Marcus Johnson

Marcus was as masculine as they came. Tall, fun and witty, but his severe anger issues wound him up in prison for six years after beating his father into a coma when he discovered that he was gay.

When his father confronted him about it, Marcus went into a blinding rage and beat him half to death with his bare fists.

His participation in my group was ordered by the court as part of his release and we actually became quite close.

But he never explained in group sessions or during private sessions why he attacked his father because his father caught him in a lie?

His alleged, emphasis on alleged, quote, unquote, heterosexual act turned to shit the minute his father caught him in the act of banging a dude a couple weeks before his high school graduation.

His close first cousin, Steph, a tomboyish firecracker that everybody loved and admired, was also his best friend. Steph and Marcus were basically raised together. They were known as the Terrible Two.

[MARCUS JOHNSON'S BACK STORY]

Marcus Johnson's 8th Grade Prom:

Steph Johnson and Marcus got in trouble together and took spankings together, because they didn't rat each other out after moments of wrongdoings. Steph was Earl Emanuel Johnson's niece, (Marcus's father). Steph's mother, Arlene, was Earl's oldest sister and his only sibling...

Steph and Marcus spent every day together. When you saw her, Marcus wasn't too far away...

They had every birthday party together throughout their childhood. Marcus. May 20th and Steph, May 19th. Born the same year, 1981.

On the night of their 8th grade prom (they were teenagers thirteen years old, 1996) everything came together. They had an iron clad relationship that has never been tested or compromised by an outsider, someone that wasn't family.

They went to the prom together, as two cousins that had each other's backs. Steph wasn't ready for a boyfriend and Marcus was too wrapped up in building a bond with Steph that the thought of a girlfriend was nonexistent.

Steph handed him a small gift once they turned in their entrance passes and admired the color scheme of their senior prom. Silver and white.

The chandeliers in the ballroom was impeccable. White table clothes, orchid centerpieces. Plastic glasses with nonalcoholic apple red cider.

The food was in sterling silver pans, with burners underneath...casting rooted orange flames that turned blue at the tips...

A live band played all their favorite jams.

Excitedly, Steph, gorgeous in a simple dress with ruffled bottom, turned to Marcus, spunky in a black suit.

"We're moving on up, cousin," Steph announced excitedly. "We are about to grub on some fancy, catered food in silver pans. And look at all our classmates. We'll be freshmen in college  later this year!"

Marcus could get used to this fancy stuff. "Can you believe it, Steph?"

"It seems like a dream. I was always in a rush to grow up because we have like no say in our lives. But college? Here I come!"

The band played old school Run DMC.

"Ooooh, snap!" they said in unison, turned up times three, "the DJ is jamming up in here, Cousin!"

Marcus and Steph were the life of the Prom. Their teachers snapped photos, entertained by their bond and their peers were plotting.

"Aren't they cousins?" Dreeka asked her circle of gossiping friends. They spread rumors about anybody that had anything that they did not have.

"I heard they are bumping," said Roderick, eyeing Steph. "She's bad, too. If my cousin was that fine..."

Teddy, one of Steph's classmates, playfully shoved Roderick.

"You'll never pull that," Teddy prophesized. "She's outta your league and your reach."

"I don't want her," said Roderick, lying. "When I get in high school...I'm taking all the girls!"

"And do what, Roderick? Paint their nails and brush their weave for free?" Teddy joked, making everyone laugh.

Roderick frowned. "I swear your jokes are dry."

"The hell you mean, dude?" Teddy asked, a bit annoyed.

"Just what I said. All these ass kissing friends may toot your horn, but I'm not that gullible." Roderick looked Steph over once more from across the packed dance floor. "I need to pop you in the mouth anyway, Teddy. After prom."

Dreeka pushed them both. "Can you both stop the pissing match. Roderick, I'm with Teddy. You can't pull that. Steph looks like a tomboy. She probably like girls. She looks gay."

Roderick pointed at her. "I was gonna let you smoke with a nigga, but you're foul. If I wasn't under pressure to sell this damn weed for my ole man, I'd gut your hating ass right now."

Marcus spotted Roderick and walked over to him, with Steph in tow.

"That weed ain't hitting on nothing," Dreeka joked. "You need to be hitting Steph. So...I can get at Marcus. He's a chocolate dream. He's mine, only he doesn't know that."

"You gotta grow some hair first," Roderick joked and everyone burst out laughing, even Steph and Marcus. "Marcus don't want your bald head ass, Dreeka."

When Marcus chuckled, agreeing, Dreeka was clearly embarrassed.

Her crush broke her heart when he gave her a thumbs down.

"Y'all ain't right!" Dreeka said, barely above a whisper. Clearly embarrassed, she ran off, fighting back tears.

More laughs.

"That's what your dingy ass get for thinking me and my cousin hunchin', with your dusty booty ass," Steph deadpanned.

Marcus and Steph slapped palms.

"Excuse me, Steph...can I holla at you?" Roderick interrupted.

Protectively, Marcus stared him down and Steph wasn't interested.

"Holla, then go on bout your business," said Steph with an attitude.

Roderick handed her some gorgeous flowers, making her smile and Marcus jealous.

Snatching the flowers, Marcus smacked them across Roderick's face and pushed him back.

"Didn't my Cuzzo say holla, then leave?"

"Actually, she said go on about my business, but you shouldn't mind that I like her. We're not cousins."

Steph coyly looked away, grinning.