The Language Lane

Semple hadn’t talked to his good friend in a while. Texting felt too clumsy, so he went old-school and called him on the phone, land line no less. After greetings and small talk, Semple got to what was troubling him. Man, Junior Boyd, I’m all the way messed up over here. I’m stuck on that Raising Kanan and don’t even wanna dig it that much. I watched an episode myself, Semple. But the Southside drug angle doesn’t hold me captive. That’s what I’m saying. I wanna be free, too.

Semple was perplexed as he sat on Boyd’s sofa engaged in the news streaming from the flat screen on the wall. He had not tried to focus this much on television since the Olympics. He sensed all the human tragedy in Kabul. But being who he was, he could not quite grasp all the reportage. “One thing I don’t get, Boyd. They keep saying the fall of Kabul. I don’t get the language. It’s not like an earthquake hit and all the buildings toppled over.” “Of course not, Semple. It’s ju

Junior Boyd approached Semple, sitting in a familiar spot on the park bench, with excitement, “I just heard that the Cleveland Indians are changing the name to the Cleveland Guardians.” “Is that right?” responded Semple in a low-key manner. “I don’t know what they guarding. Not no championships lately, that’s for sure. But it’s the right move. They got rid of that dumb Chief Wahoo logo a while ago, so it’s a good move to go all the way. It’s sort of a Prince move, the basebal

“Wait, Junior Boyd. You’re fading out. You must be moving around. Oh, that’s better. Watch the playoff game with y’all? That’s kinda cool. Everybody needled up. But I don’t know what I’m looking at anymore. I can’t keep score.” “I don’t understand, Semple.” “Well, I’m watching the game the other night and the guy scores 40 points. Great game. Then it got greater. He had 15 assists and the announcer said he was responsible for 70 of the team’s 100 points. But I saw a teammate

“Junior Boyd, I’m a little surprised at you on this vaccine situation.” Semple paused as he thought the call was dropping, but the connection held. “You know I got my second dose this morning and you still saying you ain’t down.” “That was not my precise messaging,” replied Junior Boyd. “I expressed that I was concerned. I wish I had more thorough analytical historically-informed information.” “You might become history while you waiting on that info. They done analyzed this v

“What’s up, Semple Jenkins. You’re moving pretty fast out here.” “Tryna get home with this stationery to finish this letter to my folks down South. I thought it would only take a few minutes, but my godson decided to help me. He from college like you. So I ran out of paper.” Semple extended his right hand to display the plastic bag from the drugstore containing a writing pad, some new pens, and a variety of candy. “I’m not sure I get the connection,” said Junior Boyd. “Do you