amal saw what Hanks meant *resh +tart was anything but a nine!to!five
(ob ,he array of community problems and needs were endless Fot only was *resh +tart an
offender reentry program, it was, in essence, the community#s resource, handling almost as many
issues for non!offenders as for those returning from prisons and (ails .veryone needed a (ob,
lights and gas turned back on, bus fare for doctor visits, or they had uncontrollable teenagers E
and the list continued Hank#s policy was clear %lways do as much as *resh +tart could to solve
a problem Fo shortcuts
@amal was the perfect student, a 2uick study who learned the duties and developed the
skills of (ob placement in a short period $udy @ones, himself a brilliant negotiator on behalf of
offender (ob seekers, was stunned by the number of (ob placements @amal made @amal was
learning the business of running a nonprofit corporation from his uncle, listening, observing how
Hanks solved problems, how he handled any client crisis with insight and calm, not once
miscalculating or making an error in (udgment Hanks was a talented leader, a motivator and
mentor @amal was a grateful protRgR E perceptive, resourceful and determined to get results for
clients He worked tirelessly, pursuing a criminology degree at Portland Community College,
popping into the *resh +tart office before class, in between classes, after classes, always
e'ceeding twenty hours a week He worked harder than everyone e'cept Hanks, who smiled with
satisfaction @amal was on a mission
+i' months after @amal started, $udy @ones moved him into $eentry +ervices, a
component of *resh +tart focusing on lobbying the state legislature, e'!offender voting rights
and pardons, and accessing state contracts "ver the ne't year, he fought for prison reform,
sometimes sitting in at meetings and hearings for Hanks He visited local (ails, including the
correctional center where he#d once served time He spoke at civic groups, lobbied for reentry
services, and educated public officials on the value of rehabilitation Property crime and parole
violations among *resh +tart clients decreased twenty percent %ll the while, @amal maintained a
B plus -P%
@amal was the right person, in the right position, at the right time for *resh +tart But he
was about to graduate Port!land Community College %round the same time, he would be
honorably discharged from probation, his felony conviction reduced to a misdemeanor, his
(uvenile record permanently sealed, igniting the first breath of life into his political aspirations
,he reali0ation that phase one of the political (ourney he aspired to was about to be completed
and phase two, his attendance and graduation from the University of 1ashington, +eattle, was
now within reach, gave rise to a renewed determination to stay the course
+ince reading and internali0ing the messages in those life!changing books, %hy &hould
%hite Guys Ha'e All The Fun and Think and Gro( )ich, he#d cultivated a single!minded
purposeD he would never give up on anything he decided to do He was developing discipline and
self!control *ailure was not an option %ccording to plan, his ma(or would be political science
-ranny was proud of him Phase one complete, his morale was soaring
SSSSSSSSSS
Beginning his second year at 1ashington +tate, he distinguished himself in class as
someone who, not only had a solid grasp of state and national political issues, but one who
possessed the political instincts and charisma of a future politician He volunteered in the local
office of U+ +enator @acob Nillibrew, a Jemocrat on the powerful 1ays and Beans Committee,
and he was a member of Aoung Jemocrats of the *uture He also (oined the University debating
team "ne evening he was on campus 3interviewing4 for a future *irst 5ady, his sole ob(ective
with every female he met, flashing his disarming smile, bursting with charm His 3interviewee4
this time, perhaps his 37
th
3*irst 5ady interview,4 was with 5a+hawn Jesiree Felson, a business
ma(or from "maha, Febraska +he was 6#>4, a fashion photographer#s dream, flawless, honey!
brown skin, pouting lips, shoulder!length, (et!black hair
3A beauty, stylishly dressed, not (hat you*d e+pect fro, -,aha,4 he thought He#d seen
her around campus and she#d been on his prospect list Fow he had her undivided attention
,hey were at the bottom of the steps, outside the library Her smile was luminous
3+o, you#re from "maha)4 he asked, a hint of amusement in his tone
3Aes, home of 1arren Buffet, the richest man on the planet4 Her smile widened
3"h, really)4 He already knew that, but what he wasn#t 2uite sure about was, 3%re there
cows and pigs there, like on a farm)4 he asked with a straight face
Her brown eyes flashed ice as she gave him a chilly glare 3Fegro, please Jo = look like
=#ve been working on a farm) %re you fucking cra0y)4 +he turned and walked away, giving him
a cool glance over her shoulder
@amal ran to catch up 31ait a minute =#m (ust teasing, baby =O4
3Jon#t baby me Hit the road, @ackP4 %nd she was gone down the sidewalk
1atching her walk away, he whispered, 3"utta line fine, but ghetto4 Her body moved
with sensuous promise, hips that filled out a pair (eans perfectly 3-ot back,4 he muttered
admiringly, 3but definitely not *irst 5ady material4
5a+hawn Jesiree Felson, ?8 years old, had grown up in "maha, Febraska, where her
cover girl beauty around Central High +chool and north side neighborhoods was leg!endary
.veryone knew she would one day follow -abrielle Union, a movie star and "maha native, to
California and a successful acting or modeling career But there was a down!side +uch beauty,
poorly dressed =n the 8?
th
grade, she began skipping school ,he reasonD limited selection of
clothes Her dad, gone since she was four years old, left her mother to go off and do his own
thing Her mother, a high school dropout, struggled with 5a+hawn, the baby, and two sons Her
mother worked low!pay production (obs to keep rent paid and ade2uate food in the house But
clothes were almost a lu'ury, purchased once a year, right before school started =n their
household, everyone learned to use a needle and thread, not
(ust for minor repairs, but to take two worn pieces of clothing and mend them into a useful but
not always attractive whole
Her brothers, currently in the Febraska +tate Penitentiary, could not accept peer ridicule
and became pro!active clothing thieves E and years later, burglars E until they were arrested and
convicted of more than 67 home invasions Jespite her e'traordinary beauty, the catcalls and
references to her unfashionable wardrobe were no less hurtful "ne day, the remarks about her
mismatched clothing became more than she could stand =n a mall store that evening, she stuffed
a blouse and a pair of slacks into her purse +he was in custody before she could make it to the
e'it
Because this was her first (uvenile offense and after hearing why 5a+hawn attempted to
steal the items, a kindly female (udge gave her a verbal chastisement and referred her to -irls
=nc, a local nonprofit, heavily subsidi0ed by financial guru 1arren Buffet and actively
coordinated by his daughter, +u0ie, a -irls =nc board member ,he (udge knew the Buffets and
was also a member of the board -irls =nc, charged with the mission of developing successful
young ladies, changed 5a+hawn#s life +he was given a ;?67 voucher, good at 1almart and she
carefully, very pennywise, obtained enough sale outfits to get her through the semester Her
mentor at -irls =nc said there were scholarships and grants available E ;>,777 to ;86,777, and
even more, perhaps full college rides for a handful of gifted students, those graduating in the top
five percent Up to this point, she#d been an average student, mostly B#s and occasional C#s, but
by design ,he work was actually easy for her and she could have gotten %#s all the time But she
did not want to make a bad situation worse 1hen she started her freshman year, she was a
straight!% student and there was talk about moving her ahead two grades, but the ridicule started,
first about her less than stylish clothes, then accusations from black peers that she was trying to
act white because she talked 3proper4 and received %#s in all of her classes +o she started to
dumb!down, holding back and providing incorrect answers +till, she had a difficult time keeping
her grades below an %
+uddenly, nearing the end of her senior year, she
needed to pull her grades back up, and she did, graduating in the top five percent 3California
here = come,4 she thought +he would take the money and, instead of college, move to the west
coast and become a model But to her embarrassment and deep frustration, she had not read the
application thoroughly E the fine print, regarding the terms of the scholarship and grant money =t
could only be used for college tuition, books and whatever was left, such as room and board E a
ma(or setback and blow to her travel plans *illed with disappointment, she sadly revealed her
actual plans for the scholarship and grant money to her mother 5a+hawn didn#t think she would
get out of the house alive
3-irl, have you lost your mind)4 % model) 1ho do you think you are, Halle Berry) %ll
the flunky (obs = work Ccause = don# have an educationP4 Her face was a mi'ture of frustration
and anger +he took a deep breath, smiled and wrapped her arms around 5a+hawn
35ook, baby, you#re beautiful Aou can be a model, actress, ,Q host, anything you want
to be4 +he held 5a+hawn at almost arms/ length, 3But do this for momma Be a model or movie
star with a college degree4 % lone tear ran down her cheek 3Please,4 she whispered
+o much for Californian runways
5a+hawn enrolled in the Business %dministration program at 1ashington +tate
,he ne't time @amal saw 5a+hawn was at a Aoung Jemocrats for the *uture lecture, The
Anato,y of A Black residential !andidate, held in the auditorium +itting down ne't to her, he
whispered, 3Please accept my apology = was feeling playful that day 1herever you came from,
you#re the most beautiful woman =#ve ever seen4 He gave her a charming smile
+he turned to look into his eyes and he held her ga0e *inally, she flashed that da00ling,
white smile he remembered 3%pology accepted,4 she whispered, e'tending a soft hand, on
which shone a large emerald stone 3Fow, pay attention,4 she
admonished, nodding her head toward the guest speaker on stage
,he speaker, si'tyish, solid white hair, a retired U+ congressman, wearing a baggy, off!
the rack suit, was asking, 31hat, if any, distinctions are there between black and white political
candidates) =s there a difference) %nyone want to respond)4
%cross the aisle from 5a+hawn and @amal a thin white student 2uickly raised his hand, a
knowing e'pression on his face 3Fo, absolutely not,4 he said
5a+hawn tapped @amal#s knee and rolled her beautiful brown eyes
,he e'!congressman said, 3.laborate, please)4
,he student could not conceal his smile any longer and it spread across his face 3,hey#re
both liars, sir4 His smile dissolved 3%nd thieves4
@amal#s nod was barely perceptible =nsightful Candid, he thought -ive yourself a gold
star Aou may have a future in politics, working on my campaign staff one day ,here were
subdued chuckles throughout the auditorium
3,hat may be so,4 the e'!congressman conceded, concealing his own smile 3But what
we#ve been discussing are the components, the essential elements of an effective political
campaign that may separate the two4
3= see what you mean,4 the student responded 31ell, black politicians dress better4 He
looked around with a goofy grin, soliciting confirmation % ripple of laughter in the auditorium
,he e'!congressman turned bright red, clearing his throat
@amal shook his head, throwing a thoughtful glance at the student "kay, Bo0o, you lose
your gold star Aou#re being too facetious = need to give you a political, history lesson Before
words could leave his mouth, 5a+hawn spoke
3,his is nonsense,4 she accused, her voice rising
@amal turned to look at her, appraising her face, the delicate features that were tightening
with irritation ,here was deep commitment in her eyes 35et#s get to the point,4 she continued
3+ay what you will but we all know that perception, how we perceive a person in the conte't of
our own needs, will carry the day4 +he paused for a fraction of a second
3AouP4 % tiny finger and polished red nail pointed toward the student (ester 35ooking at
me now, what do you see) % woman making a point) "r a black woman making a point) %re
you able to separate my blackness from my womanhood) 4
+he paused again, not waiting for an answer
3Unless you have been living on another planet, with another reality, you see black first
Fow, look at our illustrious speaker = bet my money you didn#t see him as a white politician
first, when you cast your vote for or against him Aou saw a politician, the man ,hat he was a
white man never caused you to pause or consider the ramifications of electing someone whose
physical image did not reflect your own ,hatO4 she hesitated, scanning the auditorium, 3that is
the distinction that the black politician must neutrali0e and overcome His blackness makes him a
moving target4 % heavy silence hung over the auditorium
@amal#s admiring eyes had been fi'ed on 5a+hawn during the entire discourse and he
began laughing, inspired
3+hit, girl, let#s get the hell out of here4
,here was a lot more to 5a+hawn Jesiree Felson than a beautiful body +he had moved
to the top of his list of *irst 5ady prospects
,hat evening they had dinner at an upscale restaurant downtown "ver the course of two
hours, he e'plored her probing intellect, her independent streak, and marveled at her unusual
beauty Conversation flowed effortlessly +he was bright, talented and alluring, a straight!%
student with a sharp tongue who intimidated men who were not sure of themselves +he asked
intelligent 2uestions, well thought!out and on point +he was, he concluded, a rare combination
of beauty and intelligence, and despite her Bidwest background, 2uite cosmopolitan in taste and
opinions He also detected ambition ready to e'plode
%fter dinner he took her to her apartment +he invited him in and he declined +tanding in
the doorway, he kissed her softly on her cheek, turned and walked toward his car
He could feel her eyes on his back He smiled
*rom that point on, they shared evenings together, and while he was at heart a beauty and
booty connoisseur, loving curves and soft skin, he willed himself not to rush into a purely se'ual
affair %fter all, his eyes were on a bigger pri0eD he needed a marketable *irst 5ady He had to be
absolutely sure ,he odds he faced were already astronomical& he could not afford a
miscalculation But he was finding her almost irresistible
31ould you like to go with me to meet the president of +pain one day)4 % slight smile
played at @amal#s lips
5a+hawn gave him a curious look, thinking, he really ,eans it. 3"f course,4 she said,
starting to grin
He flashed a seductive smile 3-ood Until then, let#s go to the Batador =t#s a great
restaurant near downtown Aou#ll love the food4
+he fell into his arms and he felt the heat of her body merge with his, si00ling with
anticipation
%n hour later, they were undressing in his apartment, kissing passionately, making their
way to his bedroom His hands cupped her perfectly shaped ass, caressing, pausing to feel its
contours, then he eased her onto his king!si0ed bed, rubbing gently between her legs His tongue
barely touched each nipple, moved to her shoulder, and to her neck, slowly e'ploring, teasing
and setting her body on fire
5a+hawn moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him to her lips, hot
with passion, as she reached for his erection, guiding him into her 1hen he entered, their bodies
began a love!fest, testing, tempting, demanding each other, and finally in perfect rhythm,
connecting with pleasure 0ones that had been aflame, yearning weeks for this union and the
ecstasy it promised
,hey spent the rest of the night loving each other, pillow!talking, speculating on future
dreams, and opening their hearts By morning, they had agreed that this was a good thing @amal
had found his *irst 5ady and 5a+hawn was convinced that @amal had presidential potential
,hey graduated college together and moved into a small apartment in Portland 5a+hawn
took a position as a department manager with the city of Portland and @amal returned to *resh
+tart, as the head of $eentry +ervices, the department he#d breathed new life into prior to
leaving