The Return
A summer afternoon in 1980 Young Slishy is running down the stairs with his baseball glove. He gets to the 7th step stops and jumps down to the bottom of the stairs. Mom hears him and says" Sliiiiiishy !!!! What I tell you about jumping down those stairs! One deh yuh a go bruk yuh neck!!! Where are you running off too" Slishy responds " I'm going to the bank parking lot to play baseball" Mom " Slishy yuh better be careful! Last time you played in there you broke a window and your daddy not only had to replace it but install it as well. He was not happy ! Better not let him catch you in there ! Slishy " Yes Mommy" Mom " Make sure you get home in time for dinner 6 pm yuh her me! Young Slishy pushes open the screen door and says " Yes Mommy" and runs to the parking lot so he can practice before the game starts.
Young Slishy gets to the parking lot to find that everyone is already there. As he squeeezes through the fence and jogs down the mini hill. He notices an unfamiliar face. They make eye contact. Young Slish gives him a nod, keeps going and greets the rest of the gang. Young Slishy " Hey Chubbs who's that kid standing by himself giving everyone the screwface" Chubbs shrugs his shoulders and responds " Don't know. He just showed up. Hasn't said anything to anybody. If you ask me. I think he's crazy" Slishy shakes his head from side to side and says " How would you know. " Slishy walks over to brother from another planet and says " I know you? " Stranger doesn't answer and turns his head from side to side Slishy " You look familiar. You live on this block ?" Stranger nods yes . His hat is covering his eyes so Young Slishy bends down a little to see what his whole face looks like and says " Whats your name? " Stranger looks up but doesn't smile and responds " Fondu " Slishy" What kind of name is Fondu? Never heard that before, Thats a weird name. Anyway we're about to play baseball. You know how ? " Fondu just nods Slishy " Okay you can be on my team. FELLAS!!!! The new kid is gonna be on my team" Slishy hands Fondu his glove and says " Lets see if you can catch " Fondu smiles takes the glove, runs to the other side of the lot. Slishy throws the ball to him. Fondu drops it.. Slishy yells "Thats okay you'll get better " Fondu got better and like Childs Play we became friends till the end.
July 25th 2006 I'm at work waiting for someone to jump out of the coat closet and say " You've been punked!!! Cause this job sucks ! Every patient I have to interview either overdosed or too old to speak. My phone rings I pick up" Patient accounts this is Mr Slish." Voice on the other end says " Hello Mr Slish this is Mr Fondu " Oh Shit!!! Bloggers how strange is that! Glad he doesn't read this blog. I respond " Hey dude. " Fondu " I called and left you a message yesterday. You didn't return it" Slasher is thinking " SO WHAT NIGGA!!!!! I respond " Been kinda busy " Fondu responds " I understand . So How you been? " I say " Things are great. I met my Future and found all of the missing pieces to my puzzle. How you been ?" Fondu responds " Still working both jobs. Working full time at my part time job right now since work for electricians is slow. Other than that i'm well. " Awkward silence for about 30 seconds I say " Fondu. I know you and I have had our ups and downs. Our relationship is toxic to say the least. But for some reason we've remained friends for 26 years. Why? Who knows ? Maybe I was placed here on this planet to be your conscience. I say that because you've always made me feel like I was being an asshole when I tried to get you to live right" Fondu interjects " I understand Slish " I say " No! I don't think you do. I have love for all my boys and want everyone of us to be the kind of men our children and future children will look up to. So chastising you about your behavior was not me trying to control your life, or judge you. I care about your well being and want the best for you and all my amigos. Why show contempt for the ones who care about you. I care dog thats all " Awkward silence again Fondu responds " I hear you loud and clear Slish. Yo. One evening me, you and Phantom should get together for a drink " I smile and respond " Yeah lets do just that. "
Friends till the end ? We'll see.
Young Slishy gets to the parking lot to find that everyone is already there. As he squeeezes through the fence and jogs down the mini hill. He notices an unfamiliar face. They make eye contact. Young Slish gives him a nod, keeps going and greets the rest of the gang. Young Slishy " Hey Chubbs who's that kid standing by himself giving everyone the screwface" Chubbs shrugs his shoulders and responds " Don't know. He just showed up. Hasn't said anything to anybody. If you ask me. I think he's crazy" Slishy shakes his head from side to side and says " How would you know. " Slishy walks over to brother from another planet and says " I know you? " Stranger doesn't answer and turns his head from side to side Slishy " You look familiar. You live on this block ?" Stranger nods yes . His hat is covering his eyes so Young Slishy bends down a little to see what his whole face looks like and says " Whats your name? " Stranger looks up but doesn't smile and responds " Fondu " Slishy" What kind of name is Fondu? Never heard that before, Thats a weird name. Anyway we're about to play baseball. You know how ? " Fondu just nods Slishy " Okay you can be on my team. FELLAS!!!! The new kid is gonna be on my team" Slishy hands Fondu his glove and says " Lets see if you can catch " Fondu smiles takes the glove, runs to the other side of the lot. Slishy throws the ball to him. Fondu drops it.. Slishy yells "Thats okay you'll get better " Fondu got better and like Childs Play we became friends till the end.
July 25th 2006 I'm at work waiting for someone to jump out of the coat closet and say " You've been punked!!! Cause this job sucks ! Every patient I have to interview either overdosed or too old to speak. My phone rings I pick up" Patient accounts this is Mr Slish." Voice on the other end says " Hello Mr Slish this is Mr Fondu " Oh Shit!!! Bloggers how strange is that! Glad he doesn't read this blog. I respond " Hey dude. " Fondu " I called and left you a message yesterday. You didn't return it" Slasher is thinking " SO WHAT NIGGA!!!!! I respond " Been kinda busy " Fondu responds " I understand . So How you been? " I say " Things are great. I met my Future and found all of the missing pieces to my puzzle. How you been ?" Fondu responds " Still working both jobs. Working full time at my part time job right now since work for electricians is slow. Other than that i'm well. " Awkward silence for about 30 seconds I say " Fondu. I know you and I have had our ups and downs. Our relationship is toxic to say the least. But for some reason we've remained friends for 26 years. Why? Who knows ? Maybe I was placed here on this planet to be your conscience. I say that because you've always made me feel like I was being an asshole when I tried to get you to live right" Fondu interjects " I understand Slish " I say " No! I don't think you do. I have love for all my boys and want everyone of us to be the kind of men our children and future children will look up to. So chastising you about your behavior was not me trying to control your life, or judge you. I care about your well being and want the best for you and all my amigos. Why show contempt for the ones who care about you. I care dog thats all " Awkward silence again Fondu responds " I hear you loud and clear Slish. Yo. One evening me, you and Phantom should get together for a drink " I smile and respond " Yeah lets do just that. "
Friends till the end ? We'll see.
posted by Mr.Slish at
7/27/2006 04:10:00 PM
36 Comments:
1st....
I know you guys have been friends for decades, just like you and I. You stuck by me when I was in my "toxic" state so I honestly can't tell you to keep away from him. Friendships, no matter how long or short is rare in this world. Hopefully he will see just what king of friend you are and want to improve himself to the point where he can evolve. Like you said... We shall see.
Wow!
You gotta keep us posted on how this develops. Maybe Fondu is evolving too...
Very interesting how people try to slide back in your life. Things are going well for you now there's no need to hold a grudge. If it's the same bullshit as before though don't take it.
Maybe it might be time for you and Fondu to seriously consider going your own ways? Ya'll been in each others business for 26 years now; it's time to separate - at least for a while. You know what I see? I see this cat starting to resent you for having the NERVE to check him on his shit (excuse my cussing but I can't help it!) How dare you put his shit to him and ask him check himself! That's prolly what he's saying right now. Rolling his eyes at you BIG TIME, because how dare you try to pull his Pimp card? That's exactly how he feels about you now.
He prolly sitting up right now rationalizing and sucking his teeth, telling himself: "Aw, that nigga (excuse me!) there thank he better than me. That nigga jealous of me, that's what it is. Trying to check my shit. Nigga need to get on somewhere..." You know that's what he sitting up saying, Slish. I wouldn't be surprised if he never talked to you at all ever again.
Resentment is a mofo, you hear me?
that's wack. You need to drop this dude and all the insanity he brings with him. but you are crazy, so I know you'll be a sucker and stay the course of the toxic friendship.
@ Grantlove Yeah Only difference is you're smarter than Fondu!!!
@ Sandybaby I'll keep you posted and let you know he's evolved
@ Miz jj...I hold grudge towards Fondu..Just will have to let him know if we continue our friendship there will be boundaries.
@ Insanity after reading your comment. I started laughin to my self. cause thats exactly how Fondu thinks...lol
@ Phoenix Time will tell.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Nah! Dont go drinking with him! Something about that doesnt sound right He may still be angry! If you do go, watch yo drank! He sounds like he might drop something in it and leave you laying outside a gay bar...
Watch your back around that one...
After resentment comes REVENGE, Slish. Right now, he madder'n a raging bull, sucking his teeth,talkin' 'bout: "F that negro, Slish. Trying to call me dirty, talk about me to my face. Maybe I need to start dropping a dime on his dirty shit, and he done done some dirty shit, TOO, that he think we don't know about. Pay that negro back for running up in my face with that bull&*** checking he call himself doing..."
And then all of a sudden, Barneys is gonna be asking you about that day some months ago when you mysteriously went missing for a couple of hours while you bang some other tail behind her back, and then had the nerve to tell your boys to lie that you were with them... Didn't nobody know about that you, FONDU, and Phantom. If anyone of them told it, I'd bet it'd be Fondu...
Slish, you might have just dug your own grave, so to speak...
@ Insanity..You have a wild imagination!!! 1st Fondu ain't got dirt on me period. I never got a chance to tell him shit he was always too consumed with his own drama. Its not that deep...lol
@ R mack..yup its a start
@ Chez niki..Its all good. Fondu is not that vindictive
They say people come into your life for a reason, season, or lifetime. What's "Fondu" in your life for?
Maybe the brotha got his stuff together now. It can't hurt to give it a chance to salvage a friendship that lasted this long.
A 26 year friendship is worth at least one drink. You know the boundaries that you've set. If he violates, then he's a friend that used to be!
It will be interesting to see this unfold.
KZ
@ Organized Treason season ??? I dunno..lol
@ T cas ..You're right he might be a new person...
@ One from Philly One drink won't hurt right ?
@ Zed Hey you might get a chnce to meet him..Invited him to the BBQ...Thats if he shows up..lol
Even if Fondu DON'T know any specifics about your "dirt", he can still just go behind you and drop a subtle hint to your girl that there's the possibility that her man aint playing straight.
See, you gotta understand women: Just the MERE suggestion to us that our men aren't really who they tell us they are (whether the suggestion is founded in fact or not)will touch off a firestorm! All it takes is one small, subtle "hint" to her, and BAM! You aint gone be able to get those worms back in that can fast enough! He done cast doubt on your relationship with your girl, now, an everything you do will now become suspect to her. She aint gone trust you now, and she gone be giving you sideways glances, slowly increasing the number of times yall talk a day. Wondering where you at. Who you with. Witholding affections and the like because she "don't know where you been." And then you gone have to resort to telling a few lies to get yourself outta some trouble...
But you're right: I must "have quite the imagination" as you say.
@ Insanity- with regards to what you wrote in response to this chapter (The Return) your blogname suits you perfectly! If I remember correctly, the big blow out happened in Jamaica when Slish and Fondu were at a wedding. This was a year ago, I know because I happened to run into Slish at the airport in MoBay, while we were waiting for separate flights back NY. A year is a long time to dwell on a friend pulling your card, and any sane individual (even dumb-ass MFers)will eventually think about why their friend came at them in that manner. As the 'ho-card pullee' ponders what was said, he will then think to himself, "I'm not really like that, am I?" Now, I don't mean, like the following week when he's still be upset for getting his feelings hurt, but rather a good few months when he start to think about how his circle of friends has changed. Then really start to think about life and what has caused things to change so much. Eventually he will ask himself, "am I the problem here?" Once that point is reached then he can look into new possibilities about how he is an asshole and had no clue.
It's quite possible Fundu has reached this point, really considered what Slish said to him and wants to reconcile. However, with all the stories we've all read about this fool, he may still be stuck in his caveman ways. Who knows? But don't automatically write him off. This isn't your friendship that we're reading about here, is it?
Slish, if he's been your friend for 26 years I'd say give him the benefit of the doubt. And, to which ever fool said "26yrs is a long time for a friend, it's time to cut him loose" is a silly-ass clown. That's the dumbest thing I've read on this blog to date. You must not have too many friends yourself.
Mr. Music
Y'all some susishish (suspicious) people up in this mug. Let the man hang himself (Slish or Fondu) if that be the case. In the meantime, let the holier-than-thou see what "his boy" has to say and see how he acts.
People do grow up, move on and you shed people because your just not on that level anymore... In the mean time, let Slish feel good about letting the "prodigal son" back into the fold and let him reminisce. After all like Mr. Music said, 26 years is along time to eff off.
@Anonymous: I'm just saying: People don't like their "shit" to be checked by nobody else! I know damn well all of yall would feel resentful towards a person who call themselves checking you on your "foul" behavior, EVEN IF THEY'RE JUST EXPRESSING THEIR OPINION OR TRYING TO SHOW YOU THE ERROR OF YOUR WAYS! Hell, you didn't ask them for their opinion, did you? I'm like the rest of yall (and yall KNOW yall feel like I do): "Don't try to lather up my hands with YOUR "dirty" soap."
We done ALL done some dirt. My point is: Don't check me on mine when you got dirty hands and feet, too. You might not be doing your dirt NOW, but you DONE DONE some dirt nonetheless.
And yes it may have happened a year ago between Slish and Fondu, and I'm just now finding this out, but I tend to believe that even after a long year's time, a person can and will still harbor feelings of resentment towards another person who called them "out".
I know Slish prolly still wants his lifelong brotherhood with his friend, but maybe Slish can ask him in private: "Man, is something bothering you?" because clearly something is going wrong somewhere. Maybe the healing can begin with an apology?
@ Isanity. You're taking this whole thing out of context...Fondu and I have not spoken for ten months. He doesn't know my lady and doesn't have the kind of personality that warrents him to seek her out and tell her my dirt and even if he did. What could he possibly tell her! I ain't done nothing!
Now I check Africans when they do fucked up shit! Even when they have dirt on me because thats what real friends do...
Problem with our society is we like to walk around with Blinders on hoping what ever dirt we have will just wash itself away...Bullshit!!!
What happens when you put your dirty hands on someones white shirt.Doesn't it get dirty too ? Who needs someone else's dirt on their chest ..NOT ME!!! Fondu was wiping his dirty hands on me and I told him to stop when he didn't I took drastic action!
My point is Black folk need to start checking one another. Without that our community will suffer horribly.
My Motto " If you act like a Fool. You will be checked like A Fool!!! "
@ Insanity
I understand full well that people don't like being checked, but once you have thought about what the other has said about you, maybe you begin to wonder if this person actually has some ground to stand on with their remarks. But, I did say that this may take a while.
AND, NO the rest of us DO NOT all feel the way you do!
You sound like you're caught up on holding onto resentment, that shit is not good unless you want to give yourself an ulcer or high blood pressure or some other self-destructive leathal shit.
Besides, guys don't hold on to silly vengeful shit like that for a year. They may not talk for a year or longer, but the initial anger will have long since faded.
Excuse me for saying this, but that sounds like a woman's reaction to the same situation. How many women have kept life long female friends compared to their male counterparts?
Let Fondu step to the plate and say what he has to say to Slish. And then that will be a new episode for us to read if we're so lucky. However, Slish may want to apoligize for the manner in which he spoke to Fondu, but not for what he actually said.
Mr. Music
OK Slish, you guys have been friends the same amount of time I've been alive. Do what you can to make it work (within reason) but just don't be the only person working toward a resolution!
well it seems like you are fully aware of the caliber of man you are dealing with. if you have some feelings of unresolve then perhaps you guys should meet up, if not i would say that this is a test.
you say that you have evolved, moved on past this, and here he is popping up and testing your resolve. can you and will you actually let bygones be bygones?
i don't believe in hanging on to friendships that are outdated and no longer serve purpose to our higher good. only you know what's really real in this situation, and only you know what is best..
good luck though, cuz he sounds a mes!
Okay, Slish and Anonymous: I stand corrected and I will now mind my own business. However...
Resentful emotions are REAL - I don't care what nobody say.
I apologize, Slishy, for taking this all out of proportion. I do. I really do. But most of the time I was speaking hypothetically, and I assumed (obviously erroneously)that since you and Fondu had been friends for over 25 years, Fondu knew all about Barneys and treated her like a sis since you and he were/are lifelong friends/brothers.
In parting, I shall say: Come on, now, Slish; you done done some dirt in your lifetime. You say you haven't, but... Aint nobody as "clean and pure" as you claim to be, LOL! And Anonymous: I know you done done some dirt, too! Would you appreciate it if someone tried to step to you and call you on it?
Y'all stay sweet.
@ Insanity
Someone has called me on some shit, and at first I was heated. But, after time I thought long and hard about what that person said and realized that that person was right. Although I felt embarassed that someone saw a certain quality in me that I didn't even have the slightest idea about, I took what was said to heart and tried to make changes to correct myself. From that moment on, I realized how good a friend I had in that individual.
Mr. Music
1st time here.. breezing thru some comments.. guess you talked about Fondu befire... i dont know the history but i'll say this... you dont have to stay buddy-buddy w/ someone to be their friend.. you can make it known that if ever in need they can count on you.. but keep them a t a distance from ur everyday life if they bring drama w/ them...
ok.. so i just read the previous post.. ur friend needs help.. be there for him but if he's still up to his old tricks... let it go
You and Fondu are always going to have a bond. It's like family. He reached out. Continue to be honest with him and maybe, just maybe, eventually....you might get through to him. Maybe he NEEDS you?
Fondu probably has realized that you were right. Men hardly ever say "I'm sorry" or "You right dawg" They just slowly start coming back around and you all just don't speak on it...ya know....Women we some dirty biatches *snicker* we will hold on to something and when you THINK it's all gravy...that's when the revenge claws that Insanity spoke about show up. Good thing men aren't like women. LOL I guess that is why I have very few female friends. But on the real that has been your ride or die for 26 years...you may not have always been a good friend either...but ya know...friends don't always agree...they don't always get along but they always forgive. Think about it....
I don't necessarily like the mess he has done but I commend him and you for reaching out. Friendships can be toxic but they can also be filled with love. Sounds like this is what you guys share...find a way to exist in the craziness.
sorry so late getting to my reading LOL!!
Great going Slish!
Oh, how I've been there and still there with a few of my friends, but only you know who to let in and out of your life and there's obviously something that still remains undone in the relationship. Hope it works out...
I am going to go on and link you because I went through hell and high water trying to get to your
page! I'm so tired of looking around...
I even gave you a shout out on my page the 'ova day!
Slish- YOU GOT ME!! hahaha!
This was a great post as always.
I want to know what happens with
your friend till da end :)
Maybe something you said
has finally hit home...
What it do Slishter?
I was just reading your blog. Funny I just dropped a childhood memory story too. ;o)
SD (Back Up Inna Hizzy)
old habits die hard.. it's doubtful that fondu has changed or had any type of epiphany.. but he could just still want you in his life as a friend to lean on and an ear that listens..
it's up to you to decide whether or not your friendship is real or if you are just living in past nostalgia..
but, you might as well meet him for a drink and see what his corny ass has to say.. after all, you've known him since the 80s.
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