The Miracle in The Gift

Alexa’s voice goes off “It’s your 5:30 am alarm.” In a half sleep state “Alexa, alarm off” “Good Morning Jade Song. Today is January Saturday 25, 2121 Today’s weather in Neo Washington D.C is sunny with the temperature the highest of 44 degrees. Earth, Wind and Fire- September.” The loud sounds of the bass and brass as it floods my speakers. My neighbors must hate me. I don’t want to get up. I should have never partied so hard with the fellas last night planning today’s Alleycat. It just seems to have just been a rough patch back to back. Boyfriend put me out on my 37th birthday a few months back, the same day The Old Man gets into an argument about my mom and we stop talking. Good riddance to both. The Old man wasn’t shit anyway he left me on my grandma’s doorstep with a note. I just got in contact with him three years ago. Bad timing, divine intervention.. I don’t know.. With my luck I never know what the universe has in stored.

December 17, 2120 was the last call I will ever get from the Old Man from the phone to the Old Man bought for us to keep in touch. “Hello Daddy!?” A faint voice on the other end. “Baby, Daddy is sick. Daddy’s in the hospital.” As I try to fight the tears, “Daddy! What’s going on! Please, Daddy be ok! Ok! Please! Daddy, I love you!” I heard the deep sigh and a click. An hour later, my cell phone rings from a number Neo Los Angeles, California. A high-pitched female voice “Hi is this Jade? Hi! I’m your dad’s niece, Krystal.” As the sounds of her voice fades.. In the back of my mind, Why didn’t daddy tell me anything. Jade?! Who is this bitch really?! The sound of her annoying voice snaps me back. “Your dad has told me so much about you! I honestly didn’t know Uncle had a daughter. Hello?” I took a deep breath from annoying how her voiced sounded. “I’m here. You said your calling about my father? If you spoke to him, he’s told you my name and the name Jade should have never come out your mouth. Who are you?” She’s now fumbling over her words like a child caught in a lie. “I’m.. sorry, it’s nothing like that! I’m calling to notify you that your father is sick. He has me listed as a caregiver. I’m sorry you're not here and I heard you two haven’t spoken in months. He’s old, and he needs someone to look after him. We’re family it’s nothing I wouldn’t do for uncle. Until recently I didn’t know uncle had a daughter.” In a calm, soft tone I replied, “I fully understand. I’m in Neo Washington D.C a long way from Neo Los Angeles. Please look after my father as if he was like your own father.” The sudden urgency in her tone “Oh no, it’s my job I have to go. I’ll update you and let you know about your father’s condition. Please, Keep in touch after all we’re family. You’re my long-lost cousin.”

An hour later, I received a text from Krystal. They diagnosed my daddy with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and he refused chemotherapy. Years in the future and still no cure, just everyone waiting to die. The coronavirus pandemic of 2019 messed up the world as they put everything on hold to find a cure. We now wear re-breather mask and completely sanitized before going into each building. Watching those old vintage movie reels from the atomic bomb era, everyone in gasmask with sirens they weren’t off about the future. Oregon decriminalized all drugs and everyone in America followed suit in 2030.

The normal routine of morning workouts and coffee before a long day at the alley cat. My body is just used to waking up at 5:30am Monday- Friday, I work for one of the oldest delivery companies in D.C. WEX. They’ve been around since the 1980s. The best type of music classical music if you ask me. I can’t ever imagine being from that time. It’s the Music I love. Where everything went digital in 2025, they shifted into the different clients with the old school front. We’re talking about enormous sums of crypto, digital files, drugs, moving from one client to the next. We have access to build like nobody’s business badges we carry. Ninja’s on bikes, last of the of an underground world of bike messengers. Like Jason Statham, character said in Transporter, “Rule 3, never look in the package.” I don’t.. I mastered the art of minding my business. Remain unseen. That’s why I’m still alive.

Today we’re meeting at Dupont before the Alley Cat. Mark, aka 116, is sitting in our usual spot. Mark is a retired bike racer who got into Bike massaging around the same time I was born. He’s 6ft 4 slim build medium brown complexion and old enough to be my daddy. He rides a 1997 custom specialized blue bike with yellow saddle bags. Mark had all the ladies in his racing days, I’m sure of it. Honestly, he doesn’t look his age. “Hey Mark!” the excitement in my voice echos outside. “Hey Sweetie! You just getting here” he replied with a slight chuckle with a big hug. “Yep, got you a lemon filled doughnut too.” as I handed him the doughnut “Thanks, Sweetie” he replied with a big smile, “I’m going to eat this right now, sweetie!” As we both sat on the bench, Mark and I are always talking about finding that one jackpot something like Treasure Island. Mark is like my dad/mentor on these streets. He looks out of me like no other. Out here, Mark is one of many that deserves the best in life.

The Guys slowly roll in. Big Shawn aka 169, Smokey aka 129, Shirt aka 896, Big Shawn shouts, “Hey Lady Jade, how are you Darling??” Big Shawn is about as tall as Mark, fair complexion lean and muscular with a long white beard. He rides a 1995 mint condition 1995 GT Pantera AI. Sexy but not compared to my 2015 Felt road bike.. I lucked up with Beast… He picked 135lbs butt straight off the ground like I was air with the biggest hug. ` “I’m good! I drank with the guys' last night. I need coffee. Let’s smoke!” I replied with a big smile. “Sure! how late you get in?” he replied with a big chuckle. “Probably around 2. Not good giving I wake up at 5:30am every morning” I replied with excitement as I’m rolling up the fattest Jay of the morning.

Not too far off in the smoking area my besties Smokey and Shirt, the two most widely know Potheads in Neo D. C. I’m sure it’s not a strain of weed these two haven’t smoked. Shirt shouts. “Hey there, buddy! You trying to smoke one with a guy” with a big smile as he waves Big Shawn and me towards him. Shirt gazes at the Jay I had rolled. “What did you roll up in there?” “Cherry Blossom” I replied laughing as I lit the jay and slowly inhaled. Shirt is the same height as Mark, with a lean build medium complexion with enormous eyes. He rides a 2014 Cannondale mountain bike. “I got what you call that platinum bubba, do you understand? It’s that premium stuff” with the straightest face then busted out laughing. Looks over at Smokey and goes, “What are you working with there, Smokes?”

Smokey is lean about 5ft 10 dark complexioned one of the youngest in the crew. He rides a custom bike he built, something like the Frankenstein of bikes. Looking up with his old school wayfarer ray band glasses close to the tip of his nose, he adjusts his glasses to the right position on his face after finishing up rolling his jay. “Oh, oh, I’m working with Blue Cookies! Thank you!” he replied laughing “Hey Munchkin. We were so lit last night. I was out there breaking someone’s daughter’s back” As he walked over to give me a hug. “Just out here breaking backs. Okay.” as I giggled. “Smokes, I gotta see what your working with.. let me see.” Shirt asked with the look of intrigue as Smokey hands him the baggie he takes a whiff then says. “Smokey, why does all your weed smell the same” Smokey in utter disbelief smells his weed. “Whatever! No, it doesn’t! Shut up! You always say that!” Smokey replies laughing.

It’s what we always do before work we have our little so-called work meetings, shit talk and smoke gets the stress off of nearly dying everyday getting hit by two tons at 35mph. No thanks. I promise my mom I wouldn’t die. That little lady is magic she always saves my life somehow. Today I forgot the cellphone my daddy gave me. It’s been weeks since they told me about my dad’s cancer. No update nothing, I texted on Christmas to a late reply from Krystal at 12 am ET. Which I found odd giving I texted at 8 am. That cell phone was his gift to me, so we can always stay in contact. My personal red phone to him.

My dad left my mother and me a couple of months after arriving in America. My aunt changed her mind about an extra ticket for a baby and his wife. He disappeared out of my life I found him; I looked and searched and I found him after 35 years. That was three years ago. In a low deep voice Big Shawn looked at me and asked, “How’s your dad? Any updates or news?” with a deep sigh I replied, “No nothing, I don’t understand why she’s not saying anything. I text him no answer, I text her no answer. I actually forgot my phone at home today.” I replied sadly. With a saddened look in his eyes, he replied. “Everything will be fine, don’t you worry.”

The Alley Cat slowly the contestants roll in. It’s 20 bucks to be part of the fun. It goes into the pool for the first place winners All sent checkpoint locations on smartwatches with Arua she is the software I developed. We link each watch to each checkpoint you have to be there at that location. No way you can hack my system. Arua is my hologram similar to 2007 Miku Hatsun. The Alley Cat after parties is the place to be.

Jay Bird’s Levitating Starlight Cafe ran by my little sister Jewels. Mom remarried and had a new family. She kept her promise to the Old Man she found me, a dad that loved me as his own. I was nine when Jewels born. She has that scorn that can cut into your soul if you cross her, just as sweet as honey too. I love my sister she lets me borrow her spot for the after parties at 476 K St NW. right by Chinatown. Ellis Flow and I perform our remixed and remaster Dua Lipa songs from her album Future Nostalgia. That album spoke to me for this Alley cat. Like the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Arua sends out the song” hallucinate “by Dua Lipa everyone knows to link up at the spot.

Mr. Ellis Flow, that’s my sound guy/ DJ. He just moved back from Philly. He puts the real meaning to tall dark and handsome. This guy strangely believes in me just like many other people.“Hey Turtle, What’s up” with a big white smile. “Oh, nothing much this Alley Cat is good. I did the ride myself with Smokey. you know how we ride” I replied with a shy laugh and smile. “Where’s my hug! We worked hard on this track. You are going to kill it tonight, you hear me! “As he lifts me off the ground and spins. “No, Arua is. I’m just her voice, “I replied shyly. In the back of my mind was still my phone. How could I forget?.

Jordan won the Alley Cat with his specialized custom bike, perfect timing every check point. Grand prize of 1500 dollars and a Vintage 2021 Cinelli Bike. Smokey came in second honestly, a very close match. “I got that Pink Champange. Ya’ll know what I’m talking about” Jordan says gleefully as he clicks his heels together. We partied until the sun came up. We were lit. What a Saturday.

I rush to my quiet little apartment in Adams Morgan waiting for me are two kittens, a 9-month-old Calico named Xenia and a 8-month-old tuxedo cat with a lighting bolt on his forehead named L. Zeus. After Moji put me out, I found comfort in kittens who needed a home and someone to love. Zeus jumps on the sofa waiting to get petted Xenia follows behind purring. I walk over to where I have my cell phone plugged in to see a missed message from Krystal “I’m so sorry to tell you this your father passed away this morning. If you need anything, just reach out. I will keep your phone on per your father’s wishes. We’re family. I’m sorry we had to meet like this.” Reading that text, I was numb, the Old Man dead. I just found him. I felt like was the universe's sick joke to take him. Daddy planned to retire, and I was going to move there after my 38th birthday this year. Stupid old man worked himself to death. All I have of my dad is a leather jacket he sent me. He bought it with his very first check.

Please, please let last night be a dream as I look at the cell phone's screen. It wasn’t a dream, and this is real. Last night I smoked myself into a coma best sleep if you ask me. The saying always goes if it doesn’t feel it ain’t right. I texted Krystal “ thank you I’m sure he is a better place.I honestly didn’t know what to say. This didn’t feel right at all. Of course, my first reaction is to go to Mark. I show up at his doorstep in tears. “Mark, all this is off something isn’t right. I know he was he wasn’t shit to me in this life. He did it to me again, Mark! I never got to say goodbye!” As I’m wiping my tears. “Sweetie, I know this hurts. I’m sorry. Your dad left you something he just isn't like that. Listen to your heart it’s never wrong” as he hugged me.

I had access to my The Old Man’s phone account and changed that phone number to my account. I got a strange text from Krystal “Do you want to keep your number or change it. I need to know?!” I texted back. “I had transferred the number to my account, thank you. That number is very special to me. I’d hate to lose it.” She texted back. “okay” Then I didn’t hear from her again. It simply didn’t bother me cause I don’t know her. Everything felt off. Jobs were just shitty. My world felt like a dark cloud pouring with rain and thunder. Growing up at 5, my dad secretly called me every day after school.“Baby! Happy Birthday!! That song! That Song! I heard it and I thought about your Birthday! I wish I knew the name of the song!” He sounded so happy I would never forget that moment. 30 years later. “Daddy… The song’s name is September by Earth, wind and Fire. The 21st of September.” I said happily. With a long pause.“ My princess, how do you remember that? “as he said, laughing. “Cause That is a song that has my birthday. I looked for that song so one day I could tell you the name.”

This morning was a different type of morning. Paul called me personally before work.“ Hey 109! I need you to drop off this package personally! I’ll text you the address. It needs to be there by 10:30 am! Just this one job for you today. Take time off, kid.” He then hangs up. “1701 Park RD Apt 102,” I wonder what is so important that this is my only drop. Takeoff what is going on. All I did was work rookie year rain, snow was out there everyday all day.” I ride up to the big tall white building, enter the building and go straight to apartment 102. A woman opens the door she looks like one of those Chinese action movie stars, with a soft voice “Hi my name is Kay. I’m your dad’s long-time girlfriend’s daughter. I’m sorry for your lost Krystal made it seem like you were just so hard to find, like the FBI did the search. I’m sorry your aunts, uncle and Krystal cleaned out your dad’s accounts and stole his belongings. My mom was sick and came back to move with me. Your dad was alone out there. “I couldn’t believe what I’m hearing about my dad’s own family. She continues handing me a small black book. “This book is yours.” smiling at me “Krystal for got to clean one account your dad and my mom had. You deserve more than your aunts and uncle or cousin. I know how he just left you and your mom high and dry.” She hands me a Barrage pro bag full of cash. “That’s your half 20,000” In straight disbelief “What?! Huh… Thank you! I don’t know what to say! “Kay smiled and gave me a hug. “I honestly wish it was more”

In my Apartment I open the pages of the notebook. These are his thoughts of me! He wrote everyday hopes and wishes for his only daughter for 18 years. Looking through the pages, birthday cards stuck in between pages. My daddy Loved me I finally got to see it for so long. I ride to Mark’s house full speed. As Mark opens his apartment door. I give him the biggest hug. “We finally got that bag of money we’ve been looking for. I think it’s time for a vacation don’t you think” Mark smiled “Yeah, Sweetie. You can go where ever you want now.”