My mentor, the pianist

30OCT2021; 1754, SAT

How fitting that I literally just finished another meal with one of my all time fav mentors and I began this piece on the 54th minute of the hour. My battle in Basic was 2/54 INF, and this handsome killer could've easily been my senior drill sergeant in a parallel universe.

I told Derek, as I sat down to get my grub on with him, that this would be the next "story" I type up, proofread, and submit. And now, here we are.

Famo might could take offense this; tho, in the interest of full disclosure, there's never really been a father figure with whom I've broken bread, joked about the military throughout the day, and debated politics together back to back to back over such a sustained period of time. "Don't at me!"

Seriously tho, the socks, tee shirt, and possibly even the tank top/a-shirt that I'm rocking right now came from this kind Sir. Whole time: The long sleeve shirts that I was rocking during the past few football games were both from this Hero also.

Side note: I imagine him to be thoroughly pleased with the fact that my team won two of the three games so far played, even with my bad injury in game two. I had the game winning touchdown catches in both games one and three.

I digress. Both, the beanie and the windbreaker that I'm presently wearing came from my fledgling apparel brand.

True, Derek's yet to cop anything from my site. Tho, he's also yet to ask me for anything except maybe some technical advice; and to pass the ketchup for his burger and fries.

Also true: He used to be a cop and a corrections officer (CO). However, if he had Rick Ross (another former CO) papes, he couldn't be triller in my book.

Between him reacquainting me to the game of "pigskin", to the fact that he taught me several hilarious jokes, and even the rarest of animals (re: caracal cats and aye-aye monkeys) that he introduced me too. Suffice it to say that the Big Homie can almost do no wrong in my book.

Derek got me hip to noodling ("Do your Googles"), gave me heartfelt advice on loaning out money, and taught me about "middle C". Mind you, I was pretty much "today years old" when I learned that Bossman is relatively skilled at the piano too!

In theory, we'd be archenemies had it been just a matter of MOS's (Military Occupational Specialities) considering that he was an MP (Military Police) and I was a Grunt (Infantryman). As another aside: If you didn't know those military terms and such, then my nine(?) volumes on the matter are a quick and easy way to get up to speed (the final volume is still pending approval; thus the question mark).

Back to brass tacks. My younger brother, is an MP also.

That young "Jedi Knight" had one of the most hilarious jokes ever before(?) his first and only deployment: "Nobody likes MPs. Even MPs don't like MPs!"

These letters on the screen will never be able to do his delivery justice. Funny enough, Bruh Bruh played the piano briefly too.

On Derek tho: If this expert hunter with an affinity for attractive young women and savory grub can pick up where he left off on the piano, with who knows how much time in between exemplification on the keys; then maybe I have a "puncher's chance" in learning how to be a halfway decent mentor myself.

Real talk: I'm proud to call myself his mentee; and I pray that his children don't hold it against for tryna soak up as much of his wisdom as I can, while I can. I don't know his DOB (Date Of Birth), and even if I did, it'd never be in this "story".

That reminds tho, I managed to learn his middle name today (I ain't revealing it to anyone ever). What I will say tho, is that the military made a monumental mistake in letting him get out, instead of having him continue to guard nukes and teaching younger MP's how to do so.

Ending on a positive note: I'm pretty sure that I've just about convinced him to start telling some of his "war stories" with the world on a site, like this awesome one, instead of just with my hardheaded self in a secluded courtyard. Keep your fingers crossed.

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Prayerfully, someone somewhere gets something pertinent (re: useful) from this post. If that somebody's you, then please think about considering a Like/Tip/Share/Sub, and/or checking out some of my other posts.

Also, if you're in the market for an article of clothing or two, there's a link in my bio. Please don't think for a minute that I will be unappreciative of any all who "look out for the cookout".

TIA (Thx In Advance). Peaceful Tidings.

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