MYCA Publishing | Mind Games Chapter Excerpt

Today should have been the saddest day of Des’ (Desmond Jones) life. But how could he be sad knowing that he’d just inherited millions due to his father’s untimely death. Not to mention the fact Des wouldn’t have shed a tear for him anyway; since he

was never apart of his life to begin with. Because all of Des’ life, he was led to believe that his father was dead. But here now today, Des learns that the man known as his father was very much alive.

As a child, Des never knew his father’s name. He never knew what he looked like, nor did he have any clue as to what his father did for a living. Growing up, Des’ mother never spoke a word of his father. Whenever Des would ask her questions about him, she would pretend as if he’d never said a word; as if it was a sin to speak of him.

But like they say: “What’s done in the dark, will soon come to light.” Because God has his ways of revealing all things, no matter how much you try to hide it, or how much it may hurt, the truth must always be told.

Silently standing in the doorway, Des could see his father resting in his casket. Unable to completely enter the room, Des turns around to walk away. As Des is leaving, he mistakenly bumps into an elderly woman, nearly knocking her to the ground.

“Excuse me…I didn’t see you there,” Des said as he helped the elderly woman to maintain her balance.

Getting herself together, the elderly woman took a step closer to Des. Adjusting her glasses, to get a clearer view of him, she blurts, “Oh my…I don’t believe it…I’ve heard the rumors…but this...this confirms it.”

“Confirms what?” Des wonders to hisself.

“I’m so sorry to hear about your father.” The elderly woman continued. “He was a good man…A good honorable man, who tried his best to do what was right for the community. You know…there aren’t that many good men like him left in this world. He was truly one of a kind.”

“Sorry?” Des wondered to himself, “What do you have to be sorry for? It wasn’t like you killed the sorry bastard. Besides…I didn’t even know him…as a matter of fact, I don’t know you either.”

Snapping back to reality, Des finally says, “I’m sorry…but I think you have me confused with someone else.”
“No…No…I have the right one,” She assured him. “Just look at you…looking like Ray spit you out hisself. It’s no way in the world he could have denied the fact that you were his son. The only thing I can’t understand is why he kept you a secret for all these years.”

“You and me both,” he thought.

“Well it was nice meeting you, but I have to be going now. But you take care of yourself now, you hear. And don’t let the Devil get a hold of your soul. Because too many of you youngings

now a days are giving your lives over to him; and I doubt very much that your father would want that type of life for you. You should live by his example and follow the path he traveled.”

“Thank you, I will.” Des lies, trying to hurry the elderly woman along.

“Oh excuse me my dear…I see some folks that I haven’t seen in years…but I’ll be seeing you around.”

Des cracks a half-ass smile as the elderly woman made her way across the funeral home. Looking over his left shoulder; Des could see his father’s lifeless body lying dormant within his casket. Looking like he's finally at peace. For years Des imagined how his father might’ve looked. But never did he think his first and last time ever getting to see him would be the day he’d be laying him to rest.

Standing alone in the entrance of the sanctuary, Des tried to muster the nerve to approach Ray’s casket. He wants to make peace with Ray for his past mistakes and forgive him for his sins. But just as Des began to approach Ray, he could feel his heart beat racing at an abnormal pace. His knees became wobbly and began to buckle beneath him. The palms of his hands began to sweat and his throat became dry.

“Desmond…Is everything alright sugar?” A woman’s voice sounds from behind him, breaking Des from his trance.

Listening to the sound of the voice, Des played it over in his head, trying to figure out where he’d heard the voice before. But nothing seemed to come to mind. Turning around slowly to face the mystery woman, Des stares at her. He’s unable to place the face, but she looks familiar to him.

“Hello! Is anyone home?” The woman asks him, waving her hand in his face, trying to get his attention. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

“Oh...No...No...No... I’m fine,” he lies.

“By the look in your eyes, I can tell you’re wondering how it is that I know your name?” She says, “It’s been years since we’ve last seen each other. And I must say; you haven’t changed one bit. Actually…you’ve grown to be quit a handsome young man. With many traits of your father,” She explains, causing him to blush. “Now see…There’s the smile I’ve missed all these years.”