Quadeem, Abigail, and Jamila all leave out to visit Quadeem's potential college. As soon as they get in the car, Quadeem texts Kage. "You lucky ahh sucka"
Raheem peeks through the window to make sure they are gone.
Raheem looks back at Kage: They're gone. You can stop being sick now.
Kage starts acting normal again: Ok great. But.. I don't get it, Pops. Why did you even tell me to act sick? I had no issue going to the college. Even though it might be a little boring.
Raheem glances at Kage with a smirk: When was the last time you drove? Little man.
Kage: Uhhh. Been a few months. Never really had the time.
Raheem shakes his head: How you plan on passing your driver's license with no driving? Hmm? You know that permits don't actually last two years, right?
Kage pops his head up: Wait for real?
Raheem nods: So you gotta get back on the road. You know the hot stuff loves a man with a car!
Kage sighs: You really can't wait for me to get a girlfriend huh?
Raheem lifts his hands up: Aye. I gotta make sure the Johnson bloodline continues! Come on. Shower. Get your permit. It's time to get those rusty cobwebs off.
Kage gets up to shower: Alright, on it, Pops.
HeroDude Kage: Chapter 21
As soon as Kage and Raheem walk outside, three reality sorcerers charge in like drunk, power hungry idiots. Without much struggle, Kage makes quick work of them. It was so light that I didn't need to write much dialogue about it.
Raheem looks at the fading sorcerers: Everyday life?
Kage looks at his pops: Everyday life.
The two head to the garage.
Raheem digs in his pocket to look for the remote: Where is the dang—did I leave it in the house?
Kage starts to walk back to the house: I could get it. I'm pretty sure—
Raheemrolls back into the house. By the time Kage starts to turn, he's already back with the remote in one hand and some spare keys in the other.
Raheem tosses the remote around: Don't worry. I got it.
Kage looks back in shock: How the—
Raheem points the remote at the door: Did you forget about my stories already? How you so surprised?
Raheem presses the button and the door rolls open. The walls are painted white with a bunch of tools nearby. Near the back are boxes and childhood items.
On the left is Raheem's black mid-size sedan. But on the right is a completely covered up vehicle.
Kage walks towards the car: Alright. I'm definitely not gonna crash.
Suddenly, Raheem pulls him back by the hoodie: Ah-Ah-Ah. You're not driving that car. You'll be driving that one.
Raheem points at the covered up car. Kage looks on and scratches his head: That one?
Raheem smirks: Yup.
Kage: …..why?
Raheem rolls to the car and grabs the sheet: Oh… you'll see, my son.
Raheem dramatically removes the sheet and we see a rusty and dusty 1977 Pontiac Trans Am.
Through the rust, you can see the black paint with the gold trim. Its low stance and honeycomb rims give off a perfect 70s vibe. It's truly the kind of car the 1970s ladies would love.
Raheem admires his old car: isn't it beautiful? This car is what made your mother fall in love with me, you know?
Kage chuckles: ….Pops you know what year it is?
Raheem brushes that statement off: Ack—all these kids just want cars that you can plug phone chargers into. This, pitit mwen. This is a real car! It's just…you know…old…and rusty….and broken. But it can be fixed!
Kage: how?
Raheem: Aye…you have powers right?
Kage facepalms: Ugh…I should've known there was gonna be some hard labor during Father Time…
Hours Later.
Thanks to Raheem's skills and Kage's Kompoze, the car now looks brand new. Functioning like a fresh, clean new-generation vehicle while keeping that 70s pimp style.
Raheem hands Kage the keys: Now for the big reveal.
Kage grabs the keys, Gets in the car and it starts up fresh and new.
Raheem throws his head back and laughs: "Haha! It still works!!!! Aye! You better not crash this car. Before there was you and Quadeem, there was this thing of beauty!
Kage stares at the steering wheel: Yeah. No pressure, huh?
Raheem gets in the passenger seat, folds up his wheelchair with practiced ease, and tosses it into the back. (If you're wondering how he did that while in a wheelchair— Lots and lots of practice): You'll be fine son. Driving ain't nothing! You steer, you stop, you move. That's it.
Kage slightly pushing on the gas: Yeah…
Kage drives around the neighborhood for a few rounds to get the hang of the car.
Out of nowhere, Raheem starts to laugh: Why are you moving so slow, pitit mwen?
Kage maintains focus on the road: Well, I don't wanna crash pops.
Raheem: Ha! You know why your mom is always late for everything? It's because she drives like this. Come on hit the gas!
Kage presses the gas a little too hard. The speed jumps from 15 to 40 in seconds.
Raheem quickly jerks up: O-O? Easy NASCAR driver!
Kage eases up: You told me hit the gas.
Raheem: Not like that! Look — It's all about momentum. Ease into the gas. When you hit the right speed, you maintain it.
Raheem points at the speed limit sign: Speed limit is 25, right? So when that little speed meter goes to 25, that's when you stop pressing down, you know?
Kage:…..Uh huh.
Raheem: Ok so hit the gas lightly. But not too lightly.
Kage does what is told of him and he's already got it down.
Raheem: See? That's it!
Kage: Alrighy bet! I'm already getting the hang of this thing.
Raheem leans back on his chair: I'm telling you, it's like riding a bike. Now goes ahead and turn here and then…just drive.
Kage glances at Raheem: Just drive? Drive where?
Raheem points too the road: Eyes on the road, first of all. And.. Wherever you want. I'm here so you don't gotta worry. You can even put on some music if you like.
Kage: For real? ok bet!
Raheem: As long as it's not trash…
Kage puts on some rap. And Raheem immediately reaches for the controls.
Raheem: No. Not this.
Kage: What? I thought you said anything.
Raheem glances at him: Anything that's not this. You're digging in the trash can with this one.
Raheem switches the station to Haitian music: This is real music right here! Not that drug and gun talk.
Kage: Come on, pops! What I was playing wasn't even that type of rap! And don't all type of Haitian songs just about love? If we keeping it real.
Raheem sits up slightly: Oh? Like that's worse? When you listen to bad music, you're letting demons enter your ears.
Kage gives up: Alright, alright. You got it. We'll keep your playlist.
Raheem leans back again: Yes. Let's that Kompa and Rara cleanse your ears.
Kage keeps driving. Haitian music fills the car. A bueatiful mix of Kompa and Rara flows through the speakers. It's peaceful. Almost heavenly.
For the first time today, Kage lets out a smile. Raheem notices.
Raheem: You hungry, son?
Kage: Mhm?
Raheem lowers the volume.
Raheem: Are you hungry?
Kage: Oh! Oh. Yeah I could eat. Been a few hours since breakfast.
Raheem points at a fast food spot: Turn to that drive thru.
Kage smirks: I thought you hated fast food.
Raheem: Well, I wanna see if that's still true.
Kage pulls up at the drive-through and orders a bacon hamburger meal with six-piece nuggets.
Raheem orders the same thing Kage got. He couldn't bother looking at the menu.
Kage adds some vanilla ice cream to the order.
Raheem pauses for a second
Raheem: Make that two.
They pull up to the second window just for one of the workers to step out with a sigh.
Worker: Sorry, the ice cream machine isn't working right now.
Kage: It's not? Dang…
Raheem reaches into his pocket and pulls out some cash. Holding it up to the worker: how about a special tip if it magically starts working?
The worker says. Uhh sir….I can't just…it doesn't really work like that.
The worker hesitates.
Raheem: Oh? You're telling me no one in the building can get the machine running?
The worker: I uh….I could maybe ask the manager.
Raheem hands him the cash.
Raheem: Go ahead and do that, my friend.
Raheem suddenly rubs Kage's head: My little driver here needs his desserts.
Kage looks at his dad: Pops…it really wasn't that deep.
Raheem: Kage these fast food boys don't have much. I just wanted to help them out. Money can motivate a lot of people. Especially fast food people!
Kage: Yeah. I guess you right. They probably do need the money.
It's silent in the car. A little too quiet. Raheem looks at Kage and says: you picked this driving thing up quicker than I thought. That was a whole three-hour drive.
Kage keeps his eyes at the steering wheel: Yeah. My fast learning skills never fail me.
Raheem: Mhm. Yup. You know you don't have to stare at the steering wheel so hard. The car ain't going nowhere.
Kage quickly pops his head up: Oh yeah my fault. I was just… in my head.
It's silent again. Raheem looks at Kage once again and asks: You remember the five things I taught you about life?
Kage looks back and says: Why you ask?
END OF CHAPTER
Bonus scene 3:
Kage is wiping down the top of the car while Raheem works underneath it.
Raheem smacks his lips: I don't got no space to fix this. Kage? Could you pass me some jack stands?
Kage:….huh?
Raheem: The jack stands. Pass them over here.
Kage:…The what?
Raheem: Jack. Stands. Kage.
Kage: Uhh…ok.
"What in the world are jack stands?"
Kage grabs a random tool and passes it over.
Raheem: Kage. That's not a jack stand.
Kage grabs another tool.
Raheem lets out a little laugh: Have you lost your hearing son? I said the jack stands.
Kage passes over a Jackhammer: I don't know what you'll need this for but…
Raheem slowly rolls himself out from under and stares at him: Kage. That looks like a jack stand to you?
Kage: Well I don't know what a jack stand look like.
Raheem blinks.
Raheem:…oh you don't? Why didn't you say anything. It's those four red things over there. You see them?
Kage: OHHH THEM? I thought those were just…old toys or something.
Raheem sighs and rolls back under.
Raheem: You thought that was a toy? I must be going blind.