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Authors: Stephanie Perry Moore

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BOOK: Prime Choice
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“So when are we going to know if her dad says it's okay?” I asked my sister.
“See, I knew you'd be down to come to this thing if it was all about girls and football. Boy, you better get your life straight. Lately, you've been real excited about the wrong stuff. You need to be excited about God like that.”
“Pay, don't be preaching to me. Be happy I'll come.”
“Tad's gon' talk to his uncle. Call you later.” My sister got off the phone with much attitude.
After I hung up, I felt compelled to get on my knees and pray. It'd been a long time since I actually gave God his real reverence. My sister thought I didn't hear stuff she said. Actually, a lot of times I didn't pay her much mind. But a lot of times the things she mouthed off to me made sense to me.
So I prayed:
“Lord, I have been really caught up with football lately. And you know girls have been on my priority list, too. I'm just keeping it real. I'm willing to go on this retreat this weekend and maybe it's all for the wrong reasons. But if it actually works out and I go, help me understand You more. I'll be open-minded. Amen.”
Three days later, I was in the car with Savoy and her friend Ellis headed to the Atlanta area for the FCA retreat. Ellis was a pretty girl: dark mocha-colored skin, petite, with a short, fly curly hairdo, curves in the right places and spunky. She was checking me out from the moment I got in the car.
Savoy, on the other hand, was sorta hard to read. She was cordial and nice and everything, but because she was concentrating on the road, it was hard to make her out. I wasn't trying to win her over or anything, but I didn't want the ride to be a drag. Remembering my seminar on how to take the lead, even though this wasn't a dating relationship, I was a perfect gentleman.
So I tried to ease the tension and said, “Savoy, thanks for letting me tag along with you guys. I'll be able to drive if you want. Pops said our insurance would cover it if something was to happen.”
“No problem, Mr. Skky. I appreciate you saying that. I'll keep that in mind.”
“Ooh, ooh!” her friend teased. “Girl, he's a keeper.”
Savoy made a smirk.
“I ain't talking 'bout for you, you got already got a man. I'm the single one. We're already bonded. His name's Perry, my name's Ellis.”
I was confused. I didn't know what that had to do with anything. And then all of a sudden this girl said, “We're a clothing line. We already go together. Get it? Perry Ellis ...”
The three of us just started laughing. Then Savoy put on this gospel CD by J Moss. As I leaned my head back and listened to the some of the words, I was just taken over by something I hadn't felt in a while. It wasn't about the ride. It wasn't about the girls. It wasn't about football. It was about worshipping God.
I just remembered the chorus singing out so well, “No matter who or what we are, we must pray.” It was like before I had even got to the retreat, God was answering my prayer. He was letting me know Him more.
And this song was saying that to get to know God more, I just needed to give praise and give thanks to Him. I learned to just be into Him and expect good things in return. The three of us spent the next hour talking about just that. Ellis tried to get off subject every now and then, but Savoy and I knew we were very focused where God was concerned.
 
Stone Mountain Park was absolutely beautiful. They had some events on the campground. But most of the stuff was taking place in the Evergreen Hotel. It was a Marriott resort. My sister had hooked me up. Although I was used to being in nice hotels because of all the recruiting, this was better. It was just nice to get away and not have to worry about someone wanting something.
At first I was excited because I thought I was going to get to know Savoy better. Before the end of the first day, however, I was beginning to know God more. It was an experience I couldn't explain.
The Georgia Tech chaplain I'd met a couple of weeks ago was giving the evening message. Hearing him present the Gospel charged me to want to live my life for God. He was absolutely dynamic and passionate. He talked about athletics, but then he took stories from the Bible and made them apply to how he walked with God.
So I sat on my seat and listened while he closed his sermon. “So, athletes, if you're in that crunch time and need something positive to happen in your life, remember Moses' story. God can deliver. Remember when you're thrown into the lions' den, God can get you out. When you sense the Holy Spirit leading you to do something that you and everyone else thinks is crazy, just follow that intuition. Keep letting God lead you. Remember Noah's flood was going to come, and yours will, too. You need to be prepared. And under God's umbrella, He protects you and keeps you safe. In order to follow God and know that He delivers, you gotta trust Him. And so I close with the story of Peter. God said he could walk on water, but he just had to get out of the boat first. So wherever you are in your life, get out of the boat. Know that God's got it. Know that Jesus wants to praise you and intervene. Even if you have accepted God into your life, make nothing more important than Him.”
I sat there with tears in my eyes because I had been more focused on many other things—grades, girls, cars, football, scholarships, money—everything but God. I felt bad, I felt sorry. Savoy took my hand, and I didn't even notice until I looked up and saw her eyes were just as red and welled up as mine. Together we walked toward the front of the aisle while the soft music was playing.
We recommitted ourselves to Christ as the chaplain closed by saying, “Most people are either brought out of a situation, in a situation or about to get into one. As athletes, you're faced with all three, all the time. But to be victorious whether you win a game, lose a game, get hurt, stay healthy, have to deal with the fame, have to deal with standing on the sidelines, or whatever it is, be a part of God's team, and you'll be victorious. It's not about winning the trophy, being MVP or state champs ...”
He paused for a second and let all heads be bowed. I knew what he was saying. I understood it. I felt it as I squeezed Savoy's hand tighter. I hoped she got it.
The chaplain said, “It's about winning the crown.”
12
Praising His Name
I
t'd been a week since the retreat. As soon as I got back from my mountaintop experience I went to the mall and bought my own J Moss CD. Not only did I understand every song, I felt myself connecting more and more with God through the music.
My mom even knew his songs from me playing them over and over in my room. When she passed by to get to the laundry room, she sometimes heard it 'cause my room was right next to there. She even heard the music outside when I blasted it while I was cutting the grass or washing the cars.
Since my dad was scarcely around the place, she and I had a much stronger bond. We both wanted to focus more on Christ. We were all about lifting Him up. And it wasn't about God coming through. He'd already done enough by sending His Son to die on a cross for our sins. It was about us just giving God glory. Letting Him be enough to fill us, though life was somewhat uncertain. I needed God to show me what college to go to.
As she started preparing Thanksgiving dinner, I went into the kitchen with my iPod in hand and started the music all over. When she turned around, I saw that her eyes were watery. I didn't know if it was from the onions she was chopping for the stuffing or if she was sad. Either way, as soon as I played an up-tempo beat on the CD, she smiled.
“Thank you, baby. That's what I needed to hear.”
I went and wrapped my arms around her neck. “Mom, what's up? You can talk to me. I know I'm your son, and it might be a little weird to unload on me, but I'm stronger than you think. How am I supposed to grow up and be a man if you don't let me help you?”
She placed her right hand on my cheek and rubbed it gently. Then she looked into my eyes and said, “You are a young man, aren't you, Perry?”
She had called me Junior for so long it felt kinda weird hearing her call me Perry. I think it caught me off guard. She just stared at me.
“You look so much like your daddy. Ain't that funny! I met him when I was a freshman in college. Then he was around your age.”
“So that's what you're doing, Mom? Thinking 'bout him?” I asked harshly, as I took her hand off my cheek and held it firmly.
She looked away. “Son, I don't wanna worry you with that.”
Mom started back preparing the Thanksgiving meal. By then, my stomach was growling. This wasn't about me being filled with food. This was about me being filled with comfort that my mom was going to be okay with my dad maybe gone and me leaving soon.
She sensed that I had something heavy on my mind. She turned around and said, “I haven't seen your father in a while, you know that? Even in separate bedrooms, he'd get up early in the morning and come in late at night. I don't know what he is doing in his life and I don't know what's going to happen with that man. I don't know if I really want him anymore. But let's not think about that now. Your sister's on her way home, and she is stopping to pick up your grandmother.”
We hadn't seen my dad's mom in a while. I hated that because I knew she'd been through it since she lost her husband. My granddad died of natural causes the Christmas before. I just hoped our time together would be civil. Payton and my grandma didn't know that there was stuff between my folks. I hoped I didn't mess up the evening and let it out.
My mom shared my same concerns. “I'm not looking forward to dinner, Son. Payton loves your dad to death, and your grandmother loves her son to death. And right about now he's one of my least favorite people. I don't want my feelings to show. This is going to be stressful for us.”
“Ma, you know I got your back.”
“I know that, baby. But it shouldn't be about that on Thanksgiving. It's not about being sad, it's about being thankful for what God has given you. And that's what I'm going to try to do: appreciate you being concerned and reading through my distress. But I'm not gon' break. God's making me whole. He's doing amazing work for you, too. I've been seeing you skipping around to His beat. We gotta keep being into Him and not our own problems. It's going to be a great day. Okay, baby?”
“Yes, ma'am,” I said. Then I asked another question. “When can we dig into the turkey?”
“It'll be about four hours, boy. Here,” she said as she sliced me a piece of ham. “Go relax.”
 
At dinner it was sorta like my mom had said earlier. Dinner was weird with the five of us. My mom was quiet. My grandma and sister were acting like my dad was royalty or something. I couldn't even look my dad's way.
My grandmother started raving about how much she loved the new car my dad had bought her. “Ooh, chile, I'm getting so many compliments. Can't even leave the church parking lot without people crowding around to see my car. Your father started that car dealership so long ago, I'm sure we didn't think it was going to turn into what you've made it, Son.”
Man, it was just a car. Dad didn't do anything great, he'd just given her one right off the dealership lot. It wasn't no money coming directly out his pockets. Grandma needed to be thanking God for having good health and a right mind for seventy-five years. But of course I was respectful, and didn't reveal my thoughts and kept eating the great food.
My sister was so excited about the brand-new, four-bedroom condo my dad had just purchased for her. She'd be able to collect money from a couple of her friends who were going to be her housemates, and enjoy the extra money he'd allow her to keep.
“My place is so nice, y'all. Daddy, thank you again for buying it!”
She didn't even thank my mom. My dad's money was her money, too. I knew my moms felt a little bad. I could tell when she looked away and dropped her head.
When dinner was over, my mom and my grandmother cleaned up. My dad came to my room and said, “Son, you wanna watch some football with me?”
“I'm straight,” I said, hoping he would get the point and leave. We weren't cool like that no more.
“Hey, I know you still might be mad at me, but you can't stay mad at me forever. You need your father,” he said.
“Oh, I've got my Father. One who's there for me all the time and never messes up. And at this time, that's good for me. You don't need me on your side, anyway. You got your cheerleading session going on: your mom and Payton giving you all the praises.”
He looked at me with nothing to say. I mean, what could he say? It was what it was. He walked out, closed my door and let me be.
A few minutes later, Payton came in, going on and on about how my mom was being so cold to my dad. I had no problem with getting her straight on the spot.
“Look, he ain't been here. I know dad's perfect in your eyes, but I caught him with his secretary, for your information. So next time you wanna come down on somebody, make sure you have all the facts before you judge. At the end of the day, Sis, you gave all the honor to the wrong parent.”
Her jaw dropped. I walked out the room, leaving her with what I just said. Our family was a mess, and her getting in the middle of it wasn't making it any better.
 
Two days later I saw my sister again. She was cheering at the Georgia vs. Georgia Tech football game at Georgia. And I was so proud of her. She was the only brown speck out there doing her thing. Their stadium was beautiful, with 92,000 fans in red screaming, “Dogs! Dogs! Dogs!”
It was my last recruiting trip of the year. And my parents came, since this was Payton's school. People didn't know the real deal; everyone thought that everything was good with the Skky family. I just prayed that God would actually make everything good with my family so I wouldn't have to worry about my parents fighting and embarrassing me in front of the world.
Lance Shadrach was there, too. It was interesting hearing the coaches go on and on about what a dynamite player he was. The last few games of the season, he'd turned it out. He was trying to take my place as our state's number-one recruit.
He came over to me and said, “Hey, Perry, what's up, dude?”
“I'm straight, man. I hear you been ballin'.”
Lance laughed. We chatted for a sec. Then the recruiting coordinator ushered him away.
I spotted Saxon. He was talking to a coach. The wide receiver coach was all up on Saxon. Truth be told, I was having a problem with them getting all excited about other guys.
I wasn't no scrub player. Shoot, I was high-placed, too.
What was that about?
I wondered.
Shortly after, Saxon came over and said, “Seems like I'm the guy everybody wanna get with, huh? Boy, you better post up some more numbers. You trying to be humble and share that ball too much.”
“Boy, you crazy. Like I care or need your advice.”
Saxon replied, “Oh, you care all right. Georgia has only one slot for a wide receiver, and it looks like it's gon' be me. The other school for your state is getting beat bad today, maybe they still want you.”
I was so angry. I tried not to let it show in front of Saxon, but I could tell he was getting the message. He knew the big buttons to push, and I let him push them hard. I was fueled up.
 
After the game I walked down the sidelines to see the scoreboard showing Georgia Tech got beat by Georgia by twenty-one points; I looked at the Georgia Tech chaplain. Thankfully, the Lord brought my attention back to Him.
“Skky,” he said, as he came over and shook my hand.
“I didn't get a chance to talk to you last week, but I heard your sermon at the FCA retreat.”
“Oh, you were on the mountain?”
“Yes, sir. My sister's a cheerleader at Georgia.”
“Oh, you talking about Tad Taylor's girlfriend? Yeah, okay. I forgot her name.”
“It's Payton,” I said.
“Yeah, Payton. Sweet girl.”
“You did a great job planning that event. I just wanted to say that your talk moved me and made think about how I need to put God first in my life.”
“I know we've been trying to recruit you to Tech. Any chance we can get you there? They'd give you all the respect you could want. Certainly we can continue to get more into the Word.”
“I really haven't decided yet,” I said.
“I know, I know. I'm just messing with you,” the chaplain said. “But you look like you lost your best friend.”
“It's just the recruiting thing. It's tough. I don't know what's the right decision with the places that I want to go. It seems like they're sorta losing interest in me 'cause I didn't sign up in time.”
“No need to rush it. No need to be upset if it seems like schools are choosing other guys. They choose them according to their needs. And sometimes they pick the guys and have to move you to a different position. You want to make sure the right school chooses you for the skills that you have. Don't keep comparing yourself to other people. You're doing the best you can. Keep believing in God. You say you heard my sermon: cling to it. Keep your focus on Him.”
 
My parents, Payton and I had dinner out and then we headed home. On the drive back, Payton still wasn't acting nice toward our mother. I did feel stronger, but God was going to have to lead me to the right place. With the silence in the car I leaned my head back, placing my family and future in the hands of God. With the peace, I fell asleep.
 
The next day Damarius made me promise I'd come over his house to meet some of his relatives. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch could hold about twenty people comfortably. I was amazed to see about one hundred folks there in the backyard and front, plus people eating in the bedrooms and people sitting on the floor everywhere. It was smelling good in there.
I hit him up on the cell phone to let him know I was in the house. Then all of a sudden, I heard a scream.
It was Damarius. “Hey, y'all! My boy's here! The star is here. Y'all back on out the way and let Perry through.”
He was on his cell. When his family moved to let me through the family room, we found each other and gave a friendly hug. I was hungry, but I had to stay beside Damarius for another forty minutes to meet and greet. Everybody interrupted their meal to shake my hand.
“Come on, D. I ain't got to meet everybody, do I?” I whispered to him.
“Aww, y'all, he's modest.”
His dad came up to me and said, “Well, since my son ain't going pro, I have to treat Perry good. He's small now, but wait til he signs for the big money.”
Damarius's granddad slowly came over to me. He was so frail and limping with a cane. He then looked me in the eye and said, “Uh-huh. I see he got potential. The top in the state.”
He listed all my stats. Told me what games he was most impressed with and what I need to improve on as I took my behind to college. Damarius even took one of the footballs from his room, and I signed it and gave it to his granddad.
BOOK: Prime Choice
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