Part II-Chapter 1: "HE'S MOVED UP TO THE MAJORS"

Chapter 1

“He’s moved up to the Majors.”

(Ó 2009)

June - 1997
Rainbow Beach Park

South Side - Chicago

It could not have been a more perfect Sunday, a day which the Chicago Tourism Bureau could have filmed and used to attract potential vacationers and conventions to the city. Not too hot, not too humid, with just a few white clouds in the sky that moved with the cooling breeze off Lake Michigan.

It was to be the first of many Johnston family Bar-B-Q’s and gatherings for the upcoming summer. It was something that Earl Johnston, the father-in-law of now Lt. David Todd of the Chicago Police Department cherished. It also came to be something David himself always looked forward too, the gatherings that he was able to attend anyway. After all, in his line of work, his free time was not always guaranteed.

Especially on Sunday’s, and even better, a Sunday like today. David, his wife Regina, both their sons and daughter had spent the night at Earl’s. Nadine, Earl’s wife spent her evening dotting over her grandchildren and preparing her “famous” potato salad for the cookout the next day. However, the main reason for everyone to spend the night was for both David and Earl to wake early, and go to Rainbow Beach Park and stake claim to their favorite spot. David had a connection at the park through his job. He had to be there right before the park opened and set up everything for the gathering. Moreover, if anyone had something to say? “I’ll just flash the badge.” David would say to Earl, smiling as he did so.

David and Earl had become close over the years; Earl liked it when David would address him as “Big Papa”. Yes, there were the expected conflicts that came with David, being white, when he first began dating Earl’s daughter in high school. Nevertheless, time, that great teacher, had shown Earl what a lucky girl his daughter was. In addition, when the grandchildren came along, that made the bonds even stronger.

It was the love of sports by both men that the bond between them began to be set. Both men were Chicago White Sox and Bears fans. However, Earl had shared his love of basketball with the Bulls with David, who was not really that much of a fan of the game before, until he watched and attended a few games with Earl. In addition, it was vice versa with David, as he shared his love of hockey and the Black Hawks with Earl.

“Sports are really the great unifier,” David once proclaimed to them all, “not music or the arts, as those actors, artists, and musicians think. I can prove it too.” He continued, “I could take two guys in Texas, one a multi-colored haired, tattooed, and body pierced punk rocker; and the other a dyed in the wool redneck, truck driving, Merle Haggard die hard. If I put them in a room together, there would be a problem. Now if I took the same two guys, put a Dallas Cowboys jersey on each of them, gave them seats on the 50-yard line at Texas Stadium when the Redskins are in town? Well, let me tell ya, you’re going to then have a couple of beer drinkin‘, high five-in, buddy buddies.”

When David and Regina’s first son was born, David named him Earl Wilfred, for both the baby’s grandfathers. Earl was very touched by that, and that is what sealed the bond between them. To keep some confusion down, they would refer to the baby as “Little Earl”. As Little Earl grew older though, he did not much like his first and middle names, as boys his age often do. Therefore, David started calling him by his initials, E.W., and that suited Little Earl just fine. 

Big Earl after some time felt guilty by some of the trouble he may have caused because of the inter-racial couple, but he really appreciated that his son-in-law never once retaliated before or after the fact. Now he himself found the same humor in the situation sometimes when he introduced David as his son-in-law, and vice versa.

The day started out with the same plan they both had been using for years. They both would arrive at Rainbow Beach Park, at 75^th Street and Lake Shore Drive, right on Lake Michigan, at around 7:30 AM. The Park Police saw David and his father-in-law at the gate and let them both in. They would then stake claim to their favorite spot in the park just right before it would open. Fortunately, today, there were hardly any other people waiting to get in. They would unload Earl’s van first; he had to get back home as fast as he could, because he had to go to church with Nadine, Regina, and the kids.

Church every Sunday, no matter what, and if there ever was a “what”, it had better be a good reason. That was one of “Mama’s Rules”, referring to Nadine, a faithful Baptist. David, being a Catholic, let his children be raised in the religion of his wife. He would go to Mass as much as he could, and the children would even go with him whenever they wished. David would attend services in Regina’s church many times, he loved listening to the gospel music, and when the Reverend would preach, in that typical black Baptist way, well, as David would say, “It was never boring. Catholics … we’re to quiet.”

When Big Earl would leave for church, David would then unload his own van and set everything up. The chairs under the trees, the umbrellas, the plastic tablecloths on the picnic tables, ice chests, food, soda pop, beer, and sports equipment, etc. Some of the other families there would watch this one lone white man setting up for what looked like a large party. They would think he was setting up for other police officers though, because David had on his service revolver with a holster badge, along with his black athletic shorts, sleeveless White Sox t-shirt, and Nike’s. He would only wear the gun while he was alone here, mainly because his job required it. However, when the family would arrive, and the children all were around, he would lock the gun away in a gun locker in his van. He would keep a badge on him though.

No guns around when the children are playing, again … “Mama’s Rules”. She understood the position David was in, and she was in no way against the right for anyone to own and possess a firearm, she just did not want any accidents. Besides, when children are playing, they should do so to have fun, period. “They should play without the thought of why we need to have guns.” That’s what Mama said anyway.

David would always set the Bar-B-Q up last. It was one of those large metal, half fifty-five gallon drum Bar-B-Q’s. It had to be set up in the open and away from the tables. He had to check in which direction the wind would be blowing to make sure the cook had his back to the wind and the smoke would be blown away from him. The cook, which was in every case, would be Big Earl, and Big Earl was always in complete charge at “his fire”. He had to do all the cooking, if you would ask to help, all you would be doing is passing him whatever utensil he called for. Like a surgeon performing an operation. Or, would get the plates, or whatever it was that he wanted to drink.

David was lucky that Big Earl even trusted him to set up the fire. Even that had to be done only the way Big Papa wanted it. He only allowed David to do it after he instructed and oversaw David on how exactly it was to be done . . . several times. After David had the Bar-B-Q secured, he poured in four large bags of Kingsford Charcoal, making sure that the briquettes were all at a level, and at the same depth in the barrel of the drum. He then doused it with Gulf-Lite charcoal fluid and let it soak into the charcoal for five minutes. Then David would light the charcoal by setting up a book of matches, using on match stuck on the outside of the folded matchbook as a fuse. When the other matches began to ignite, David tossed the small fireball into the drum and jumped back. He then heard the “whoosh” sound as well as the sudden heat wave from the fireball coming from inside the drum. This was that part David didn’t like, and was glad the family wasn’t around to witness his small condition of pyro-phobia. David had always been a little frightened of fire. 

When the flames died down to a safe level, David would use the tongs to set the grills on over the coals. All of this had to be done at least one hour before the family would arrive, so as to burn off all of the lighter fluid and to get the charcoal “cookin’ white” as Big Earl would say. Big Papa taught all of this to David, and it had to be carried out to the letter.

David though, so it as a small price to pay for what would be coming off Big Papa’s grill. Big Papa would cook ribs that David swore had to “be illegal”, because something that tastes that good just has to be against the law somewhere. It Big Earl’s own secret special Bar-B-Q sauce recipe, and what it did for ribs was just as good for chicken too. Then there were all of the other side dishes that came with it. Nadine’s potato salad and the homemade coleslaw. David made a hot three-bean side dish from pork and beans, butter beans, and kidney beans with bacon and molasses. Jell-O molds, fruit salads, burgers and hot dogs for the kids. It could not get any better than that.

David’s parents, Wilfred and Rose, were going to attend also. So David returned to his van to retrieve the small, Styrofoam cooler that contain products for their vegetarian diet. Nadine, knowing of this situation, always made sure there was more salads, vegetable and fruit dishes. David once, during one of the family cook-outs, went up to Big Papa while the aroma of the ribs cooking was filling the air, put his hand on Earls shoulder, handed him a cold beer and said quietly to him, “Thank you for saving me from a life sentence of tofu, bean sprouts, garden burgers, and soy products.” Then he gave Big Papa a huge kiss on the cheek.

The family began to arrive around 11:30, and of course, the first thing Big Earl did was to check if David made “his fire” to his specifications. David brought the big radio out and set it to the station that the White Sox broadcast was going to be on; they were to play against the Detroit Tigers that afternoon. Regina came from her family’s van with E.W., their other son David Jr., and walking hand in hand with their six-year-old daughter, Nadine Rose, named after both her grandmothers, and Nadine Rose insisted to always be addressed by both names. When Nadine Rose saw her father, she did her usual full sprint, to then jump up into his arms.

The beautiful little girl with a caramel complexion, enhanced with the crystal blue eyes that she inherited from her Grandma Rose.

You could always tell that E.W. and David Jr. were brothers. They were two years apart but they could have been twins. As with their sister they both had caramel complexions, and you could just tell that they were both what was referred to as “jocks” or sports enthusiasts.

Just as soon as they arrived, Regina’s younger sister, Coretta drove up with her son, Jamal. Jamal was now just eight years old, about six months younger than David Jr. Coretta had the misfortune of being involved with a man who was too immature to commit to the real things that come with life. When Coretta informed Jamal’s father that she was pregnant with him, the first thing he did was go to the Yellow Pages to find a Planned Parenthood clinic. He was angry with her when she did not want to abort her baby, so he aborted their relationship. Recently he informed her that he now wants to be a part of “his son’s” life, and that has created some turmoil in the family.

Of course, as soon as E.W. and David Jr. were settled, the first thing they wanted to do was to play catch. They grabbed their baseball gloves, went to an open area, separated themselves about fifty feet apart and began throwing fastballs, high pop-ups and grounders to each other.

David saw Jamal as he sat by himself at the picnic table watching his cousins at play. David strolled up behind his nephew and asked, “Would you like to go over and play catch J?” He always referred to him as “J”.

“I can’t do that very good,” Jamal replied to his uncle.

David then sat down next to his nephew, put his arm around his shoulders, and said, “Of course you can’t do it very good, do you know why?” David glanced behind him and saw Regina and Coretta looking at him as they heard what he said to the young boy.

“No, why?” he asked.

“Because you haven’t learned how to do it yet.” He said. “You want to know something? Every guy who is playing for the Sox right now, or any guy in the majors for that fact, could not hit the side of the Sears Tower if it were ten feet in front of them at one time in their lives”.

“They couldn’t?” he asked inquisitively.

“Nope,” David said, “and they couldn’t catch a ball if you walked over and dropped it in their glove”.

“Really?”

“Really.” They all had to start throwing and catching at some time in their lives, and that was about when they were your age.” David said patting his shoulders, “E.W. and David are no exception either. I’m sure they would be happy to help teach you how”.

“But, I don’t have a glove.” Jamal said.

“I think we may have a spare in my van, let me take a look, stay right here, OK?”

“OK”.

David then got up from the bench of the picnic table and began walking over to his van. He motioned over to his two sons and called to them, “E.W.! Davy! Come with me now please!”

Both boys then stopped and came running to him as he walked to the van. When they caught up with him David Jr. asked, “Are ya gonna give it to him now Dad?”

“Yep,” he said quietly to him, “now remember what I told you, be patient with him, what he needs right now more than a couple of cousins, is a couple of big brothers, OK?”

“OK Dad.” E.W. answered.

When they arrived to the van, David opened the side door and reach for a box that was in the back. The box contained a brand new fielder’s glove just the size that Jamal would need. David and his sons picked it out the week before.

“He’s gonna freak!” David Jr. said, trying to contain his enthusiasm. David then reached over to where the box once sat and picked up his catchers mitt. He tucked them both under his arm, slid the van door shut, and then all three walked back to the picnic table. David Jr. seemed as if he were going to be more excited in giving the baseball glove to his cousin, than his cousin would be in getting it.

In a few minutes, the trio was standing in front of Jamal. “It seems that we have an extra glove that you can use,” David said to the boy. Jamal’s his eyes lit up as he saw the brand new, unused glove still in its box, “and it looks like it could only fit you so … I guess you can just have it”.

“WHAT!” Jamal yelled.

“Yeah, it’s for you.” David Jr. said to him. 

Jamal took the box with the glove and ran to Coretta, “Mom look! Look what Uncle Dave got me! It ain’t even my birthday! Ain’t it cool?”

“Isn’t young man, you mean it isn’t my birthday … isn’t it cool.” Coretta said as she looked down at her son, with a slight tear welling in her eyes, “Why isn’t that just wonderful? What do you say young man”?

Jamal turned to his uncle and yelled, “Thanks Uncle Dave! Thanks!”

“Well, the boys and Nadine Rose helped pick it out.” He said to him.

“Thanks guys … thanks Nadine Rose,” then he turn to his mother and said to his aunt standing next to her, “thanks Aunt Regina.”

David looked down at Jamal and said, “Well then c’mon dude, let’s show you how to operate that thing”.

“Can I show Grandma and Grandpa first?”

“Sure thing dude.” David answered and watched the boy as he ran over to Big Earl and Grandma Nadine.

“You didn’t have to do that David,” Coretta said to him, “thank you very much”.

“Don’t mention it, besides it was the kids’ idea to do something,” he said to her, “Nadine Rose said he looked sad and we should get him something to make him happy”.

“Well, you all did, thank you again.” Then Coretta kissed David, Regina and the boys on the cheeks. “I’ll get Nadine Rose in a minute”.

Jamal came back to them, then David and the boys took him to the open area to begin his first lesson in the fine art of throwing and catching a baseball. 

Meanwhile, Nadine Rose was once again beating her grandfather Wilfred for the umpteenth time in the “World Candy Land Championship”, after which she would go and do double-dutch jump rope with her mother and Aunt Coretta. Her Daddy would leave the boys to their games of catch by themselves and help twirl the ropes for her also. That would be followed later by some time with her kicking her soccer ball around.

The sound and smells of the food began to fill the air as Big Earl began cooking with the White Sox game now being broadcast. David would go rest near the radio with an cold bottle of Goose Island Beer right from the ice chest, and watch Big Earl as he cooked. Nadine Rose would always get a kick out of watching her daddy “conducting” the game from his old position, from a catcher’s point of view. As the broadcasters told of what was happening at Comisky Park, David would point to an imaginary field, pointing to which base the men where on, holding up his fingers showing the batting count, pointing to which direction the ball was hit, and making the umpire signs if the runner was out or safe.

Then . . . the food was ready. The entire family would gather at the table and sit. Again, Big Papa’s ribs were a big hit with David. He would glance over to his mother Rose as he at the ribs, she giving him the “where did I go wrong” look jokingly. The first thing her son rebelled against in his younger days was his parents vegetarian cuisine.

Afterwards, the boys went back to playing catch with each other, while the adults cleaned up the area. It was around three o’clock in the afternoon, the family would stay for a couple more hours, to relax, let the kids play, and just enjoy the rest of the warm afternoon while the fire in the Bar-B-Q drum burned itself out. 

David went over to a large tree near where the boys were playing to see how they were getting along, he had with him a fresh bottle of a cold Goose Island right from the ice chest. Jamal had made much positive progress on his first time out. He was throwing the ball in the general direction to where it had to go, and was even catching more than half of the throws coming back to him.

“You’re doing pretty good for a rookie J!” David yelled over to his nephew. Jamal looked back and smiled. David then sat under the shade of the large tree to monitor his nephews progress. 

A few minutes later, Nadine Rose came up to him. “Daddy,” she said, “I’m tired”. She was rubbing her eyes and yawning.

“Come right her sweetie.” David said to her opening his arms up. She crawled on to his chest where she laid her head, and set herself between his upright knees. He put his arms around his daughter and stroked her curly hair. In ten seconds time she was fast asleep. He watched her as she slept, he could feel how safe she felt with him at that moment. He began to have a memory from a few years ago, when he was interviewing Officer Emelda Rosario. It was during the strange double investigation that began his search of a still unknown and at large individual. It started with the brutal violation and assault of a fifteen year old girl in an alley by two men. It was something Officer Rosario told him about the girl. How, after everything that happened to her, the only thing she wanted, the one thing she cried for the most … was for her daddy.

Ever since that night, he’s watched over his little Nadine Rose a little more vigilantly. He keeps stressing to his sons how being a big brother is an important job. That their main thing is to always listen to their mother, to respect her, never talk back, no matter what. Also, to protect both their mother and their little sister, always.

Now, he sat under the tree holding his little girl, his little princess, watching her as she slept, and wrapping both his arms around her. When he did that, she sighed out and held onto him with one hand, then put the other to her mouth, and began to suck her thumb.

“Do you have room for one more there?” 

David looked up to see Regina standing over the both of them, “Sure, always,” he said to her and lifted up his right arm and put it around her as she sat next to him.

“I was wondering if she were going to take a nap,” she said as she stroked Nadine Rose’s hair. Then she positioned herself next to them both and put her head on David’s shoulder. They both lied there watching the boys in their game of catch.

“That was very nice what you all did for Jamal,” she said to him quietly, so as to not awaken Nadine Rose, “Coretta appreciates it a lot.”

“Well, it was the little princess here, and the boy’s,” he said just as quietly, “the whole thing was their idea actually. It was even their idea that I pay for it”.

“Well, she’s having a rough time honey,” Regina said looking up to him, “so I thank you too”.

“Think nothing of it,” he said, “besides, every kid should have a chance to play baseball”.

“It was very sweet,” she said kissing his cheek, “it’s one reason I love you”.

David looked down at her and kissed her back. “I may have another surprise for her,” he said.

“Really, what’s that?”

“The grocery store by us may have an opening for a full-time cashier soon, and Robert the manager there is going to let me know first, I told him about Coretta,” he said. “I know it’s just a cashiers job, but the pay is decent, and they have great benefits that she doesn’t have now. Medical, dental, that sort of thing. Plus they always promote from within.”

“Oh honey that would be great,” Regina said sitting up, “she could move by us then, and Jamal would see the boys almost everyday”.

“That’s what I was thinking too. Get her out of that place she’s in now. Stop being a waitress too, have a little security at least”.

“Do you know when it will be available?”

“Hopefully next week, Robert is gonna call me as soon as it opens up, he’s not even going to advertise for the position until I tell Coretta. See, like anything else in this city, it’s who ya know. Think she’ll want it?”

“Oh yes, she wants to get out from where she is so bad,” Regina said, and then gave David a long passionate kiss on his lips, when she was finished she looked at him and said, “I love you baby”.

“I love you too”.

Regina then placed her head back on his chest, closed her eyes, and put her arm around her husband and daughter.

Yes, it was the perfect Sunday, you couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day. Not only because of the perfect weather, but of the closeness and love felt by the entire family that day. The food, drink, playing, and the sounds of the children. It was as if the real world and all the problems it holds was barred from entering Rainbow Beach Park. There was nothing but love and content felt here.

That is, until Regina opened her eyes some fifteen minutes later, and saw the real world coming back towards them. It was in the form of a man wearing a dark gray suit with a light gray shirt and burgundy tie, on his belt she saw the sun reflecting off of a badge for the Chicago Police Department.

“Baby?” She said. David looked down at her and saw that she was looking in the direction to his left towards the entrance to the park. When he himself looked to that direction he saw the man walking towards them. When David made eye contact, the man waved to them, and David acknowledged and waved back. It was Lt. Noel Jaworski, David’s best friend and partner. He was standing next to them within a few seconds.

“Hey, how y’all doing?” he asked.

“Hey Noel,” David said, “what bring you to the south side Cub fan, Bud man?”

“I’m sorry for taking you from your time here Dave, but, I gotta talk to you for a few minutes,” Noel told him, he had a serious expression ion his face, “it’ll only take a couple of minutes, I promise”.

“Sure,” David said, “can you take her for a second Kiss?” “Kiss” was his pet name for Regina, meaning a reference to Hershey Chocolate Kisses.

Regina picked up Nadine Rose, and got a small protest from her for doing so. She opened her eyes and saw Noel. “Hi Uncle No,” she said rubbing her eyes, “are you taking daddy to work?”

“No Blue Eyes,” he said to her, “just hafta talk to him for a few minutes and then he’s gonna come right back to ya, I promise”. Noel looked over to Regina and assured her with another, “I promise”.

David stood up and brushed himself off, “I be right back,” he said to her, “save my seat”. Then Regina watched as both men walked about fifty feet away. They were standing face to face, Noel with his suit coat opened with his hands on his hips, and David with his arms crossed.

“So, what’s up?” David asked.

“I’ve been at the U. of C. Hospital over here since ten o’clock this morning,” he said, meaning the University of Chicago Hospital south side location.

“What? Is somebody sick or something?” David asked in a concerned tone.

“No, nobody’s sick,” Noel said, “well I shouldn’t say that … somebody is there and they are pretty bad off, but it’s nobody that’s close to us.”

“Well what is it then?”

“I was getting ready to go to Mass this morning when I get a call from the Gang Crimes Division. They told me they’ve got something going on there at the hospital, and it may have to involve you and me”.

“I don’t understand”.

Noel stepped closer to his friend, and said quietly, “Dave … there’s a huge possibility … that ‘our friend’ is back.”

Regina, still sitting under the shade of the tree with her daughter, again asleep, only in her arms this time, suddenly saw a combined look of astonishment and concern come across her husbands face.

Noel stood there nodding ‘yes’ and continued, “And this time buddy … if it’s him … well … he’s moved up to the majors … I mean big time”.

“How do you mean?”

“Gang Crimes told me they responded with some uniform units to a 911 call this morning,” Noel began to explain, “they responded because it was to an address that is to the home of some big time gang leader. You ever hear of a guy called Gem P?”

“Yeah, I’ve heard of him, he’s the top guy with the 4-S.” David answered. The 4-S was the abbreviated term used for referring to the South Side Stone Soldiers. Gem P is their leader. The gang was one of the most notorious and most feared. Most of the illegal narcotics coming into the south side of Chicago and on into Indiana was supplied and controlled by them.

“Well anyway,” Noel said, “they responded because somebody thought they saw a dead body laying on the side of Gem P’s home, turns out, it’s one of his enforcers, but he was alive. When the uniforms went around the back to check the door, they found another guy lying there, he is another enforcer. In fact, these two guys are the top leg breakers for Gem P. Anyway, they entered the house and found Gem P, lying face down in the living room. All three are alive … the two enforcers may have some brain damage … but this Gem P guy, he had his spine broken. He looks as though he may be paralyzed from his chest down.”

“Shit.” David said, and turned away for a second, and saw Regina looking back at him, she looked concerned, he turn back to Noel, “Three? Three of them?”

“Yep. So, the guys at Gang Crimes know of our friends M.O., and got a hold of me at home. I just got out of there, I knew you were here, so I thought I’d fill you in before I go home”.

“Why didn’t you call or get in touch with me?”

“Hey, I knew Regina and the kids were looking forward to today,” Noel said, “I know the drill from the other ones, the surgery is still going on with Gem P, it’s a waiting situation right now, and we really can’t do anything until tomorrow. Mariola is just having her mom and dad over for dinner, nothing big planned like this, I thought why spoil it? Besides, those guys aren’t going anywhere soon.”

“Thanks buddy,” David said patting him on the shoulder, “you’re OK, for a Cub fan anyway?’

“Well, I got to get going,” Noel said. “call me later at home if you want, and I’ll fill you in. If not, see you in the morning”.

“Thanks again, I owe you one.”

“You owe me now about twelve actually,” he said, then he looked in Regina’s direction, waved and yelled, “see ya later!”

“Bye Noel,” Regina said and waved back.

David then shook hands with Noel, and he turned and went back from the direction he came. David walked back to his wife and daughter. He then sat down in the spot under the tree where he was before. He motioned to Regina to replace Nadine Rose on his chest. Nadine Rose then put her head back down on him, and once again fell right asleep. David then opened his right arm and motioned for Regina to retake her place on his shoulder, to which she complied.

“What was that all about baby?” She asked him.

“Nothing that can’t wait until later,” he answered, “besides, there’s no talking about business or distressing things during the family cookouts”. He looked at her and smiled.

Mama’s rules.